Stacked tires outside a tire shop in Monticello, Kentucky

Local shops & straight answers

Tires & Auto Service in Monticello, KY

Where to get tires in town, plus answers to the questions folks around Wayne County ask most — the $2 tire fee, chains, old tires and how far it is to the next town.

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Need tires in Monticello?

Whether it's a slow leak on the daily driver, worn tread on the truck or a boat trailer tire that's seen better days, Monticello has hometown tire shops right in town. Here's who to call, plus the quick facts people look up most.

Local tire & auto shops

From our Eats & Finds directory. Hours can change, so it's worth a quick call first.

Tire shops in town

Three Monticello tire shops from our directory. Shorty's is on South Main, Leslie's is on Cardinal Avenue, and Pit Stop is out on North Main. Give them a call before you head over to check hours and whether they have your size.

Towns near Monticello

Approximate driving distance and time from downtown Monticello.

  • Burnside, KYabout 20 miles · ~25 min
  • Albany, KYabout 23 miles · ~35 min
  • Somerset, KYabout 26 miles · ~35 min
  • Byrdstown, TNabout 34 miles · ~50 min
  • Jamestown, KYabout 42 miles · ~1 hr
  • Russell Springs, KYabout 47 miles · ~1 hr

While you wait

Tire questions folks ask

Straight answers, with the sources below.

What is the tire tax in Kentucky?

What most folks call the tire tax is Kentucky's $2 new tire fee. State law (KRS 224.50-868) puts a $2 fee on each new tire sold for a car, truck, trailer or semitrailer, currently set to run through June 30, 2034. The shop can pass it on to you, and regular Kentucky sales tax applies to it. Used and recapped tires don't carry the fee. The money goes to the state's Waste Tire Trust Fund, which pays for managing waste tires, free waste tire collection events, cleaning up abandoned tire piles and recycling grants.

How long does a tire installation take?

It depends on the shop and the day, but when the tires are in stock, mounting and balancing a set of four typically takes somewhere around an hour or less. Discount Tire, for example, says it aims to finish appointments within about 45 minutes. Walk-ins on a busy day, an alignment, sensor (TPMS) work or a tire that has to be ordered can add time. Those are typical ranges, not promises, so call the shop ahead and ask how long they're running.

Are chains on tires illegal in Kentucky?

No, tire chains aren't banned in Kentucky, but state law (KRS 189.190) sets a few rules. You can't drive with a chained wheel on a highway that isn't covered with ice unless the wheel rests on an ice shoe at least 6 inches wide, so plan to take chains off once you're back on clear pavement. On rubber tires, the cross chains can be no more than 3/4 inch thick and no more than 10 inches apart around the tire.

Which city is close to Monticello, KY?

Burnside is about 20 miles away, Albany about 23, Somerset about 26, Byrdstown, Tennessee about 34, Jamestown about 42 and Russell Springs about 47. Those are approximate driving miles from downtown Monticello, so your trip may differ a little depending on where you start and which way you go.

Do I have to pay to throw away tires?

Usually a small fee, yes. When you buy new tires, Kentucky law says the shop has to take an old tire of similar size and type for each new one if you offer it, and the state encourages leaving it there. The Energy and Environment Cabinet says shops handle them for a nominal fee, and landfills or registered tire processors that take tires typically charge too. The free option is the state's Waste Tire Collection Events, where residents can drop off tires at no cost. They come to each county about every three years. Wayne County's last one was April 10–12, 2025, and the state's rotation has the Lake Cumberland area due again in spring 2028.

How to dispose of tires in Kentucky?

The easiest way is to leave your old tires with the shop when you buy new ones. If you keep them, the Energy and Environment Cabinet lists these options: take them to a permitted landfill that agrees to accept them (many want them cut up first and charge a fee), take them to a registered tire processor, transporter or fuel facility (also usually for a fee), reuse them for their original purpose or a farm use, or bring them to a free Waste Tire Collection Event. Household trash pickup won't take tires, and Wayne County lists tires among the items it can't accept, so call the county's Solid Waste Coordinator through the County Judge-Executive's office at (606) 348-4241 if you're not sure where to go.

Where these answers come from

Laws, fees and collection dates change, so check with the shop or with Wayne County before you count on any of this. This page is general information, not legal advice.