What To Consider When Buying Truck Tires
Upgrading the tires on your truck is one of the easiest changes you can make that will have the most influence on performance, as this is the only part of your vehicle in contact with the road below. With that in mind, it’s important to understand your options when it comes to tires. Take into consideration the benefits and drawbacks of different types of rubber, the types of tread, and the driving conditions when you make this essential purchasing decision. Here’s more on what you should know when finding the next set of tires for your work vehicle.
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1. Tire Size
Tire size is a main factor in many aspects of how your vehicle will perform when driving. Going for a larger tire size is generally regarded as the best choice for going off-road, as larger tires will increase your ground clearance along with your off-road angles. On the downside, increasing your tire size will result in worse fuel economy; a heavier steering feel; and a loss in power, as there is more rotating mass for the powertrain to move. Plus, the larger size changes the overall gear ratio of a vehicle. Getting larger than stock tires to fit a vehicle can often require modifications, as most plus-size tires are not designed to fit the wheels on your truck.
2. Wheel Size
The size of the wheel has its own set of considerations when picking out your tires. Keep in mind, a mismatch with the diameter is one of the most common causes of truck tire damage. A smaller wheel will result in a larger sidewall, increasing the comfort of the tire and the opportunity for the tread to come down further over the shoulder of the tire. This is a feature often associated with off-road tires for greater traction. Larger wheels will have the opposite effect on ride, as less tire sidewall to soak up the road below means a stiffer ride in the vehicle. Otherwise, there are no real tangible benefits of a larger wheel besides drivers preferring the look of a big wheel.
3. Tread and Rubber
Once you’ve decided on tire and wheel sizes, consider the tread pattern and rubber compound, as these will vary based on the performance type. Most trucks come fitted with tires meant to offer the best on-road performance possible, which means the tread pattern will use closely spaced tread blocks and a hard rubber compound to allow for optimal performance and longevity while driving down the highway. These are generally referred to as all-season tires as they can offer decent traction year-round. If fuel economy is a priority and you don’t plan to drive in bad weather or off-road, low-rolling resistance tires are available to help you maximize efficiency with your truck.
4. Driving Conditions
It’s a smart safety choice to swap out your tires when dealing with adverse road conditions due to inclement weather. All-weather tires are available as an upgrade to all-season tires because they offer better performance in the rain, while dedicated snow tires are your best choice for winter driving. For both all-weather and winter tires, the rubber compound is softer, so they can stay flexible and grip the road even when it’s cold. For wet road conditions, these tires are designed with increased siping, which means there are more small slits cut into the tread that help the water funnel off the tire’s surface to prevent hydroplaning.
5. Off-Road Driving
If you’re going off-road, then you’ll want to look at either all-terrain or mud-terrain tires, sometimes referred to as maximum traction tires. Both of these types will use softer rubber compounds and largely spaced-out tread blocks to create a flexible tire that has many more biting edges. The downside to largely spaced-out tread blocks is the noise when driving on paved roads, which gets worse the more aggressive the tread spacing becomes. All-terrain tires are a popular choice today for those that want a tire that will handle the dirt better than the stock rubber but won’t be unbearably loud driving down the road. Meanwhile, dedicated mud terrains are your best bet for taking your truck into sticky off-road situations, though you’ll have to deal with the noise when you’re not in a mud pit.
6. Tire Ratings
There are a few important ratings to pay attention to when swapping tires, including the load rating and speed rating. Load rating will determine the amount of weight that each tire can handle. This rating will need to be matched appropriately to your vehicle based on its weight, all while you consider how proper load balancing improves truck tire wear. The speed rating dictates the top speed you can achieve with your tires. While this isn’t usually a top-rated issue with trucks, it’s still important to pay attention to this rating to make sure you’re not overworking your tires.
Start with this list when either purchasing or upgrading to your next set of tires. Remember factors like tire and wheel size, tire composition, driving conditions, and ratings that affect performance.
Stephen Elmer
