Popular Types of Winter Tires for Trucks
Tires are the most important safety feature on any vehicle, as they’re the only components in constant contact with the road. All other safety features, from seatbelts to airbags to crumple zones, are there to stop a bad situation from getting worse if your tires lose their grip on the asphalt.
They’re even more important in winter when snow, slush, and cold temperatures are working overtime to reduce your tires’ effectiveness. Whether you’re buying a truck for harsh winters or you’re already an owner of a work vehicle, we have tips on winter tires for all kinds of trucks.
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Why You Really Need Winter Tires
The old term “snow tire” has been replaced with “winter tire,” and there’s a reason for that. In addition to tackling snow, winter tires are made with a rubber compound that stays pliable at lower temperatures, improving their braking and handling performance on cold asphalt. Some can reduce stopping distances by as much as 25% compared to all-season. Their tread is designed to bite into snow but also to channel away water and slush, which helps to prevent dangerous hydroplaning.
Types of Tires That Can Handle Winter Weather
A relatively new addition is the all-weather tire. It’s halfway between an all-season and winter tire, and like a winter tire it will carry the snowflake-and-mountain logo. It isn’t as good as a dedicated winter tire, but will handle most driving conditions, and they can stay on year-round. Mud-and-snow (M+S) tires don’t have that stickier compound, but their aggressive tread can be effective in mud or light snow, and can work in areas that get milder winter weather.
What Exactly Does That Mountain-and-Snowflake Logo Indicate?
Winter and all-weather tires have that three-peak mountain and snowflake symbol on them, also known as 3PMSF. To receive the logo, the tire’s acceleration traction performance on medium-packed snow must exceed that of an industry reference tire by a minimum of 10%. That said, how well the reference tire works on snow isn’t disclosed, nor each tire’s percentage above it. The 3PMSF mark tells you the tire meets the requirement but doesn’t rank its performance in comparison to other 3PMSF tires. It’s important to deal with a trusted tire supplier who can recommend the best choices for you.
How to Shop for Winter Tires
The highest price isn’t necessarily an indication of a tire that’s going to provide the best performance; but you can pretty much determine that a very low-priced tire will have attributes in line with what you paid for it. Work with your tire provider to determine the appropriate tire weight rating; the ideal tread; and if applicable, if the carcass will have sufficient strength and integrity so that you can return it for retreading.
Popular Winter Tires for Pickup Trucks
You’ll have the most choices here for pickup trucks, with a wide range of brands and styles including all-weather and M+S tires. These may work for you if you’re in an area that usually doesn’t get heavy snowfall, and especially if your truck is mainly used in urban or suburban areas that regularly get plowed. For rural or highway driving, you’re more likely to want winter-specific tires. If the truck has alloy wheels, consider mounting winter tires on a second set of steel wheels, which keeps the alloy rims looking nice for even longer and makes it easier to switch back to all-seasons in the spring.
Popular Winter Tires for Medium-Duty Trucks
Medium-duty vehicles can also be fitted with winter tires, all-seasons, or M+S, whether original-equipment or retreads, depending on the conditions where they’ll be used and what tire options are available for the size of your truck and its weight rating. You’re looking for a robust, well-constructed tire with a stout sidewall, especially since drivers may misjudge the position of the curb if plows have pushed snow over it. The same type of tires, with the same depth of tread, should be used on all axles, as you want the same level of grip at all four corners to help prevent skidding and to have handling control on the steering axle. In areas with extreme winter conditions, studded tires may also be a good choice.
Popular Winter Tires for Class 8 Trucks
Long-haul semi trucks can present unique issues if a trip takes them from a milder part of the country to a harsher one, or if the route is through mountains. All-weather tires can be an excellent choice for this type of trucking, along with a set of chains to be used as needed. If your tread preference is rib-tread for improved mileage, split the difference and consider lug-tread for the drive tires to improve traction.
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Other Important Factors
Tires aren’t cheap, so do all you can to help extend their lifespans as a part of your winter maintenance for trucks. Check the pressure frequently, as underinflated tires will wear faster and use more fuel. Inspect them regularly, looking for irregular wear patterns that could indicate suspension or alignment issues. Rotate them as needed so they wear evenly. If you have dedicated winter tires, remove them promptly when the weather warms up. And keep truck rims clean and free of ice, as build-up can cause vibration and potentially affect steering.
Jil McIntosh
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