| Selecting or
buying truck tires is one of the best ways to improve
the performance of your truck, but making that decision
can be difficult if you have never been faced with it
before. One of the first considerations to make is where
you will be driving your vehicle. Do you drive mostly on
the street, a combination of street and off road, or
exclusively off road? Most truck tires that are equipped
on a new vehicle from the factory are what would be
considered standard “street” driving tires. To go off
road in difficult terrain like steep rocks or mud, the
biggest factor you have to overcome is height so you
will need to choose a bigger tire that is at least one
or two sizes taller, regardless of the tread type. A
good place to start is by looking at the decal inside
your driver side door or glove compartment. In there you
will see the standard tire allowed and the biggest
possible choice you can have if your vehicle has it as
an option.
Here are
some important steps in purchasing truck tires and
wheels for your truck:
Be able to read the truck tire sidewall to determine the
over-all performance of your chosen tires. Every truck
manufacturer has separate ratings for the tires, but
what is important to you is the warranty coverage. Who
will give you the most in savings for your truck tires
and wheels?
Truck tire size rating is usually shown in metric, which
can be traced on the side of your original truck tire.
However, when better performance is required for your
truck, you can select an upgrade to what your current
rating is as long as you keep this in mind: Never go to
the extreme, always stay in the middle ground of what
the list suggest to make sure that the tires you get are
not out rated for your vehicle. If they are then reduced
tread life and other issues can occur.
Truck tire speed rating is the speed range at which a
truck tire can be used in different speed and load
conditions. For example, the most common designation
uses the “V” category for 240 km/h or 149mph speed range
and the “Z” speed rating for top speed. This ensures
that you can safely drive the tire on the speed you
choose.
Truck tire load rating index is the assigned numbers
delegated to a tire that will tell you the safe load
that can be used for a tire. Again use moderation when
selecting this but know first what kind of load you will
be using on the tires. The higher the number the higher
the load they will handle.
When selecting truck tires that you are not familiar
about, always go to the vehicles identification sticker
(located in the vehicles door or glove box) or owners
manual as your guide. In there you will see the speed,
rim size and allowable payload intended for your truck
tire and wheel.
 Choosing
the tire that’s right for your truck involves numerous
considerations. But to make the process less scary, keep
these two simple guidelines in mind when considering
tires. First, know your expected needs and driving uses.
This consideration is important to overall driving
enjoyment and a well-run tire shop will help you
determine your tire needs before you lay down any green.
Second, find a source or store that you trust enough to
recommend the type of tire that fits your needs.
Remember, the sales people don’t know your needs, you
have to tell them. If they’re good, they’ll ask you the
right questions to come up with the right tire.
|
 You might be wondering what some of the questions could
be. Here’s a quick list of what you should think about
before entering a tire store:
-
Tread
life considerations: What’s your idea of how long a
set of tires should last? Keep in mind that in some
instances, a tire’s wear rating is done through
manufacturer testing and may not be the most
accurate representation of a tire’s true life
expectancy. One way to get a handle on a tire’s
projected life expectancy (besides what they’re
warranted for, say, 40,000 miles for example) is to
look at part of the UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading) rating. The U.S. Department of
Transportation requires each manufacturer to grade
its tires under the UTQG labeling system and
establish ratings for tread wear, traction and
temperature resistance.
-
Wet
weather requirements: Most of us live in a climate
where inclement weather is a factor at least part of
the time. Clearly if you live in, say, Washington or
Oregon, you’ll want to look more closely at a
capable wet-weather tire for your truck than if
you’re living in Arizona or Nevada. For those of you
in Snow Belt states, some kind of four-season type
of tire will be the minimum you should consider if
not an all-out snow tire for the winter that you
swap for standard tires in the milder months.
-
Speed
rating: Even in the plains and Western states like
South Dakota, Nebraska, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico,
Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada where the rural
interstate speed limit is 75 mph, how often do you
think you’re going to need a tire that’s speed rated
for anything over 150 mph? Be honest and knock down
your required speed rating to, say, an H-speed rated
tire that’s still good for 130 mph.
-
Ride
Quality: A low-profile tire such as a 50 or a
40-series looks great, but can be harsh over bumps
or potholes when compared to a 55 or 60. In general,
a lower profile tire also exposes the wheel to
damage more easily. Lower profile tires also have
stiffer sidewalls, which improves handling but
increases rides harshness. It’s all about compromise
and there’s no such thing as a free lunch. If you do
any off roading at all then make sure you stay away
from low profile tires. When going over rough
terrain you want more sidewall in between the ground
and your trucks rims. Otherwise, a dented wheel will
be the result.
Most online
stores have the proper size index from where you can
input your vehicle information. After feeding this info,
a corresponding truck tire’s specs will be given to you
based on the different brands available. You can then
make your comparison.
While some
truck tires are lower quality than others, there are so
many good ones out there that you will usually have
several possibilities from which to choose. We’ve
discovered here that it’s best to be straightforward
with what you really need and factor it in with that
ever-present budget consideration. Then you will have
the ability to keep your truck well grounded.
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