Truck Tires

By AAyles on May 23rd, 2010

Find the best tires for your truck

Many truck owners fall into one of two categories – those who take their truck off road and aren’t afraid of getting it dirty, and those who get a truck just to look ruggedly cool while they’re stopped at an intersection. Having a truck is also handy for hauling all kinds of gear whether it’s furniture or your friend’s motorcycle At any rate, great tires are required to handle the load and keep and provide traction so that you get to your destination with everything intact.

If you tend to drive mainly on the pavement, general tires are probably all that you need. Depending on the type of weather where you live, you may need to get winter truck tires for the snow and ice season. You can cheat a little bit by buying all season tires; they should serve you well through a full year but after that you’ll lose considerable traction during the winter months. Why waste an all-terrain tire by driving it on the highway? Not only is it unnecessary, but tires with heavy treads also add a lot of road noise when driving at highway speeds.

Buying the best truck tires

If you use your truck for work or drive on rough terrain, you need to have heavy duty tires to stand up to the punishment while having solid traction at the same time. Construction sites in particular are notorious for having sharp debris that can puncture or shred the tires. Goodyear tires offer heavy duty truck tires with Kevlar-reinforced sidewalls that are perfect for working in hazardous conditions for your tires.

Those who drive the big trucks on the highway over long distances will require decidedly different tires. Firestone tires offer trailer radials that are load rated for pulling trailers and help to reduce fuel consumption at the same time. They also offer long distance premium steering radials for long haul drivers that need quality tires that can endure lots of miles day after day after day.

Maintaining your truck tires

While there is nothing that you can do about manufacturing or mechanical defects when it comes to your tires, there are a few factors that you do control that can increase the longevity of your truck tires including:

Overuse – It doesn’t matter how much money you spend on your tires, sooner or later they need to be replaced. Bald tires are an accident waiting to happen; the slightest change in the weather or road conditions can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Make sure to replace your tires regularly if you put a lot of miles on them.
Poor Maintenance – Keeping your tires properly inflated helps to increase traction, improve fuel economy and allow the tire to wear evenly to add longevity to your tires. Make sure you regularly rotate your tires as well to get the most out of them.
Road Obstructions – Just because you’re driving a truck doesn’t mean that the tires are indestructible. Make a conscious effort to be aware of any debris on the road and avoid as much as you possibly can; your tires will last much longer as a result.

Lastly, choose tires from a reputable brand that is known for consistently high manufacturing standards. Tire recalls should occur very rarely if the manufacturer has the proper standards in place.