Truck Tires? (Your Truck’s Connection to the World)
A truck tire is a highly engineered component, far more complex than a simple black donut. It’s responsible for:
Traction: Grip for acceleration, braking, and cornering.
Support: Carrying the weight of your truck, passengers, and cargo.
Cushioning: Absorbing road shocks and providing a comfortable ride.
Durability: Withstanding punctures, heat, and wear over thousands of miles.
The right tire is the single most important upgrade for changing your truck’s capability and character.
Key Components and Specifications (Decoding the Sidewall)
When you look at a tire’s description on a website, you’ll see a string of numbers and letters. Here’s what they mean:
The Size Code (e.g., 275/65R20 115T)
275: Section Width. The width of the tire in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
65: Aspect Ratio. The sidewall height as a percentage of the section width. (65% of 275mm in this case). A lower number means a shorter, stiffer sidewall.
R: Construction. “R” stands for Radial, which is the standard for modern tires. (You might rarely see “D” for Diagonal/Bias-ply).
20: Wheel Diameter. The size of the wheel (in inches) that the tire is designed to fit.
115: Load Index. A numerical code corresponding to the maximum weight the tire can support. This is critical for trucks. (115 = 2,679 lbs per tire).
T: Speed Rating. The maximum speed the tire can sustain (T = 118 mph).
Other Critical Specs:
Load Range / Ply Rating: This is another way of expressing the tire’s strength and load capacity, often shown as SL (Standard Load), XL (Extra Load), or E (10-Ply Rated). For heavy-duty towing and hauling, you want an E-load range tire.
Treadwear, Traction & Temperature Grades: UTQG ratings mandated by the government.
Treadwear: A comparative number. A higher number (400) should last longer than a lower number (300) on the same vehicle under the same conditions.
Traction: Rates wet braking performance (AA is best, then A, B, C).
Temperature: Rates heat resistance at high speeds (A is best, then B, C).
The Main Types of Truck Tires (Choosing Your Mission)
This is the most important decision you’ll make.
1. Highway Terrain (H/T)
Best For: Pavement performance, quiet and comfortable ride, long tread life. Perfect for trucks that rarely, if ever, go off-road.
Tread Design: Less aggressive, tightly packed tread blocks for minimal road noise.
Pros: Great on-road manners, fuel efficiency, long lifespan.
Cons: Poor performance in mud, loose dirt, or snow.
2. All-Terrain (A/T)
Best For: The perfect balance for drivers who see both pavement and light-to-moderate off-road conditions. The most popular choice for daily-driven trucks.
Tread Design: More aggressive than H/Ts, with larger, independent tread blocks and often “bite edges” for off-road traction. Many have stone ejectors to prevent rock retention.
Pros: “Jack-of-all-trades.” Good on-road, capable off-road, often come with severe snow service rating (3PMSF).
Cons: Slightly louder and less fuel-efficient than H/Ts. Not as capable in deep mud as an M/T.
3. Mud-Terrain (M/T)
Best For: Serious off-roading, rock crawling, and deep mud. For trucks that are built for adventure.
Tread Design: Very aggressive, with large, deep, widely spaced lugs that “claw” through mud and soft soil. Self-cleaning design.
Pros: Maximum off-road traction, incredibly durable sidewalls, iconic aggressive look.
Cons: Very loud on pavement (“tire hum”), rougher ride, slower tread wear, and can be poor on wet pavement.
4. All-Season / Street
Best For: Trucks used purely as commuter vehicles or for light duty. Focus is entirely on road comfort.
Tread Design: Similar to a car tire, optimized for rain and dry pavement.
Pros: Quiet, comfortable, and often the most affordable.
Cons: Limited off-road or severe weather capability.