Light Truck and SUV Tires

Tires are a rather unpretentious component on all cars, trucks, SUV's and crossover vehicles, and yet they play a huge role in the safety and comfort of the driving experience. Acting as the vehicles sole physical connection to the road, tires can make the most of or worsen the effectiveness of any vehicles braking system as well as the stability and traction control systems found on most new vehicles.


Passenger car and light truck/SUV tires are very different. Pickup truck and SUV owners often select passenger car tires because they are less costly and provide a smoother ride. However, if a vehicle will consistently be loaded with cargo or pulling a heavy trailer, then the higher load carrying capacity of a light truck tire would be a wiser choice. Purchasing new tires typically comes down to finding the best tires you can afford and are suitable for your vehicle, while taking into consideration safety, road contact handling ability, appearance and wear and tear ratings.

Finding a tire that will not only effectively handle but also optimize your vehicles capabilities in every possible driving situation comes down to knowing your driving needs and the various types of tires available that fit your vehicle properly and are designed to satisfy your driving requirements. Low profile and high performance tires won't be able to get much grip in snow. All weather tires do not effectively manage the heat generated on the road when driving at higher speeds and tires intended for passenger cars typically are not capable of carrying the heavy loads often associated with a contractor's pickup truck. A two or three ton vehicle that is generally rated as a very capable towing vehicle requires different tires than would be used on other vehicles.

Whether you choose to replace your tires with the OEM from the dealership or visit a local tire shop, it is critically important to get the right size. Every tire has an alphanumeric code printed on the sidewall that indicates the exact size, performance category, manufacturer, speed rating and load rating of the tire. Each letter and number pertains to a specific feature of the tire. For example, a tire with the following marked on the sidewall:

P245/70R16 106S M+S
translates into the following tire specific information:
P = Passenger tire
225 = width of the tire across the tread in millimeters
50 = Aspect ratio of the sidewall compared to the width
R = Radial construction
16 = Diameter of the rim in inches
92 = Tire's load rating
V = Tire's speed rating
M+S = Tire is rated as an all season tire


Some tires will have an alphanumeric code that starts with LT instead of P, which would indicate the tire is a light-truck tire. Light-truck tires are designed to have higher-load carrying capacities and are designed for SUV's and pick up trucks. There is no law requiring these vehicles to have LT tires, in fact in most cases the original equipment specification calls for passenger car tires.

A tire's speed rating is most important if you do a lot of highway driving. Tires are speed rated from 99 to 186 MPH and indicate the tires ability to prevent heat build up. If you spend little time on the highway, the speed rating is not as important a factor in choosing a replacement tire. The load capacity number on indicates the load carrying capacity of that single tire and it is important to select a tire with no less than the load capacity number indicated on the OEM tires.

In addition to specific sizes, there are four main categories of tires designed specifically for SUV's and trucks. Off road tires are designed taking you and your vehicle safely and capably over rough, rocky and mud and snow covered trails while hauling heavy loads. For occasional light duty off pavement excursions, All Terrain tires offer solid performance on paved roads yet they are engineered to provide additional traction on dirt roads and wet or snow covered surfaces. Performance tires are engineered to help SUVs and trucks achieve sport-sedan-like pavement traction, enabling maximum acceleration, braking, and handling, either from a premium vehicle or from a modified one. Highway tires are meant for SUV's and trucks that see little to no off road time, yet perform exceptionally well on wet or dry paved surfaces. Road noise is minimal and when cared for properly highway tires will last longer than most before replacement becomes necessary.

Many people assume that the best tires for their particular vehicle are the ones that were on the vehicle when it was purchased. However, a locally owned and operated tire shop or online tire retailers can often provide you with a better tire at a more reasonable price and it is their job to find the right tire for your vehicle based on the information you provide.