Everything You Need to Know About Truck Tires
Everything You Need to Know About Truck Tires
Posted on November 5, 2021
Choosing the right tires for your truck is essential for safety, performance, and fuel economy. And this doesn't just mean picking high-quality tires from reputable makers using high-grade materials. Fitting the right design of tire to your truck not only means it'll handle more safely to avoid accidents, but it can also boost performance and lower fuel costs to make your time behind the wheel more profitable. Here's what you need to know when choosing tires for your truck.
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Size Matters
Clearly, not all trucks are the same size, and not all truck wheels need the same size of tire. Your truck's owner's manual will include details about the specific size and rating of tire you need to buy, along with essential advice on inflation pressure, rotation, replacement frequency, and so on.
But what do the different tire size figures mean? Tire sizes are divided into two broad groups according to the weight of the vehicle they'll be fitted to. Smaller pickups and trucks in the quarter-ton to half-ton range will normally use tires rated on the P-Metric scale, which stands for Passenger Metric and also covers minivans, larger SUVs, and other light duty vehicles.
Trucks weighing one ton and beyond will normally use tires rated under the LT-Metric system, which stands for Light Truck Metric, and covers larger pickups and Class 1-3 commercial vehicles. These LT-Metric tires have deeper treads than lower-duty tires, and can also be inflated to higher pressure to bear the heavier weight of larger vehicles and loads.
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Importance of Load Ratings
But as well as size, you need to think about how much weight your tires will be expected to handle. This is measured under the load rating system, which takes into account not only the weight of your truck but the maximum payload it can manage to carry. Heavier loads require higher inflation pressures, and so need stronger, sturdier tires.
The load rating of a truck tire is indicated by a letter, with light trucks covering the alphabetical range of B to F. Tires with a B load rating can handle pressures up to 32psi, while F tires can go up to around 95psi. Larger, heavier trucks with bigger payloads take tires rated F through L, with increasing pressures to match.
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Follow the Seasons
And lastly, one set of tires won't necessarily last you all through the year. If your driving often takes you into conditions where the temperature is below 7°C, then fitting winter tires is essential for safety, whether or not there's snow and ice on the road. Regular summer tires can quickly lose their grip at low temperatures, and no truck driver wants to lose control of their vehicle when hauling a heavy load.
Shop Premium Truck and Trailer Tires in Edmonton
Don't compromise your truck's safety, performance, and fuel economy by accepting low-quality or worn tires. Visit our Edmonton truck and trailer repair shop to browse our range of premium tires for pickups and trucks of all kinds, and enjoy expert advice and fitting from our fully qualified truck technicians.