Understanding The Different Types Of Tires Used On Trucks

Owning a vehicle sometimes requires a little knowledge of the various parts of your vehicle in order to make sure you are utilizing it in the best way. In this article we will focus on tires and their different types, especially when it comes to trucks. 

Why Does Tire Type On Truck Matter So Much?

The main point of driving a truck and not a regular sedan is that you can take on off-roads which are muddy and rocky. Regular tires don’t have enough traction for this type of driving, and they aren’t designed for off-roads at all. While most truck tires are suitable for some off-road driving, there is a huge difference between the best light truck tires and other types meant for more rough terrain. Distinguishing between them is particularly important if you plan on driving through more adventurous paths.

The Different Types Of Truck Tires

Here are the various truck tires you can find, and when you’d want to use them.

Highway Truck Tires

While many truck owners prefer driving on off roads, there are still many who use their trucks to mainly drive on regular roads like highways. Using tires with high traction on the highway is not theri optimal use, because they can wear out faster. Highway truck tires provide a little more traction than those used by sedans, but they are designed to handle heavy loads that trucks typically deal with. Also, they offer a smoother, quieter ride.

Mud Truck Tires, Max Traction Tires

For those who are serious about off-roading, more traction is needed on the tires. Mud tires are those where the tread pattern is very obvious, and they are designed to handle the difficulty of driving on off-roads. Max traction tires are slightly less aggressive, but they follow the same design. They are usually preferred by weekend off-roaders.

All-Terrain Tires

What if you need both? If you already know that your truck needs to be able to handle regularly switching between highways and rugged off-roads, then get yourself all-terrain tires. These are more versatile and can quickly adapt to any type of terrain you choose to drive on. 

Winter Tires

Although mud tires and max traction tires provide a lot of tread, there are special measures that need to be taken when the weather is particularly cold, like when you’re driving on snow (or ice). Rubber can get very brittle in cold weather, so winter tires are specifically manufactured with rubber that stays flexible when the temperature drops. They have small slits on the surface to give an extra strong grip on icy roads, and prevent accidents. With a majority of vehicular accidents during the wintertime being due to slipping, this is particularly important. 

Summary

Not all tires are manufactured the same. Especially when it comes to truck tires, it is crucial to understand the differences between the various tires available because each type serves a different purpose and is designed for driving on different terrain. Understand your tires better so that you can choose according to your driving.