Light Truck Tires

Here at Tire Rack, we built our business on higher performance tires for more exotic applications. The inventory expanded over the years as we also carry tires that are targeted toward regular cars used for everyday transportation, and tires for the enthusiast on a budget.

Fuzion, the entry level brand from Bridgestone, often has the best-priced tires in a given size. Though not as well known as its older siblings from Bridgestone and Firestone, Fuzion tires offer an excellent value. The Fuzion Touring is a smooth riding, all-season tire that's very aggressively priced, while the UHP is Fuzion's new Ultra High Performance All-Season tire designed for sporty handling combined with capability in cold weather and light snow. 

Kumho has been a stalwart in the performance-per-dollar arena. Little known when they first came to the United States, they have built a loyal following over the past decade or so. Their Ecsta 4X is often my go-to selection for a value-oriented all-season performance tire. The Solus KR21 does consistently well in surveys among customers needing a regular all-season passenger tire. 

Among light trucks and SUVs, the Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S G051 has an excellent combination of long treadwear, reliable performance and an excellent price. With each option fitting into most budgets, you're getting a great tire for your vehicle as each is currently ranked in the top ten in their class.

To see what options are available for your application, shop by size. 

The three critical components for snow and ice traction were covered in-depth in one of my previous blog posts. Again, they are:

1. Tread design
2. Tread compound
3. Tread depth

Now that you understand the how behind winter traction, what actually determines a tire as being a winter / snow option? It comes down to whether or not the tire is branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol.

Fortunately, the industry has established an easy way to find these tires that provide higher levels of wintertime capability. In 1999, the U.S. Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) created the mountain/snowflake standard. This symbol is predominately displayed next to the M+S (Mud and Snow) marking on the tire's sidewall and indicates a tire has met the higher winter performance requirements. Finding a tire with this marking almost guarantees you have a dedicated winter / snow tire. There are exceptions, as a handful of truck-sized On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires also meet the requirement without being a dedicated winter solution.

Of course, a tire that's marked solely with the M+S symbol will do a good job during the summer, spring and fall months. Anything beyond some light snow and these tires can become traction challenged quite quickly. When it comes to handling winter's toughest conditions, choose a tire with the mountain/snowflake symbol and skip the white knuckle driving!

Search for winter / snow tires by vehicle to find the option that's right for you.

Dedicated winter / snow tires perform better than non-winter tires on snow- and ice-covered roads. The downside is that winter tires aren't designed for year-round use, therefore an additional set of tires is needed.  

In light of this, some light truck and SUV drivers choose to compromise and use one set of tires all 12 months of the year. Many will choose a tire from the Highway All-Season or Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season category because of their quiet ride and long wear. 

However, for drivers who are willing to deal with more road road noise and slightly reduced road handling, On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires are worth considering for their better snow traction. On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires (commonly referred to as A/T tires) typically have snow and ice traction that's better than street all-season tires but fall short of the winter performance of a dedicated winter / snow tire. 

Which of the On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires have the best snow traction? The following are my top three choices:

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO

General Grabber AT 2

Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor

As you can see, all three tires have a fairly aggressive tread pattern with many small tread blocks and multiple sipes for better snow, ice and off-road traction. Based on our extensive customer survey data, the General Grabber AT 2 has higher ratings for deep snow traction, light snow traction and ice traction, while being a bit louder and slightly stiffer riding than the other two options. However, these differences were separated by very few points, so it's hard to go wrong with any one of these tires. 

Take a look at what some of our customers are saying about their experiences with the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO, General Grabber AT 2 and Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor:

"I bought these to replace my Original Equipment which honestly were horrible in snow. I slid everywhere, even in the rain. Bought these (BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO) and it is like a whole different truck. I love these tires and will buy them for every truck I ever own as long as they stay this good. Have had them on for about 10,000 miles and they still look new, and I am what they call an aggressive driver. I really love these tires. If they made them to fit all my vehicles, I would buy them for all of them. Best tires I have come across for my truck hands down! Buy them, you won't be disappointed." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2008 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4wd (BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO)

"These tires are amazing! i just put a new set on my truck because I was so happy with the performance of the last set. I live in rural North Dakota, so they get plenty of time to play in the mud, gravel and snow. My tire size is mountain/snowflake rated and I see why. They go through deep snow. When it starts snowing in town and you see all the other cars unable to get traction, I can keep it in two-wheel drive and go like it's dry pavement. Even blizzards can't slow them down!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 1999 Nissan Frontier XE 4wd (General Grabber AT 2)

"Best tires I have ever bought! Awesome traction in any condition: wet, dry, snow and even ice. Goodyear hit a home run with this design. 5 stars. I can't say enough good about this tire." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review (Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor)

Shop by vehicle today and upgrade your vehicle's snow and ice traction!

Qualified winter / snow tires have the mountain/snowflake marking on their sidewall. In short, it indicates a higher level of winter capabilities, including traction in snow and on ice compared to an all-season tire. The spirit of the marking is intended for dedicated winter solutions, however there are a few models out there that meet or exceed the threshold and sport the severe snow mountain/snowflake symbol.

Listed below are the non-dedicated winter / snow tire options that meet the severe snow service requirements with the mountain/snowflake symbol. Currently, the only options are for SUVs and light trucks. The following tires can be great solutions if you want a higher level of winter element traction without swapping tires back and forth twice a year. Certain sizes of the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO and General Grabber AT 2 do not have the mountain/snowflake symbol and those sizes can be found under the "Specs" tab.

On/Off Road All-Terrain

• BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO (Specs)
• General Grabber AT 2 (Specs)
• Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor
• Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61

On/Off Road Commercial Traction

• Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac

I am a firm believer in the dedicated winter solution, and have been installing winter tires on my personal vehicles for years. There is one exception to that, and that is the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac on our pick-up. It's as close to a winter tire that I have used.

To find the right tire for your vehicle and how you drive, shop by vehicle.

It seems the Audi Q7 is a vehicle that has issues with tire wear. Like most heavier vehicles, it'll tend to wear tires faster than a lighter car. While we can't change this or promise any treadlife miracles, the problem can be remedied to a degree.

The Q7's Original Equipment was made available with several different sizes and brands of tires, however most of the options had one thing in common: very soft tread compounds. Typically, the tires used on the Q7 were sport truck tires or performance tires featuring relatively soft compounds and correspondingly low UTQG treadwear numbers. This type of tire combined with the weight of the vehicle usually leads to poor tire mileage. From my own personal estimate, most Q7 owners usually see about 20,000 miles before needing to replace their tires. When looking for replacement tires, I find it often makes sense to move away from the Original Equipment and take a look at more proven options with the propensity for longer life.

Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season

Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza

The following are a few of my favorite tires that come with pleasing mileage warranties from the manufacturer:

Pirelli's Scorpion Verde All Season is their eco-friendly Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tire that combines dry and wet road handling, comfort and year-round capabilities. Ecoimpact icons on the sidewall highlight its environmental compatibility where it reduces rolling resistance and tire weight to increase fuel economy and lower the vehicle's CO2 emissions.

Continental's ExtremeContact DWS satisfies drivers' year-round driving needs by blending dry and wet road performance with light snow and slush traction. A visible "DWS" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions, as well as wet roads and light snow. After the "S" wears away, the remaining "DW" indicates the tire only has sufficient tread depth for dry and most wet road conditions. And after the "W" and "S" wear away, the remaining "D" lets drivers know the tire has appropriate tread depth for dry conditions only.

The Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza provides elegance with an edge. Featuring Bridgestone's UNI-T technology, the tire takes behavior to a higher level by increasing comfort and control, in order to further enhance wet traction over the life of the tire. In our Tire Survey Results, the Dueler H/L Alenza receives high marks for dry traction, steering response and cornering stability. It's important to note that this tire is only available in an 18" size for your Q7.

To ensure you find the right tire for your Audi Q7, shop by vehicle.

While the new Dodge Journey has been well received, one thing that hasn't been popular is the optional 19" tire size that comes equipped on many of the vehicles. While the Original Equipment options have done well, many Journey owners have been left wanting more. 

In the 225/55R19 size, we recently added the Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max. It's designed to provide year-round, all-season traction in dry, wet and wintry conditions, including light snow, as well as offer reduced rolling resistance to enhance vehicle fuel economy over the tire's lifetime. The tire comes with a 65,000 mile treadlife warranty.

We also know the slightly wider 235/55R19 to fit many of the Original Equipment wheels. 235/55R19 is 0.4" taller (overall) and 0.2" wider at the contact patch, for a mere 1.4% difference in diameter compared to the Original Equipment. 

The 235/55R19 size offers a full complement of all-season tires primarily for crossovers and SUVs that offer long life and a comfortable, quiet ride. Best sellers to consider are the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia and Yokohama Parada Spec-X.

Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max

Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia

Yokohama Parada Spec-X

Like the Assurance CS Fuel Max, Bridgestone's Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia helps enhance fuel economy by reducing tire rolling resistance. Combining year-round traction, handing and comfort, the tire is also developed for drivers of sport utility vehicles. We tested the Bridgestone and Goodyear options against a third tire and the results can be found by reading "Testing Eco-Focused Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season Tires."

The Yokohama Parada Spec-X features a more aggressive directional tread design aimed at drivers that are willing to sacrifice some durability for enhanced wet traction at higher speeds. This Street/Sport Truck All-Season tire is currently ranked number one in our Tire Survey Results. Customers give the tire high marks in many categories, including dry traction, cornering stability and ride comfort.

To find all tire options that are a match for your Dodge Journey, shop by vehicle.

The load range branded on a tire's sidewall helps identify how much load the tire is designed to carry at its industry specified pressure. A good rule of thumb is that the Load Index of your new tires be equal to or greater than the Load Index of the Original Equipment.

In most cases, passenger vehicles will use one of three different ratings:

• Standard Load - Either nothing is branded on the tire's sidewall or it may be branded Standard Load and identified by an SL in their description, as in P235/75R-15 SL.
• Extra Load - P-Metric tires branded Extra Load are identified by an XL in their descriptions, as in P235/75R-15 XL.
• Light Load - P-Metric tires branded Light Load are identified by an LL in their descriptions, as in P285/35R-19 LL.

Light trucks, such as the Chevy 2500 and Ford F-350, use a different system that utilizes a letter in ascending alphabetic order. The deeper into the alphabet you go, the higher the load rating. The letter replaces the old ply rating system with a load range E being equivalent to a 10 ply. Since light truck tires are often available in multiple load ranges, the appropriate load range is identified immediately following the size's rim diameter in our descriptions.

We recently added a new filter option that allows you to limit the results, when applicable, to a specific rating. When the search results are listed after you shop by vehicle, you can then find the filter section for load rating on the left side of the page. 

To gain a better understanding of load ratings, read "Load Range/Ply Rating Identification."

Most often, one of the biggest concerns when replacing tires is winter weather performance. If you're the owner of a light truck or SUV and need an On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tire that can perform to an exceptional level in winter conditions, then choosing a tire branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol will assure you have the very best winter traction offered.

In 1999, the U.S. Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) agreed on a performance based standard to identify passenger and light truck tires that attain a traction index equal to, or greater than 110 (compared to a reference tire which is rated 100) during the specified American Society for Testing and Materials traction tests on packed snow. The new standard helps ensure that drivers can easily identify tires that provide a higher level of snow traction.

On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires typically have as much capability off the road as they do on the road. These tires feature multifaceted tread blocks to help deliver traction in any direction on gravel roads and dirt trails, as well as are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol indicating their ability to provide all-season versatility, including traction in snow.

Currently, three well-received options in this category include the General Grabber AT 2, Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor, and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO. Certain sizes of these tires display the mountain/snowflake symbol for severe snow service requirements and will be suitable for all-season use.

General Grabber AT 2

Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO

The General Grabber AT 2 has a chip- and tear-resistant tread compound molded into an aggressive, symmetric tread design featuring five rows of independent tread blocks that blends on-road handling with off-road traction. Its internal structure includes twin steel belts on top of a two-ply polyester cord body to combine strength and durability with a quiet ride.

Wrangler SilentArmor tires feature Goodyear's Durawell rubber compound molded at the base of the tread grooves to increase resistance to stone/rock drilling. The tire's internal structure is designed with an Armor Zone that consists of twin, high-tensile steel belts that are reinforced by a layer of DuPont KEVLAR cord to combine strength with comfort.

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tires are designed to deliver go-anywhere traction along with outstanding durability and great wear. The tire is ranked in the top ten of our Tire Survey Results and our customers have great things to say about it, including the owner of a 2003 Ford F150 Super Crew 4wd who says "This is my fourth set of BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tires. These tires are rugged. Despite the rugged tread design, they are quiet on the highway. They will get you anywhere you want to go: sand, mud, light snow, deep snow...bring it on!"

NOTE: While most General Grabber AT 2, Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tires meet the industry's severe snow service requirements (and are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol), selected tires do not. Specific tires/sizes not meeting the industry's severe snow service requirements are identified with a "Not Rated For Severe Snow" notation under the Sizes & Pricing, as well as the Specs tab.

To find the tire that's right for your on-road and off-road travels including snow-covered roads, view all On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires.

For the most part, Tire Rack carries tires for passenger cars and light trucks. However, we do offer some options for heavier vehicles that require 19.5" wheels.

The Michelin XRV is aimed primarily at the recreational vehicle market. Featuring heavy-duty construction and a smooth, stable, straight-rib tread pattern, this tire is ideal for RVs used on the highway. It uses a cool-running tread compound molded into a shallow, stable tread design to reduce heat for greater durability and reduced squirm for enhanced handling. Currently, this Highway Rib Summer tire is available in a 225/70R19.5 and 245/70R19.5 size.

Continental's HSR is designed to be used on the steer (generally front) axle of medium-duty commercial vehicles. They can be used in conjunction with the Continental HDR which is designed for use on the drive axle. These Continental tires feature a rugged steel internal construction and a damage-resistant compound to accommodate use off of the pavement. Both Continentals are available in 225/70R19.5. The HDR is also offered in a 245/70R19.5 size. 

Michelin XRV

Continental HSR

Bridgestone R187

In size 8R19.5, we offer the Bridgestone R187. This tire is designed with a smooth-rolling highway tread that provides good wet and dry traction. It also features an all-steel construction and a deep 16/32" tread depth. 

Whether you're looking for a tire for a 19.5" wheel or a different size, shopping by size will give you the options that are a match for your application.

Since its introduction, Pirelli has impressed us with their Scorpion Ice & Snow winter tire. It has been a favorite option for many light trucks, SUVs and crossover applications. In fact, it's so well liked that the tire is currently ranked number one in our Tire Survey Results. Some of the most popular fitments have been the 255/55R18 and 255/50R19 size for the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, Audi Q7 and VW Touareg. For BMW X5 owners, take a look at one of my previous blog posts, "BMW X5 Sport Package Winter Tires" to see how this tire can help your winter driving.

The Pirelli Scorpion Winter has a more aggressive, directional tread pattern to offer more biting edges on snow- and ice-covered roads. Featuring a more open directional center rib and directional shoulder ribs further help with snow and slush traction, as well as aid in water evacuation and hydroplaning resistance. Pirelli's Ecoimpact icons are branded on the sidewalls to highlight the tire's contribution to the environment with regards to energy efficiency, clean air and low noise.

Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow

Pirelli Scorpion Winter

For the 2012-13 winter season, the new Pirelli Scorpion Winter will be sold alongside the Scorpion Ice & Snow in many sizes. Both tires can make driving fun, even in winter. Shop by vehicle to see if either great winter / snow tire is an option for your vehicle!