Owning a pickup truck gives you the ability to move large items and tow trailers with ease. In order to ensure that your truck is capable of performing efficiently over time, you must invest in quality components when you are replacing any part of your truck.
The tires that you install on your vehicle will play a significant role in determining your truck's fuel efficiency, off-road capabilities, and overall safety over time.
Do you know what you should be looking for when investing in a new set of tires for your truck? Here are three of the most important characteristics to pay attention to so that you can ensure you buy the best tires for your truck.
1. Load Rating
The weight of a pickup truck can change from one day to the next. Your tires will need to be able to support these fluctuations in weight in order to function safely.
All tires are equipped with a load rating. The load rating identifies how many pounds the tire can support at any given time.
To determine the load rating that will work best for your truck tires, you will need to consult your truck's user manual. Verify the gross weight of your truck by itself. Then identify the maximum payload and towing capacity of your truck.
You want tires with a load rating high enough to accommodate the maximum weight rating of a fully loaded truck and trailer.
2. UTQG Code
If you look closely at the sidewall of any truck tire, you will see many letters and numbers imprinted on the tire. These letters and numbers can be used to provide you with a lot of valuable information about the tire itself.
There are three letters and numbers that you want to pay close attention to when replacing the tires on your truck. These three pieces of information are collectively referred to as the UTQG code.
All truck tire manufacturers conduct a series of tests on their products before mass producing them for the consumer market. Treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance are the three most important tests conducted by tire manufacturers.
The UTQG code displays how a tire performed during these tests. If you routinely drive your vehicle in adverse weather conditions, or if you live in an extreme climate, the UTQG code can be utilized to help you identify the tire that is best suited to withstand your unique driving needs.
3. Tread Pattern
The tread pattern on truck tires serves as more than an aesthetic element. The design of the tread pattern can impact performance and fuel efficiency over time. Most truck tires can be classified in one of two tread pattern categories: ribbed and blocked.
Ribbed tread patterns are designed to maximize the fuel efficiency of a truck. In order to improve gas mileage, ribbed tread patterns sacrifice some traction. If you live in a dry climate and don't need a high level of traction in your truck tires, choose tires that have a ribbed tread pattern.
Blocked tread patterns (also referred to as lug treads) are ideal for maximizing traction. Blocked tread tires can be especially beneficial when placed on the torque axle of your truck. The blocked design creates a deeper tread depth than other types of tread patterns. This deeper tread depth is helpful in retaining tire traction when your truck delivers a burst of power to the torque axle.
If you do a lot of towing or haul a lot of heavy loads, blocked tread tires will best serve the needs of your truck.
You don't want to purchase a set of tires that won't give you the type of driving experience you desire. Pay attention to load ratings, UTQG codes, and tread patterns to ensure a successful experience when buying truck tires. Contact a company that sells products like Goodyear truck tires to learn more.