ALT-1 Buyers Guide to Custom Tires for Pickup Trucks
So you bought a new pickup truck and now you want to get meatier tires. Do you want something that will show those around you that you don't play around, or just something that will drive easily through mud or snow? On the contrary, do you want low profile tires to have the street scene look that you've always wanted? There are so many different tread patterns and tire sizes; how will you know which one is right for you?
First of all, you will need to decide what style of tread you want. If you want something that has a meaner looking pattern that will be effective in mud and snow but won't rob you of gas mileage, I would go with a tire from Goodyear or Bridgestone. Both companies offer a wide selection of tires that are designed for mud, snow, and all terrain. I would recommend getting the same size tire as the factory tires if you want to stay at about the same gas mileage. I personally have Goodyear Wrangler Mud/Snow tires on my truck and I can drive through snow comfortably and easily. They also have performed well when I was off-roading. On the other hand, if you want the drivers around you and your friends to double take your tires, I would recommend getting any line of Super Swamper tires. Although these tires are a bit thicker and heavier, they will get the job done! You may see a slight drop in gas mileage, but once again if you are worried about that then I would stick to around the same size as the factory tires. The TSL Radial made by Super Swamper is a great tire that has an off-road appeal to it but is not as big as the TSLs or Boggers and will not change your gas mileage in a drastic way.
If you do not want to deal with oversized tires and want to get low profile tires then you need to decide on how much you want to spend. If you want to tell everyone that you are the BOSS and decide to "bling" your truck out with rims, then I would go with NITTO or Pirelli tires. Both companies are known for their low-pro tires because they seal the deal when they are wrapped around chrome rims. The majority of drivers that show interest in car customizing will look at a truck's tires if it has rims on it. Some say tires make or break a truck with rims. In contrast, other drivers favor low profile tires because they handle much better than bigger tires on tight corners and sharp turns. If this is the case for you, any manufacture would be suitable. Michelin, Goodyear, and Bridgestone are three that make exceptional low profile tires that work great in most weather conditions.
Finally, you should always keep in mind of how long you plan to keep your truck and/or if you want to customize it a little. Every style of tire is compatible with rims, so if you think you might buy a set of rims down the road, it might be better to hold off on buying new tires. Always be sure to shop around and ask people how they like their tires. Ask your friends, neighbors, and even family members how well their tires handle, how the gas mileage is, and any other questions you have about that tire or style. Most salesmen will give you the basic information about the tire but do not always know how it performs in the field so sometimes it is better off to go with a driver's personal opinion.
