ALT-2 Buyers Guide to off Road Truck Tires
Few things compare to the thrill of off-roading, but to do this properly requires buying the right tires. More than anything else the quality of your tires will affect the performance of your truck off the road.
The first thing you need to do is identify your specific driving habits and needs. When selecting form a line of tires you have no familiarity with the vehicle identification sticker is vital. It is found on the inside of the vehicle's glove box. In some cases you may have to refer to the owner's manual.
Of course there are many questions you need to ask yourself, such as exactly what sort of off road driving you will need these all terrain tires for. In online sites you can enter your vehicle information and get referred to a proper size index. This saves time and allows for instant comparisons.
Online or in real stores there are some basic criteria you should follow when looking for off-road tires. There are many good tires out there and thus the number of options are almost limitless.
One thing to look for is weather requirements. If you are an individual who lives in cold weather areas then you will have different requirements for your all terrain tires than most. You might want to look into wet-weather, four-season and even all out snow tires, depending on your geography.
Another thing you need to look into is the speed rating of the tires. There is a rating system that tests tires out at higher speeds. You want to decide what your maximum speed will ever be and make sure the tire is graded around 30 mph higher than that,just in case. For example, if you think you will ever top 90, get a tire rated H-speed that is good for at least 120.
Finally I think the tread life expectancy is the most vital aspect of them all. It is vital to remember that these tires are tested in generic lab conditions and thus do not always replicate what they will go through in real life so these ratings should be used in conjunction with the other factors listed above. That said, this is a very vital issue when selecting all terrain tires.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) is the accepted best method of measuring tread life on tires. This is a standard of measurement required of all tire manufacturers by the U.S. Department of Transportation and is heavily enforced. In general through tread, wear and resistance to impact life expectancy of the tire is ascertained in terms of miles.
Remember that the most important two things to keep in mind when deciding on all terrain tires is to take note of driving habits and personal needs. Equipped with this knowledge you may then easily make your selection using the items above as your criteria. Good luck and happy off-road driving!
