How to Choose the Best Winter Tires for a 3/4-Ton Pickup Truck
If you live where you routinely drive your truck through heavy snow and ice, you want tires built to handle such hazardous conditions. For 3/4-ton pickups, demanding winter driving means you will need more traction than that provided by all-terrain, all-season tires. In this case, you probably want to consider dedicated winter tires, or even studded snow tires. Before purchase, also check your owner's manual to verify your choice will not void your warranty.
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Instructions
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Do research on winter tire choices. Ask dealers and use the Internet. Winter tires differ from summer tires and all-season tires in two ways: Winter tires use a rubber compound that stays soft at extremely low temperatures. They also feature tread patterns that are blocky, with deep grooves and extensive "siping" (multiple thin slits along the tread that help grip in snow and icy conditions).
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When driving in weather like this, the right tires can save your life. Consider the usual winter climate where you live. Think about how much snow falls in your area or if icy conditions are common. How well cleared are your roads in the winter? These considerations will determine if you need dedicated snow tires or can get by with all-season tires. Tires are labeled according to the weather conditions they are designed to accommodate.
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Think about the type of transmission your vehicle has. A manual transmission can provide a slight advantage over an automatic in being able to control tire grip and braking by using the gears. Even multi-speed automatics do not offer the control of manual transmissions in changing gears to adjust to quickly changing snow depth and terrain.
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A soft rubber compound coupled with blocky tire treads increase grip on snowy, icy roads. Buy an aggressive, dedicated snow and ice tire if you are going to be driving in extreme winter conditions. Road noise will increase due to the blocky tread. Decide if this increase in noise is a worthwhile trade-off given the increased traction such a tire delivers.
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Consider the load the tires will be asked to handle. Heavy loads coupled with snow and ice increase the difficulty of maintaining control. Buy tires designed to best handle your usual payload requirements. Look for an "LT" rating on the sidewall of the tire. Find it either at the beginning of the complete tire description, as in "LT 245/75R 16" or at the end, as in "7.50R 16 LT."
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Tire size must be within the recommended size range set by the manufacturer. Refer to your truck owner's manual for acceptable tire sizes that will not void your warranty. Be aware that buying tires in sizes other than those the manufacturer recommends can void the warranty. Manufacturers have refused to pay for repairs if owners installed over-sized or otherwise unapproved tires. Use caution with tire sellers who minimize this warning and be prepared to pay for drivetrain replacement out of your own pocket if you ignore it.
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Tips & Warnings
Reducing the size of your tires to the lowest one offered by the manufacturer as original equipment will help snow and ice traction.
Check your state's laws regarding the use of studded tires or if snow tires are required on the routes you may be traveling.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Richard Goerg/Photodisc/Getty Images snowy road image by samantha grandy from Fotolia.com the largest wheel of a truck image by Ivan Hafizov from Fotolia.com pickup 4x4 car from above image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
