What factors should you consider when buying truck tires?

  1. Tread Type
    • Rib
    • Lug
    • Rib-Lug
    • Block
  2. Tire Position
    • Steer
    • Drive
    • Trail

There are different kinds of road surfaces that commercial truck drivers are required to drive on. Because of this, you may see different kinds of tires equipped on often similar commercial trucks. You might even wonder what kind of tires are on that truck at a dealership of Dongfeng Philippines ? There are many tires for specific road surfaces, each of which excels at different conditions. Let’s take a look at the different types of tires for trucks:

 

Tread Type

Rib

Tire Tread Type Rib

Tires with a ribbed design are the smoothest among other commercial truck tires. Characterized by grooves that are placed parallel to the bead which that run across the tire, a ribbed tread design provides the most traction on dry surfaces. It does a great job of enduring high speeds due to its low heat generation. This design also generates the least amount of tire noise and road resistance. However, it may not be the best design for wet traction because of its poor ability to disperse water.

Ribbed tires are probably the most common truck tires you’ll find here in the Philippines. Trucks for sale from Foton Philippines may come equipped with these tires as standard. Ribbed tires are designed for highway use. They are the ultimate choice for enhanced truck handling and have the highest tread resistance. The name comes from the tire’s design of a solid ribbed tread which increases your truck’s stability. Ribbed tires are made to handle extreme loads, which is why this is ideal for most trucks. This is the best choice for commercial trucks that constantly pull heavy loads for long distances.

 

Lug

Tire Tread Type Lug

A lug tire tread design follows a tread pattern of perpendicular grooves that flow in a lateral direction. This tire design is made for improved traction on dirt roads and does a good job of gripping tarmac as well. Lug tread patterned tires provide the best grip when under-braking and during acceleration. Another great feature of this design is its improved ability to resist cuts and abrasions, making it the best choice for trucks that frequent construction sites or when a terrain requires low-speed stability.

 

Rib-Lug

Tire Tread Type Rib Lug

This mixed-shape tire pattern combines ribbed and lugged shape design in one tire. This tire design aims to achieve both of the characteristics of a ribbed design and lug design in one wheel. With a mixed tread design, you get the best of both worlds in terms of traction.

The central rib design provides great high-speed stability and directional control, while the lug patterns on the shoulder of a rib-lug design increases both stopping power and acceleration. This type of tire is suitable for paved and dirt roads at mid to low speeds.

The downside of this design is that you don’t get the best dry performance or the best off-road performance compared to specialized tires. Another con of fitting this tire is having to sacrifice a quiet ride and longevity of the tire. Nonetheless, this is a great tire for your commercial truck that is frequently driven on the highways and unpaved roads.

 

Block

Tire Tread Type Block

A block tread pattern design features independently placed blocks along the circumference of the tire which are separated by interconnected grooves. This is a tire that excels on paved roads. A block tread design is the perfect all-season tire for commercial trucks.

Due to the number of grooves on this tire design, a block tire design is the best choice for driving on wet, paved roads. Not only is it great at dispersing water, the block tire design improves your truck’s handling and stability under wet conditions. On dry conditions, this design will provide you with an excellent drive and increased stopping power.

 

Tire Position

Steer

Tire Position Steer

Your two front tires are what you call the steer tires. These are the most important set of tires. The steer tires should have the most grip because both braking and steering performance will heavily depend on the front set of tires. It’s always best to put the stickiest tires at front.

Drive

Tire Position Drive

The drive tires will be located at the rear. Depending on the duty of your truck, you could have 2 or 4 drive wheels. These are responsible for powering your vehicle as they are the wheels that are connected to your drive axles. It’s best to have the same type of tires equipped on the drive wheels as your steer tires, but there may be times when you need to swap them out, depending on surface conditions.

Trail

Tire Position Trail

Trail wheels are the wheels equipped on your trailer. These tires are basically free-wheeling tires what work with an open-differential axle set up. This set must be able to withstand massive amounts of load and lateral forces. Equipping this set with durable tires will always be the best option.

 

Key Takeaway

Knowing what tires to equip for different surfaces could be a great benefit for you and your truck. It’s vital that you have the proper tires equipped based on what type of surface you drive on daily. If ever you find a truck for sale in the Philippines, it’s best to invest in the right tires for the job. You’ll never want to lose any traction during your journey.