Tires, Your Most Essential Truck Accessory
There you are, driving along the highway in your 4X4
when you glance off to the side only to see an oh-so-inviting
muddy logging trail. "Can't pass this one up", you say
to yourself, as you tug on the steering wheel and head
off to 4-wheeler's heaven. Next thing you know, you're
using your cell phone (if it works out in no-man's land)
to call a tow truck. What happened? In the excitement
of the moment, did you forget you still had highway
tires on your truck? Oops!
Most light trucks come equipped with All Purpose tires,
which are fine for everyday driving. But if you're an
offroad enthusiast, you'll want to take the time to
find the tire that's perfect for your offroad adventures.
And there are plenty of options.
ALL-SEASON (All-Purpose) TIRES. These tires are adequate
for driving in all four seasons. Most carry an M/S designation
(Mud/Snow) but are really meant only for light snow.
They don't have the proper rubber compound for cold
weather, nor the open tread block pattern for the traction
provided by a snow tire.
ALL-TERRAIN TIRES. These tires are a compromise for
those who use their truck for general daily driving
with only occasional off-road use. Surprisingly, they
are designed with added grip for "all terrain", dirt,
sand, wet surfaces, light snow and light mud. But they
are also good for general highway use and are relatively
quiet on pavement. If you're going to be driving in
heavy snow or thick mud, however, you need to move on
to a tire designed with that purpose in mind.
SNOW TIRES. If you drive in light snow sporadically,
you don't necessarily need snow tires--all-season tires
should do the trick. But if you live in a severe-weather
climate (or do a lot of driving in heavy snow), snow
tires are for you. Snow tires have an open tread block
pattern for better traction and should be narrower.
More importantly, they are manufactured with a rubber
compound that is more flexible in cold weather. The
colder the climate, the less suitable your all-season
tire becomes.
STUDDED SNOW TIRES. These are for icy winter conditions.
They are "studded" (have metal posts embedded in them),
allowing for up to 40% better traction in hard-packed
snow and ice than an all-season tire. The downside,
however, is the increased noise level as well as the
fact that traction is decreased on dry and wet surfaces.
Beyond that, due to the fact that they tend to "chew
up" the pavement, many regions have either banned them
all together or restricted their use to certain months
of the year.
WINTER TIRES. Winter tires provide better traction in
snowy and icy conditions. Their tread patterns and tread
compounds are specifically designed for winter conditions.
These tires perform better not only in snow, but also
in slush and rain. And they're generally quieter than
the snow tire. Look for the snowflake/mountain symbol
which means they are certified to have met specific
snow traction requirements.
MUD TIRES. If you're mudbogging, you need wide tires
with large lugs. The lugs should have deep voids in
between to expel the mud, allowing for better traction
at each rotation. These tires, however, are generally
loud on the highway, although you may find some exceptions.
Mud tires are also good for rock climbing, sand and
unpacked snow but do not perform well in icy conditions
or in rain.
Two additional points to keep in mind ... don't try
to cut corners by changing out only two tires. All four
tires, whether they are snow tires or mud tires, should
be the same. Two just won't do. And while the above
list does not include any particular brand recommendations,
the quickest, most reliable way to choose a good tire
brand is to talk to other offroad entusiasts and find
out what they're using in your area.
So there you have it. Tires are the most important truck
accessory. Always make sure you have the right tires
for the right job and you'll never have to embarrass
yourself by calling a friend to come tow you out of
an ugly mess.
Copyright 2006 by Debbie Pettitt who is webmaster for
Truck
Extravaganza, bringing you valuable information
and resources about trucks and truck accessories. For
more information about Ford truck accessories, visit
Ford
Truck Accessories
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