Tires are a critical element of your truck, as they literally keep you rolling. But like anything else, tires don’t last forever – and even the most affordable truck tires aren’t cheap. So what are the top truck tires on the market?
To track down the best options, we scanned the market and read real customer reviews. In the end, our top choice is the Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus All-Season Tire because of its all-season drivability and fat tire sidewalls that help to protect its rims and soften the ride.
Once you’ve purchased your tires, don’t neglect tire maintenance, including proper tire rotation.
Our Expert’s Top 5 Truck Tires
Here are the top truck tires on the market according to our expert. Compare their ratings and features to determine the best tire for your truck.
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating | All Season | Speed Rating | Radial/Bias | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus All-Season Tire" Trailer Tires | T | Radial | 20-inch | ||
| Best Budget Buy | Ohtsu FP7000 All-Season Radial Tire | V | Radial | 18-inch | ||
| Best Light Truck & SUV | Hankook Vantra LT Tire | R | Radial | 14-inch | ||
| Best Heavy-Duty & Commercial Truck | Cosmo CT588 Plus Commercial Radial Tires | L | Radial | 19.5-inch | ||
| Best Winter | Firestone Winterforce CV | R | Radial | 16-inch |
*Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 and based on reviews, feedback, and opinions of actual customers
In This Article
Who Should Buy Truck Tires
- Truck owners. Yes, this is obvious. But truck owners – especially those who even infrequently haul or tow considerable weight – will want to upgrade to truck tires for their strength and capability. These tires offer vehicle-specific sizing and performance that you won’t get with passenger car tires.1
- Those with old tires. Tires wear out or dry rot over time, so it’s imperative to replace tires once the tread wears out or the tires reach anywhere from five to eight years of age. For more on tire replacement, check out our article on how long will your truck tires stay in good shape. Generally speaking, most new tires on the market now last about 60,000 miles.2 However, keep in mind this will vary from tire to tire, and there numerous factors that can cause them to wear faster and need replacing sooner.3
- Off-roaders. If you plan on chasing mud bogs with your truck, a set of truck tires is imperative to finding the thrills you’re seeking.
Who Should Not Buy Truck Tires
- Owners of passenger cars. Your Toyota Camry shouldn’t be rocking all-terrain truck tires.
- Those with new tires. There’s not much sense replacing your tires if they still have life left in them. Check for wear before investing in a new set of rubber.
Research Tips (from an Expert)
Due to their expense and outsized impact on ride and handling, tires can be a daunting purchase. be sure to keep all the following in mind when shopping for truck tires:
- Check the tire type. You can easily determine the type of tire by the first letter in the identifying code. P means passenger car, LT means light truck, and ST indicates special trailer. Truck tires will generally start with LT, such as LT 225/75R15.
- Verify the tire width. Once you’ve selected the correct type of tire, you’ll need to find the right width. The number listed after the tire type indicated is the width of the tire in millimeters. If the code is ST 225/75R15, the width of the tire is 225 mm.
- Verify the tire height. The next number you need to check for is the number following the slash, which indicates the tire’s height as a percentage of the width. Using our above example of ST225/75R15, the sidewall height is 75 percent of its 225 mm width.
- Verify your wheel diameter. The last number in the sequence is the diameter of the wheel in inches. In our example, the wheel is 15 inches in diameter.
- Consider treadwear. Treadwear grades range from 50 to more than 600, and increases in 20-point increments. A treadwear grade indicates how long a tire is expected to last. The higher the number, the longer the tread will last.
- Check the traction score. A traction score is indicative of a tire’s ability to stop a car in a straight line on wet pavement. AA is the best, while C is the worst.
- Check the temperature grade. Temperature grades represent a tire’s resistance to heat and its ability to dissipate heat under controlled conditions. A tire with a C grade meets the minimum performance standards. A is the highest rating.
- Check the speed rating. Tires indicate their speed rating with a letter on the sidewall, with H for 130 mph, P for 93 mph, Q for 99 mph, R for 106 mph, S for 112 mph, T for 118 mph, V for 149 mph, W for 168 mph, Z for 149+ mph, and Y for 186+ mph.
- Replace in pairs. While some tire damage, such as a small screw or nail puncture, can be repaired with a plug kit, a tire may sometimes be damaged beyond what can safely be repaired. An important thing to keep in mind is that tires should almost always be replaced in pairs, so that they wear evenly and provide safe and adequate traction in all conditions. 4
How Much Do They Cost?
Between $100 and $150For most truck tires, you can expect to pay between $100-$150 per tire and still get a quality product. Whether or not a tire comes mounted on a rim will affect how much it costs—those with rims being more expensive than rubber only. Generally speaking, the higher the speed rating, the more expensive the tire. Another factor is the tire type and construction (e.g. all-season versus winter tires). The best of the bunch will cost you upwards of $200 a tire.
The Best Truck Tires: Full Reviews
The Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus All-Season Tire is an all-season tire that is suitable for use on most trucks. It features a specially designed tread that helps to evacuate water for increased performance and handling in all weather conditions. It aims to provide superior on-pavement performance, yet is rated for mud and snow and offers a fat 60-aspect sidewall.
To ease any concerns of potential buyers, these tires include a 45-day test drive, so you can put them through their paces before committing.
- Speed rating T
- Radial design
- Treadwear indicator
- Standard limited warranty
- Some reviewers found these tires loud
- Some reviewers found they didn’t last the full 50,000 mile warranty
You might not recognize the name, but the Ohtsu FP7000 All-Season Radial Tire is a great all-season choice for those trying to save a few bucks on their next set of truck tires. They sneak in at just under $100 per tire – a steal in the truck world. Despite the low price, they include treadwear indicators, dual steel belts for greater rigidity, and high volume circumferential grooves to reduce the risk of hydroplaning. It also features a radial design and carries a speed rating of V.
- Variable shoulder tread block design
- High volume circumferential grooves
- Radial design for improved handling and wear
- Treadwear indicators
- Wheel only, rim not included
- Some reviewers felt tires rode hard
The Hankook Vantra LT Tire is a solid option for light trucks and SUVs as it boasts a durable tread that helps to reduce noise while driving. It also offers excellent wet weather performance. It’s also available for 14-inch wheels, making this a great option for older trucks sporting smaller wheels.
This tire has been designed to withstand heavy loads, and offers added stability thanks to the reinforced double steel belt in its carcass. Hankook also aimed to improve the handling by using bead filler for enhanced rim joint stiffness.
- Inner liner prevents air leakage
- Available in a choice of sizes fitting wheels as small as 14-inches
- Three channel wide groove
- Bead filler provides enhanced rim joint stiffness
- Some reviewers felt wet weather handling was underwhelming
- Not as performance-oriented as other tires on this list
The Cosmo CT588 Plus Commercial Radial Tires are specially designed for heavy-duty applications like box trucks and flatbeds. These tires are purchased as a complete set, so no need to order individually. The Cosmo features a load range of H (16 ply), speed rating L, and load index 140/138.
Designed for 19.5-inch rims, these tires are a steal at just $895 per set of four. That equates to about $223 per tire, which is a better price than many passenger-car tires.
- Deep, straight-cut treads
- Only $895 for a set, or about $223 per tire
- Designed for all-season use
- Wider tread pattern for improved handling
- Rim not included
- Max speed 75 mph
- For commercial trucks only
Upgrading to winter tires is just as important for truck owners as it is for sedan and crossover owners. If you’re looking to upgrade before the next winter, the Firestone Winterforce CV Winter/Snow Commercial Light Truck Tire offers excellent performance in winter driving conditions. Among its standout features is its five-rib tread design with full-depth grooves, which helps with the evacuation of deep water and slush.
The biting edges of the tread provide added grip in snowy conditions, making it that much easier to make it home in a snowstorm. They are speed rated R, and have been designed to help maintain a quiet ride despite being a winter tire They aren’t cheap at $171 per tire, but the peace of mind may be worth the price of admission.
- Zig zag sawtooth sipes
- 5 rib deep tread
- E rated 10 ply tire
- Hefty price tag
- Some reviewers said these tires were noisy
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do truck tires last?
What size tires should I put on my truck?
Do bigger tires lift your truck?
Do tires affect gas mileage?
Article Sources
Motor Sports Village uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- Firestone Complete Auto Care. The differences between light truck and passenger tires. Firestonecompleteautocare.com Published January 22, 2020. Accessed July 20, 2021.
- Muller D. How long should a new set of tires last? Caranddriver.com. Published September 4, 2017. Accessed July 20, 2021.
- CEAT. Major factors that affect the life of a car tire. Ceat.com. Accessed July 20, 2021.
- Anders Automotive. Replacing tires? You need to do them in pairs, and here is why. Andersautokc.com. Published June 4, 2019. Accessed July 20, 2021.
