Blog

SUVs and trucks span everything from daily commuters to trail rigs, so the “best” tire depends on how you use yours.

Highway / touring

Best for vehicles that mostly stay on pavement. Expect a quiet, comfortable ride, good tread life, and solid wet/winter manners.

All-terrain (A/T)

A versatile middle ground: confident on the highway with extra grip on gravel, dirt, and light trails. A great choice if you split time between road and off-road. Many carry the 3PMSF snow rating.

Mud-terrain (M/T)

Aggressive, chunky tread for serious off-road traction in mud and rock. The trade-off is more road noise and shorter tread life on pavement.

Don’t forget load rating

If you tow or haul, choose a tire with an adequate load range (such as E) and load index. Confirm the size and load rating on your door-jamb placard, then browse our catalog by vehicle or size.

After the size, a tire is marked with a load index and a speed rating, for example 94H. Both matter for safety.

Load index

A code for the maximum weight each tire can carry. For example, 94 equals about 1,477 lbs per tire. Always meet or exceed the load index your vehicle was designed for — especially on trucks, vans, and SUVs that tow or haul.

Speed rating

• T — up to 118 mph
• H — up to 130 mph
• V — up to 149 mph
• W / Y — 168–186 mph (performance tires)

The rating reflects sustained-speed capability and is tied to the tire’s construction and heat resistance. Match your original equipment rating unless a tire professional advises otherwise.

Verify the correct load index and speed rating on your door-jamb placard before ordering.

Most passenger and light-truck tires carry a UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grading) stamp with three values. They’re a useful way to compare tires.

Treadwear

A relative number like 400 or 600. Higher generally means the tread is rated to last longer. It’s most reliable when comparing tires from the same manufacturer, since testing varies between brands.

Traction (AA, A, B, C)

Measures straight-line wet stopping grip on standardized surfaces. AA is the best, C the lowest.

Temperature (A, B, C)

Indicates resistance to heat at speed. A is the highest rating; all tires sold must meet at least a C.

Use UTQG as one input alongside the tire’s warranty mileage, season rating, and reviews — not as the only deciding factor.

Tires wear gradually, so it’s easy to miss when they cross from “fine” to “unsafe.” A few quick checks keep you ahead of it.

Check tread depth

Most tires have wear bars built into the grooves. When the tread is flush with them, the tire is done. The classic penny test works too: insert a penny with Lincoln’s head down — if you can see the top of his head, replace the tire.

Mind the age

Rubber hardens over time even with plenty of tread left. Many manufacturers recommend inspection after about 5–6 years and replacement by around 10 years, regardless of mileage. The DOT date code on the sidewall tells you when the tire was made.

Look for damage

• Cracks or dry rot in the sidewall.
• Bulges or blisters (a sign of internal damage).
• Uneven wear, which can point to alignment or inflation problems.
• Repeated loss of pressure or visible punctures.

Replacing in full sets keeps handling balanced. When in doubt, have a qualified technician inspect them.

All-season and winter tires are built for different jobs. Picking the right one comes down to your climate and how you drive in the cold.

All-season tires

Designed for year-round use in mild to moderate climates. They balance dry grip, wet traction, tread life, and a quiet ride. They handle light snow but their rubber stiffens as temperatures drop near freezing.

Winter tires

Built with a softer compound that stays flexible in the cold, plus deep tread and biting edges (sipes) for snow and ice. Below about 45°F (7°C) they grip and stop dramatically better than all-seasons.

How to decide

• Mild winters, rare snow: a quality all-season is usually enough.
• Regular snow, ice, or sustained cold: run dedicated winter tires in the cold months.
• Look for the 3PMSF (three-peak mountain snowflake) symbol for severe-snow capability.

Tip: install winter tires in sets of four for balanced handling, and swap back to all-seasons in spring to preserve the soft winter compound.

Every tire has its size molded into the sidewall, for example 225/45R17. Once you know what each part means, finding the right replacement is simple.

Breaking down 225/45R17

• 225 — section width in millimeters (tread width).
• 45 — aspect ratio: sidewall height as a percentage of width. Lower means a shorter, sportier sidewall.
• R — radial construction (standard on modern tires).
• 17 — rim diameter in inches the tire fits.

Load index & speed rating

After the size you’ll often see something like 94H. The number is the load index (how much weight the tire can carry) and the letter is the speed rating. Always match or exceed your vehicle’s original spec.

Where to find your size

Check the sidewall of your current tire, or the placard inside the driver’s door jamb, or your owner’s manual. When in doubt, search our catalog by size and confirm against your vehicle.