Choosing the best light truck tire for your truck is important. Not only will great tires keep you safe and enhance the performance of your truck, they can also dress up the appearance of your vehicle. There are many great tires on the market, but not all of them are going to work well for your light truck. Whether you are looking for a simple tire to get you from point A to point B, or you would like some off-roading power, you’ll find that the right light truck tire will make all the difference.
As you are shopping around for light truck tires, you may notice there are many options. Some will be lower in price while others will have a ton of features to enjoy.
The grip, tread composition, durability and rubber compound all vary from tire to tire. Choosing the right LT tire for your vehicle can depend on your personal preference and how you use your truck day-to-day.
In today’s article I’ll explore what I consider to be the 9 best light truck tires you can buy. I highlight light truck tires for winter, summer, off-roading, and commuting on this page to save you time and steer you in the right direction. While I will take a close look at several great options in this article, my favorite and the best light truck tire is the Michelin Defender LTX M/S. This one does well on both the highway and the street, providing a lot of great stability, even if you need to keep a large trailer attached to it. It also has a long warranty, feels comfortable to passengers over all the bumps you’ll encounter both on and off the paved road.
Quick Picks (my favorite LT Tires)
| BEST FOR WINTER |
Need a light truck tire that is able to handle snow, ice, and can even do a bit of off-roading? You can’t go wrong with this Michelin.
| BEST OVERALL |
This tire is made of strong construction, great stability, and a 70,000 mile warranty to help you keep it on the road for a long time to come.
| BUDGET FRIENDLY |
This tire offers the great performance you need, performs quietly on the road, and is a solid, affordable light truck tire you’ll love.
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What to Look for and Avoid When You Buy LT Tires
It is important that truck drivers pick out the right light truck tires to match with their vehicle. This will ensure that they can stay comfortable on the road and safe, no matter the road conditions. Picking the wrong ones can cost you a lot of money as you will need to replace the tires often.
We will take a look at some of the things you should consider when purchasing the right light truck tires and what you should avoid.
What to Look For When Buying Light Truck Tires
There are a number of items that you will need to look for when you choose a tire for the light truck. If you go to your chosen tire shop, you may be able to talk to a technician to get some advice, but it is also important to follow some guidelines to get the right ones.
Some of the features that should be present in your light truck tires include:
Tire Load Rating
The load rating will depend on what you plan to do with the truck. If you just want a good tire for traveling around, then you can go with P-metric tires. These are good for ¼-ton to ½-ton vehicles that are not going to haul trailers or a lot of heavy cargo. If you want that extra carrying capacity, then you can go with the LT-metric tires to give you more power for moving things.
Weather Factor
If you can manage it, you should go for some all-season light truck tires. This helps them to handle most of the weather conditions that you will find, providing you with protection in rain, ice, snow, and dry road conditions. These will work the best for most drivers. If you do live in a hot climate, you may want a summer tire, but these are not common for light truck tires.
Touring Tires
While these used to be used mostly on SUVs and passenger vehicles, it is also possible to find some for trucks as well. These can provide more comfort and give you longevity in the tires that you get to use. These are the perfect tire for a light truck.
A Tire Warranty
You need to choose a light truck tire that is going to last a long time. Most of the tires on our list will last at least 50,000 miles through the warranty, though there are some that will go for much longer. This can save you a lot of money on purchasing more tires.
Highway vs Off-Road Truck Tires
You must consider how you plan to use the tires that will go on your truck. Do you plan to drive mostly on the highway? Then going for a touring tire or one that does well on regular streets will be good options. If you plan to spend a good deal of time off-roading, then you need to get the right tires to help with that.
You will need to take into consideration some of the ways that you plan to use the tires on your light truck to determine whether they will be able to handle the weight capacity that you have in place or not and whether they do well in the road conditions you wish to travel on as well.
Things to Avoid When Buying Light Truck Tires
As you are looking for the best in light truck tires, there are a few things that you need to avoid. Choosing the wrong tires can be dangerous for your vehicle and will make you spend too much money over the long-term on the vehicle as well.
A Poor Warranty
The first thing to avoid is a low warranty. If a tire that you want to choose does not come with a good warranty, then you should be wary of purchasing it. The warranty is like the guarantee from the company saying that they stand behind their work and will replace it if it dies out too quickly under normal use. Pick a tire that has a longer warranty to help save you money over the lifetime of your tires.
Cheap Tires May Not Offer True Savings
Be careful with the price of the tires too. While it may be tempting to go with a tire that comes in at a lower price, this is not a smart idea. These often are made of inferior materials, don’t have a good warranty, and will cost you more because you need to replace them. You need a good balance between budget-friendly and high-quality with lots of features. Check out each tire you wish to purchase to make the best decision.
What’s in a Brand?
Many times, it is best to go with a name you recognize when purchasing light truck tires. There are some exceptions, but many off-brands do not need to follow some of the different rules and regulations that other tires need to follow, which can cause a safety hazard on the road. Look for names that you recognize and read reviews to help you pick the right tire for your light truck.
My List of the Best Light Truck Tires
When it comes to picking out a pair of light truck tires, you want to make sure that you get the very best, ones that will keep you safe on the road, will last a long time, and ones that come with a variety of near features. Here are my picks for the best LT tires in different categories:
- Best Overall: Michelin Defender LTX M/S
- Best Value: Cooper Discoverer HTP II
- Best Winter Performance: Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2
- Great Warm-Season Performer: General Grabber HTS 60
- Best Touring: Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus
- Toughest Tire: Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar
- Best Fuel Economy: Continental CrossContact LX25
- Best General Purpose: Continental TerrainContact A/T
- Best Street Handling: Falken Ziex S/TZ-05
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
There isn’t much not to love about this tire overall. It does amazing on the road and comes with a tough construction that helps you to get the best, even out of this light truck tire.
On the highway and the street, you will notice that this tire will provide the best traction that you need, both on wet and dry surfaces. You will also enjoy the high amount of highway stability, whether you choose to attach a trailer or not.
While other light truck tires are going to be very bouncy and noisy on the highway, you will find that this tire provides a comfortable and quiet ride, even over bumps. It also comes with an amazing warranty of 70,000 miles, which is much higher than some of the other tires on the market.
Drivers will enjoy that the cut and chip resistant casing on the tire will allow them to enjoy a bit of off-road driving without ruining the tire either. The biggest issue that shows up with this tire is the snow traction.
While it is not horrible, you can really only describe it as average, which may leave you disappointed if you need to drive the vehicle in the winter.
More Information About the Michelin Defender LTX M/S Tire
| Warranty | 70,000 |
| Noisy on the road? | No |
| Highway stability | Yes |
| Good in snow | Average |
| PROS |
- Great handling, braking and stability on dry surfaces
- Great performance in the rain
- A great choice for all your hauling and towing needs
- Long tread life and tough construction
- Provides a comfortable and quiet ride
| CONS |
- Struggles with the snow and ice and sometimes even slush if it is deep
- Expensive
My Final Take: Overall, this is one of our favorite tires on the list. It provides a lot of power for you to enjoy, no matter where you would like to drive it, and does well with a long warranty and comfortable ride. If you live somewhere that gets a ton of snow though, this tire could disappoint.
Where to Buy:
Cooper Discoverer HTP II
You will find that there is a lot to love when it comes to choosing this tire over all the others on the list. When you consider the price, this will quickly become one of your favorites on the list as well.
To start, you will find that this tire does a great job at providing a safe amount of traction and braking on both wet and dry surfaces. The highway stability is also excellent, over both wet and dry surfaces, while giving you that quiet and comfortable ride you are looking for in your truck tire.
Even though this tire comes in at a lower price point than some of the others, you will still get the tough casing that you need for a truck tire, as well as a long warranty of 65,000 miles. However, be aware that this tire does not provide a lot of traction if you plan to drive it through the snow, so use some caution as well.
Things to Know About the Cooper Discoverer HTP II Tire
| Warranty | 65,000 |
| Quiet and comfortable ride | Yes |
| Highway stability | Yes |
| Good on snow and ice | No |
| PROS |
- Provides a comfortable and quiet ride
- Has a warranty of 65,000 miles
- Provides a good deal of highway stability
- Great performance when driven in the rain
| CONS |
- The snow and ice traction are not the best
My Final Take: If you are looking for a budget tire that will last you a long time and has some great features and an amazing warranty, then this is the tire for you. However, keep in mind that it does struggle a bit on snow and ice, coming in below average compared to other tires in this category.
Where to Buy:
General Grabber HTS 60
This tire is actually considered a favorite for many light-truck owners because it has an amazing amount of performance overall, especially for the price. If you need a tire that is going to last you and still comes in at a good price, then this Grabber HTS 60 should be on your list.
This tire is able to do well on wet and dry surfaces, with or without a trailer attached to it. There are some heavier duty versions of this tire that tend to do a little worse in the rain, but it is still a safe one to use. However, the snow traction, like some of the other tires on the list, could be better.
When it comes to the amount of comfort on the road, you will have nothing to complain about with these tires. They will keep the noise to a minimum and make the ride plush and comfortable. Add on that this tire is durable and tough enough to handle a little bit of off-roading, and you will soon see why it is so popular.
What to Know About the General Grabber HTS 60 Tire
| Warranty | 50,000 miles |
| Good on wet surfaces | Yes |
| Quiet ride on highway? | Yes |
| Good on snow | No |
| Good for off-roading? | Yes |
| PROS |
- Tough construction that does well with towing and hauling.
- Comes at a budget-friendly price
- Good for wet and dry conditions
- Quiet and comfortable on the road
| CONS |
- If you choose a heavy-duty version, it won’t do well in the rain
- The snow traction is not the best
My Final Take: When you want a great light truck tire that will do well in all seasons and is meant to handle a lot of wear and tear, then this is the best tire on the market to choose. Just be aware that it doesn’t do well on snow and some models struggle with the rain.
Where to Buy:
Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2
When you need a light truck tire that will do well in the winter, then you need to take a look at this tire from Michelin. It is going to provide you with the warranty and the performance that you need to make it through the winter and keep your truck on the road.
This tire is going to do outstandingly well in the winter, even over slush, ice, and snow. It also comes with a 40,000 mile warranty, which is lower than some of the other tires on this list, but much higher than what other similar winter tires is going to be able to do.
This will help the tire last a long time and gives you the traction that you need while driving.
The biggest issue that comes with these tires is that they will be quite a bit more expensive compared to some of the other tires on the market. But since you will get a great warranty and they will have a bunch of qualities and features that you desire, the price can be worth it.
What to Know About the Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 Tire
| Warranty | 40,000 mile |
| Good on snow | Yes |
| Good on wet surfaces | Yes |
| Good for off-roading | Yes |
| PROS |
- Has a good warranty for being a winter tire
- Does well on snow, ice, and slush when it comes to traction
- Has the best in traction and grip in the winter
| CONS |
- Expensive
My Final Take: The price of this tire may deter some people from purchasing it. But if you need a light truck tire that is going to last a long time and can help keep you safe during the winter months over snow and ice, then this is the tire to choose.
Where to Buy:
Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus
For the driver who doesn’t often use the utility side of things in their truck, this tire option from Bridgestone is going to be one of the best options to choose.
This is a touring tire that will provide a complete package to those who would like to utilize it, making sure that you get the best in comfort, quietness, and overall performance all in one package.
This tire is designed to work well on many different surfaces. Unlike some of the other tires on our list, you will be impressed that this one is able to work not only on wet and dry surfaces, but also on the snow, providing you with some of the traction you deserve.
One of the best things about this tire is that it has a very long warranty on it. The warranty is at 80,000 miles, which is much higher than other similar tires on the market. However, there is a drawback to choosing this one. If you need to haul along heavy trailers or cargo, this tire will not have the power to get it done.
Learn More About the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus Tire
| Warranty | 80,000 miles |
| Good on wet surfaces | Yes |
| Good on snow | Yes |
| Good for off-roading | Yes |
| Can handle heavy loads | No |
| PROS |
- One of the most comfortable tires in the category
- Usable in light snow
- Provides safe braking and handling on wet and dry tarmac
- Has a long warranty at 80,000 miles
| CONS |
- Not usable if you need to tow large trailers
- Responsiveness and the steering could be better.
My Final Take: There is a lot to love about this tire, especially if you need one that is going to have a great warranty on it. You will need to pick a different tire if you plan to tow heavy cargo or trailers, but the performance is one of the top in the market.
Where to Buy:
Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar
You can’t go wrong choosing a Goodyear tire for all of your light truck tire needs. This all-terrain tire is going to be one of the best in its category when you take a look at its durability and performance.
If you would like to take this tire off the road, then you will find that this tire is going to provide ample amount of traction, even over unpacked snow, rocks, and mud.
This tire is meant to last. It has a tough construction that is resistant to punctures and can even fight off cuts and chips. The 60,000 mile warranty is going to ensure that you can use this tire for a very long time, whether you stay on the road or go off.
This tire is safe no matter where you choose to drive it, but there are a few issues that you need to be aware of. For example, this tire is going to be much louder when you drive on the highway compared to some of the other tires on the list.
Information About the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure Tire with Kevlar
| Warranty | 60,000 miles |
| Good for off-roading | Yes |
| Good on snow and wet conditions | Yes |
| Quite on the highway | No |
| PROS |
- Great warranty at 60,000 miles
- Usable over snow, even when unpacked
- Good performance when on the road
- Outstanding traction, even when the surface is slippery
| CONS |
- Can be noisy on the highway
My Final Take: This is an exceptionally tough tire and if you plan to drive over varied, rugged terrain (even occasionally), this is a good option for you to consider. Beyond its performance, it looks awesome, and the aggressive tread will give your ride a head-turning look.
Where to Buy:
Continental CrossContact LX25
This light truck tire is one of the closest competitors to the Dueler Alenza Plus when we want to take a look at the performance. It is a bit better on wet and dry surfaces when you want to drive around and it does equally as well over the snow.
Many customers enjoy how comfortable this tire is over bumps and the lack of noise when they are driving on the highway. Continental is also going to employ a low-rolling resistance technology, which means that you will be able to get better fuel economy compared to some of the other tires on the list, which can be a great benefit.
While there are tires on this list with a longer warranty, the 70,000 mile warranty is nothing to sneeze at. The biggest issue that comes with this tire over some of the others is that you should not tow large and heavy trailers with these tires as they will not be able to handle some of the work.
More Information About the Continental CrossContact LX25 Tire with EcoPlus+ Technology
| Warranty | 70,000 miles |
| Good on wet and dry surfaces | Yes |
| Good on snow | Yes |
| Quiet on the highway | Yes |
| PROS |
- Can be used in light snow
- Higher fuel economy compared to other tires on the list
- Smooth ride quality and quiet rolling on the highway
- Great when it comes to braking and handling
- Good handling and braking on dry conditions
| CONS |
- Not usable if you need to tow large trailers
- The warranty is less than other similar tires
My Final Take: Overall, there are a lot of things to enjoy about this tire. It has a good warranty, even though it may not be as good as some of the other tires, and the handling and braking on snow, wet, and dry conditions make it a good choice. You will need a different tire if you plan to tow heavy trailers often.
Where to Buy:
Continental TerrainContact A/T
When you are looking for a light truck tire that can also work in all types of terrains, then this is the right tire for you. This tire combines all-terrain strength with street performance all in one. You will find that due to this fact, this tire is going to provide you with the safest ride on the road, over both wet and dry surfaces.
First, you will love that this tire is good for off-roading. It works well over lots of hardpacked surfaces, but it will not work that well over deep mud. When you decide to drive it over the road, you will enjoy the quiet ride. In fact, this tire is voted as one of the quietest of all-terrain tires on the market.
While you won’t be able to drive this through the mud all the time, you will find that this tire does great both on the road and off the road. And with a warranty that goes for 60,000 miles, you can have a lot of fun with this light truck tire.
Key Information About the Continental TerrainContact A/T Tire
| Warranty | 60,000 |
| Good for off-roading | Yes |
| Quiet ride | Yes |
| Good on the highway | Yes |
| PROS |
- Comfortable and quiet when driving on the road
- Great warranty to 60,000 miles
- Works well for off-roading and on the street
- Great performance, even on the sand
| CONS |
- Won’t perform well on the mud
My Final Take: This is a great light truck tire that will last a long time and can even help you through many different terrains, though it may struggle a bit in the mud. The impressive warranty and quiet ride will help give you a ride that you will love.
Where to Buy:
Falken Ziex S/TZ-05
Want some of the best performance on pavement in your light truck? Then this option from Falken is going to be one of the best options for you. The Ziex S/TZ-05 from Falken Tire combines all of the traits that you need for a high-performance tire. What’s more, it is also kinder to your budget.
Customers who chose this tire will enjoy the braking and the handling. And this is true regardless of whether you are traveling over wet or dry surfaces. What’s more, this is a quiet tire. It is sometimes considered a street or a sport tire, but in my view it has all the qualities of one of the best light truck tires.
Going with these Falken tires will help you get the smooth ride that you are looking for.
The biggest problem that you will find with this tire is that it is going to struggle to get traction on the snow. If you live in an area that you need some good snow traction, then you may be disappointed with this choice.
Key Information About the Falken Ziex S/TZ-05 Tire
| Warranty | 50,000 miles |
| Good on snow | No |
| Good on wet surfaces | Yes |
| Quiet ride | Yes |
| PROS |
- Quiet considering it is a performance tire
- Provides amazing braking and traction on wet surfaces
- Good stability and grip on dry surfaces
- Responsive handling
| CONS |
- It does not have the best in snow traction
My Final Take: While this tire does not have the best in snow traction compared to some of the other choices, it does well on wet and dry surfaces and provides a budget tire that will give you all the performance that you need.
Where to Buy:
Frequently Asked Questions About Light Truck Tires
Many customers who are looking for a new pair of tires will naturally have questions about those tires and how they should work. Some of the most common questions people purchasing light truck tires have are included below with my thoughts and guidance.
How Often Should I Replace My Light Truck Tires?
Most tires are designed to last between 50,000 to 60,000 miles before the warranty expires. This is a good time for you to replace the tires and get a new pair to keep safe. No matter how many miles you have driven on the tires, if they are older than six years, then you should replace them as well.
Your driving techniques and whether you put significant amounts of wear and tear on the tires will matter as well.
How Do I Choose the Best Truck Tires?
To help you choose the right truck tire, you need to look for a style of tire that suits the way that you drive the truck. Whether you like to cruise on the highway or spend some time off-roading, there is a special tire that will help you get it done safely.
You should also consider the type of weather that you plan to drive through. If you live in an area that gets some severe winters, then you may need to consider getting a pair of dedicated winter tires. If you tow with your truck often, then make sure that any tire you purchase has the right load rating.
How Often Should I Rotate Truck Tires?
It is a good idea to rotate the tires of the truck on occasion to make sure they wear evenly and to help each one last a little longer. it is recommended that you do this every 5000 to 75000 miles.
You can easily rotate the tires more often than that to ensure that they will not wear out too quickly. As you rotate the tires, take the time to inspect them to make sure there is no sign of damage either.
Where Can I Find the Best Prices for Light Truck Tires?
There are a lot of great places where you can find light truck tires and save some money at the same time. You can go to your local service store to find some deals, or look online to see which ones will have the right tire at the right price.
Most of these websites will also have a tire fit guide and even pricing estimators so you won’t have any big surprises when you are done purchasing the tires.
How Much Does Installing the Tire Cost?
The amount to install the tire can depend on the shop you choose and even the type of tire. Some tires that you choose, especially the ones placed on heavy-duty trucks, will be more expensive to balance and mount compared to the ones for a lighter-duty truck.
Most shops will charge you between $15 to $50 for mounting the tires on a light truck. If you have a larger truck, then you may spend between $30 to $70 to get this done.
Are Light Truck Tires Worth It?
Because these LT tires will come with a higher load carrying capacity and robust construction, you will find that they are more rugged and will provide a good amount more durability when compared to the average passenger tire.
If you need to have a tire that does better on tough road conditions, then these light truck tires are going to be worth the extra money.
How Much Do Light Truck Tires Cost?
The amount that you spend on light truck tires will depend on the tire size and model you need to get as well as the brand and the condition of the tire. You should expect to pay between $34 to $197 per tire. If you need a specialty tire, you may want to shop online to see if you can find a good deal.
What is the Best Pressure for Light Truck Tires?
It is important for you to put the right pressure in your light truck tires to ensure that they drive smoothly on the road and will keep you safe. The right pressure is going to depend on the vehicle as well as the amount of weight that you would like to place on the tires.
For most tires, you will need to keep the pressure between 30 to 35 psi. You should check the recommendations from the manufacturer to ensure that you keep the tires at the right pressure.
Is It Possible to Overload My Truck Tires?
It is possible for you to overload the truck tires, whether you have light truck tires or not. If you end up putting more weight on the tires than they can really carry, it is possible you will overweight them.
This is not a good idea because the extra pressure will harm the tires and make them wear out too quickly. They can even run into issues of stability that will be dangerous when you are on the road.
How Often Should I Rotate Light Truck Tires?
It is important to rotate the tires on your light truck on occasion to help promote even wear and to keep the tires lasting for a lot longer. It is best if you can rotate the tires on your truck every six months or more.
Some people will decide to do it based on the number of miles they drive, especially if they need to drive often. In this case, rotate the tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles to get the best in durability and performance out of the tires.
Can I Purchase Light Truck Tires Online?
Yes! I always recommend you compare prices and find the best deal, and often by ordering tires online from TireRack.com, PriorityTire.com or even Amazon you can save quite a bit of money vs. buying locally from your tire shop. But check in with your local shop to see if they’ll match or beat your online price.
Most online retailers give you the option of getting the tires shipped to your home or shipped directly to your preferred tire shop so they’ll be ready and waiting once you drop off your car to get the new tires put on.