Truck Tires: What Tires to Use for

Different Surface Types

Mar 1, 2019 | Articles

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
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

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
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

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
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

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
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.