Winter Tires for Trucks and SUVs: What to Look For

Trucks and SUVs are heavy, and many tow or haul all winter, so load capacity, air pressure and size matter as much as snow grip. Still deciding whether you need winter tires at all? Start with our comparison of winter tires vs. all-season tires.

Start with the tire your truck came with

The tire information placard, usually on the driver’s door jamb, and your owner’s manual list the original tire size and recommended cold pressure. Look at the start of the size:

• LT (for example, LT265/70R17) means a light truck tire, built for pickups and SUVs that carry heavy cargo or tow.
• P (for example, P265/70R17) means a P-metric passenger tire. Many light trucks and SUVs leave the factory on this type.
• No letter (for example, 255/55R18) usually means a Euro-metric passenger tire. An “XL” (extra load) tire is reinforced to carry more weight than a standard tire of the same size, at a higher pressure.

A replacement tire should carry at least as much load as the original. Under federal rules, when a P-metric tire is used on a light truck, its load capacity is divided by 1.10 (about 9 percent less), because tires on trucks can see harder use than on cars. So a P-metric winter tire has to be judged by that lower figure, not the full number on its sidewall.

Swapping from P-metric to LT is not an automatic upgrade either. Size for size, an LT tire needs more pressure to carry the same weight and usually rides firmer; run at the lower P-metric pressure, it can build up heat under load. If you switch tire types, have a tire professional set the pressure from the industry load and inflation tables. Our guide to choosing the right winter tire covers the basics for every vehicle.

Reading an LT winter tire size

Take LT255/75R17 111/108R C. The “111/108” is a pair of load index numbers: the first for single rear wheels, the second for dual rear wheels. The “R” is the speed rating and the “C” is the load range. Winter tires often have a lower speed rating than the tires a vehicle came with. Tire makers call that generally acceptable, but keep your speed below the winter tire’s rating and use the same rating on all four. Your owner’s manual may add guidance.

Load range and pressure when you tow or haul

An LT tire’s load range letter shows the load and pressure limits it is built for; within those limits, more pressure lets it carry more weight. The most common ranges are:

• Load range C: 6-ply rating, 50 psi maximum.
• Load range D: 8-ply rating, 65 psi maximum.
• Load range E: 10-ply rating, 80 psi maximum.

The ply rating is a strength rating, not a count of layers inside the tire. If your truck came with load range E tires, a load range C winter tire will not carry the same weight, even in the same size. Match the original tire’s load range or go higher.

For pressure, use the number on the placard or in the owner’s manual, not the maximum molded on the sidewall. Some truck makers give a different pressure for heavy loads or towing; if yours does, follow it. Pressure drops as the air gets colder, so check it at least monthly, with the tires cold, and after a sharp cold snap. An underinflated tire under a heavy load, such as a trailer’s tongue weight, builds up extra heat, which tire makers warn can cause internal damage and tire failure.

Studless, studdable or studded: choosing for ice

Many modern winter tires are studless. They rely on a rubber compound that stays flexible in the cold and many small tread slits, called sipes, to grip snow and ice, with none of the rules that come with studs.

A studdable tire has small holes molded into the tread so a tire shop can insert metal studs. Some LT winter tires are built this way; the manufacturer’s information will say so. Keep in mind:

• Studdable tires are sold without studs. A tire shop installs them, and only in tires designed for studs. Never put studs into a regular winter tire.
• Stud rules vary by state, often by season. Washington, for example, allows studded tires from November 1 to March 31. Check your state DOT’s rules, and those of states you drive through.
• Tire makers advise a gentle break-in of a few hundred miles for new studded tires so the studs settle in. Avoid hard braking and fast starts during that time.

Studs are aimed at hard ice but add road noise on bare pavement and wear down road surfaces, which is why states regulate them. For mostly packed snow and slush, a studless tire is often the simpler choice; a local tire shop can tell you what works on your roads.

3PMSF all-terrain tires: a compromise for mixed use

If you drive mostly on pavement, hit gravel or trails on weekends and see snow only now and then, an all-terrain tire with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol can work as a year-round tire.

The symbol means the tire passed an industry snow traction test: accelerating in a straight line on medium-packed snow, it had to beat a standard reference tire by a set margin. The M+S mark, by contrast, is based on tread design, not a snow test. But the 3PMSF test does not rate braking, cornering or grip on ice.

A 3PMSF all-terrain keeps the tougher build, can come in the LT load ranges many trucks need, and saves a seasonal swap. A dedicated winter tire uses rubber designed for the cold and more siping, so it is usually the better tool for ice and long, hard winters. If the middle ground fits how you drive, browse our all-terrain tires and check the manufacturer’s information for the 3PMSF symbol.

Sizing for stock, leveled and lifted trucks

On a stock truck or SUV, buy winter tires in the placard size, which its speedometer, brakes and stability system were set up for.

On a lifted or leveled truck with a changed wheel or tire size, the placard no longer describes what is on the truck. Confirm the size with the shop that did the work or a tire professional before you order, because:

• A different overall diameter throws off the speedometer and odometer; tire makers say the error becomes significant beyond about 3 percent.
• Size changes can affect ABS and stability control calibration.
• The new size must still meet or exceed the original load index.
• A different size changes clearance to the fenders and suspension.

When in doubt, stay with the size the vehicle was designed for. You can shop by size in our light truck tires and SUV and crossover tires.

Buy four, and plan the install

Winter tires belong on all four wheels, whether your vehicle is front-wheel, rear-wheel, all-wheel or four-wheel drive. With winter tires on only one axle, front and rear grip differently, which can make braking and turning harder to control and lead to a skid.

Many AWD and 4WD systems are also sensitive to small differences in tire diameter, including those from uneven tread wear; your owner’s manual may say how closely tires must match. Four matching tires keep it simple.

When you order from our winter tire collection, you can ship the tires straight to a local installer. Call the shop first, then enter its address as the shipping address and its name in the Company name field. Shipping is free on orders to the contiguous US (the 48 states plus Washington, DC). Orders are processed in 1–2 business days (Monday to Friday), and delivery usually takes 2–3 business days after shipping; both are estimates. Tires ship by UPS or FedEx, with tracking emailed when they ship. See our shipping policy for details.

Brands such as Bridgestone, Continental and Nokian make winter tires in truck and SUV sizes; see more on our brands page. For load or pressure questions on your exact vehicle, your owner’s manual and a certified tire shop are the best final check.