Cheap Truck Tires: Buy Low Without Sacrificing Quality

It can be difficult to find a good price on a set of tires. You do not want to sacrifice quality for price, but sometimes the prices can be extreme. The Internet has opened up a virtual smorgasbord of tire dealerships all willing to find you the best price on a set of cheap truck tires. There are some tips you should know before buying your tires, which can make the process a whole lot easier.

What Do Those Markings Mean?

All those numbers and letters on the side of your tires mean something. Many people know a few of the meanings. Very few know just how much information is on the tire it self. Let us use a sample tire for this example. The writing on the side wall is: LT235/85R16. Here is a breakdown of what the characters mean and what they mean to you when you are replacing your tires.

Most of the tires sold in America have been standardized. This means that most light truck tires will start with the letters "LT". If it were a passenger car, the letter would be "P". The next number is the tire size. This is actually the measurement of the width of the tire in millimeters. The tires you choose need to match the rims so there are no leaks when the tire is put on the rim. In this case the tire width is 235 millimeters.

Width-Height Ratio

The 85 represents the ratio between the width and the height of the tire. This means the tire height is 85% of the tire width. The "R" means it is a radial tire. If it were a "D" the tire would be a bias tire. A "B" would indicate a belted bias tire. The diameter of the wheel is 16 inches. Hence 85R16. This is probably common knowledge. It is the other numbers many people do not understand.

The other writing on the side wall is just as important as the first part. You will find the maximum air pressure to put in the tire for optimum performance. Going over can keep the tire from gripping the road properly and also wears out the middle of the tire faster. An under inflated tire can reduce your fuel efficiency.

Load Rating

You may also find the load rating and speed rating on the tire walls. Generally this is a number followed by a letter such as "S", "H", or "V". There is an entire code of speed ratings. The load rating is also a code for how much weight the tire can support. It is extremely important that you never buy a tire with a lower load rating than the manufacturer suggests. You could experience a blow out with a brand new tire in such cases.

Speed Rating

When it comes to speed rating, the letter stands for how fast the vehicle can travel and still maintain reasonable safety. Even though you may be tempted, never try this at home. Tires are always speed rated higher than most people travel. For instance, the "S" means the tire can still maintain a grip on the road at a speed of 112 miles per hour.

There will be a DOT number listed on the tire, too. Each tire is registered by it's DOT number. This allows you to know where the tire was made, when it was made, and the tire line and size.

By gathering all this information when you start shopping for tires, you can be assured of getting exactly what you need. You will know what to look for, whether it is on line or in the store. You can educate yourself about buying cheap truck tires so you do get the best possible tire for your money.