Choosing The Best Tires For Towing

Towing tires don’t get much attention, but selecting the right type can be just as important as how much horsepower your tow vehicle’s engine has.

Depending on what you’re towing and where you’re towing it to, make educated decisions on your towing tires in order to get the most use out of them and minimize the chance of a flat or a blowout.

Consider Where You’ll Do Most of Your Towing

Where do you do most of your towing? Do you tow your boat up and down a wet loading ramp? Do you tow your horse trailer long distances in the summer heat? Do you tow your snowmobiles in harsh winter conditions?

When selecting towing tires’ tread and size, you need to keep in mind whether you mostly tow in ice, snow, water or mud.

Tread Type Is Important

Treads play a significant role in tire performance. The tread pattern is designed to channel water and dirt so tires get a better grip on the road. A tire with standard treads is designed for a normal, paved roadway and won’t hold up well to the demands of towing off-road. If you’re mainly going to stay on the highway and tow at high speeds, you want towing tires with high mileage treads.

On the other hand, if you plan on traveling off-road or in adverse conditions, you’re going to need a different type of tread. If you plan to tow in snow, look for treads that feature additional traction.

All-terrain treads are ideal for situations in which you’ll need to drive in and out of water, such as at a boat launch. Off-roading through mud requires trail tires or treading that features extra grip.

Choosing the right tread will ensure you see maximum tire performance.

Size Matters

Besides the towing conditions, you also should consider the weight of your fully-loaded vehicle and trailer. Tires must fit the size of your vehicle, but size also matters in terms of weight. Make sure the tires fit your vehicle’s maximum tow capacity.

It’s also best to fill up the tires to the right PSI before driving with heavy cargo in tow, as the right air pressure will contribute to tire performance and your truck’s ability to handle the weight.

A Warranty Is Ideal

Read the fine print before you buy towing tires. Make sure they have a proven long tread life and the manufacturer backs up the claim with a warranty. Towing tires aren’t cheap, and you don’t want to have to pay to replace them more often than you should. A good warranty will cover performance for 60,000 miles or more.

Finding towing tires can be challenging, but you can get all the advice you need from Stauffer’s Towing, a trusted team of experts in the industry.