Trucking has become a big deal in the US and the last few decades have seen a surge of interest. What it means is that the sales of truck engines, tires, and other components have also increased significantly. This has led to different brands springing up to saturate the market with a wide range of tire products. From poorly made to substandard diesel truck tires, many tire manufacturers look dead set to optimize their profits from the window that the demand-supply forces usher in.
It takes the curious and shrewd shopper, however, to read up a correct and detailed review of the best tires for diesel trucks before splashing their hard-earned money. After all, no tire brand will rate their product lowly, however poor it is. That’ll be tantamount to self-demarketing, isn’t it? But when you know what reliable tires are on the market, you won’t fall for the antics of the poor and worst kits out there.
So, whether you use your truck to tow, haul, or work, you’ll need a pair of quality tires to make it perform optimally. The severity of work your truck does takes a harsh toll on the tires. The tires can wear, cut, chunk, or chip, causing you to replace them after 60,000 miles or so.
In this article, I’ve taken my time to review the 8 best tires for diesel trucks. As a result, I have saved you the stress of having to go from one site or tire store to another searching for tires for your truck. You’ll also learn how long a tire lasts on a diesel truck. Ready to hop in? I’m set to take you around.
Table Of Contents
Reviews On 8 Top Best Tires For Diesel Trucks
1. Firestone Destination LE3
The long tread life is reinforced by the tire’s ability to deliver well in light snow. If you’re scared of overcoming the mischief orchestrated by deep snow, the Firestone Destination LE3 will douse every tension on your four-wheel truck.
With a load capacity of 1764 pounds and a T speed rating, there is nothing about speeding and hauling that you cannot take to this tire. You can ride 190 kilometers per hour (km/h) or at a top speed of 118 miles per hour (mph) if you have this tire installed on your vehicle.
With its Hydro-Grip technology, the tire will prevent water from building up while improving gas efficiency and economy. What’s more, the LE3 has a polyester shell cavity that works together with two steel belts. The synchronization of this technology plus the nylon reinforcement produces durable and high-speed stability for the tire.
Asymmetrical tread design, tread depth of 10 32nds, and 70,000-mile limited warranty combine to make the LE3 customers’ right choice. The design combines an advanced rubber compound with a TractionTech structure to make the tire a great pick for noise reduction and precise handling.
- Low road vibration and noise
- Durable and long tread life
- Excellent grip and traction
- 1764-pound load capacity for hauling and towing
- Prevents hydroplaning
- Not great for an off-road job
- Not the best mud and sand traction
The low off-road traction doesn’t mean that this kit won’t do its job. It has the mandate to help you navigate and wriggle through all on-road troubles. And I can assure you that it will perform beyond your expectation in this area. I recommend the tire for highway use.
2. Cooper Discoverer HT3
The tire assures you of at least a 50,000 unlimited tread life warranty, making it one of the most affordable options with an amazing warranty. That’s not all. This tire will also work on a wide range of vehicles, including vans, commercial pickups, and trucks.
Do you why customers troop out to order this tire? It is its affordable price. It is one of the lowly priced highway diesel truck tires on the market. If you compare it to the Michelin LXT Winter tire, the Cooper Discoverer gives almost equal performance; yet it comes at a lower price.
You may not need to attach a trailer to this tire because it has an incredible 3042-pound load capacity and unrivaled 14.5 32nds tread depth. Yet, it will give the needed traction to scale through the hurdles of highway rides. Plus, you won’t have any issue braking and receiving the immediate braking or stopping power that’ll bring your truck to a halt.
What’s more, the Cooper is designed to provide unparalleled resistance to wear.
- Extremely comfy and quiet
- Affordably priced and durable
- Great handling and control in dry conditions
- Offers amazing grip and traction in wet terrain
- Quality response and short braking distance
- It will offer low traction in light snow
But then, the Cooper will show its extreme power on the highway to provide a truly on-road driving capacity to your diesel truck. This is a tire to beckon on when you’re in trouble on the highway.
3. Michelin LTX Winter
Whether you ride on dry or wet roads or snow, the Michelin LTX Winter won’t fail your expectations. This guy is designed to keep light pickup trucks working, hauling efficiently. If you have an SUV or crossover, the Michelin LTX will perform on them throughout the season without leaving any negative impression behind.
So, you now see while it’s rated T in terms of speed. The extremely low level of the tire’s quietness complements its no-vibration feature. A guarantee of a 70,000-mile tread life limited warranty means that you can use the 16-inch tire for six years without replacing it.
Michelin deploys its Evertread Compound to increase the tire’s long-lasting feature. So, in terms of longevity, the tire promises an extra 10% in harsh and severe riding conditions.
The hydrophilic technology in the tire helps you to reduce the risk of hydroplaning. You won’t experience water or mud build-up around the tire. Consequently, your diesel truck will go through snow and mud with assured of outstanding grip, traction, and improved braking performance. It’s highly fuel-efficient as it can save you up to 65 gallons throughout your entire life.
- Highly fuel-efficient
- 70,000 tread-life warranty is perfect
- 2756-pound load capacity ensures stability and handling
- Perfect for snow, wet, or dry ride
- Pricey
A tire with a 12 32nds tread depth is no joke in today’s highway and in-snow experience. If you have to go six years without replacing a diesel truck tire, then you’ll know how much you’d save. This is the guy for all your driving needs.
4. General Grabber HTS 60
From its durability to its hydroplaning-resistant feature, there’s no hiding place for water and mud. The tire provides the perfect all-season experience that you need. Plus, it will hold firmly to the terrain, especially the tough and critical portions of the road.
Synergizing comfort, performance, and steering responsiveness, the tire will work perfectly on light pickup trucks, crossovers, and SUVs.
The shorter braking distances make the tire ahead of its competitors and predecessors. The efficiency, control, and safety of your diesel truck on the highway depends on the quality of the tires it rides on. A lot of users –and I am one of them –rate the General Grabber HTS 60 tire very highly due to its all-season performance.
This is all due to its internal compound that helps to resist cuts and chips. The compound syncs with two steel belts and an expansive, plane outline that ensures quality handling and even wear. The tire’s S speed rating is spot on, I must say.
The excellent absorption layer on the tire prevents the vehicle from getting stuck in water and mud build-up. Hence, the tire keeps your diesel truck away from terrain disturbances. There is also a sound barrier from the center of the tread pattern that keeps the noise level minimal.
The flatter footprint, 2403-pound load capacity, and 12 32nds tread depth ensure optimized tread stiffness and long even wear.
- Guarantees 50,000-mile tread life limited warranty
- No noise or vibration
- Resistant to hydroplaning
- Works on a wide range of vehicles
- A heavy-duty Grabber is not ideal for a rain ride
Overall, the General Grabber is worth the fair price it’s offered.
5. Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar Radial Tire
Of the many multiple features that define this incredible kit, three stand out: off-road traction, toughness and durability, and great high-speed stability. If you’re also in search of a tire that can synergize road endurance, comfortable ride, and handling, the 17-inch Goodyear Wrangler MT/R is the right pick.
While a lot of users think they will prefer this tire on their trucks and light pickups, I can confidently tell you that the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R works excellently on sports cars as well.
Designed with Goodyear’s latest SmartWear technology, the Wrangler MT/R tire is integrated to prove some on-road points through its excellent performance. The durability and longevity are results of the quality circumferential grooves that make the tire endure a lot of tough and hole-riddled terrain.
Hence, you’ll experience improved fuel economy thanks to Goodyear’s EfficientGip technology. This enables the tie tire to hold on to the road firmly while reducing fuel consumption. Yet, it won’t compromise its high delivery on driver’s safety and performance. Plus, the tire will work well on wet and dry surfaces to provide immense traction.
- Perfect for stability at high speed
- Ultra-high durability and toughness
- 3197-pound load capacity for towing and hauling
- Black-serrated lettering for enhanced appearance
- Low snow traction
This stylish tire comes with black-serrated lettering that adds to its overall awesome look. With demand increasing, it’s better to make an order before winter approaches.
6. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
With the T/A KO2, your diesel trucks won’t suffer the same on-road fate it is used to. It’s not only popular on the market for being all-terrain; the tire also leads the pack as an all-season lineup. As I write this review, this tire is in high demand on the market.
While it offers incredible traction and grip, the tire allows you unhindered freedom to drive and corner on any terrain. It doesn’t matter whether it is off-road or on-road, the activity and performance of the BFGoodrich are amazing. Your terrain and driving experience is top-notch, I can assure you.
With as assurance of a 50,000-mile tread life warranty, nothing is more reassuring on the road, trust me. Plus, it boasts the rarely-issued 3PMSF rating.
Of course, being a radial tire, the soft sidewall adds a bonus point to the performance of the tire. Installing it on your vehicle won’t be an issue. A 3750-pound load capacity, a load index of 126, and tread depth of 15 32nds mean that you can haul and tow safely with this tire without hassle.
- High highway and off-road traction and grip
- Perfect stable for towing and hauling even without a trailer
- Highly tough, strong, and durable
- 3PMSF rating
- The noise level needs some reinforcement
In the end, will some relatively high noise level stop you from getting an affordable all-terrain, all-season radial tire? I don’t think so. Guess what? New models are becoming a lot quieter.
7. Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure With Kevlar
To start with, in this review, the Goodyear Wrangler Adventure with Kevlar has the highest load capacity of 3417 pounds. This suggests that the tire has all the trappings of a truly all-terrain tire that can haul, tow, and endure a heavy-duty workload all day. This means that the tire can also withstand the shenanigans of snow driving.
The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar is popular for its excellent performance off-road. It offers the needed traction while ensuring adequate handling, stability, and solid performance.
If you drive on hardpacked terrain, this guy won’t fail. If you take it to a mud road or a rocky surface, you can be sure the Goodyear Wrangler will do as you desire. Many users feel this tire won’t deliver if you task it with on-road activities. But I tell you, there’s so much to know and expect from it on wet surfaces.
Cornering grip and maneuvering are great features that stand this guy out. The Goodyear Wrangler Adventure with Kevlar’s guarantee of a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty is the icing on the cake for me.
- Highly aggressive tread pattern for high-quality grip
- Ideal for on-road and off-road activity
- Works well in mud, light snow, tough terrain
- On-road noise needs to be improved
If you ask for my rating of this tire, I will give it a 5-star. I doubt if it’ll not make the top 3 on the list of best tires for diesel trucks.
8. Michelin Defender LTX M/S
To start with, a six-year or 70,000-mile limited warranty _whichever comes first -is a standard for this 18-inch all-season tire. You can save yourself a lot of money on replacing tires almost every three years. For diesel truck tires, it can be lesser.
This kit is a radial tire and is suitable for a wide range of vehicles, including crossovers, SUVs, and light diesel trucks. It is designed for an all-season drive, offering you the needed exceptional traction and grip throughout your trip. It doesn’t matter how long or short the journey is.
At a maximum speed of 118 mph or 190 km/h, the Michelin Defender tire won’t cut, chip, or chunk, thanks to its T speed rating. It boasts more mileage because it is integrated with the Michelin EverTread compound that helps to prolong the life of the tire by an additional 10% when you drive in severe conditions. This is not what you find in its predecessor.
When it comes to preventing water and mud build-up, this tire is great at reducing the risk of aquaplaning.
- Highly fuel-efficient
- 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Prevents the risk of hydroplaning
- Excellent traction and handling
- Not designed for winter use
Nothing stops you from making an order for Michelin Defender now. IT promises and delivers on them. I can sign up for its performance.
What Are The Best Tires For Diesel Trucks?
Manufacturers commonly mark truck tires as ‘LT’ and ‘P’. These designations represent ‘Light truck’ and ‘Passengers’, respectively. You’ll always find this on the sidewall of the tire, close to the tire size. If you’re driving a passenger vehicle like half-ton pickups, minivans, SUVs, sport trucks, or light-duty quarter-ton trucks, then the tire designated with ‘P” will be suited for your truck. These tires are good for use on pavement.
However, the ‘LT’ tires are used for heavy-duty pickup trucks. They are the best kits to use on your diesel trucks because they perform excellently on tough terrain. They work well for off-road activities and can hold out against harsh weather conditions, including snow, winter, ice, mud, and hail. They are worth your investment.
What Is The Maximum PSI For Diesel Truck Tires?
The maximum pounds per square inch in your diesel truck tire should be 40 psi. Diesel trucks need a significant number to ensure balance for the vehicle’s weight. You’ll often find this pressure measurement on the sidewall of your truck’s tire. The pressure helps to reinforce the truck’s loading capacity. Make sure you don’t always fill your tire up to the maximum so you don’t shorten its tread life.
The surface on which you’re driving can affect the pressure level in your tire. If you drive on asphalt, for example, the surface hotness can cause a decrease in the amount of pressure you put on the tire. The case will be different if your truck rides on concrete terrain that’s not as hot as asphalt. The weather conditions and time of the day have a bearing on how your tire retains its PSI.
How Long Does A Tire Last On A Diesel Truck?
Diesel truck tires can last between 60,000 and 70,000. This means you can replace the tire every 5 or six years. However, how long a tire lasts on your automotive depends on several driving factors and conditions. Your driving style, car, and tire maintenance, and driving terrain will determine how long your tires will last. Besides, the consistency of the air pressure in your truck tire also counts. If your driving style is bad and reckless, the tire may lose its tread life very quickly. For example, hitting the brake pedal forcefully or suddenly can degrade your tire. If you fill the tire with insufficient or excessive air pressure, it can cause the tire to wear out in no time.
My Diesel Truck Tire Verdict
Today trucking is attracting a lot of interest, not only because the chances of getting white-collar jobs are looking slimmer. More fundamentally, trucks are not subject to the forces of offshoring and automation. Sadly, truck tires are the direct victims of the surge of interest in trucking. Your finances will suffer indirectly if you have to keep replacing your truck tires every so often. I’m sure that’s not what you want to invest in, not even in the least of harsh economic realities.
Hence, you need to put your money where your mouth is. The tires I’ve reviewed in this article are the best you can get anywhere, regardless of where you live in the US. During my short visit to Montana – a state with one of the highest number of truck drivers –I bought a high-grade truck tire and it served my truck testing purpose.
I’m sure this article has helped you learn a few things about the best tires for diesel trucks. What you have to do is to go all out to get the best. You deserve it. Your money deserves to be splashed on durable tires that will last and serve you optimally. I was once a victim of poor tire purchase but today, I think I know better. I don’t want you to have a similar experience. Read this post over and over again to know what tire suits your powerful and expensive newly acquired truck diesel engine. It’ll be my pleasure always to help you figure out anything in the auto market. Have a safe trip!
My name is James. Call me your ‘Born Auto Neighbor.’ I am an auto savvy with a burning enthusiasm to help vehicle owners, auto technicians, DIYer auto caregivers, and drivers like you have a seamless time with your vehicles. Do you own or work on a Dodge Convertible, a Chevy Crossover, a Ford SUV, a Toyota Hatchback, a Honda Coupe, a Datsun MPV, or a Mercedes Sedan? I have enough automotive content to help your auto service and repair on the go.
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