Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/150744
TIRES Tires are literally the driving force of contractor's pickups, so choosing the right ones for the job has a direct effect on the corporate bottom line, driver safety and vehicle efficiency By Bruce W. Smith T here's no more important part under a truck than the tires. Tires make first contact with the ground, serving as the initial stage of the suspension. They also direct the engine's power into driving force to move your truck along, make it change direction and create the friction needed to bring it to a stop. Tires have a direct effect on driver safety and vehicle efficiency. They play a big role in fuel economy, good or bad, and influence the look of the vehicle they are on. So when it comes time to replace or upgrade the tires on your pickup, or on those in the fleet, choose wisely. Let form and function be the buying guide toward more efficient, reliable treads. ALLPURPOSE MYTH Buying tires is a lot like buying a pickup in that no one makes one to do every job. Tires, like the pickups we drive, are tailored toward achieving different goals. The basic "street" tire performs well on pavement and delivers a pleasing ride. They also have long tread life. They work reasonably well in soft dirt and gravel roads. But they usually don't fare well in snow, sand and mud, and they are also more puncture prone in off-pavement use than their stouter counterparts. Generally street treads are not designed to handle heavy towing or hauling duties. All-terrains, on the other hand, are not quite as good in the handling department, but they perform exceptionally well in rock, sand and the general environments found at construction sites. That's why they are a common "option" on most pickups. Tire makers are constantly updating "A/Ts" to with more aggressive tread designs and 98 PROPICKUP Big Book 2013 ProPickup_2013BB_Tires.indd 98 8/6/13 10:29 AM