Unless you’re completely unacquainted with caravans, then you know that towing can take a big toll on your truck.
Accordingly, regular tires just won’t cut it if you’re using your truck to tow a trailer. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s a factor that can be compromised upon; without the best truck tires for towing a travel trailer, it’s your safety that is compromised.
Why? Because regular tires are bound to deform under the added weight, causing a blowout or flat tire. And of course, without the right tires, you’re going to be subjected to quite the bumpy ride.
Not to worry; we’ve done the research for you and rounded up 3 of the top tires for towing, below.
3 Best Truck Tires for Towing a Travel Trailer Reviews 2024
After hours of research, analysis, and discussion amongst ourselves, we have settled on the 3 following sets of tires to make your trailer-towing as safe and smooth as possible. Here they are.
1. Michelin Defender LTX M/S All-Season Radial Tire-275/55R20 113T
The first tire on our list is the ideal option for those of you searching for the best LT truck tires. These all-season tires from Michelin are suitable for use with not only trucks but also SUVs. Here’s what we like about them.
Built with MaxTouch construction, these tires boast a longer lifespan than the majority of their competitors. Combine this with a treadwear of 70,000 miles, and you can expect savings of up to 65 gallons of fuel.
And because they’re all-season tires, you can definitely count on them to provide great traction in most kinds of terrain. Yep, that means you can use these tires on wet or snowy roads, as well as slightly icy roads.
For that, these tires definitely have their dependable tread life to thank. What’s more, these tires come outfitted with an extra steel belt that further fortifies them. All in all, it’s no wonder they perform so well in all kinds of weather.
And on that note, their sidewalls are built for dependable stability; on the whole, you can expect a great handle over these tires. And you know what that means—a smooth ride, which is all-important when handling the towing of a caravan!
Such a great performance does come at a price, however. Because of its higher load rating, this tire presents the disadvantage of a noisier ride. Furthermore, the tires’ durability will be compromised if subjected to too much pressure. However, given the level of performance, you can expect from these things, we think it’s a small tradeoff.
Pros
- Offers an impressive mileage of 70,000 miles
- Provides great traction on wet and snowy roads
- Ideal for use with SUVs and light trucks
- Long stopping distance with stable sidewalls
Cons
- Liable to begin vibrating a few thousand miles in
2. Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Radial – 31X10.50R15LT 109Q
With over a century of experience in perfecting their tires, Goodyear is a brand that has become almost synonymous with quality and dependability. It’s no wonder that they’re now one of the biggest tire brands globally, and this tire from them is a shining example of why that is.
Constructed from a unique and carefully crafted compound, the DuraTrac Wrangler tires from Goodyear are built for ultimate stability and resistance. With their rugged body, these tires will easily fight off chipping and tearing; it’s no wonder why these tires are considered some of the best for offroading applications.
Which is incidentally what makes them great for towing, as well, especially if you’re going to be driving in the winter season. With their 3PMSF rating, heavy siping, and deep tread blocks, these tires are made to see you through slush, snow, and ice.
Another great thing about these tires is that they come in a few different specifications for load ranges. Whichever one you get, though, you can still expect an impressive tread warranty of 50,000 miles.
Considering all this, and especially their affordability, these also stand out as one of the best truck tires for towing 5th wheel. Ultimately, when it comes to Goodyear, you can rarely go wrong!
Pros
- Has a 3PMSF rating, making it ideal for use in winter
- Rugged construction made from a special compound material
- Suitable for not only towing but also off-roading
- Has a tread warranty of 50,000 miles
Cons
- The ride might not be very smooth
3. Kumho HT51 All-Season Radial Tire-265/70R16 112T
The last tire we have selected for you today is from Kumho Tire, a South Korean brand that has been producing great quality tires for over five decades. The Crugen HT51 All-Season Radial Tire is one of their most sought-after products; let’s find out why.
First up is the tire’s all-season tread, built from a sturdy compound material. Molded in an asymmetric shape, the layout of the tread blocks has been designed for longevity, stability, and performance. Furthermore, the 3D zig-zag sipes on these tires allow for decent performance in the snow (and yes, it has a 3PMSF rating!)
Performance on wet streets, however, is much more reliable. This is thanks to these tires’ superior hydroplaning resistance, which in turn is made possible by the aforementioned tread pattern. The internal structure of these tires is strong, to say the least, especially for a budget-friendly tire, it’s startlingly durable.
One of the main reasons this tire is so popular amongst truck owners is undoubtedly its affordability. When it comes to car parts, you usually get what you pay for; these tires prove that you can sometimes get away with paying far less. So, although these aren’t exactly the absolute best dually tires for towing, they’re definitely up there in terms of dependability.
Pros
- Extremely durable and long-wearing tread compound
- Highly affordable despite matching performance of many premium SUV and truck tires
- Offers reliable traction on roads with light snow and rain
- Tread pattern allows for efficient resistance to hydroplaning
Cons
- Not the best for handling tight corners
Buying Guide for Truck Tires for Towing a Travel Trailer
Using the right tires is imperative when towing a trailer with your truck. We
It’s important to educate yourself about what the right tires look like, so here are the factors you should remember to keep in mind.
Tire Types
You can choose between 2 different types of tires to fit the purpose of towing: all-season and all-terrain. Each is discussed below.
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All-Season
As the name suggests, this type of tire is suitable for use in nearly all kinds of weather, as long as the temperature is above 7°C.
These tires usually provide great traction and are suitable for use on wet roads, and create a smooth driving experience. If you’re going to be towing your trailer in fall, spring or summer, you can look into all-season tires. These types of tires should work nicely with the trailer sway control kit.
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All-Terrain
If your towing is going to be taking you off-road, then we’d strongly suggest going for all-terrain tires. These tires come with deep, wide tread grooves, which allow them to aggressively grip dirt. Furthermore, they offer great traction in even sand and mud especially if they are made with rubber. The rubber truck tyres are particularly my favorite.
However, this comes at the cost of lower durability, so choose carefully. And keep in mind that choosing steel lug nuts for your truck’s tires is highly important as well.
Treadwear
The treadwear is a measurement of the wear rate of a tire. The shorter the tread wear on your tires, the sooner you’ll have to replace them. The treadwear is expressed in 3-digit code on the tire. Remember, the longer, the better, so if you’re going to be doing a lot of off-roading, go for a longer treadwear.
Load Rating
It’s important to have an idea about the recommended load rating of your tires before you buy new ones. Not sure what the load rating is? Check your truck’s original tires. Letters are used to denote load rating (e.g., B, C, D, E). The further along with the alphabet, the higher.
Remember, you can usually go higher than the original load rating, but never lower.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tire indicates the highest speed at which you can drive a vehicle with them. The speed rating can vary quite a bit across different tires, so be careful. Make sure you get the speed rating of the tire right. Another factor that influences the speed of the truck is AFM disabler. So, it would be better if you learn how to turn off active fuel management.
Conclusion
It’s difficult to choose just one tire to take the title of the best truck tires for towing a travel trailer; however, if we absolutely had to, we’d go with the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac. For more tips about towing your camper trailer you can check out this article from Kempoo.com, they’ve created an amazing list of handy tips.
The most important things to remember, though, are your needs and your truck’s capabilities. Good luck with that towing, and stay safe. And if you want, you can check this article of ours about low profile truck tool boxes.
Philipclopez says
Control is also top-notch, thanks to the large tread blocks on Goodyear. I had almost no problem controlling my truck while it was raining heavily. The anti-hydroplane technology also helps remove excess water from the tread, increasing product longevity.