Tire Types A brief introduction to passenger and light truck tire types and their characteristics.

All tires are a compromise. Increased grip often sacrifices wear. Strength often sacrifices comfort. High void tread patterns often sacrifice quiet ride. Tires that can do all often sacrifice your wallet. 

All season tires are engineered as a balance between grip, performance, longevity, noise reduction and wet-weather safety. All season tires are constructed from a harder rubber compound than high performance tires to increase tread life. All-season tires are released as the original equipment on most vehicles because they deliver effective year round capabilities. All Season Tires

Touring tires can be used on most cars and minivans. They combine the appearance of a performance tire with the smooth quiet ride of a passenger tire. Touring tires are a popular option because they deliver all season traction, ride comfort and treadwear. Touring Tires

Performance tires are designed for high speeds and aggressive driving. They are manufactured with a soft rubber compound to increase traction and improve handling. Performance tires feature wider tread depths than all season and touring tires to maximize road contact. Performance Tires

Ultra high performance tires deliver superior high-speed traction and control compared to conventional tires. They are Z-rated, meaning they can sustain speeds of 150 mph or more. Ultra high performance tires are constructed with a stiff carcass and a soft rubber compound that sticks to the road for enhanced handling and stability. Ultra high performance tires offer a firmer, sportier feel though they sacrifice wear for greatly improved grip. Ultra High Performance Tires

Original equipment tires - automobile manufacturers work with tire manufacturers to maximize the handling and performance of new vehicles. Original equipment tires are important in determining the vehicle’s comfort and performance characteristics. Many automobile manufacturers require their OE suppliers to brand their tires with codes or symbols to increase the ease of replacement so drivers can maintain their vehicles original capabilities. Original Equipment Tires

Snow tires are designed for low temperature conditions. They are manufactured from soft rubber that heats up in the cold for improved grip on snow and ice. Snow tires also feature more sipes than traditional tires to disperse snow from the tread patch for increased road contact. Winter Tires

All Terrain tires - Light trucks and SUVs sometimes use all terrain tires. For puncture resistance, all terrain tires are constructed with stiffer sidewalls than all season radials. All terrain tires also feature large tread block patterns to remove mud from the contact patch and improve grip on loose sand and dirt when traveling off road. All Terrain Tires

Mud tires are designed specifically for off road use. They feature super chunky tread blocks for traction on loose mud and dirt. Mud tires are also wider than all terrain tires. Wider tires prevent sinking by distributing a vehicles weight over a greater area. Mud Terrain Tires

Commercial tires integrate premium levels of treadwear, handling and ride comfort with all season traction and braking performance. Commercial tires are divided into several classifications including: Line Haul, Regional, Emergency, Pick Up Delivery, Off Road, Super Single, RV, Bus and Mixed Service. Commercial Tires

These are the major passenger and light truck classifications. Sometimes technology allows a hybrid to emerge. For example, a touring tire shares many of the best characteristics of an all season tire and a performance tire. Conversely, new vehicle requirements may cause the need for new types in the future.

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