Are You in the Market for Replacing Your Truck’s Tires?

As we quickly head into Fall, having a good set of tires on your rig is important to keep you and your family safe while on the road.  Before you begin shopping for new tires, start with determining the right load rating for your vehicle.  Here’s some quick information from the team at DuraFlap to get you started:

What is load rating?

Load rating for tires describes their strength and durability under pressure and across treacherous terrains.  Not only are some trucks heavier than others, but also some trucks carry much heavier loads and their tires need to be able to withstand the intense weight.

There are four overall categories for trucks:  passenger, light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty.  Vehicle manufacturers can make this confusing because many powerful trucks are advertised as “heavy-duty” even though tire specifications have different criteria.

Passenger trucks

Passenger trucks are less heavy and intended for light-recreational use.  Owners typically use passenger trucks for traveling greater distances and carrying lighter loads such as light work equipment.  Many consumers with minor towing needs and businesses traveling mostly on paved roads with lighter equipment frequently use passenger trucks.

These trucks use P-metric tires.  P-metric tires provide the truck with a smoother ride and greater mileage efficiency.  There are two common types of P-metric tires: standard load (“SL”) and Extra Load (“XL”).  The distinction between the two is just what you would think: SL is great for normal, everyday use while XL is designed for relatively heavier loads.

Light-Duty trucks

In the world of tires, Class 1-3 trucks (up to such models as the Ford-350, Ram 3500, and GMC 3500) are “light duty” and use LT rated tires.  Owners of these trucks carry heavy loads and may need to travel through rough terrain or muddy/snowy conditions.  There is a range of LT-rated tires available, with the most common being “C,” “D,” and “E” rated tires.  In general, as you go further down the alphabet, the greater the amount of pressure and load the tire can handle.  LT tires will have deeper tread and depth than P-metric tires.

Medium and Heavy-Duty Trucks

Trucks that fit into the Class 4, 5, and 6 categories are “medium duty.”  A few examples include the Ford F-650 and the Ram 5500.  18-wheelers and larger are “heavy-duty.”

How do mud flaps help my tires perform?

Mud flaps are important for safe driving–whether on the open road or 4-wheeling in the countryside.  A properly fitted pair of drill-less mud flaps will keep road debris from kicking up and scratching your truck’s body, or worse…striking another vehicle on the road.  DuraFlap’s patented design deflects mud, snow, and debris away from your tires and the wheel wells, keeping the traction between your tires and the road cleaner.

Our drill-less mud flaps are perfect for this job.  Only DuraFlap offers computerized cutting and custom sizes to provide the perfect fit every time.  Our mud flaps are made from 3/8” thick polyethylene/rubber blend material that will not crack, peel, tear or fade.  DuraFlap mud flaps are constructed with an anti-sail design to keep the mud flap from flying up behind the vehicle when moving.

We can also help you enhance your truck’s look with our customized mud flap designs.  Visit our online catalog to see over 100 artwork designs such as a bear, a cowboy hat, and the American flag.  If you don’t find the perfect design in our catalog, we can use your ideas to design one for you.

Adding mud flaps to your vehicle just takes one phone call!

Ready to get started on a mid-summer upgrade to your pickup truck with new drill-less mudflaps?  Contact us today to get started!