Different Types of Tires

At Top Shop Truck Accessories of Palmetto, FL, we stock a lot of tires for different vehicles…and we know that the variety of designs and styles of tires out there can be confusing or even overwhelming. Here’s a quick breakdown of tire designs that can serve as a buying guide and point you in the right direction:

Tires for Cars and Minivans

Passenger Tires

For most people’s needs – kid haulers, grocery getters and commuter rides – passenger tires are the perfect budget-friendly choice. Passenger tires are available in a wide range of sizes for various fitments and usually feature a higher profile, all-season tread pattern and a rubber compound that’s designed for long wear. Passenger tires concentrate on ride quality and low noise and are available with tread wear warranties that range from 30,000 to 85,000 miles or more.

Touring Tires

Touring tires offer a bit better performance with excellent ride quality and noise suppression. Touring tires feature an all-season tread design, higher speed ratings, and a slightly lower profile, with wider tread contact patch for better steering response and cornering. Touring tires also have a forgiving ride and low noise, but often come with a tradeoff in tread life.

Performance/High Performance/UHP Tires

Designed for drivers of sports sedans and coupes, performance tires are specialized for steering response and precise handling at the expense of ride quality and noise. These race-inspired tires are designed with a softer tread compound for a “stickier” surface, and usually have a higher speed rating for control and stability. Many performance/HP/UHP tires feature the latest innovations in design and materials – at a price. The softer rubber formulation also means shortened tire life – many of these types of tires feature a 40-50,000 mile tread wear warranty.

Tires for Trucks and SUVs

All-Purpose Tires

For many drivers of pickups and SUVs, All-Purpose (AP) tires will suit their needs perfectly. AP tires are original equipment on many trucks thanks to their smooth, quiet ride on the highway and all-season traction. Many AP tires feature the industry’s M + S rating for mud and snow traction; their design is similar to passenger tires except with better load capacity and a somewhat more aggressive tread pattern. AP tires may have a treadwear warranty that ranges from 40-70,000 miles.

All Terrain Tires

All-terrain tires deliver better off-road traction with a blockier tread that has a higher void ratio (area between tread elements) for better ejection of mud and snow. All-terrain tires are robustly built with four-, eight- or even ten-ply construction for resistance to gouges, punctures or tears. These hardworking tires still offer good ride quality and low noise and are available in a wide range of sizes and load capacities.

Mud Terrain Tires

If you’re serious about going off-road, mud terrain tires offer great traction over sand, rocks, mud or loose dirt. Mud terrain tires feature a very aggressive tread, eight- or ten-ply construction (sometimes with sidewall or tread reinforcement) and silica-enriched tread compounds for rigidity and durability. Mud terrain tires are available in the tallest and widest sizes for ground clearance and flotation, but are less “streetable” in terms of noise, ride quality and road manners.

Winter Tires

While winter tires certainly aren’t a necessity in Palmetto, FL, they’re still worth discussing in this roundup of tire types. Older “snow tires” or “mud grips” like on your dad’s Ford wagon were loud and clunky; today’s winter tires rival the best touring tires in terms of noise, ride and road manners. Winter tires feature a tread pattern that digs in on snow and slush, with a network of “sipes,” tiny slits that enhance grip. Some winter tires come pre-drilled to make installation of studs easy for traction on ice. The softer tread compound of winter tires is designed to stay flexible at low temperatures but also wears very fast at temperatures above 40 degrees.

So what are you driving? A car, minivan, light truck, SUV, crossover? Have a look at our selection of tires from top brands like BF Goodrich, Bridgestone, Michelin® and Goodyear – we’ve got a great set of tires for your vehicle and your needs, and at a price your wallet will love!