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Finding reliable tires is never easy. This is especially true for those who drive older trucks and need a tire that can provide both durability and performance.

The three best tire options for old trucks are the Michelin Defender LTX MS, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac, and Continental TerrainContact A/T. These tires are all made with more durable rubber tread compounds to last longer and provide excellent performance. The key is to find a tire you can count on.

Tires have a huge impact on the quality of our driving experience. This is especially true for old trucks that may have seen performance decline through the years. The best way to extend the lifespan of an old truck is with a new tire upgrade.

Testing tires for old trucks is a bit different for our team. These experts decided to analyze the tread life and traction ability of these tires to see how well they would feel on older trucks that may not run as smoothly as brand new vehicles. Keep reading to learn everything about the best tires for old trucks.  

Table of Contents

6 Best Tires For Old Trucks

The best tires for older trucks are those that have a long life span, offer excellent traction, and require less maintenance. They have a great grip, can be used on wet or icy roads, and have a decent price.

These tires also have the advantage of being able to hold up over time and last for a broader variety of surfaces. This makes it important to find a reliable tire, especially for an older truck because they have lower performance levels and could wear down quicker.

This guide includes the six best tires for old trucks. All of the options included can offer great tread life, reliable road traction, and long-term durability and performance unlike most tires available on the market.

1. Michelin Defender LTX M/S

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The Michelin Defender LTX is a perfect tire for old trucks. It provides better performance than conventional tires of the same size and weight. It also uses the advanced Evertread Compound to maintain top-notch performance on difficult terrain.

The Defender LTX M/S is Michelin’s most popular all-season tire built especially for trucks and SUVs with an emphasis on performance. It uses unique grooves and sipe for added traction during wet and winter weather conditions too.

The 3-D Active sipes work with the lateral grooves to create an even more advanced winter traction system. They allow drivers to handle with much more confidence in deeper snow and on slippery ice.

The MaxTouch Construction is another feature by Michelin that focuses on creating a stronger tire with more stability. It allows for extreme road comfort because of the wider profile and reinforced sidewalls.

For wet traction, four wide circumferential grooves increase road traction by eliminating the risk of hydroplaning. This also helps improve handling and braking during the winter months too.  

The internal structure includes a durable design to hold a heavier load capacity. This tire can be found widely available in size at Tire Rack.

2. Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac

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The Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac is made of durable material and has an excellent grip. It can handle all kinds of road conditions with ease. And this tire can stand up to high speeds without any problems.

The Wrangler Duratrac tire has a rugged tread that provides increased traction in wet conditions, yet rides dry or lightly dusty roads without slipping. It is designed to deliver smooth driving and reactive traction in both wet and dry conditions.

The tire is designed to work hard in all weather conditions and also gives you the right grip. It has a comfortable ride and exceptional handling. It is also strong and light over long distances so it's great for all-around use on the trail or road.

This tire is available both as a passenger tire and a light truck tire so you can find the perfect fit for your vehicle. If you have an older truck with more size, this tire can give you an increased load capacity with extended tread life.

The tire design includes lateral grooves and self-cleaning functionality so you can drive off-road too without any problems. The traction capabilities in all types of weather are extremely reliable.

This tire is available at Tire Rack with sizes starting at 15” in rim diameter.  

3. Continental TerrainContact A/T

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The Continental Tire Contact A/T is one of the most popular tires in its category because of its durable tread compound and performance features. This all-terrain tire provides smooth driving comfort with off-road capabilities.

The Continental Contact A/T is designed to offer excellent handling and performance in any weather conditions. The tire uses a +Silane tread compound, which is water-resistant and reduces the heat generated by friction.

This means that the tire can drive for longer distances and at faster speeds without sacrificing comfort and durability. Instead, there is a wider contact patch that promotes more direct road contact for extra durability.

The tread pattern is also open for more accurate handling and braking. This design includes intermediate tread blocks and closed shoulder blocks that keep your treads working hard without the extra wear.

For winter driving, there are full-depth sipes and a set of traction grooves to give you all-season driving performance. They even work off-road in mud and dirt to enhance your traction during the rain. This also includes ice and snow grip too.

You can expect added strength from the reinforced sidewall too. This tire is priced as low as $198.29 per tire and it can be found at Tire Rack.

4. Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus

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Pirelli has always wanted to be the most innovative tire manufacturer in the world. This stands true when discussing the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tire because of the advanced design and features that make it a top choice for old trucks.

This tire has been designed for extreme off-road conditions and features its unique tread compound. The tire is primarily aimed at riders who are primarily concerned with extreme speed and speed over rough terrain.

Everything about this tire is aimed to improve durability and traction. That includes an advanced cut and chip-resistant tread compound that creates added road grip on difficult terrains and in wet or winter conditions.

The tire design also uses a set of deep lateral grooves located in the tread blocks as a way to create hydroplaning resistance when driving on wet surfaces. These grooves work with the block edges to ensure maximum road grip at all times.

The open shoulder blocks are the last line of defense on the tire to push away water from the contact patch area where traction is reinforced. The sidewalls are also made with extra strength rubber to avoid damages and punctures.

This tire is available in many different sizes to accommodate a variety of vehicles at Tire Rack.  

5. Firestone Destination A/T2

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The Firestone Destination A/T2 tire is an extra-strength all-terrain tire designed to increase the lifespan of your tires. It gives a lot of convenience and safety on the road to handle difficult terrains with more accuracy.

This tire uses an advanced tread compound and symmetric pattern to provide \great traction, excellent grip, and strong tread life. It uses a wider set of shoulders for better traction on snow-covered surfaces too.

The high-void tread pattern makes it easier to find constant road traction when driving on this tire. It also helps with off-road driving by creating a more consistent road contact despite the changing terrains.

For wet surfaces, Firestone uses a HydroGrip Technology that works with the high-void and aggressive shoulder design. There are also lateral grooves on the tire that help expel water from the tire and outwards towards the shoulders.

The tire design also relies heavily on advanced siping technology for winter driving. These sipes release tons of tiny bite particles when there is snow or ice on the ground to act like claws to create more grip.

This is a popular tire that can be found widely available with free shipping at Tire Rack. Pricing starts at $148.50 per tire.

6. Nitto Ridge Grappler

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The Nitto Ridge Grappler tire is one of the best all-terrain and off-road tires in the market with its outstanding performance and ruggedness. The tire design is unique with plenty of advanced technologies that give it an edge on the road.

This tire is designed to improve the experience of driving and riding on rough terrain. This tire combines high grip with low rolling resistance, making it suitable for riders and riders as well as for those who ride off-road.

It works well for old trucks because it has excellent durability features and it will provide plenty of road comfort for you and your vehicle. The design includes an advanced all-terrain tread compound with cut and chip-resistant properties.

The black sidewall adds an aggressive look for drivers. It is also made with reinforced rubber to ensure better strength and durability on the road. The tire includes stone ejectors for off-road driving too.

If you are a truck driver in need of a solid tire that drives with amazing comfort on the pavement, this is one of the best options you will find anywhere. It can be found in many different sizes at SimpleTire.

Which Type Of Tire Do I Need?

When shopping for a truck tire, you will notice there are many different sizes. But besides the size, you will see different tire types too. The two main tire types you will consider for your old truck are passenger tires or light truck tires.

But which one is the better option?

Passenger Tire

If you value comfort and tread life, a passenger tire will typically be the better option for most drivers. However, the type of truck and size of your tires is a major factor that impacts the style of tire that will work best for you.

It is best to see what your load capacity is on your truck and shop from there. By using a passenger tire, you will sacrifice strength for comfort. Your specific driving needs will determine what fits you best.

Light Truck Tire

Light truck tires are typically bigger and more expensive. But they have the performance capabilities that make it worth the investment if you drive a larger truck that consistently carries a heavy load capacity.

The downfall of these tires is they tend to be noisy and less comfortable on the pavement. You should decide what you want most from your tire because these will add more strength to your vehicle and give you better off-road driving capabilities.

What Is The Best Tire Type For An Old Truck?

Tire selection is one of the most important aspects of an old truck. You should select tires that improve your gas mileage, tread life, and traction performance. There are a few different tire types that work best for old trucks.

We consider all-terrain tires and highway tires to be the two best options for older trucks. The choice will ultimately depend on what you value most as a driver.  

All-Terrain

All-terrain tires are a great way to get around the rugged terrain in the world. They have been used in various applications for decades and with a more robust tread design, you can get added strength and accuracy when driving.

They are typically more expensive but they have the off-road performance capabilities to back up the price increase. They use bigger tread designs with deeper grooves to handle dirt and mud with ease too.

If you are looking to increase your off-road driving performance, an all-terrain tire is the best option for you and your old truck.

Highway

Highway tires are typically all-season touring tires made with comfort and durability in mind. They can be found a bit cheaper than an all-terrain tire, but they will also not have the same off-road driving performance.

However, they provide much more comfort on the pavement with excellent tread life. The top highway tire brands give amazing warranty coverage policies too because these tires have such reliable tread life.

If you want a tire that will improve your daily driving experience, a highway tire is a great choice for you to upgrade the way your old truck feels on the road.

Best Tires For Old Trucks

About The Author

Charles Redding

Charles Redding

I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more.

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