Since these vehicles have so many different uses, it makes sense that several tire types are used on them as original equipment to complement specific models. These include:

Difference of Pickup & SUV Tires
Pickups & SUVs differ from standard Passenger Cars in their overall strength, load carrying capacity, center of gravity, & driveline complexity:

The main reasons many Pickups & SUVs are originally equipped with standard passenger tires is to lower rolling resistance & weight which enhances fuel economy &, of course, costs less.

* Most Pickups & SUVs feature a full frame & body construction to enhance their strength for hauling, towing &/or off-roading. While strength is important, it also adds weight which the tires must carry. Most standard Passenger Cars use uni-body construction.


* Pickup Trucks are available in different load carrying capacities. Compact Pickups often feature 1/4 ton (226Kg) capacity while full size Pickups feature 1/2 (453Kg), 3/4 (680Kg) & 1 ton (907Kg) capacities. When Pickups are in use they tend to be either lightly loaded or loaded to capacity. Also, because it is easier to "overload" a Pickup Truck than a passenger car, the tires are more likely to experience more stress.

* Pickups & especially SUVs tend to have a higher center of gravity than Passenger Cars. Ground clearance is very important for trucks that are to be driven off road & the only way to add clearance under the axles is to install taller tires. Designing the truck around taller tires, than would be typically used on a standard passenger vehicle, & providing sufficient clearance for the tires results in a tall vehicle package & a higher center of gravity (with more body roll & load transfer) which make the tires work harder, especially under braking & cornering situations.

* For the approximately 66% of SUV's & 29% of Pickups which feature 4-wheel drive, you have the extra weight due to the driveline's complexity. The additional weight of the front wheel drive axle & hubs, drive shaft & transfer case all add extra stress to the tires.
NOTE: O.E. manufacturers matich tires to a truck load carrying capacity.

What is the definition of a Light Truck Tire?
This is not as easy as it sounds. We define a light truck tire as any tire line or size which would typically be applied on a light truck vehicle (SUV, pickup, van). As such, it could be an LT-metric tire for use on a Ford F-350 or a P-metric 'light truck' size of a typical tire line such as the P235/75R15 on a Ford Explorer.

Types of Light Truck Tires
Since so many Pickups & SUVs are originally equipped with standard P-metric sized passenger tires it is important to underst& the typical construction features that are added with P-Metric sized Light Truck tire designs & Light Truck designs in Light Truck sizes.