Owning a UTV can be exciting, given its flexibility and ease of use. You can ride them at home, enjoy them in open parks, or go shopping with them. UTVs have modified tires that fit their stature and movement capabilities.
So, can you use truck tires on a UTV? It is possible to use truck tires on a UTV. Truck tires come in different sizes, and you won’t miss out on one that fits your UTV. All you have to do is ensure that the truck tires are compatible with the UTV. This is essential because using unfitting truck tires could easily result in accidents. Besides, UTVs tend to be more aggressive than standard trucks, meaning the tires must be properly fitted.
Many truck owners wonder if it is possible to use truck tires on a UTV. The physical differences between the two vehicles make it look impossible — UTVs are much smaller than a standard truck.
You can use truck tires as a UTV as long as they fit. Even though UTVs are smaller than trucks, they use large tires for stability. This means it is possible to use your truck tires on a UTV. In fact, several tire manufacturers make tires that you can use on both your truck and UTV. This section discusses some of these manufacturers and the features of their tires.
BF Goodrich, also known as BFG, is an established manufacturer of truck tires. They also make off-road tires. After several years of truck and buggy wins in Baja 1000, BFG finally released a UTV specific tire in 2015. The tire is called KR2 and runs specifically on UTVs.
For now, the tire is only available in one 30 by 10-15 size, with 32″ expected to be out soon. If you want a tire for your truck, take a look at the Mud-Terrain KM2 in a wide range of wheel and tire sizes. While this tire is designed for trucks, you can also use it on a UTV. It is comfortable and will operate smoothly on a UTV.
Kenda is another popular tire maker that produces tires for trucks and UTVs. Initially, the company produced ATV tires when they still had three wheels. Today, the company produces tires for all off-road vehicles, including UTVs.
In fact, they have special tires for UTVs — Bearclaw and the Bounty Hunter HD. They come in several sizes to fit different needs. The Bearclaw HTR tires can be used on both trucks and SUVs.
However, if you want a specific tire for your truck, the Kenda brand offers the Klever MT, which is overly aggressive. This tire can handle any terrain and is also available in different sizes. Its only downside is that it is not compatible with most UTV rims.
The Greenball Corporation, commonly known as GBC, is an established tire maker. In fact, it is one of the largest tire manufacturers in the country. GBC makes tires for almost everything that rolls. One of their popular tires is the Kanati Mongrel UTV tire.
While it is specifically designed for UTVs, this tire can also be used on trucks. However, it would help if you didn’t overload the truck when using this tire because it does not support excessive weight.
GBC released another tire in 2016, the Dirt Commander, that can be used on both trucks and UTVs. The tire comes as standard equipment on the RZR models. They are different sizes and models of this tire, meaning you cannot miss out on one that fits your UTV.
If you are shopping for a truck tire, you should take measurements and compare them with the available tires. You can also use their UTV tires on smaller trucks — they look and work well. You won’t miss out on the ideal one because they come in various sizes.
If you are interested in the most aggressive UTV tires on the market, check out Pit Bull tires. Pit Bull has four models of UTV tires available under the Rocker and Growler names. All of these tires have very tall and super soft lugs.
For instance, the Growler LT Radial can also be used as a truck tire. However, the sizes of this model are limited — they range from 25 to 30 inches tall. Pit Bull has very large tires that can go as high as 47 inches if you are looking for truck tires.
These are also very aggressive tires that can be used as UTV ones. Several tires like PBX and Maddog are street legal, while others are strictly for competitive sand drag and rock crawling racing. Therefore, it is crucial to determine your needs before getting either of these tires.
Maxxis is also an established tire maker that makes tires for trucks and UTVs. Their most popular tire is Bighorn, which is mostly used on UTVs. Maxxis also has a handful of other tread patterns that come in a wide range of sizes.
Liberty, their latest UTV tire, can also be used on trucks. It is available in various sizes to widen your scope. If you are interested in a shorter tire, check out the Coronado, Ceros, or Viper tread patterns. With Maxxis, you will not miss out on a tire pattern that is ideal for your truck and UTV. The most aggressive of all is Buckshot, which can last for several years if you take good care of it. You will also like Big Horn, which is equally aggressive.
Can You Use a Truck Tire on a Trailer?
If you are a truck owner, you must have ever wondered if you can use truck tires on a trailer. Most people wonder why you can’t use these tires interchangeably, given that both are big tires. Is that possible?
You cannot use a truck tire on a trailer because it can cause quite a bit of harm. A casual onlooker can easily mistake them at first glance but trailer tires and truck tires are very different. Once you understand what you are looking for, these two tires become very different.
There are several ways these two tires are different, explaining why you cannot use them interchangeably. This section discusses those differences and the risks that come with using truck tires on a trailer.
The first difference is that most truck tires have the LT mark in front of the tire size numbers. which signifies Light Truck. Trailer tires have a code of ST. Furthermore, trailer tires have thicker sidewalls and narrower tread width.
When you put a trailer tire side by side with a truck tire, you can easily tell the difference. When outfitting your trailer for tires, it might seem that it shares a common size with a truck tire. Therefore, you might be tempted to use a truck tire as a spare. Please don’t.
Truck tires and trailer tires have different structures designed for specific purposes. Using a trailer tire on your truck or truck tire on your trailer could result in catastrophic consequences. Trucks interact with the road through their tires.
The tires then transfer the power back and forth through braking and acceleration. They adjust accordingly in response to turns so that they remain steady and maintain the grip. They also have a longer tread life and can usually see more use than a trailer tire.
On the other hand, trailer tires are built with bearing capacity and towing as top priorities. They have stiffer sidewalls with minimal priority on the tread life. In fact, there are two main types of trailer tire construction, both of which are designed to handle the stress caused by towing. They are also designed not to transfer power to the road so that they maintain stability.
An average truck tire is a radial design. These tires are designed for various purposes other than trailer tires. Depending on the tire classification, the tires can be for long-distance driving, bearing capacity, or a combination of both. However, no matter the tire design, the base construction is the same.
Trailer tires take into consideration three main factors during their construction. The first one is acceleration. Trailer tires take into consideration the stress caused by the weight and the ability to offer traction when accelerating. The second factor is braking. When you brake a trailer, the tire must be capable of breaking without screeching or losing control.
If the tires are not in good condition, it might take time for a car to stop after braking. This might be dangerous, especially in emergency cases. Another factor is turning. When a truck takes a turn, its tire tread and overall construction deform to produce a better grip. These are the three vital factors considered when designing a car tire.
The design and materials must also respond to the weather conditions based on needs. Driving in bad weather with poor tires increases the risk of accidents. Most truck tires have a lifespan of up to 80,000 miles, depending on how you take care of them. While it can be tempting to use them on the trailer, you are warned against doing so because it can result in severe consequences. They can also wear down quickly.
Can You Use Trailer Tires on a Truck?
Trailer tires might look the same as truck tires. For that reason, some people get tempted to use them on trucks; however, is this possible?
It is not possible to use trailer tires on a truck. This is because trailer tires have a unique design and structure that only works on trailers. They are designed to support a vertical load and other concerning forces of trailers.
On the other hand, trucks need tires with more flexible sidewalls that ensure passenger comfort. They should also have features that support steering. Therefore, using them interchangeably is not a good idea. They were simply not made to perform the same way.
While some light truck tires are sometimes used on fifth wheels and larger trailers due to their stiff sidewalls, they don’t perform well. Truck tires are readily available locally and come at affordable prices.
These tires also have higher speed ratings than trailer tires. Therefore, if you decide to work with truck tires, you must ensure that they are within the load-carrying capacity. Generally, trailer tires don’t need to provide sharp maneuvering and outstanding traction.
Instead, they just have to focus on adhering to the instructions of the towing vehicles while handling heavy loads. Trailer tires are specially modified with a strong internal structure to support heavy loads. These tires can also be made with bias-ply or radial constructions. The difference between these structures is the angling of internal plies because they offer different performance capabilities.
Typically, trailer tires are known for their heat-resistant performances, which helps them perform for much longer. They also have better heavy load durability, explaining why they are used on long-distance vehicles.
Mostly, trailer tires are not used on a daily basis. This means they sit around waiting to be used — they last for much longer than expected. Durability is guaranteed because there is minimal treadwear across the tread area. However, other factors might be taken into consideration.
With trailer tires having a longer lifespan, some people are tempted to use them on their trucks. The average lifespan of a trailer truck is five years with regular maintenance and optimized circumstances.
However, if the trailer tire is used under bad conditions like poor maintenance, it might need replacement after three years. Either way, it is not recommended to use a trailer tire on your truck because it increases the risk of accidents. Besides, it slows down movement because it is not designed to travel at fast speeds.
Wrap Up
It is possible to use truck tires on a UTV. Even though UTVs are smaller in size, they use large tires the size of trucks. If you want to use truck tires on your UTV, you must ensure that they are compatible. Do so by checking their size and verifying it. You are warned against using poorly fitting truck tires because it increases the chances of accidents.
It is not possible to use a truck tire on a trailer. Truck tires are built with a specific design that only works on a truck. Trying to use them on a trailer can result in catastrophic failures like accidents. A trailer needs stronger tires built to support a heavyweight load. Trailer tires are also specially designed to travel over long distances.