Last Updated on 3 months
Explore Our Expert Guide to Choosing the Best Dually Tires for Your Heavy-Duty Needs
Dual trucks, renowned for their reliability and robustness, are designed for heavy-duty applications such as towing trailers, hauling payloads, or handling challenging terrain. They are often used as a workhorse for towing companies, construction workers, or other lines of work that need dependable and competent vehicles. Even though “Dually” is not an official name, they became known as such since there are double tires on the rear axle (4 in total) to maximize the grip. Consequently, the tires for these trucks need to be robust, durable, and capable of supporting heavy loads. Today, we will help you find the best dually tires available and tell you what to look for when shopping.
Four Dually trucks—Ford F-350 Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 3500 HD, and Ram 3500—are available on the US market. All have characteristic double-rear tires. This blog post will guide you through the best choices for each truck: terrain work or off-road use and highway driving and towing. But before we list the best Dually tires, here is what you need to know.
What To Know Before Shopping For Dually Tires
Before shopping for dually tires, it’s crucial to consider several key factors to ensure you select the best Dually tires that match your truck’s specifications and meet your driving needs. Here are the critical considerations:
Truck Specifications:
Load Rating:
Determine the maximum load capacity your truck requires based on its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Select tires with a load rating that meets or exceeds your truck’s requirements to ensure safe handling and durability.
Tire Size:
Refer to your truck’s owner’s manual or tire placard to identify the correct tire size (diameter, width, and aspect ratio) recommended by the manufacturer. Avoid deviating from these specifications unless advised by a tire professional.
Driving Conditions and Usage:
On-Road vs. Off-Road:
Assess whether you primarily drive your dually truck on paved roads or frequently encounter off-road terrain. Choose tires with an appropriate tread pattern—either highway-terrain (for on-road comfort and efficiency) or all-terrain/mud-terrain (for off-road capability and traction).
Towing and Hauling:
Consider the weight of trailers or payloads you typically tow or haul. If you frequently engage in towing activities, opt for tires with reinforced construction and a higher load-carrying capacity.
Tire Type and Performance:
All-Season vs. All-Terrain vs. Mud-Terrain:
Determine the type of tire that best fits your driving needs. All-season tires are suitable for general highway driving, while all-terrain tires balance on-road comfort and off-road capability. Mud-terrain tires provide maximum traction in challenging off-road conditions.
Performance Characteristics:
Based on your preferences and driving environment, evaluate factors such as wet/dry traction, tread life, noise levels, and fuel efficiency.
Durability and Construction:
Sidewall Strength:
Dually trucks require tires with robust sidewalls to handle heavy loads and maintain stability. This is especially important if you frequently drive on [specific type of terrain] or in [specific weather conditions], as these conditions can stress the tires more. Look for tires with reinforced sidewalls (e.g., E-load range) for enhanced durability and resistance to damage, ensuring your tires can withstand the rigors of your driving conditions.
Tire Construction:
Consider the tire’s construction materials (e.g., steel belts, nylon overlays) and tread design to ensure they can withstand the rigors of dually truck applications.
Best Dually Tires For Ford F-350 Super Duty
Michelin Defender LTX M/S
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is a popular tire choice for the Ford F-350 Super Duty and other heavy-duty trucks. It is well-regarded for its durability, all-season performance, and comfort.
Durability and Load Capacity:
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is designed to handle the high load capacities typical of heavy-duty trucks like the Ford F-350. It features a sturdy construction with reinforced sidewalls to support heavy loads, making it ideal for towing and hauling applications.
All-Season Performance:
This tire is engineered to deliver reliable traction and handling in various weather conditions. The tread compound and design provide excellent grip on dry, wet, and light snow-covered roads, ensuring confident performance year-round.
Comfort and Quietness:
Despite its heavy-duty capabilities, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S offers a comfortable and quiet ride. The tire’s design minimizes road noise and vibrations, enhancing overall driving comfort during long trips or daily commuting.
Longevity and Tread Life:
Michelin is known for producing tires with excellent tread life, and the Defender LTX M/S is no exception. The tire’s tread compound is engineered for longevity, offering extended mileage before requiring replacement.
Fuel Efficiency:
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is designed for fuel efficiency. Its low rolling resistance helps optimize fuel consumption, contributing to cost savings over the tire’s lifetime.
Versatility:
This tire strikes a balance between on-road performance and light off-road capability. While not designed for aggressive off-road use, it can handle occasional gravel or unpaved surfaces without compromising on-road comfort and stability.
Warranty Coverage:
Michelin backs the Defender LTX M/S with a generous warranty, covering defects in materials and quality. Additionally, the tire is often eligible for a mileage warranty, assuring its long-lasting performance.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is a highly regarded tire choice for the Ford F-350 Super Duty, especially for drivers looking to enhance off-road capability without compromising on-road performance.
Off-Road Capability:
The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is renowned for its off-road prowess. Its aggressive tread pattern, with large, deep voids and interlocking tread blocks, allows exceptional traction on various off-road surfaces, including [specific types of off-road surfaces]. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for off-road enthusiasts or those who frequently encounter these types of terrain while driving.
All-Season Performance:
Despite its off-road focus, the KO2 performs admirably on paved roads in all seasons. The tire’s silica-infused tread compound and sipes provide excellent grip on wet or dry surfaces and ensure confident handling and braking.
Durability and Strength:
Built for rugged use, the KO2 boasts a rigid sidewall construction that resists cuts, tears, and punctures—a crucial feature for off-road adventures. The tire’s reinforced rubber compound enhances durability and longevity, making it suitable for heavy-duty trucks like the Ford F-350.
Traction and Control:
The tire’s aggressive tread design provides outstanding off-road traction and enhances stability and control on highways and rough terrain. It delivers predictable handling characteristics, allowing for confident maneuvering in various driving conditions.
Snow Traction:
The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is certified in Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF), indicating its ability to handle snowy and icy conditions. The tire’s deep sipes and biting edges provide reliable traction in winter weather, enhancing safety during cold-weather driving.
Comfort and Noise Levels:
Despite its rugged appearance, the KO2 offers a reasonably comfortable ride on paved roads. The tire’s optimized tread pattern helps reduce road noise and vibrations, resulting in a quieter driving experience than more aggressive off-road tires.
Warranty and Longevity:
BFGoodrich stands behind the All-Terrain T/A KO2 with a robust warranty covering materials and artistry defects. While off-road use can accelerate tire wear, the KO2’s durable construction and tread compound contribute to extended tread life under normal driving conditions.
Best Dually Tires For Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 3500 HD
Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar
The Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar is a popular tire choice for heavy-duty trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD and GMC Sierra 3500HD. This tire is known for its rugged construction, off-road capability, and durability.
Off-Road Performance:
The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure is designed for versatility and performs well on and off-road. It features a specially aggressive tread pattern with biting edges and open shoulder blocks, providing excellent traction on various terrains such as dirt, gravel, mud, and rocks.
Kevlar Reinforcement:
One of this tire’s standout features is its use of Kevlar in its construction. The Kevlar-reinforced sidewalls enhance puncture resistance and durability, making the tire more capable of handling rough and challenging off-road conditions encountered by heavy-duty trucks.
All-Season Performance:
Despite its off-road focus, the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure performs admirably on paved roads in all seasons. The tire’s tread compound and design provide reliable grip on wet or dry surfaces, ensuring confident handling and braking.
Durability and Strength:
Using Kevlar in the tire’s construction enhances puncture resistance and contributes to overall durability. The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure is built to withstand heavy loads and rugged use, making it suitable for trucks like the Silverado 3500HD and Sierra 3500HD.
Snow Traction:
This tire is Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certified, indicating its ability to handle snowy and icy conditions. The tire’s tread design and compound provide traction on winter roads, improving safety and performance during cold-weather driving.
Comfort and Noise Levels:
Despite its rugged capabilities, the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure offers a relatively comfortable ride on paved surfaces. The tire’s optimized tread pattern helps reduce road noise and vibrations, enhancing overall driving comfort.
Warranty and Longevity:
Goodyear provides a strong warranty for the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure, covering defects in materials and workmanship. The tire’s durable construction and Kevlar reinforcement contribute to extended tread life, ensuring long-lasting performance under usual driving conditions.
Firestone Transforce HT2
The Firestone Transforce HT2 is a popular tire choice for heavy-duty trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD and GMC Sierra 3500HD. This tire is known for its durability, versatility, and firm performance characteristics.
Heavy-Duty Construction:
The Firestone Transforce HT2 is designed for heavy-duty applications, making it ideal for trucks like the Silverado 3500HD and Sierra 3500HD. It features a robust construction with reinforced sidewalls to handle heavy loads and towing.
All-Season Performance:
This tire performs well in various weather conditions, including dry, wet, and light snow. The tread design and compound provide good traction and stability on paved roads, ensuring confident handling and braking.
Comfortable Ride:
Despite its heavy-duty capabilities, the Transforce HT2 offers a relatively comfortable ride. The tire’s design helps absorb road imperfections and reduces noise levels, contributing to a smoother driving experience.
Durability and Longevity:
Firestone is known for producing durable tires, and the Transforce HT2 is no exception. The tire’s tread compound and construction are engineered to resist wear and tear, providing extended tread life and reliability.
Tow and Haul Capability:
The Firestone Transforce HT2 is well-suited for trucks used for towing and hauling. Its strong sidewalls and load-carrying capacity make it a reliable choice for heavy-duty applications, ensuring stability and control when carrying heavy loads or pulling trailers.
Highway Performance:
This tire excels on highways and paved roads, offering stability and responsiveness. The Transforce HT2 delivers predictable handling characteristics, making it suitable for long-distance driving and everyday use.
Warranty and Customer Satisfaction:
Firestone provides a solid Transforce HT2 warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. This tire has also garnered positive customer reviews for its performance and reliability.
Best Dually Tires For Ram 3500
Toyo Open Country M/T
The Toyo Open Country M/T (Mud Terrain) is a rugged and capable tire choice for the RAM 3500, particularly for drivers seeking excellent off-road performance and durability.
Off-Road Capability:
The Toyo Open Country M/T is designed for serious off-road enthusiasts. It features an aggressive tread pattern with deep, staggered shoulder blocks and mud-evacuating voids, providing exceptional traction in mud, dirt, sand, and rocky terrain.
Mud Terrain Performance:
This tire excels in muddy and challenging off-road conditions. The tread design is optimized for maximum grip and self-cleaning, ensuring continuous traction even in the most demanding off-road environments.
Durability and Strength:
The Toyo Open Country M/T is built tough to withstand off-road abuse. It features a high-strength construction with reinforced sidewalls to resist punctures, cuts, and abrasions—a critical feature for off-road adventures and heavy-duty use.
All-Season Performance:
Despite its off-road focus, the Open Country M/T performs reasonably well on paved roads in all seasons. The tire’s tread compound and design provide adequate grip on dry and wet surfaces, making it suitable for daily driving and highway use.
Traction and Control:
This tire offers excellent traction and stability on various surfaces, including rocks and loose terrain. The aggressive tread blocks and sidewall design enhance grip and control, allowing for confident maneuvering off-road.
Comfort and Noise Levels:
Given its aggressive tread pattern, the Toyo Open Country M/T tends to be louder than typical highway-terrain tires. However, advancements in tire technology help minimize road noise and vibrations, providing a relatively comfortable ride for an off-road-focused tire.
Tow and Haul Capability:
The Toyo Open Country M/T is suitable for trucks used for towing and hauling. Its robust construction and load-carrying capacity ensure stability and control when carrying heavy loads or used for towing trailers, enhancing overall safety and performance.
Warranty and Longevity:
Toyo backs the Open Country M/T with a solid warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. While off-road use can accelerate tire wear, the Open Country M/T is engineered for durability and longevity under rugged driving conditions.
Cooper Discoverer HT3
The Cooper Discoverer HT3 is a solid tire option for the RAM 3500. It offers durability, comfort, and all-season performance, for everyday driving and light hauling.
All-Season Performance:
The Cooper Discoverer HT3 is designed to perform well in various weather conditions, including dry, wet, and light snow. The tire’s tread pattern and compound provide reliable traction and handling on paved roads, making it suitable for daily driving and highway use.
Comfortable Ride:
This tire offers a relatively comfortable ride compared to more aggressive off-road or mud-terrain tires. The optimized tread design helps absorb road imperfections and reduce noise levels, contributing to a smoother driving experience.
Durability and Longevity:
The Cooper Discoverer HT3 is engineered for durability and longevity. It features robust construction with reinforced sidewalls to withstand heavy loads and resist extensive wear and tear, ensuring extended tread life under usual driving conditions.
Highway Performance:
This tire excels on highways and paved surfaces, delivering predictable handling and stability. The Discoverer HT3 provides good traction and responsiveness, making it suitable for long-distance driving and everyday commuting.
Tow and Haul Capability:
While primarily designed for lighter hauling and everyday driving, the Cooper Discoverer HT3 offers adequate load-carrying capacity for typical truck applications. It provides stability and control when carrying moderate loads or towing trailers, enhancing overall safety and performance.
All-Terrain Capability:
Although not intended for severe off-road use, the Cooper Discoverer HT3 can handle light off-road conditions such as gravel or packed dirt roads. It balances on-road comfort and off-road capability, making it versatile for various driving environments.
Warranty and Customer Satisfaction:
Cooper stands behind Discoverer HT3, which has a warranty covering defects in materials and quality. The tire has received positive customer reviews for its performance, reliability, and value for money.
Conclusion
Choosing the best tires for a dually truck involves assessing load requirements, driving conditions, and personal preferences. Whether you prioritize on-road comfort, off-road capability, or towing performance, various tire options are available to suit your needs. Please consult with our tire experts or refer to manufacturer guidelines to make an informed decision based on your specific dually truck make and model. Investing in high-quality tires ensures safer and more efficient driving, mainly when operating a heavy-duty vehicle like a dually truck.