Both groups share UAE problems: payload in the bed, construction-site debris, gravel shoulders and long highway stretches with trailers or boats. The right tyre is chosen for load first, then for terrain.
We change pickup tyres at sites, yards and homes, and stock both commercial and A/T options for working trucks.
Work pickups: load first
A single-cab Hilux or D-Max carrying 1 tonne of materials needs C-rated or LT tyres with the load index printed on its placard, not a cheaper passenger tyre of the same size. Underrated tyres on a loaded truck are a leading cause of rear blowouts on the E311 and E611 in summer.
On construction sites, nails, screws and rebar offcuts cause most punctures. A tyre with a steel-belted, cut-resistant tread and a deeper pattern lasts longer and is easier to repair in the tread area.
Full-size pickups and towing
Full-size pickups towing a boat, caravan or horse trailer put extra load on the rear tyres, so use the placard's laden pressure and a tyre with a load index at or above the original. A Ram 1500 or F-150 towing 3 tonnes at 110 km/h on a 45°C day is working its tyres hard.
Many owners swap to A/T tyres for the look. If you tow regularly on the highway, a load-rated H/T or a highway-friendly A/T keeps braking and stability closer to stock.
Uneven wear on pickups
Empty pickups often wear the centre of the rear tyres because they run high laden pressures without a load. Loaded pickups that run low pressures wear both shoulders. Matching pressure to the actual load is the simplest way to double tread life.
Rotate every 8,000 to 10,000 km and check alignment after any off-road work, since leaf-spring rear axles and heavy front ends can drift out of spec.
Technician tips
- Match the placard load index exactly or higher on every tyre.
- Adjust rear pressure for load: higher laden, lower empty, within placard values.
- Inspect tread for nails after every site visit.
- Use laden pressure when towing on the highway.
- Rotate every 8,000 to 10,000 km, including a matching spare.
- Check the spare under the bed; it collects dust and loses pressure unseen.
