What Are The Best Tires for Towing on a GMC Sierra 1500

If you are towing a lot, you may want to check what tires you are using for the job. 

Tires are an essential part of your GMC Sierra 1500. Not only will they keep you on the road, but they also ensure that you are able to do the tasks you ask your pickup truck to do. One of them is towing.

It does not matter what your maximum tow rating is. The tires on your pickup truck must be able to handle the job. That includes making sure it steers right, your brakes are strong, and the suspension will manage this extended load. 

To ensure you have the right tires for your truck, you should look at its load rating and load index. These figures will tell you the tire’s maximum safe capacity when it is inflated to its maximum pressure. The higher the load index, the heavier the load your tires will withstand while driving with a trailer. 

To find this information, you look at your tires. If you look at the tire ply rating, it should be E or higher. This tells you that the tire will not only last longer but they will also tell you that it is a safe tire to use when you are towing a load. 

The other thing to look at on the tire sidewall is the first two letters of the size rating. Make sure they say LT (light truck), HT (highway tire), or AT (all-terrain). These letters will tell you that your tire is engineered for your truck and what you will do with it. 

Another number to know is your gross vehicle weight rating or GVWR. If you have that information, then you can select the right tire that meets or exceeds GMC’s recommendations for the GVWR for both front and rear wheels. 

Every Sierra 1500 should have a sticker on the door sill that provides information on GVWR and tire pressures. These stickers are specific to your pickup truck. That information will be valuable when you are towing your trailer on the road and need to know about any issues you might encounter. 

If you find that you have the wrong tires for your pickup truck or if you need to upgrade your tires so you can tow more, contact our service department at Valley GMC to schedule an appointment. We can discuss getting the right tire for your Sierra 1500 and which brands and tire types we stock or can order for you to meet your towing needs.