- A side note here: As a former Bridgestone engineer, I strongly recommend checking DiscountTire - Treadwell out. This is a tool that DiscountTire dealers use in the store. You can get recommendations based on value, performance, and local favorites.
TRIED & TESTED!
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, the below tires are the best options for 3/4 ton or above light trucks. They’re durable and reliable. All you have to do is properly identify your usage needs and select the best fit for yourself.
Most all-terrain tires don’t last long on hauling and towing applications. Due to heavy load, they might get flat or wear unevenly. I’ve made deep research and found the best 3/4 ton truck tires for you. Let’s begin!
At a Glance
- Toyo Open Country AT3 – Gonna be a hall of fame for sure – Best All-Round + Longevity + Winter
- BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 – Can be used in any application – Best All-Round + Rock Crawling
- General Grabber ATX – – Great traction performance with little noisy manners – Best Fuel Efficiency + Perfect Responsiveness
- Firestone Destination X/T – Perfect tire for towing and hauling with massive winter capability – Highway + Winter Pick
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 LTX – Insane wear life with great durability even for 1-ton trucks – Best Wearing for mild off-road tires
- Toyo M-55 – Off-road beast with unique winter performance – Off-Road+Winter
- Cooper STT Pro – Great adventure tire for ‘Bigger is better’ supporters – Non-Work/Aggressive Appearance
- BF Goodrich KM3 – Smooth ride for a mud-terrain tire – Comfort/Off-Road
- Continental TerrainContact H/T – Exceptional tire for street and highway driving – Smooth Ride + Long-lasting Rubber
- Michelin Defender LTX M/S – Great highway(street) tire for 80% on and 20% off usage – Best Wearing + Highway Usage
What are the 3/4 Trucks?
Simply, any truck weighs between 8,500 and 10,000 pounds. In that case, I’m talking about the gross vehicle weight rating(GVWR). If you want to know the maximum towing limit of your vehicle, you should check GVWR.
Here is a perfect explanation of vehicle weight rating. I strongly recommend you to check this out!
The below list contains the most popular 3/4 ton trucks for heavy and light duty.
Heavy-Duty Trucks
- Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
- Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
- Ford F-250 Super Duty
- Ford F-350 Super Duty
- Dodge RAM 2500
- Dodge RAM 3500
- Sierra 2500
Light-Duty Trucks
- Ford F-150
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- Dodge RAM 1500
Note: Most 3/4 ton trucks can haul between 2,000-3,000 pounds. However, you can pull 10,000-14,000 pounds with them.
This list includes the best all-terrain tires for heavy-duty trucks.
Let’s start with our first tire!
Toyo Open Country AT3 - Safe Side Pick
Toyo Open Country AT3 is an all-terrain tire that has capacity in various fields. No doubt, Toyo is a trustable all-terrain tire maker. Their versatile product line-up is mainly covered by 4 different tires. Each tire has been designed for specific usage. However, Toyo Open Country AT3 is the superstar of Toyo’s all-terrain tires line-up. Let me explain how good it is!
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Toyo Open Country AT3 is the most complete tire in Toyo’s line-up. This multi-functional tire will satisfy you with a wet grip and impress you with absolute traction on snow. It can meet all of your expectations for off-road driving. Besides that, highway driving is not an issue for them. Toyo Open Country AT3 is a quiet and smooth tire on the highway. Not a superstar in noise reduction cases, yet, highly acceptable for this traction level.
| Toyo Open Country AT3 | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Premium ride, well-balanced 4 season performance |
| Pros | Sporty steering, fuel-efficiency, winter traction, mild & severe off-road traction |
| Cons | Due to the aggressive tread, wet stopping distance is slightly behind compared to highway-focused all-terrain tires, slightly noisy as it’s expected |
| Test Report | vs Wildpeak AT3W & Baja Boss AT (July 21, 2022) |
| Category | All-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ (Ensure these tires fit your vehicle) |
| Weight | 26-76 lbs |
| Made In | White, GA, USA |
| Labels | 3PMSF |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 65,000 Miles |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 50,000 Miles |
| Prices | DiscountTire: |
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 - All Round Pick
Yes, it’s on my list too. BF Goodrich KO2 is a safeguard pick of this list. It’s durable and proved its quality in many many years. Yet, it has some weak points.
In summary, BF Goodrich KO2 is a reliable tire. It’s indestructible for off-road driving. Well, it has higher rolling resistance compared to its competitors. Hence, its tread life isn’t iconic as its rock performance. It’s a bit of a vocal tire on the road, yet, road noise isn’t intolerable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 3-ply sidewall | Tread life isn’t superior |
| 3-peak mountain snowflake marking | A bit vocal on highways |
| Great off-road traction(Baja Champion) | A bit pricy |
| Aggresive look |
BF Goodrich KO2 is a heroic tire. It’s not the best on one thing but above average on everything. If you wanna stay on the safe side, it’s your tire.
You can also click here to see my detailed BF Goodrich KO2 review. This review includes 6 different tire comparisons either!
General Grabber ATX - Worth Bearing Noise
General has a fluffy price policy compared to Toyo or BF Goodrich. Grabber ATX is their hero product. They spend a lot of money during the development phase. Well, it looks like they get to return!
In summary, General Grabber ATX has stiff rubber. That feature increases its cut&chipping durability and improves the tread life. In return, its on-road manners aren’t satisfying as the other tires on this list. Yet, it’s worth giving it a try due to its reliable off-road manners. Plus, it’s severe winter rated.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Huge off-road traction | Vocal on highway |
| Trusthworty in severe winter conditions | A bit bumpy |
| Studdable | |
| Cheap |
General Grabber ATX is a fair crack at this price. If you’re not obsessed with road noise, I would strongly recommend you to try it!
If you want to see how it stands against other General tires, you can click here the check my article out!
You can also reach the comparison against BF Goodrich KO2 right here!
Firestone Destination XT - Winter + Highway
Firestone Destination XT(review) is a brand new heavy-duty tire. I was included in this tire development phase. Well, I can confidently say that it’s exceptional but it’s not for adventurers. Anyone who is looking for a work truck tire, hurry up! Prices will be up!
In summary, Firestone Destination XT is one of the most durable tires on the market. It has superior wet and winter traction. 3PMSF marking ensures that. It can handle any mild and severe conditions easily. Yet, you better don’t use it in deep mud or rock crawling.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Massive wet traction | Not good for adventurers |
| Long last rubber | Hold little stones time to time |
| Proven winter performance | |
| Optimized steering capability |
Due to increasing their market share, Firestone(Bridgestone) hold the prices at a low level. If you are looking for an LT tire, this one must be on your list.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 LTX - Best Wearing
Discoverer AT3 LTx is the durable version of Discoverer AT3. It’s designed to perform under the 3/4 or 1-ton trucks. I’m in love with its stone ejection capability. Yet, it has one weak point…
In summary, Discoverer AT3 XLT has massive traction ability in loaded applications. Its load range overwhelmed its competitors. A wet grip is phenomenal. Moreover, its sidewall design is as aggressive as regular all-terrain tires. The only weak point is severe snow performance. Light snow is okay but deep is not its expertise.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Aggressive appearance | Deep snow traction is weak |
| Long last tread | |
| 60,000 miles warrant | |
| Wet grip ability |
I like how Cooper classifies their products due to truck weight.
- Cooper Discoverer 4S –> 1/2 ton trucks, SUV, Crossovers
- Cooper Discoverer 4S LT –> 3/4 ton trucks, full-sized SUV
- Cooper Discoverer 4s XLT –> 3/4, 1-ton trucks, full-sized SUV
You can click here to see how Cooper Discoverer 4S stands against Hercules AT2!
Toyo M-55 - Off-Road/Winter
Toyo M-55 is a unique commercial grade off-road tire. The off-road identifier is crucial out here. This tire has a stiff compound for on-road usage. So, limited on-road manners might be expected.
In summary, Toyo M-55 has special traction off-road traction ability and supports this feature with long-lasting rubber. It’s particularly designed for severe winter usage. In addition, you are able to mount studs on it due to increased ice traction. In return, you might feel rough ride due to road noise and bumpy manners.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Winter beast | Road noise |
| Stud option | Vibration is expected |
| Flawless grip ability due to full-depth sipes | Increase on mpg |
| Long last tread |
Worth reminding, you that Toyo M-55 is an off-road tire. In my opinion, you should ignore increasing fuel mileage. It’s a perfect option for severe construction sites.
You can click here to find how it stands against Toyo Open Country patterns out!
Cooper STT Pro - Non-work/Aggressive Appearence
Cooper STT Pro is a maximum traction tire. It’s not designed for towing or hauling. Hence, I’ve defined them as non-work tires. If you want an impressive look at your vehicle, you are at the right place.
In summary, Cooper STT Pro is one of the best mud-tire due to its exceptional traction ability. Moreover, its sidewalls are protected with Armor Tech3 Technology. It can perform smoothly on down-air usage. The only backward point is tread life. It’s a soft compound but indestructible inside!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Massive traction ability | Short life span due to soft compound |
| Winter beast | A bit noisy but it’s nothing for a mud-terrain tire |
| One of the strongest construction in market | |
| Decent wet-performance |
Cooper STT Pro is a masterpiece if you’re not into tread-life things. It’s a performance tire. It will meet your expectations if you put tread life out of consideration.
Here is the detailed review for you!
BF Goodrich KM3 - Comfort/Off-Road
BF Goodrich KM3 is an off-road maximum traction tire. If I put the most smooth off-road tire out of this list, it would be unfair. Good news, It’s good for towing and hauling!
In summary, BF Goodrich KM3 is a deaf tire. While it provides maximum traction off the road, it has unique on-road manners for a mud-terrain tire. It can perform perfectly on any harsh terrain. In return, it’s rubbish on ice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Smooth for a mud-terrain | Poor ice performance |
| 3-ply sidewall | Not for workers |
| Winter capability | Pricy |
| Maximum traction |
I love how this tire looks. For anyone who is looking for an aggressive look and massive off-road traction, it’s a suitable option.
You can check my article to see how good it is!
Michelin Defender LTX M/S - Highway + Mild Off-Road
Michelin Defender LTX M/S is the first highway all-season tire on this list. Due to its longevity and durability, it can be used on heavy-duty 3/4 ton or above pickups. Even though it’s an all-season tire, due to its high durability, it can even handle some off-road. Yet, knowing its limit is highly vital to get maximum performance from it.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S has unique traction on wet and dry surfaces. Moreover, its light snow capability is highly acceptable and it can handle icy surfaces as well. The long-lasting tread is its main feature. Furthermore, surprisingly, it can handle mild off-road very well. However, it has a bit stiff ride and makes some noise after its half of tread. Though worth reminding, its loose ground performance is limited to a couple of inches.
If you need a piece of further information –> https://tireterrain.com/michelin-defender-ltx-m-s-review/
Continental TerrainContact H/T - Long Life + Comfort
Continental Terraincontact H/T is a robust tire that is designed for highway usage. Even though it’s not an all-terrain tire, due to its durability, it can also perform off the road but not as good as Michelin Defender LTX M/S. Yet, it’s a great option for those who put a smooth ride into the first place.
Continental TerrainContact H/T has unique dry and wet ground performance. Furthermore, it can handle light snow and icy surfaces with ease. It’s a perfect pick for daily driving. It’s deaf and smooth on the highways. Moreover, its rubber lasts longer than most of the tires on the market. However, its off-road capability is limited to mild conditions.
If you’d like to see a detailed review –> https://tireterrain.com/continental-terraincontact-h-t-review/
- TireRack Test Results: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=256
Specs
| BF Goodrich KO2 | General Grabber ATX | Cooper STT Pro | Firestone Destination XT | BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain KM3 | Toyo M-55 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | All-Terrain Tire | All-Terrain Tire | Mud-Terrain Tire | All-Terrain Tire | Mud-Terrain Tire | Commercial All-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ | 14”, 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20” | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ | 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20” | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’ |
| Weight | 34-78 lbs | 28 – 75 lbs | 42-94 lbs | 35 – 61 lbs | 37 – 89 lbs | 30 – 60 lbs |
| Made In | Opelika, AL, USA | Mt. Vernon, Illinois, USA | USA | USA | Opelika, AL, USA | White, GA, USA |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | Yes | Yes | No (only M+S) | Yes | No (Only M+S) | Yes |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 50,000 Miles | 55,000 Miles | 45 Days Test Drive | 50,000 Miles | N/A | N/A |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 50,000 Miles | 55,000 Miles | 45 Days Test Drive | 50,000 Miles | N/A | N/A |
| Prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible prices |
Price
The tire market has a dynamic price policy. Hence, in my point of view, sharing tire price is pointless.
Though, I’ve analyzed the top 10 brands of most popular tire brands.
Here are the dealers with a reasonable price range,
DiscountTire
- Biggest dealer in the US. Founded in 1960
- 1000 stores in 35 states. You most probably find one on your parallel street
- Free rotation and balancing
- 5% off for DiscountTire cardholders on online purchase
- Highest rated online tire dealer in Consumer Affairs
- Almost all brands are available
- Delivery takes 2-4 days (30% shorter average waiting time when you book online)
- Frequent discounts and promotions
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2
General Grabber ATX: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/general-grabber-atx
Firestone Destination X/T: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/firestone-tire-destination-x-t
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-at3-xlt
Toyo M-55: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/toyo-tire-m-55
Cooper STT Pro: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-stt-pro
BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-mud-terrain-t-a-km3
Continental TerrainCountact H/T: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/continental-terrain-contact-h-t
Michelin Defender LTX M/S: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-defender-ltx-m-s
TireRack
- Fast and Free shipping
- Usually delivered in 1 day
- Joint venture with DiscountTire(their installers and dealers are on your service)
- Tons of installer options, they also help you to choose the best one
- Mobile installers in many areas, your tires will be replaced while you’re working in the office
- Tire test results and comparisons can be found on the most product page
- 4.6/5 points on Google rate
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2
General Grabber ATX: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/general-grabber-a-tx
Firestone Destination X/T: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/firestone-destination-x-t
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/cooper-discoverer-at3-xlt
Toyo M-55: Not available
Cooper STT Pro: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/cooper-discoverer-stt-pro
BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/bfgoodrich-mud-terrain-t-a-km3
Continental TerrainCountact H/T: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/continental-terraincontact-h-t
Michelin Defender LTX M/S: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/michelin-defender-ltx-m-s
SimpleTire
- Free shipping
- Delivered in 2 days
- Verified shops near you(for mount and balance)
- Mobile installation option
- 7 million customers since 2021
- 4.7/5 points on Google rate
- Top-notch customer service, you may even request a price match
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://simpletire.com/brands/bfgoodrich-tires/all-terrain-t-a-ko2
General Grabber ATX: https://simpletire.com/brands/general-tires/grabber-a-tx
Firestone Destination X/T: https://simpletire.com/brands/firestone-tires/destination-x-t
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT: https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/discoverer-at3-xlt
Toyo M-55: https://simpletire.com/brands/toyo-tires/m-55
Cooper STT Pro: https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/discoverer-stt-pro
BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3: https://simpletire.com/brands/bfgoodrich-tires/mud-terrain-t-a-km3
Continental TerrainCountact H/T: https://simpletire.com/brands/continental-tires/terraincontact-h-t
Michelin Defender LTX M/S: https://simpletire.com/brands/michelin-tires/defender-ltx-m-s
While choosing dealers, I especially pay attention to reliability. All of the dealers on this list have 15-20 years of experience in the online tire business. Therefore, I can guarantee a smooth and fast tire buying process.
Conclusion
These are my ‘Top-9’ picks for over 3/4 ton trucks. I separate them due to their strong point and state these points in headings. Here is the summary table for you.
| Tread Life | Puncture Durability | On-Road | Off-Road | Wet Traction | Winter Traction | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BF Goodrich KO2 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | High |
| General Grabber ATX | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | Affordable |
| Firestone Destination XT | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | Affordable |
| Cooper Discoverer AT3 LTX | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | Average |
| Toyo M-55 | 9,5 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 9 | Average |
| Cooper STT Pro | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 8 | Average |
| BF Goodrich KM3 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | High |
Take-Home Points,
- LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
A side note here: If you’d like to get local advice and find the best fit for your driving habits, location, and road conditions DiscountTire – Treadwell Tire Guide can give you masterpiece recommendations.
I hope the article was helpful for those debating. If you have any further questions, please leave them below! Have a safe ride!
Hey Emre, I have a 2500 I have cooper 3 on now, but I don’t go off pavement it’s a on road only truck and I have tire I run in the winter months for this truck. My question is what is the best highway tire? for a 2500 I have a utility bed and it’s not overloaded but heavier than stock. Need street tread with long life. What do you recommend.
Hey Will,
Sorry for the late reply. I was on vacation.
I believe Michelin Defender LTX M/S and Continental TerrainContact H/T are the best tires in this segment. However, Michelin is a bit overpriced. Therefore, Continental TerrainContact H/T might be a better option for you.
If you still want to cut the price, you can go with Kumho Crugen HT51 or Sumitomo Encounter HT2. Encounter HT2 is just released. Hence, you might not find any information about it online. I’ve tried Encounter AT2 (the all-terrain version of this tire) and I think Sumitomo assort with the North American market. Especially, if comfort and on-road performances are your priorities. Well, you may give it a try.
– Michelin Crossclimate 2 – Best one but pricy – review
– Continental TerrainContact HT – Good option if you don’t go off-road – review
– Kumho Crugen HT51 – The best one you can find for this price also have 3PMSF