What does LT Mean on a Tire?

Tire size is confusing. It’s even more if you have a light truck. Light truck tires have different usage. Moreover, light trucks have a different kinds of usage. For instance, some use them only for their aggressive appearance, some use them for hauling or towing.

So, tire manufacturers were aware of this situation and that’s why they’ve started to build LT tires.

Even though I didn’t say it, I guess you all understand that ‘LT’ means light truck. However, in my point of view, defining the usage for LT tires is more important than LT means. In this article, I’ll briefly explain what are LT tires and you can get the benefits of them. Let’s begin!

LT Tires

LT tires are specified light truck tires. You can easily determine them by checking the tire size(learn how to read it). If the tire has an ‘LT’ at the beginning of its size name, that means this tire is an LT tire.

These tires have stronger and more durable sidewalls. Well, their internal tougher internal structure comes up with pros and cons.

Advantages

Can carry much more load than P-metric tires
Have stronger sidewalls
Due to their tough sidewalls, they’re ideal off-road tires
They’re better for hauling or towing

Disadvantages

Less cozy ride(doesn’t mean noisy but firm ride)
Can be disturbing on the highway, especially for all-terrain ones
Less fuel-efficient
Offers inferior mileage

Load Range Capacity of LT Tires

Unlike passenger tires, the carrying capacity of LT tires is generally evaluated by load range.

The load range is the historical version of the load index. Regarding this measurement, the load-carrying capacity of the tire is measured with the ply number of the tire. Well, this old-school method doesn’t work anymore.

The new generation tires can carry the same load with fewer plies. So, manufacturers use this metric for a different measurement. Maximum load pressure.

Well, that’s a wise move because maximum load pressure equals the carrying capacity. As a side note, the load is carried by air inside the tire, not by the tire itself.

LT vs P-Metric Tires

LT and P-Metric tires have the same tread but different internal structures. That basically means,

They have the same traction capability
They have the same winter capability
They have the same hydroplaning resistance

The above items are provided by tread type. Since both tires have the same tread pattern, these features are the same.

On the other hand, as I’ve mentioned before LT tires have a stronger internal structure. Therefore,

LT tires offer a less smooth ride
LT tires offer a slower steering response
LT tires offer lower wear life
LT tires offer higher load carrying capacity
LT tires have superior off-road capability
LT tires offer better cornering stability
LT tires are better for towing and hauling

LT and P-metric tires have different usage. While LT tires mainly focus on commercial usage or off-road, cozy driving and highway performance are the priorities for P-metric tires.

Conclusion

LT tires are a gift for light-truck users and off-road lovers. They create an option for you. For instance, if you just using your vehicle for daily driving, you can go with P-Metric tires which also have an aggressive appearance. If you need off-roading or carrying load, you can go with LT tires with a sacrifice from your comfort and mileage.

I hope the article was helpful. If you have any further questions, please leave them in the below section. Have a safe ride folks!

For those who prefer to see whole market analyze:

A couple of popular size analyses:

Want to learn more about all-terrain tires: