There should never be anything compromising while equipping your truck with proper tires.
Imagine covering long distances in adverse weather conditions, with higher risks of blowouts and even accidents to some extent.
You must choose tires that are highly rated for their off-roading and all-terrain capabilities.
In this regard, 12-ply rated tires can meet most of your requirements due to their heavy-duty output.
However, not all 12-ply tires will be suitable for your truck. You need a combination of everything to get the best performance.
So, what can you do?
Don’t worry, as we will discuss the 8 best 12-ply truck tires with different use cases to solve your dilemma. Without wasting much time, let’s check them out!
What does 12 ply mean on tires?
“12 ply” on tires refers to the number of layers (plies) of reinforcing material, typically fabric or steel, used in the tire’s construction. It indicates strength and load-carrying capacity, often found in heavy-duty or commercial tires. However, modern tires may use fewer, stronger plies (like steel belts) to achieve similar durability.
Some Considerations Before Buying the Best 12-Ply Truck Tires
The tire market is saturated, and you’ll struggle to figure out the right 12-ply tire for your truck.
In this regard, you must ask yourself a few questions to determine the most suitable option for your truck.
These questions include your preferences for driving. Let us look at some probable questions you need to answer before buying:
- Are you seeking a tire that’s good for adventure and can sustain massive dirt?
- Are you looking for a tire that can handle rain, slush, or snow?
- What is the mixture of dirt and pavement that your tire can handle?
These are some sample questions you must ask yourself, and many more. It will help you figure out the type of output you prefer and help you select the perfect 12-ply tires for your truck.
The 8 Best 12-ply Truck Tires To Buy
Tires on your truck will rapidly degrade when you don’t select the right type. There will also be less stability while you maneuver your truck.
After rigorous observations and tests, we have figured out 8 best 12-ply truck tires that will suit all needs.
Let us dive deep into the review:
1. Grand Ride Free Country ST235/85R16 12 Ply Truck Tires – Best Overall
We were looking for a tire that balanced value and performance. It eventually led us to shortlist the Free Country ST235 as our first option in this review.
This 12-ply rated tire is curated to be a part of your truck for a long time, mostly due to the nylon overlay in its tread area that avoids separation.
Compared to other contemporary brands, we found its tread wider, contributing to its longer lifespan.
While driving, we found the tires smoothly navigating while pulling the truck. Despite being around 100 pounds, the tires didn’t require much effort from our end to install.
It also appeared that there won’t be major issues even if you travel hundreds of miles at a stretch. The load of the truck wouldn’t affect the tire.
Lastly, investing in this tire model would be a win-win situation for you due to its super affordable pricing compared to contemporary brands.
Pros:
- Good for trucks aiming for a long move
- Affordable pricing
- Superb rubber and scuff guard
- Long-lasting value
Cons:
- Flexible sidewalls
2. Transeagle ST 12-Ply Radial II Premium Trailer Tire – Best For All-Weather
The best 12-ply tire suitable for all weather is this model from Transeagle. It will enable you to set out with your truck in dry weather, damp roads, or snowy weather without any complications. There are absolutely no issues with road gripping.
The best part of this tire is its tread design. After trying different models of tires, we can say that the existing tread design in this tire works in the way of avoiding hydroplaning.
Thanks to its build quality, now traveling a long distance in rough weather is not a big deal. You’ll face minimal resistance while driving in challenging road conditions.
Despite heavy blows, we faced no major hiccups or tire blowouts. It is mainly due to a balanced nylon and ply-build-up in the tire, which also ensures good load handling.
However, improper tire installation may prove to be otherwise for your truck. We reckon there are higher chances of blowups in this regard.
Moreover, proper installation will ensure how well you can get the best out of this tire for your truck.
Pros:
- Highly durable
- All weather suitability
- Good road gripping
Cons:
- No significant problems
3. Carlisle Sport Trail LH Bias Tire – Best For Light Trucks
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This tire from Carlisle is an all-rounder and caters well to light-purpose trucks. It’s a good tire if you want to travel longer distances through rough terrains.
It has a solid build-up and rugged appearance. We tried observing how it fares well in different types of hauling activities.
That said, we were pleased with the versatile nature of this tire for it is suitable for a wide range of works.
Even rough usage of the tire for a few thousand miles doesn’t make it lose shape. Its adaptive capabilities with difficult terrains are top-notch. The rolling resistance was noteworthy, and suitability with gravel roads was decent.
Besides, the heat from continuous friction doesn’t have any impact on the tire. But there are a few issues, like the tire’s compatibility with heavy loads.
We felt that the trucks with heavy loads were too hard on these tires, and there were risks of blowouts in the middle of the journey.
Nonetheless, it’s a good tire that will offer you value for money for light trucks.
Pros:
- Heat Resistive
- Value for money
- Suited for various hauling activities
- Fewer risks of blowouts
Cons:
- Not good for heavy trucks
4. Centennial Dirt Commander MT 12-ply Mud Tire – Best For Muddy Terrains
Tires perfect for muddy and damp terrains are always tricky to choose. The Centennial Dirt Commander is one of those few tires that won’t give you a chance to have some doubts.
After shuffling several options, we opted to stick with this just because of its high superiority in muddy terrains.
After equipping the truck with this tire and driving for several days, there were no issues with gripping on the muddy and sticky terrains. The sturdy outlook that the tire comes with will give you an off-road vibe at first glance.
That said, we were able to cut corners very smoothly while driving the truck at a relatively higher speed. It’s mainly because of the wide contact patch on the tires.
There are also large gaps in tire tread blocks. Even after we drove for a few hours on a damp road, the mud didn’t settle on the tires. However, we felt that the tire gets a little noisy due to such tread design at times.
Apart from the little noisiness, it would be an excellent decision to choose this tire for your truck. When your focus is on navigating through muddy, harsh terrains, it’s one of the best.
Pros:
- Perfect fit for all weather
- Tread cleans itself
- Superb stability in wet and muddy conditions
- Extremely durable
Cons:
- It can be a little noisy at times
5. Miletrip All-Terrain Mud Off-Road Light Truck 12-Ply Radial Tire – Best For Utility Trucks
Good stability along with variable traction on different terrains is the core offering for this tire. We tried this on both smooth pavements and rough terrains. The result was satisfactory in both cases.
But more than that, we loved the vibration-free driving experience with our truck. There was good steering response while we were moving forward and it was all no-noise operation while we were driving through.
In addition to this, we were also impressed with the self-cleaning ability of the tire. The tread design works in that way of not accumulating any dirt.
Being suitable for utility Trucks, these tires have a tad aggressive outlook. But that doesn’t imply its higher price tag. You can have them for your truck without spending a premium under the value-for-money segment.
Overall, a good addition to your utility trucks at an affordable price.
Pros:
- Low noise operations
- Vibration-free
- High value for money
Cons:
- No major issues
6. Thunderer R408 12-Ply Trac Grip Mud Terrain Truck Tire – Most Durable
If long-lastingness is your main need, choose this tire to be a part of your Truck. We loved the sporty outlook of the tire, which signifies the industrial-grade ability.
The tire comes with a radial construction with a load capacity exceeding 3600+ lbs. We tried running with a speed of more than 60 km/h and the load was balanced by the tire much more safely.
But the stability of the tire is commendable as even after getting a few blows on the tire, there weren’t any complications.
Also, an aggressive approach to the tread patterns of the tire enhances the traction. We didn’t notice much mud and debris settling only due to this reason.
But there can be issues with the tires being loud often. Other than this, no glaring problems are there to ponder about.
Pros:
- Heavy-Duty Design
- Zero slippage transitions
- Self-cleaning tire surface
- Long-lasting
Cons:
- It can get loud at times
7. Venom Power Primo Hauler Heavy Duty Premium Trailer 12-ply Radial Tire – Most Gripping
This all-season tire’s superb offerings are why it was made on our list. It appears that these tires have all the elements that a Truck requires. Among these core elements, the prominent ones are traction, durability, and controllability.
We have tried this tire for a few hundred miles on some of the roughest terrains and there was no major change in shape. It is mostly because these tires are all steel tires ensuring a greater load-handling capacity.
On the other hand, the tire comes with a flat tread design combined with top-quality composition. It helps increase the tractions in the wet, winter, and dry seasons.
The ribbed patterns enable the sip positioning that works in the way of properly gripping the road surface.
Such patterns given above guarantee excellent summer and winter performance for the tire. In addition, the grooves in the tire work in channeling the slush and water for superior wet-weather traction.
Regarding the stability of your truck, we can tell that the surface contact of this tire from Venom Power is top-notch.
The flat footprints here are one of the core reasons behind a stable formation against the pressure that eventually prevents the truck from swaying.
Pros:
- Consistent handling
- Heavy-load withstanding capacity
- Superb grip against all types of pavements
Cons:
- Bumpy output when the truck is off-road
8. Zeemax Heavy Duty Highway 12 Ply Load Range Trailer Tire – Best For Commercial Trucks
The last 12-ply rated truck tire in our review is an all-year-round tire from Zeemax. It has a ribbed tread design with a Rim diameter of 14.5 inches.
We found that the zigzag grooves in the tire surface play a big part in slashing the water and mud.
The tread pattern aids in steering responsiveness and helps maintain the road’s stability. Faster speed isn’t an issue as the vehicle structure is stabilized against the pressure due to driving.
On top of that, Zeemax tires highly support heavy-duty tasks. Everything, internal and external, is robust and doesn’t impact the tire shape, even under huge pressure.
The entire framework doesn’t let the tire deform from its form and makes the tire highly suited to commercial trucks.
Appearance-wise, there is nothing to complain about. But someone new may find it a bit tough to mount.
Pros:
- Appropriate for heavy loads
- Good for commercial use
- Tire shape isn’t impacted under pressure
Cons:
- May seem tough to mount
Comparative Analysis of The 8 Best 12-ply Truck Tires
Before choosing a particular option, you should have a proper view of some crucial factors that will allow you to be decisive. Let us look at the table below to have a proper idea:
| Model | Construction | Load Capacity (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Ride Free Country Truck Tires ST235 | Radial | 3960 |
| Transeagle Radial Steel Premium Truck Tire | Radial | 3197 |
| Carlisle Sport Trail LH Bias Tire | Radial | 2830 |
| Centennial Dirt Commander Mud-Terrain Radial Tire | Radial | 2600 |
| Miletrip All-Terrain Light Truck Radial Tire | Radial | 2998 |
| Thunderer R408 Trac Grip Mud Terrain Tire | Radial | 3638 |
| Venom Power Primo Hauler All Steel heavy-duty Tire | Radial | 3297 |
| Zeemax Heavy-Duty Highway Truck Tire | Bias | 2335 |
FAQs About 12-Ply Truck Tires
The right tire selection for your truck can be a confusing and daunting task. To make it easy, we covered a few common queries below:
The presence of 12 material layers on the sidewall of the tire aids durability and long-lastingness. Bigger size and sturdy construction allow its effectiveness to be longer than other usual tires.
The higher ply on the tires means increased strength of the sidewall. It is a must when you carry heavy loads with your truck. That said, weaker sidewalls in the tire mean more chances of the tire squashing due to heavy loads.
The 12-ply rated tires can be more resistant to punctures or tears when you use them in light or semi-light-duty trucks. But that should be in the case of moving on highway pavements.
The 12-ply rated tires come with a maximum range of 95 PSI when it’s the load range F.
A 12-ply tire typically falls under Load Range G, indicating its load-carrying capacity and air pressure rating. Load Range G tires can handle higher loads, often up to 3,750 pounds per tire at 110 psi, making them suitable for heavy-duty vehicles like trucks, trailers, and commercial applications. The ply rating reflects the tire’s strength and durability, ensuring it can withstand substantial weight and tough conditions.
The best tire brand for trucks depends on specific needs, but Michelin, Bridgestone, and Goodyear are top contenders. Michelin offers durability and fuel efficiency, ideal for long hauls. Bridgestone provides excellent traction and load capacity, suitable for heavy-duty use. Goodyear is known for its all-terrain performance and reliability.
A good ply rating for truck tires typically ranges from 10 to 14 ply, depending on the load capacity and usage. Heavier trucks or those carrying substantial loads benefit from higher ply ratings, as they offer increased durability, strength, and resistance to punctures. For lighter trucks or everyday use, a lower ply rating may suffice.
Yes, 12-ply tires generally last longer than 10-ply tires due to their increased durability and load-carrying capacity. The additional plies provide extra strength, making them more resistant to wear, punctures, and damage, especially under heavy loads or rough conditions. However, longevity also depends on driving habits, road conditions, and maintenance. For lighter vehicles or less demanding use, the difference in lifespan may be less noticeable.
The main difference between 10-ply and 12-ply tires lies in their load-carrying capacity and durability. Ply rating indicates the tire’s strength, with higher numbers offering greater resistance to punctures and heavier loads. A 12-ply tire is stronger and better suited for heavy-duty vehicles or rough terrains, while a 10-ply tire is sufficient for lighter loads and standard driving conditions.
12-ply tires are generally stronger and more durable than 10-ply tires, making them better suited for heavy-duty vehicles or off-road conditions. They offer higher load capacity and better resistance to punctures. However, they may provide a stiffer ride and reduced fuel efficiency compared to 10-ply tires. For everyday driving or lighter loads, 10-ply tires might be more comfortable and cost-effective.
12-ply tires are excellent for towing due to their high load capacity and durability. They are designed to handle heavy weights and resist punctures, making them ideal for trailers, RVs, or trucks carrying heavy loads. However, ensure they match your vehicle’s specifications and towing needs.
A 12-ply tire can typically carry a significant amount of weight, often ranging between 3,000 to 5,000 pounds per tire, depending on the specific size, construction, and manufacturer. The ply rating indicates strength and load capacity, with higher ply numbers generally supporting heavier loads.
Final Thoughts!
Using the proper tire for the Truck is crucial, especially the fitment and mounting. Depending on the approach you want to take with your Truck, you must choose the tire type with a tread pattern.
We have curated 8 of the best 12-ply truck tires, which would help you to observe and choose the desired one.
Our recommendation would be to choose Grand Ride Free Country Truck Tires ST235. But your budget, driving approach, and tire lifespan all matter in this regard.
Our goal was to cater to every type of tire that can suit every Truck. We hope we have provided you with ample options to choose from.
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