Bridgestone's Mr. Tenuta says "no."
"The tire is an integral part of the vehicle's chassis, suspension and braking systems," he says. "The OE tire is specifically selected as part of these systems."
Campbell Ford's Mr. Egan agrees: "We see this (using passenger tires on trucks rated for light truck) a lot. If this vehicle was going through a commercial safety inspection with the P-metric tires, it would fail."
It's true, however, that not everyone will subject their vehicle to severe load carrying or heavy towing. But it's also true that trucks are easier to overload than cars, and for those who've purchased big, diesel-engined vehicles like Mr. Rizzuti's F350 Super Duty, they likely have serious hauling applications in mind. In Mr. Rizzuti's case, this includes towing a 7,000 lb trailer, plus carrying luggage, and passengers for which he requires the LT-metric tires.
After mounting the correct tires on his truck (in this case Firestone Transforce) Mr. Rizzuti conceded that the ride is firmer. "But it tracks and turns so much easier. There's a real difference in handling," he says. "I'd never attempt pulling our trailer without the LT-metric tires," he added.
How do you know if your truck should be using LT-metric tires? A placard in the doorjamb, and the owner's manual will tell you. Some vehicles also have this information on a plate inside the glove box, or on the inside of the fuel filler door.
Or go to Bridgestone Tires | Car Tires, Light Truck Tires, Run Flat Tires, and click on Tire Fitment. The table lists all the trucks by make, model and year, and their recommended tires
For further information on this subject, check TireSafety.com.
Understanding tire size:
Example: LT256/75R16E
LT Light Truck
265 Width in millimetres of the tire
75 Height, or aspect ratio of the tire, measured as a percentage of width (in this case, 75%)
R Radial tire
16 Width (diameter) in inches of the wheel
E the load rating of this LT tire
I found the part about the DOT inspection very relevant
"The tire is an integral part of the vehicle's chassis, suspension and braking systems," he says. "The OE tire is specifically selected as part of these systems."
Campbell Ford's Mr. Egan agrees: "We see this (using passenger tires on trucks rated for light truck) a lot. If this vehicle was going through a commercial safety inspection with the P-metric tires, it would fail."
It's true, however, that not everyone will subject their vehicle to severe load carrying or heavy towing. But it's also true that trucks are easier to overload than cars, and for those who've purchased big, diesel-engined vehicles like Mr. Rizzuti's F350 Super Duty, they likely have serious hauling applications in mind. In Mr. Rizzuti's case, this includes towing a 7,000 lb trailer, plus carrying luggage, and passengers for which he requires the LT-metric tires.
After mounting the correct tires on his truck (in this case Firestone Transforce) Mr. Rizzuti conceded that the ride is firmer. "But it tracks and turns so much easier. There's a real difference in handling," he says. "I'd never attempt pulling our trailer without the LT-metric tires," he added.
How do you know if your truck should be using LT-metric tires? A placard in the doorjamb, and the owner's manual will tell you. Some vehicles also have this information on a plate inside the glove box, or on the inside of the fuel filler door.
Or go to Bridgestone Tires | Car Tires, Light Truck Tires, Run Flat Tires, and click on Tire Fitment. The table lists all the trucks by make, model and year, and their recommended tires
For further information on this subject, check TireSafety.com.
Understanding tire size:
Example: LT256/75R16E
LT Light Truck
265 Width in millimetres of the tire
75 Height, or aspect ratio of the tire, measured as a percentage of width (in this case, 75%)
R Radial tire
16 Width (diameter) in inches of the wheel
E the load rating of this LT tire
I found the part about the DOT inspection very relevant
