What is a 35 Truck Tire?
Using the right tires for your truck can make a world of difference when it comes to performance. A good fit will give you improvements in areas ranging from traction to fuel economy.
A 35 truck tire is a popular choice for trucks and all-terrain vehicles specializing in off-roading applications.
If you’re thinking about using 35” tires with your truck, you must do your research beforehand.
What is a 35 Truck Tire?
A 35-inch truck tire is a slightly oversized truck tire that typically measures just a few centimeters short of a full 35 inches. They are often used on SUVs and trucks for improved off-road performance, higher ground clearance, and additional traction than smaller tires.
Read on to learn more about what makes a 35 truck tire and whether it’s the right choice for your truck.
Finding the Size of a 35 Truck Tire
A 35″ tire is called such because of its diameter. However, the tire’s true measurement is usually slightly less than 35 inches.
This tire size often measures closer to 34.5 to 34.9 inches.
When compressed under a car’s weight, they may have an even smaller diameter.
To determine the exact size of a 35 tire, you need to know the aspect ratio of the tire’s sidewall.
This value is the height of the sidewall expressed as a percentage of the width of the tire tread.
Multiply the aspect ratio by the tire width, then multiply by two to account for both side walls surrounding the wheel well. Finally, add the wheel size to this value.
For 35” tires, the final number should range somewhere between 34 and 36 inches.
Why Use a 35 Truck Tire?
The size of your tires will have an impact on speed, traction, and gas mileage, as well as general wear and tear.
An oversized tire may rub against the wheel well or even damage suspension systems, while a small tire can lead to issues ranging from anti-lock brake malfunctions to inaccurate odometer readings.
It’s best to use a 35″ tire with larger vehicles, such as trucks and SUVs. Most have wheel wells that can easily handle an oversized tire.
In some cases, you may need to install a lift kit to account for the extra clearance.
A 35” tire is larger than most standard tire sizes, making it an ideal choice for rough terrain and off-roading applications.
It offers more ground clearance than smaller tires to keep your car safe from mud, rocks, snow, and more.
With more surface area, you get a better grip, more traction, and cornering at high speeds and in all weather conditions.
Large tires also improve braking capacity. In most cases, 35” tires make for a safer, smoother ride.
Drawbacks of a 35 Truck Tire
While a 35” tire will give you better traction and braking, you may notice slower acceleration and a larger turning radius for your car.
Large tires can increase the time and effort it takes to reach high speeds, which may not make 35” tires the best option for highway driving.
Using 35” tires may also increase your fuel consumption. Tires that weigh more will naturally require more fuel to reach and maintain high speeds.
The additional traction also means that your truck will guzzle more fuel when driving and accelerating.
Types of 35 Tires
If you think that 35” tires might be the right size for your truck, you still have to decide which type of tire best suits your driving habits.
You can find three main 35” tire styles that can help to improve your truck’s performance.
All-Terrain Tires
All-terrain tires are the most common type of 35” tire you’ll see on personal vehicles such as trucks and SUVs.
They make a versatile choice that works on both highways and rough terrain alike.
Most all-terrain tires boast an open, blocked tread pattern that is slightly softer and more flexible than standard road tires. This design allows for better grip and traction, especially on loose terrains, such as rocks or gravel.
The open-tread design can also handle pavement, snow, ice, and more.
Thanks to the soft, flexible design, all-terrain tires are more prone to erosion than other types of tires.
They also tend to reduce fuel economy and slow acceleration thanks to their firm grip on the road.
Mud Tires
For optimal performance in rough or wet terrains, it’s a good idea to use dedicated mud tires. This type of tire has a deep tread with large blocks, giving it plenty of grip on any terrain.
A mud tire can gain traction on surfaces where other tires slip, such as loose gravel, sand, soil, and mud.
Mud tires are ideal for most off-road applications and tend to be more durable than all-terrain tires. However, they aren’t the best choice for roads or highways.
The rough tread is hard on pavement, and it wears down more quickly than standard tire varieties.
While mud tires can handle rough and wet terrain, they aren’t adept at tackling snow and ice.
The deep tread can quickly pack full of snow, causing you to lose traction as you drive.
Hybrid Terrain Tires
You can find some 35” hybrid terrain tires that offer a compromise between versatile all-terrain tires and tough mud tires.
It makes a good choice for anyone who needs a vehicle for both highway driving and off-roading applications.
This type of tire has larger tread blocks than all-terrain options, making it better at gripping loose dirt and rocks.
However, the tread is shallower than mud tires, making it better at handling ice and snow.
What to Look for in a 35 Truck Tire
When shopping for the right 35” tire for your vehicle, there are a couple of key points to keep in mind.
Functionality
The type of tire you pick will depend primarily on how you plan to use it.
If you live in a wet or snowy area, for example, you want a tire that can handle extreme weather conditions.
Something with a rough, open tread will give you good traction, but you want to avoid deep tread, such as that found in mud tires.
If you do a lot of highway driving, you need something that offers speed and fuel economy.
There aren’t a lot of 35” highway tire options available, so all-terrain tires give you the next smoothest option on paved roads.
Durability
A good tire can last anywhere from six to ten years, but lifespan can depend heavily on build and design. Tires with a soft or thin tread tend to wear down more quickly and need more frequent replacement.
If you want a 35” tire that will last, it’s best to opt for an all-terrain or a hybrid terrain tire. Mud tires tend to wear down more quickly, especially when used for off-roading.
Treating your car gently when driving will also extend the life of your tires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here, I’m going to answer some of the most common questions that truck owners have about 35” tires.
Is a 35 Tire the Same as a 315 Tire?
Though they might sound different, a 315 tire is actually the same thing as a 35” tire.
Instead of measuring the tire in inches, the 315 value comes from measuring the width of a tire in millimeters.
Are 33 Tires as Good as 35 Tires for Off-Roading?
In most cases, 33” tires make a good choice for off-roading, especially for smaller vehicles such as hatchbacks or crossover vehicles.
However, they are slightly smaller than 35” tires and do not offer the same level of grip or traction on rough terrain.
When possible it’s better to opt for a 35” tire for off-roading applications.
