Light Truck & Commercial Tyres NZ: The Complete Guide for Utes, Vans & Work Vehicles
LT (Light Truck) and Commercial (C) tyres aren’t about “tough looks” — they’re about load, heat, uptime, and safety. If you tow, carry gear, run a van, or manage a fleet, getting construction, load rating, and pressure right is the difference between long life and rapid shoulder wear / blowouts.
📌 Quick Navigation
🚚 What Are Light Truck (LT) & Commercial Tyres?
“LT” and “Commercial (C)” tyres are built for vehicles that do real work: utes carrying tools, vans doing stop-start delivery, and light trucks that spend hours at highway speeds under load. The goal is simple: carry weight safely while controlling heat.
How to Spot Them on the Sidewall
- LT-metric size: e.g. LT265/70R17
- Commercial (C) marking: e.g. 215/65R16C
- Service description: e.g. 121/118S (single/dual load index + speed rating)
- Load range: e.g. Load Range E (related to maximum rated inflation pressure)
⚖️ LT vs C vs P‑Metric vs XL: The Practical Differences
The most common mistake we see is choosing tyres based on price or “looks” instead of duty cycle. This table is the quickest way to choose the right construction.
| Type | Typical Marking | Best For | Strengths | Trade-Offs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT (Light Truck) | LT265/70R17 | Utes, towing, heavy payloads, mixed road/gravel | High load + heat control, towing stability, durability | Heavier, often firmer ride when unladen |
| Commercial (C) | 215/65R16C | Delivery vans, trades vans, couriers, motorhomes | Kerb resistance, stop-start durability, predictable handling when loaded | Can feel firm when empty; needs correct pressure policy |
| Passenger (P‑Metric) | 265/65R17 | SUVs/crossovers, light loads | Comfort, low noise, often cheaper | Lower load capacity; not ideal for work use |
| XL (Extra Load) | XL on sidewall | Heavier SUVs, occasional load | More capacity than standard passenger tyres | Still not a true LT/C construction |
How to Decide in 20 Seconds
- Always loaded / towing / worksite driving: LT (choose an appropriate load range)
- Van or courier: Commercial “C” construction
- Mostly empty SUV/ute used like a car: You might be fine on passenger/XL if load rating matches
- Not sure: choose the construction that matches the vehicle’s placard and real-world use (not “best case”)
🔢 Load Index & Service Description (e.g. 121/118S)
For light truck/commercial tyres, the load index isn’t just a number — it’s your legal and safety baseline. You must match or exceed the minimum load requirement for the vehicle’s maximum laden weight.
What the Numbers Mean
- Single load index: the load capacity when used as a normal single wheel on an axle.
- Dual load index (optional): shown as 121/118 — the second number is the reduced load when used in a dual-wheel setup.
- Speed rating letter: e.g. S, T, R, etc. (must meet the vehicle requirement).
If you want a fast sanity-check: load the vehicle as you actually use it (tools, passengers, gear, trailer ball weight if towing), then weigh axles if possible. That data makes tyre choice and pressure setup easy.
📏 Load Range & Ply Rating: What “C, D, E, F, G” Actually Means
Load Range is shorthand for the tyre’s maximum rated inflation pressure (and therefore its maximum rated load). It does not mean you should run maximum pressure all the time — pressure should match load.
| Load Range | Ply Rating (PR) | Max PSI | Max kPa | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 6PR | 50 | 350 | Light commercial, vans, utes carrying moderate loads |
| D | 8PR | 65 | 450 | Heavier commercial use, towing, frequent payload |
| E | 10PR | 80 | 550 | Common heavy-duty ute spec, high payload, serious towing |
| F | 12PR | 95 | 650 | Heavy light-truck use, high heat/high load operations |
| G | 14PR | 110 | 760 | Severe-duty commercial applications |
Choosing the Right Load Range
- Too low: overheats when loaded → shoulder wear → higher blowout risk.
- Too high (and run at max when empty): harsh ride + centre wear + less grip on rough chipseal.
- Correct approach: choose a load range that covers your real loads with a safety margin, then run pressure appropriate to load.
🌡️ Pressure Management: The #1 Factor in LT & Commercial Tyre Life
Most “mystery wear” in commercial tyres is actually pressure mismatch. LT tyres don’t have one perfect pressure — they have a load/pressure relationship.
The 4-Step Commercial Method
- Determine real axle loads (best: weigh the vehicle loaded as used).
- Use load/inflation tables for the tyre model to find the pressure that supports that load.
- Build reserve capacity (commonly 15–20% above maximum expected load for real-world margin).
- Never exceed limits: don’t exceed the vehicle placard pressure or the tyre’s max — use the lower of the two.
• Running max pressure when unladen → harsh ride + centre wear + reduced grip on rough surfaces.
• Not increasing pressure when loaded → shoulder wear + heat build-up + potential failure.
• Ignoring temperature → pressure drops on cold mornings; always check tyres cold before driving.
Quick Best Practice
- Private owners: check monthly (cold), plus before long towing trips.
- Commercial / fleet: weekly checks (or TPMS) + document pressure and wear.
- After kerb impacts: inspect sidewalls immediately (bulges = replace).
🇳🇿 New Zealand Conditions That Matter for Work Tyres
Tyres that perform well overseas can behave differently here. NZ has coarse chipseal, sharp metal roads, potholes, and wet conditions that punish poor tyre choices — especially on vans and loaded utes.
Chipseal + Heat
Chipseal increases rolling resistance and vibration, and it can accelerate wear. For high-kilometre work vehicles, choose a casing designed for sustained heat management, and don’t run under-inflated.
Kerbs, Driveways, and Stop/Start
Courier and trade vehicles take sidewall hits constantly. That’s why Commercial “C” tyres exist: stronger construction, more stable handling when loaded, and better resistance to damage.
Wet Roads
Wet braking performance drops as tread depth disappears. The WOF minimum is not the safety target. If you run a fleet, replacing tyres earlier often saves money through reduced incidents and downtime.
🧰 Best Tyres by Use Case (Real-World NZ)
Don’t buy tyres for the 5% scenario. Buy for your daily work. Here’s the honest “what should I run?” breakdown.
Why: Stop/start, kerbing, and front-axle scrub destroy weak casings fast.
Why: Payload + towing stability + heat control on long motorway runs.
Why: Heat + sway management. Tyres are the foundation of towing stability.
Why: Sharp aggregate damage and punctures cost more than the tyre.
Why: High constant load + long-distance heat exposure.
Why: Lower rolling resistance and better wet grip can reduce total operating cost.
✅ NZ WOF / Compliance for LT & Commercial Tyres
Commercial tyres must meet the same WOF requirements as any other tyre — but fleets often get caught on tread depth, mismatches, or damage. This is the fast checklist.
Minimum Tread Depth
- Legal minimum: 1.5mm in the principal grooves around the full circumference
- Safety reality: wet braking performance typically drops earlier — many operators replace well before 1.5mm
Same Axle Requirements
- Matching size (same width/profile/rim)
- Matching construction (radial/cross-ply)
- Matching tread pattern on the same axle is strongly recommended (and often expected)
- Load rating must meet the vehicle’s maximum laden requirement
Condition Rules (Common Fail Points)
- No exposed cords, bulges, or major sidewall damage
- No severe cuts/cracking that compromise structure
- Tyre must be correctly seated on rim
📋 Fleet Best Practices: Lower Cost Per km (and Less Downtime)
If tyres are a line item in your business, your goal is: maximise kilometres per casing while maintaining wet safety and avoiding puncture downtime. These are the highest-ROI habits.
Fleet Maintenance Checklist
- Weekly pressure checks (cold), especially for vehicles with variable loads
- Regular rotation: around every 10,000km or with oil changes (adjust for your fleet wear pattern)
- Alignment monitoring: fix early — misalignment can destroy a tyre fast
- Documentation: track installs, rotations, and replacements to identify problem vehicles/routes
- Consider TPMS: slow leaks are expensive when they become a roadside failure
🧠 Helpful Tools & Guides
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
LT tyres are reinforced tyres designed for utes, vans, and light trucks carrying loads or towing. They’re built to run higher pressures, resist heat build-up, and handle kerbs/gravel better than passenger tyres.
“C” indicates a Commercial/van construction (e.g., 215/65R16C). These tyres are optimised for heavier loads, stop-start driving, and stronger sidewalls — common on couriers, trades vans, and small motorhomes.
Usually not recommended. For light-truck service, passenger (P-metric) tyres are commonly de-rated by about 9% (often rounded to ~10%), and they don’t manage heat under sustained load as well. If the vehicle placard specifies LT/C, match the construction and load rating.
Choose based on real payload/towing and heat exposure. Load Range relates to max rated pressure (and therefore max rated load). The right approach is: choose a range that covers your loads with margin, then set pressure to match real axle loads (not max-all-the-time).
Use the vehicle placard as baseline, then match to real load using the tyre’s load/inflation tables. For work vehicles, aim for a sensible reserve capacity above maximum expected load, and always check pressures cold.
It’s the load index (sometimes single/dual) plus the speed rating. Example: 121/118S means Load Index 121 for single fitment and 118 for dual fitment, with an S speed rating.
The legal minimum is 1.5mm in the principal grooves around the full circumference. That’s not a wet-safety target — many fleets replace earlier for performance and risk reduction.
Retreads can be legal and common in commercial operations when done to the correct standards on suitable casings. Suitability depends on application, casing condition, and certification. If you’re unsure, ask us for guidance for your vehicle and duty cycle.
Front-heavy layouts, steering scrub, kerbing, and stop-start duty cycles create high wear and heat. Fix it with correct pressures, scheduled rotations, and early alignment checks.
If you tow regularly, carry heavy loads, or your vehicle specifies LT tyres, LT construction is usually the right call. The stiffer casing and higher pressure capability improve stability, reduce heat, and help tyre longevity when loaded.
🚚 Need LT / Commercial Tyres Sorted?
Free North Island delivery. Same-day dispatch on in-stock items. Ship to your door or straight to your mechanic. If you’re managing a fleet or towing regularly, we’ll help you match construction, load range, and pressures correctly.
