![]() While browsing for off-road tires, take notice of the products known more for authentic performance versus cosmetic performance and everything in-between. Some grip a little too well, and can ping the underside of your vehicle with rocks they’ve gathered for a while after you’ve headed back to the pavement. Blocky, heavy-duty tread patterns and big sidewalls help all-terrain tires stay planted and grip rocks, dirt, and sand. Most mud-terrain tires don’t perform well in rain or on wet pavement, and the tread can wear quicker due to the softer compound and bulkier tread blocks. If you drive more on the road than off, all-terrain tires are likely the answer. ![]() The main difference between the two tires is that mud-terrains are optimized primarily for off-road driving, while all-terrains are designed with on-road driving performance as a priority. The two most common types of off-road tires are all-terrains (A/T) and mud-terrains (M/T).Īll-terrain tires are the go-to for overlanding enthusiasts and are a compromise between all-season and mud-terrain tires. “A tire that is designed for mostly off-road use often won’t perform as well on the highway when compared to an all-season or highway tire,” he explains. We’ve prepared a selection of the best off-road tires in our estimation, but Tire Rack also offers a decision guide of its own.Ĭampbell says that what makes a good tire depends on how well it matches your daily needs. Also, consider the types of terrain and weather you’ll be navigating through. How much do you use the vehicle for daily driving? How often and how far will you go off-road? Today’s average off-road driver spends around 70-percent of their time behind the wheel rolling on pavement. Where off-road tires excel in traction and durability, but not in ride comfort or on-pavement durability. “Be honest with yourself about what you’re willing to live with and what you’re willing to give up,” Campbell says. TJ Campbell, Tire Information & Testing Manager for retailer Tire Rack, explains that the first step in finding out which tire is right for you is to dig deep and do a bit of soul searching. Not all off-road tires are created equal, and not every driver will want the same tire. Alex Kwanten What Makes a Good Off-Road Tire? Similarly, some manufacturers are now equipping off-road optimized crossovers with this type of tire, such as the Subaru Forester Wilderness, which rides on Yokohama Geolandar All-Terrains. As off-road adventuring has become more popular, the availability of All-Terrain tires has grown. A select few tire companies manufacture all-terrain tire options for smaller passenger vehicles like sedans, hatchbacks and wagons, but as the market continues to grow, the availability will likely follow. The majority of off-road tires are sized for pickup trucks, SUVs and crossovers, and they particularly benefit four-wheel drive trucks, all-wheel-drive cars and vehicles with built-in traction systems. Off-road tires will wear out faster driving on pavement than all-seasons, usually create more road noise and they’re not available for every vehicle. In challenging off-road conditions, your vehicle will be much more capable of managing the terrain than standard all-season tires, but there are some tradeoffs. While not an excuse to throw caution to the wind while exploring, off-road tires can make the difference between maintaining traction sketchy situations or spending hours getting unstuck. Off-road tires are designed with blocky, heavy-duty tread patterns and puncture-resistant sidewalls that withstand abuse from bashing through rocks while also maintaining traction in mud and loose sediment. There are a number of things to consider as you plan to drive off the beaten path, but selecting the proper tire tops the list when it comes to getting a grip on an adventure and hitting the trails with confidence. More people than ever are spending their vacations venturing away from the prepped and paved surfaces of civilization, getting closer to nature in their crossovers, SUVs and even a few wagons. Navigating this terrain, however, means choosing a good off-road tire. It’s hard to beat the kind of desert vistas of Canyonlands National Park, and more and more people are looking to adventure off the pavement, and camp there.
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