All-Terrain Vs. Mud-Terrain Tires: What You Need To Know

Off-roading is one of the most fun things you can do with your vehicle. While not every car is built for it, some people spend all their free time figuring out how to make their vehicle faster and more fun to take off the beaten path. One of the first things you have to do as an off-roader is figure out what kind of tires you need. Your choices are all-terrain and mud-terrain tires. To help, we’ve compiled a few things you need to know.

Mud-Terrain

One of the biggest advantages of mud-terrain tires is that they’re specifically designed to go off-roading. The tread on them is made to get a significantly better grip on the much less solid ground beneath it. The tires themselves are incredibly strong. They’re meant to resist sharp rocks and any broken glass on trails. When you use mud-terrain tires, you can be confident that a flat tire is going to be extremely rare, no matter where you are. Mud-terrain tires are incredibly reliable from spring until fall, which is when you’re going to be doing the bulk of your off-roading. If there are pros, though, there are also cons. For example, these tires aren’t meant for normal driving and can be quite loud on pavement. They also don’t handle very well in the rain. And while their tread may be strong, this means they burn brightly and burn out quickly.

All-Terrain

All-terrain tires are a bit of a misnomer, but they still work quite well in a wide variety of terrains. The traction for these tires is very strong, so they have a much better grip in conditions like snow and rain when compared to mud-terrain tires. The tread will also last longer than mud tires, which, when coupled with the fact that they tend to be less expensive, means they’ll get you farther for less money. The downside of this is that they don’t handle as well as mud-terrain tires in extreme conditions. And while they aren’t as loud on pavement, they’re still noticeably louder than the tires of a standard car.

Conclusion

As far as what you need to know about all-terrain versus mud-terrain tires, we hope this has helped you figure out some of the most important differences. If you’re looking to get a little muddy and go off-roading out in the woods while it’s warm out, mud-terrain tires are your best option. For other conditions like rain or snow, throw on the all-terrains. All-terrain tires will be the better choice if you only go off-roading occasionally since they last longer than mud-terrains and generally cost less.

No matter which kind you decide on, if you need tires, stop into your local Commercial Tire and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have!