Driving
over unpaved terrain requires specialized tires, but there's no one
kind of off-roading tire that's perfect in every situation. Instead,
there are a number of different types of off-roading tires. Here are
some of the common ones and how they're best used.
All-Terrain
Tires
All-terrain
tires are so-named because they're suitable for a wide array of
driving conditions. They perform well on roads, which makes them a
great choice if you use the same vehicle for everyday driving and
off-road exploring. They also can handle some snow and ice in the
winter. Compared to standard road tires, all-terrain tires normally
have the following features:
- Open-tread design,
which improves traction on unpaved surfaces
- Reinforced
sidewalls, which provide added strength and resist damage
- Softer rubber,
which flexes to give better traction
The
life span of these tires generally isn't as long as standard road
tires, but they perform much better than summer or even all-season
tires once you're off of pavement. Additionally, they don't generate
as much road noise on the highway as some other off-roading tires do.
If
you need an all-purpose tire that's capable of getting through a
field or down a dirt path, all-terrain tires are made to meet your
multiple driving needs.
Mud-Terrain
Tires
Mud
tires are made to get through sloppy terrain that would cause other
tires to spin. They have wide tread blocks with deep crevasse between
the treads, which enables them to maintain traction in even deep mud.
Their sidewalls are also reinforced with many plies. Even if you
strike an unseen object that's hidden in a puddle of mud, these tires
will likely remain undamaged.
The
features that make these tires good for driving through mud also help
the tires maintain grip on gravel and dirt. These latter surfaces
don't require quite the tread depth that mud tires have, but the
depth doesn't prevent mud-terrain tires from capably handling dry
surfaces.
While
great for driving through mud, these tires don't handle as well as
other types of tires when driving on pavement. They also can be noisy
at highway speeds, as the oversized tread blocks generate more road
noise than standard tires' (or even all-terrain tires') treads do.
For
these two reasons, mud tires work best on vehicles that are primarily
driven over unpaved terrain. Occasional road driving is alright, but
you may find the handling and noise issues annoying if you use these
tires for driving around town every day.
Rock
Tires
Rock
tires are gnarly looking tires made for climbing over all kinds of
rocky surfaces. They're extremely reinforced so that they don't
puncture on sharp rock edges easily, and they often have big tread
blocks.
If
you're driving over rocky terrain, such as on a mountain or in a
desert, these might be the best tires. For any other driving, stick
with another option.
Snow
Tires
Snow
tires and other winter tires are marketed more as a seasonal tire
than an off-roading tire because their benefits apply to all
cold-weather driving.
Non-winter
tires become rigid in cold weather and lose traction regardless of
whether you're on snow, ice, or dry pavement. Winter tires are made
from a specially formulated rubber that remains flexible and can grip
in cold weather. Once the temperature drops lower than about 40
degrees Fahrenheit,
the tires outperform warm-weather alternatives.
No
matter what type of off-roading tire you use during the warmer months
of the year, you should switch to snow tires for all winter
off-roading adventures. Additionally, these are the best tires to use
during cold months irrespective of how much off-roading you do or
what snowy terrain you drive over.
To
get the tires you
need, search the inventory at Radial Tire Service.
