There’s a popular saying that goes “all the software, electronics, and hardware in the world can’t take you as far as the right set of tires can”. This rings true one hundred percent because your tires are the contact patch between your vehicle and the ground. No matter how much horsepower and torque your engine has, how slick your off-road modes are, and how power is split among all four wheels, it all accounts for nothing if the tires are unsuitable for the trail. An excellent case in point is the standard road or high-performance tires that many performance SUVs come with. These tires are superb for obtaining maximum grip on the tarmac, but show them a muddy trail or rocky road, and the plot will fall to pieces, usually resulting in a stuck vehicle and/or a blown tire. That’s why you see seasoned off-roaders using some seriously chunky off-road tires with plenty of knobby bits, tall profiles, and broad contact patches.
However, there is an Achilles heel to off-road tires, and that is their sheer unsuitability for use on the road. Common side effects include poor on-road handling and braking performance, increased strain on your engine at higher speeds, and a maddening drone when you hit the open road. That hum is apparent inside and outside the vehicle and can slowly drive you and your occupants mad, especially if you’re going to be hearing it for hours on end.
Thankfully, there is a compromise, and that is called the all-terrain tire. All-terrain tires combine the capability of dedicated off-road tires with the on-road usability of regular on-road tires. They are not performance tires, but they will grant you a more peaceful ride on the tarmac. They aren’t as silent as proper on-road or performance tires but are noticeably quieter than off-road tires. They are also usable during all seasons. Let us take you through the best off-road tires, the best all-terrain tires, and what’s best for the highways.
What Tires Are Best For Off-Roading
In order to determine what the best off-road tires are, you should first identify your requirement. What kind of trails do you envision taking your off-roader on? Are they rocky, snowy, or muddy, for example? Rock grappler tires tend to have larger side lugs and must be aired down for best performance. Snow tires tend to be narrower for shallow snow and broader for deep snow when they must be aired down. Sand and mud also require aired-down tires with knobbly treads that can’t quickly get inundated. However, remember, even the best tires in the world can be overwhelmed by an unskilled right foot, especially in an old-school off-roader with no traction control whatsoever.
Benefits Of Using All-Terrain Tires
Let us take you through the pros of using all-terrain tires on your off-roader. In the interests of full disclosure, we will also highlight some of the cons that you can expect.
Pros of All-Terrain Tires
- They represent the best mix of on-road dynamics and off-road capability, which is ideal if you use your off-roader as a daily driver on the office and school run, as well as for errands.
- Their open tread design improves traction on most off-road surfaces, as well as ensuring adequate handling at legal speeds on the road.
- Their reinforced sidewalls enhance load carrying capacity and general durability, as you can encounter hazards such as potholes and uneven manhole covers in the city too, that can take out a regular on-road or high-performance tire.
- They are operable all year, so you don’t need to shuffle between a set of summer and winter tires every year.
Cons of All-Terrain Tires
- While they offer lower tarmac noise levels than dedicated off-road tires, they are still noisier than dedicated on-road or performance tires.
- Shorter tread life due to softer rubber compounds used to provide a blend of adequate handling across on-road and off-road scenarios.
- Lower fuel efficiency since they aren’t optimized for low rolling resistance due to their multi-purpose requirement.
- They are more prone to cupping due to their design, and it’s recommended to rotate them front-to-rear and vice-versa every 6,000 miles or so.
Best All-Terrain Tires
At 4 Wheel Parts, you’ll find a very broad range of all-terrain tires for you to choose from. Here are three of the most popular.
Yokohama is a renowned name in the tire industry, and their Geolander range of all-terrain tires is available in most common sizes, including 31-inch, 35-inch, and 37-inch. They are optimized for long life, a quiet on-road ride, and off-road traction.
Pro Comp’s A/T Sport range is another decent contender for a mix of on- and off-road driving requirements. The range is available for rims ranging from 15-inch to 20-inch and offers tires ranging from 27-inch to 37-inch. A 60-day trial period and a 60,000-mile limited warranty are also thrown in.
Toyo’s Open Country A/T range offers the best range, a 65,000-mile limited warranty on these bad boys, which are said to give you a quiet ride on the road yet eat up the trails with ease. They are available in sizes from 27-inch to 35-inch, for rims ranging from 15-inch to 22-inch in diameter.
Tires, Wheels, and More from 4 Wheel Parts
If you’re looking for the best tires, wheels, and anything off-road, it pays to use an established retailer. For a broad range of high-quality products from the most renowned and respected names in the business, look no further than 4 Wheel Parts. We carry hundreds of brands, thousands of products, and operate over 90 stores nationwide for ease of shopping by customers. If you’re the online purchasing type, we’ve got you covered with a supremely user-friendly yet comprehensive website where you can browse our entire range, view relevant details, and make a purchase. Once you’ve purchased, our six distribution centers spring into action to get your parts to your doorstep pronto.
As well, we offer a price-matching policy, and comprehensive warranties where applicable, and our friendly experts are always on hand to offer advice and customized solutions. This is why our loyal customers swear by us, and we look forward to establishing a long-term relationship with you as well. Choose 4 Wheel Parts, and you won’t need to ever look back on your off-roading journey.
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