Last Updated on August 28, 2024
Journey Confidently with the Best Terrain Tires
All-terrain (AT) tires are an excellent option for the driver who goes everywhere. From daily commutes on highways to outdoor adventures on the weekend, AT tires are suited for almost everything you want to do weekly.
But what are all-terrain tires, and when do you need them? And how are they different from other tires?
In this post, we’ll dive into those questions and more, as well as the top all-terrain tires on the market. We aim to help you understand and select the perfect tires for your lifestyle and vehicle.
How Are All Terrain Tires Different from Other Tires?
Let’s start by discussing how all-terrain tires are different. Their key features are:
- More open tread design for improved traction on varied surfaces.
- Reinforced sidewalls for a higher load-carrying capacity.
- Adequate performance in all seasons.
We also want to compare AT directly to other kinds of tires. Learn what sets an excellent all-terrain option apart from an all-season, winter, or mud tire.
All-Terrain Versus All-Season Tires
The most significant difference between all-season and all-terrain tires is comfort versus capability. Your AT tire will handle continuous bumps, impacts, rough roads, and varying surfaces better than an all-season tire. However, an all-season tire tends to be quieter and a little smoother on paved roads- but less able to handle off-roading conditions.
All-season tires also offer slightly better fuel efficiency, but if you’re looking for tires that can often handle rocky roads, wet streets, and other rough conditions, you’re better off going with an AT tire. If you have a CUV or SUV and often go camping or venture off paved roads, you might look at an AT tire.
All-Terrain Versus Snow Tires
Although an AT tire will provide grip on a snowy or icy road, it’s not the same as a true “winter” tire. Most all-terrain tires are not designed to handle frigid temperatures. In other words, they’re suitable for cold, snowy, and even icy roads, but if you regularly drive in freezing temperatures and on packed snow and ice, a true snow tire is your best choice. Some AT tire models are rated with the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, meaning they are designed to handle extreme winter conditions.
If you face heavy snow, severe ice, and continual low temperatures, you’ll still want to equip your truck, SUV, or CUV with winter-rated tires. The tire materials in snow tires are made for continual freezing temps on snow and ice and handle these conditions much more quickly.
If your location rarely experiences severe winter weather, you can safely use AT tires with a 3PMS rating year-round. They’ll give you enough grip to safely drive on light snow or ice.
All-Terrain Versus Mud Tires
All-terrain tires have tread blocks that improve their grip on gravel, turf, rocky, and sandy surfaces than highway tires, but they are not as aggressive as mud tires. The sipes on the tread blocks help retain a firm hold on wet or snowy surfaces and have a lower rolling resistance than most mud tires.
Low rolling resistance saves fuel, so this is a clear benefit of an AT tire over a mud tire. AT tires are typically a quieter, smoother ride than a mud tire.
Mud tires, on the other hand, have more space between the blocks and more prominent, more aggressive tread blocks. When driving on slippery, sticky terrain, the tread blocks can grab the surface, and the larger spaces between the tread blocks evacuate soil slush, preventing stone drilling.
If the surface is sticky and muddy, you want a mud tire over an AT tire. But mud tires can be rougher, use more fuel, and are commonly noisier.
At the end of the day, if you’re not going to drive in severe mud or on loose surfaces regularly, all-terrain tires can give you the advanced grip and capabilities you need to feel safe on various terrains.
Common All-Terrain Tire Terminology
Before seriously shopping for all-terrain tires, you must learn some terminologies. Here are some standard terms you’ll see.
Tread
A brief tire tread definition: tread patterns and grooves are often used interchangeably as “tire tread.” Tread depth is measured from the top of the rubber to the bottom of the deepest grooves, and it influences the tire’s traction, fuel economy, and acceleration capabilities.
Lugs
What is a lug? Your tire lug grips terrain. Therefore, you’ll want a tire with a lug design/pattern that effectively absorbs the ground. The tread lugs can also be combined with other tire features to enhance stability and support.
Grooves
Why do tires have grooves? The tire groove mainly aims to expel water from the tread to prevent hydroplaning. Ample, wide grooves channel water quicker; grooves are often designed to move water outside the tire. The grooves can also help expel loose materials and cool the tire.
Voids
A tread’s void ratio is the amount of open space. A low void ratio means more contact with the road, while a high void ratio means more ability to drain water, expel loose materials, and let the tread blocks move. The average all-terrain tire has larger voids, which means it does better on snow, rainy conditions, and different terrains than a highway or sport truck tire.
Sipes (Tire Siping)
Sipes are the slots cut into the tire tread’s surface. The design of these slots influences how the tire handles snow, mud, ice, and wet surfaces. Sipes open and grab the surface while rolling over it, creating more traction.
Standard Markings on All Terrain Tires
In the United States, federal law requires all manufacturers to include specific information on their tires, including all-terrain options. This required info includes:
- Basic characteristics
- Capacities (load, speed, etc.)
- DOT Tire Identification Number
The DOT number, which consists of eight to thirteen letters and numbers, can be found directly on your tire. It indicates where the tire was manufactured, the tire size, and the manufacturer’s tire date code.
You’ll also want to note the UTQG rating or the “Uniform Tire Quality Grading” system. This rating helps you compare tires’ tread wear, traction, and temperature ratings.
Tires are rated from A (superior) to C (average) when looking at traction and temperature ratings. If you need a tire with a stellar grip, ensure you’re looking for a traction rating of A.
You’ll also want to consider the maximum speed rating and load rating on tires to understand how much load you can put on them and the top speed they are rated for. Engineers calculated the “tire load index,” which reflects exactly how much weight you can safely carry based on the tire’s size and pressure.
Do You Need AT Tires?
Now we get to the critical question: Do you need all-terrain tires, or can you get away with standard all-season tires?
In short, all-terrain tires will be the best choice if you drive as much on dirt or unpaved roads as on paved roads. If you rarely venture off the road and mostly stick to easy street and highway driving, you might not need them and should choose a highway or sport truck tire.
We frequently recommend all-terrain tires to light trucks, pickups, and SUV drivers who want to safely travel on pretty much any road. You might be hesitant to switch, but when your vehicle slips and slides on a gravel path, you might wish you’d chosen differently.
If you have concluded that you are to stay safe and care for your vehicle, keep reading. We’ve rounded up some of the best AT tires for daily driving, excellent off-road handling, and low noise levels.
Best All Terrain Tires for Daily Driving
1. MasterCraft Courser AXT2 Tires
The Mastercraft Courser AXT2 is an all-season, all-terrain tire for trucks and SUVs. It offers:
● Great off-road and snow performance.
● Multi-angled tread locks to improve acceleration and braking on almost any kind of terrain.
● Jagged cleats to grab onto rough terrain and defend against debris/stones.
● Stone Armor ribs between the treads to protect from punctures.
● Relatively quiet road performance despite its aggression.
2. NeoTerra NeoTrax Tires
The NeoTerra NeoTrax is an all-season, all-terrain tire for light trucks and SUVs. It offers:
● Traction on unpaved surfaces as well as regular asphalt road
● High performance in any weather conditions.
● Unique tread grooves for water drainage and slush evacuation.
● Reduced risk of hydroplaning.
3. Kumho Road Venture AT51 Tires
The Kumho Road Venture AT51 is one of the best off-road tires for daily driving. It offers:
● Excellent wear resistance and long tread life.
● Year-round traction, including in light snow and ice.
● Wide tread patterns to expel stones and dirt.
● Full-depth circumferential grooves for better grip on loose surfaces.
4. General Grabber A/T X Tires
The General Grabber A/T X is an all-season, all-terrain tire for light trucks, SUVs, and CUVs. It offers:
● Exceptional off and on-road capability and durability.
● A five-row tread pattern for high-density, multi-angle traction.
● Off-road grip in all directions on any terrain.
● Traction notches for additional grip on loose surfaces and snow.
5. Falken Wildpeak A/T3W Tires
The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tire is a versatile, long-lasting, all-terrain for light trucks and SUVs. It offers:
● A quiet ride on highways as well as excellent off-road traction.
● The Snowflake symbol certifies snow and ice capabilities.
● Big central tread lugs and open shoulders for stability and balance.
● Falken’s patented 3D Canyon Sipes for consistent performance.
6. Ironman All Country A/T Tires
The Ironman All-Country A/T is an all-season, all-terrain tire for on and off-road performance. It offers:
● Exceptional traction and durable tread life across different road conditions.
● A unique tread compound that boosts wet traction and longevity.
● Large tread blocks and deep grooves for superior off-road grip.
● Wide-angled lateral grooves to provide reliable traction.
● A Mud & Snow (M+S) rating.
Most Aggressive All Terrain Tires
Achilles Desert Hawk A/T
Looking for the most aggressive AT tire? Consider the Achilles Desert Hawk A/T, a low-cost light truck and SUV tire. It offers:
● A staggered tread block design for superb traction.
● Wide and deep grooves to resist hydroplaning.
● Two wide circumferential grooves that optimize wet-terrain handling.
● Excellent handling of asphalt, sand, dirt, and rocks.
2. Westlake SL369 Tires
The Westlake SL369 is one of the best aggressive all-terrain tires, designed to provide off-road traction in various conditions. It offers:
● Large, rigid tread blocks that enhance braking capabilities.
● Treads with varied pitch and unique patterns for a smooth ride.
● Stepped tread block edges for additional off-road grip.
● An M + S rating for dry, wet, muddy, and light snow conditions.
● Aggressive sidewall protectors to prevent damage.
3. Toyo Open Country A/T III Tires
The Toyo Open Country A/T III is an aggressive all-terrain tire for light trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. It offers:
● Great gripping and off-road traction, as well as high on-road performance.
● Confident wet braking and handling with increased lateral grooves.
● A tread compound that provides cut and chip resistance.
● Staggered shoulder lugs that enhance off-road traction with biting edges.
● Evenly distributed void area for increased tread block rigidity and handling stability.
4. Hankook Dynapro AT2 RF11 Tires
The Hankook Dynapro AT2 RF11 is an all-terrain tire. It is similar to many aggressive off-road tires but also offers the following:
● A long-lasting, quiet ride due to the blockchain control system.
● Interlocking shoulder lugs to increase stability.
● Reinforced sidewalls that are chip and puncture-resistant.
● Biting-edge tread blocks with Step Block Technology.
5. Goodyear Wrangler AT Tires
Another contender for the title of “most aggressive all-terrain truck tire”: the Wrangler AT (All-Terrain) was built as the ultimate tire for any small or large pickup truck. It offers:
● The strength to hold up against some of the toughest stress tests.
● An economical tread design that provides excellent traction.
● Large tread blocks for a stable footprint.
● Confident handling in a variety of conditions and on different terrains.
Quietest Terrain Tires
1. Kenda Klever A/T KR28 Tires
The Kenda Klever A/T KR28 is an all-terrain tire known for its smooth, quiet performance. It offers:
● An additional protective rubber layer enhances tire pressure stability and air retention.
● Long-lasting wear with double steel-belted construction.
● A unique tread design with aggressive sidewalls for traction.
● A 3-ply sidewall and one-of-a-kind tread design for versatile traction.
2. Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT Tires
The Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT is a light truck tire known for its toughness, traction, and low noise level. It offers:
● Large interlocking tread blocks to deliver on and off-road durability.
● Saw-tooth tread block edges for enhanced all-season traction.
● An optimized tread pattern for long life and noise reduction.
● Rugged stepped shoulder for added traction in deep mud and snow.
● An M+S rating indicating usability in snow and ice.
3. Federal Couragia A/T Tires
The Federal Couragia A/T tire is a quiet, balanced on and off-road, all-terrain tire. Like some other quiet off-road tires, it offers:
● Long mileage with a quiet, comfortable ride.
● Rugged looks and even better off-road traction capabilities.
● Federal tire’s latest silica tread compound and pattern design.
● Wide-angled lateral grooves for traction and zig-zag sipes for water dispersion.
● An angled pattern to prevent mud, snow, and dirt from sticking in the tread.
4. Pirelli Scorpion ATR Tires
The Pirelli Scorpion ATR is an all-terrain tire for powerful, exceptionally versatile vehicles. It offers:
● Easy driving, even on rough terrain, due to a unique tread design.
● Aggressive symmetrical tread design.
● a vast, flat tread compound for wear uniformity and improved noise reduction.
● Shoulder radial grooves that grant efficient braking capabilities and traction.
● Excellent pressure distribution and contact area for aquaplaning resistance.
5. Cooper Discoverer AT3 LT Tires
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 LT is an all-terrain tire for medium to heavy-duty pickup trucks. It surpasses many quiet all-terrain truck tires by offering:
● Heavy load-bearing capabilities, even on gravel and dirt roads.
● Cooper’s Whisper Grooves technology that reduces worn tire noise.
● Even Wear Arc Technology for strategically balanced pressure.
● Ledges designed to eject stone and gravel from the tire tread.
Talk to the Tire Professionals
At Tires Easy, we’re committed to helping our drivers find the tire that meets their lifestyle and vehicle requirements. If you’re looking at all-terrain tires, let us know. Our tire experts will guide you toward the best match for your circumstances.
Additionally, we’ll share our drive-now pay-later financing options. We promise there are no hidden fees or costs.
Conclusion
Navigating diverse landscapes demands tires that can adapt and perform, and All Terrain Tires rise to the occasion. Offering a blend of durability, versatility, and superior traction, they bridge the gap between urban roads and rugged trails.
As you embark on your adventures, remember that the right tires can make all the difference. This guide makes choosing the perfect Terrain Tires easier, ensuring every ride is smooth, safe, and memorable. Embrace the terrain with confidence!
All-terrain tires are more than rubber on wheels; they are your trusted adventure companions. Select wisely, understand your requirements, and let the journey be as exhilarating as the destination.
FAQs
How do I choose Terrain Tires?
Choosing all-terrain tires depends on your driving needs. Consider factors like the terrains you frequently travel on, the weather conditions in your region, and the desired tread life. Researching tire reviews and ratings and consulting with tire professionals for recommendations is also beneficial.
Are Terrain Tires good for daily driving?
All Terrain Tires are versatile, making them suitable for daily driving. They offer a blend of the efficiency of regular road tires and the ruggedness of off-road tires. While they might be a tad noisier than street-only tires, their overall performance on standard roads is commendable.
What are the disadvantages of Terrain tires?
While All Terrain Tires are versatile, they might not excel in extreme conditions like specialized tires. They can be noisier on highways than regular tires, may wear faster if primarily used on roads, and might not offer the same fuel efficiency as street-only tires due to their heavier build.
Are All Terrain Tires good on the highway?
All Terrain Tires perform reasonably well on highways. They provide stable handling and are designed to handle various surfaces, including asphalt. However, they might produce more road noise than regular highway tires and could have a slightly reduced fuel efficiency.
