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Deciding between all terrain and mud tires can be tricky to navigate. With letters like AT, MT, XT, and more it’s hard to know what’s what. Here we provide the right information to help you know which all terrain and mud terrain tires are the best for you — and best for your next adventure!
All terrain tires are specifically designed for those who want an aggressive style tire that can do a little off-roading with the main purpose being highway and street driving. These tires have the ability to travel on landscapes with sand, light gravel, dirt roads, and snow. Buying all terrain tires online is a great way to start your next traveling experience!
All terrain tires are meant for work and play, and are constructed so they do not create excessive vibration while rolling on flat surfaces. All terrain tires are great for the person traveling to work during the week but also some fun on the weekends.
All terrain tires have to be ready for uneven landscapes, shifting terrain, and significant obstacles. Unlike normal tires, all terrain tires aren’t as concerned with comfort, road noise, or fuel efficiency. Their design ensures that you’ll be safe and stable in tough off-roading conditions.
But, unlike dedicated off-road tires, makers of all terrain tires do have on-road comfort in mind. All-terrain tires feature:
For example, the Atturo Trail Blade A/T provides a smooth pavement drive with limited road noise and a comfortable highway drive. This tire also features a special rim guard that keeps it from being damaged while facing off-road obstacles.
The BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A is another one of the best examples of an all terrain, all-season tire. This heavy-duty tire features 2D-locking sipes, resulting in greater stability while on the road and an even wear across the tire. The reinforced sidewall of this tire also has a serrated shoulder for traction in soft dirt or snow. In fact, this tire features a three-peak mountain snowflake symbol, indicating that it’s ready for snow and ice.
We’ll also mention the Firestone Destination A/T2, an all-terrain tire that you can depend on in any weather condition. This tire features full-depth interlocking 3D sipe technology for an extended tread life. Firestone designed this tire to have improved water evacuation for excellent traction on wet roads and trails: a perfect balance between off-road safety and on-road comfort.
With mud terrain tires, you will often notice a more intense and dramatic tread, which is used to grip the dirt and mud-filled terrains they are designed for. The dramatic tread designs of these tires aren’t just for looks, they have a specific and powerful purpose.
If you’re looking to conquer rocky, steep, mud and dirt filled landscapes, a mud tire could be a better choice for you than an all-terrain tire. This is personal preference of course, but mud terrain tires provide better off-road traction in extreme, deep mud, dirt, rock and sand filled terrains. They are meant to provide stability and durability throughout the toughest adventures.
Mud terrain tires are a subcategory of all-terrain tires that includes all tires manufactured for muddy or rocky terrain. Mud-terrain tires achieve this niche through very wide tread blocks that expel, rather than trap, excess mud, dirt, and rocks. Where mud would build up between the tread of other all terrain tires, mud terrain tires push it up and away. They’ll also feature reinforced sidewalls to protect against damage and a softer tread compound for better grip.
This all comes at the sacrifice of on-road performance. Mud terrain tires are known to be more noisy on flat surfaces, like highway roads, but today’s best mud tires are designed to combat the negative aspects of traditional mud tires.
The Nitto Mud Grappler, for example, provides serious off-road traction with its massive side lugs and 3-ply polyester sidewall construction. So if you’re thinking about facing the most challenging off-road obstacles, this extreme mud tire is a great choice.
Goodyear’s Wrangler Boulder MT is a mud terrain tire that has a noticeable different design from all terrain tires. With innovative TractionGroove technology and a larger void tread design, this tire will grip and dig through mud with all its might.
Another very aggressive tire, the Ironman All Country M/T has a thick three-ply sidewall to resist punctures, scratches, and cuts. It also features a specialized void ratio for optimal traction in loose, soft terrain.
So, now that you understand all terrain and mud terrain tires, which is right for you?
Well, this depends on where you plan to drive and where your priorities are. All terrain tires are a great general-use option that keeps you safe if you plan to do a bit of off-roading with your vehicle.
All-terrain pros
All-terrain cons
Mud-terrain tires are more specialized, providing optimal performance in driving environments with soft, loose ground.
Mud-terrain pros
Mud-terrain cons
Mud terrain tires may be overkill if you’re not regularly taking your vehicle out into the wilds where there are no roads. A mud terrain tire will offer unmatched mud and dirt performance but for trails, an all-terrain tire may suit you better.