What Type of Tires Do I Need?

All-terrain tires are used to gain traction on all types of surfaces whether on the road or on the trails. All-terrain tires combine the open tread design of off-road tires with the decent handling of street tires.

All-terrain tires are a great option for people who take their rides to the off-road trials by driving on paved roads to get there. That is, they are best utilized if you drive on both paved roads and off-road trails. If you are strictly driving paved surfaces, an all-terrain tire is not recommended.

There are certain advantages featured in all-terrain tires.

Pros

All-terrain tires have and open-tread design which improves traction on all surfaces. The interlocking design provides a good grip on rocks and in mud as well as paved roads.

All-terrain tires are considered all-season and all-purpose tires and can provide adequate traction in rain, snow and in icy conditions. But if you live in an area where it does snow a lot, you might want to opt for a proper snow tire because it is just going to perform better.

Cons

Fuel Efficiency

As far as fuel efficiency goes, all-terrain tires rank right in the middle. Regular street tires are ranked highest as they get the best mileage and tires made strictly for off-road use get the worst gas mileage.

Keep in mind that the better gas mileage a tire gets, the less traction is os going to provide.

Cupping

Tire cupping is a destructive type of tire wear. This type of premature tire wear happens when the wear occurs around the tire in inconsistent cup-like wear patterns. There are several factors that contribute to cupping, tire pressure, misalignment and wheels balance are a few.

All-terrain tires are prone to cupping due mainly to their design. The more aggressive the tread design, the more likely your tires may cup. One way to combat this is to ensure that you rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.

Shorter Tread Life

All-terrain tires use a softer rubber, which translates to a shorter tread life. So don’t expect an all-terrain tire to last as long as your all-season radials.

Noise

All-terrain tires are noisier than all-season tires thanks to their tread design. Blocked tread makes a louder noise.

Mud Tires

Mud tires are best utilized when all of the driving is done off-road. Mud tires are superior for off-road mud action and come with a macho factor as well. Of course, these are noisy tires, but who cares if you are off the beaten path plowing through muddy terrain?

All-Season Tires

All season tires deal with bumps and other imperfections on the road rather well and are less noisy than mud tires and all-terrain tires. They also provide superior handling when compared to mud and all-terrain tires.

There are other pros. For example, all-season tires will give you better fuel efficiency. Wet roads? No problem because all-season tires can handle it. You can break better riding on all-season tires as well.

Of course, if you ever get the urge to do a little off-road driving, your all-season tire isn't going to cut it.

If you drive a car, something ordinary like an Elantra or an Accord, all-season tires are an exceptional choice. If you have a truck or SUV, you will need to make a decision on which type of tires you need.

If you have questions, contact BB Wheels for help.