Serious off-roading and mudding enthusiasts are faced with an interesting dilemma: all-terrain vs. mud-terrain tires. Which is best for you, and why?
Despite the fact that (to unpracticed eyes) they look similar, with their large, aggressive tread patterns and voids, these two types of tires are uniquely specialized to meet specific environmental conditions.
So, before you outfit your truck with all-terrain tires and call it a day, give some serious consideration to mud-terrain tires, especially if most of your riding is done on mud or sand
What Are Mud-Terrain Tires?
Mud-terrain tires are specifically designed for traveling through deep, wet mud with confidence. They feature durable, thick sidewalls, large tread blocks, and large voids and channels between them.
This unique design enables mud-terrain tires to push rocks, clods, and chunks of mud out of the way, biting deep into the mud to offer superior traction.
Some mud tires also have special features such as kick-out bars or rock ejectors to throw out any debris or rocks that get stuck in the tread channels, which can preserve traction even in the most demanding, slick environments.
However, for some off-roaders, mud-terrain tires will just be overkill. It’s also important to note that mud-terrain tires will not perform well on paved surfaces. They are loud, vibrate harshly, experience accelerated tread wear, and will diminish your fuel economy on-road.
It is also important to note that mud tires are not the best on deep snow, as the wide channels and voids can become packed with condensed snow, which will effectively make your tires slick, increasing the risk of spinouts.
That being said, if you do a lot of mudding, mud-terrain tires are a top choice, and better even than all-terrain tires.
Where Mud-Terrain Tires Will Perform Best
As stated, mud-terrain tires are superior for mudding as they afford the best traction in deep, wet dirt. While not the best on snow, some off-roaders also prefer mud tires on sand and rock.
This is because the same features that make mud tires suitable for mud enable them to afford better traction on sand. As for rock crawling and climbing rock faces, the thicker sidewalls and deep treads of mud tires are sometimes considered more suitable for resisting tread wear, as well as for general durability.
Quality Mud-Terrain Tires (Online) at Great Prices
If your vehicle currently has a set of all-terrain tires but you do a lot of mudding and you’re wondering if an upgrade is in order, the thicker sidewalls and more aggressive, deeper tread patterns of mud tires might be worth the cost, especially if you rarely (or never) drive on pavement.
For great prices on a wide range of top mud-terrain tire brands, visit Custom Wheel Outlet online at ShopCWO.com. Custom Wheel Outlet has been family-run for 18 years and carries Yokohama, BF Goodrich, Kelly, Cooper, Hankook, and other top mud-tire brands.
They also carry all-terrain tires, so if you landed here looking for one or the other and determined that all-terrain is better for you and just need a new set soon, visit their website or call them at 855-746-7296.
