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Updated on Jan 28, 2025
Are you interested in building the perfect do-it-all overlander or adventure rig? While spending countless funds on long-travel suspension, aftermarket bumpers, and premium lighting upgrades is nice, it's only part of the equation. You can't forget perhaps the most critical investment—quality all-terrain tires.
Without traction, all those extra inches of travel and lumens of light won't get you anywhere. That's why selecting the proper set of tires for your build is essential.
All-terrain tires are the ultimate selection for the overlander or avid weekend warrior, blending the on-road comfort and low noise level of a highway tire with the off-road bite of a mud terrain. However, with all the all-terrain tires on the market today, how do you boil it down to just one?
In this article, RealTruck's experts discuss the top ten all-terrain tires currently on the market, including their pros and cons, and how to decide which selection is right for you.
The all-terrain tire market is one of the most expansive, with several manufacturers offering multiple flagship all-terrains within their catalogs. This section covers some of our top tire picks, offering exceptional performance on and off-road, solid treadwear ratings, and premium styling.
In 2021, Nitto introduced an all-new all-terrain tire into its lineup alongside the already popular Terra Grappler G2.
As one of the manufacturer's most innovative tires, the Nitto Recon Grappler offers exceptional on- and off-road performance. Featuring staggered shoulder lugs for enhanced off-road traction and bold styling, it stands out amongst other all-terrain offerings.
Turning to the tire's tread, wide and narrow circumferential grooves offer quiet and comfortable traction and significantly reduce road noise. Oversize tread blocks, paired with optimized shoulder blocks, boost performance in all conditions.
Suitable traction in all conditions
Aggressive and unique tread and sidewall designs
Optimized shoulder blocks improve off-road bite
Dual sidewall design offers superior personalization
55,000-mile treadwear warranty
Less impressive performance in extreme wet and icy conditions than other options
The Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx is the first hybrid tire on this list. Hybrid tires, which fill the void between all-terrain and mud tires, result in a tire class that performs better in rough terrain than comparable all-terrain tires yet operates quieter on the street than a mud terrain tire.
The Cooper S/T Maxx follows this formula to a tee, exhibiting excellent road manners and quiet overall performance (albeit barely more audible than conventional all-terrain tires). In addition, the S/T Maxx performs excellently in wet, dry, snow, and off-road conditions, making the tire a considerable contender.
Armor Tek 3-ply carcass
Cut and chip-resistant tread blocks
Stone-ejecting technology
Hybrid 4–5 rib design improves treadwear
Notably louder than comparable A/T tires
Bursting onto the scene in 2016, the Nitto Ridge Grappler is a favorite in the hybrid tire movement. This tire was engineered as a direct competitor for similar hybrid-style tires like the Toyo RT and Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx. Combining the features of all-terrain and mud-terrain tires, the Nitto Ridge Grappler offers smooth and quiet on-road comfort and excellent off-road performance, all wrapped into a rugged design.
From a design standpoint, reversible sidewall lugs line either side of the tire, allowing you to display a mild or wild aesthetic. One glance at the tire's tread highlights its specially formulated variable-pitch pattern, which reduces noise at highway speeds. Lateral Z-grooves help to clear mud and maintain traction, ensuring adequate grip in any conditions.
Excellent road manners
Reversible sidewall design
Variable-pitch tread patterns reduce noise
Lateral Z-grooves for increased traction
Relatively heavy
Only adequate performance in deep mud
Now in its third generation, the Toyo Open Country A/T III is Toyo's third iteration of its hyper-popular all-terrain tire. While maintaining a similar tread pattern as previous generations, a redesigned sidewall and superior materials make for an overall more durable and stylish product.
Toyo engineered an all-new tread compound for the Open Country A/T III, providing excellent traction off-road and confident braking and handling in wet and icy conditions. New advancements in tread design, like evenly distributed voids, lateral grooves, and multi-wave sipes, boost performance across all driving standards and terrain types. While off-road, staggered shoulder lugs bite into loose mud and earth for superior traction.
Exceptional wet weather performance
All-new rubber compound boosts treadwear—up to 70,000 miles
Evenly distributed void area enhances on and off-road traction
Lateral grooves and muli-wave sipes improve wet weather grip
Slight audible hum on the road, more consistent with a hybrid tire
Arguably, the tire that kicked off the hybrid movement is the original Toyo Open Country R/T. This tire launched in 2014, fulfilling the open market between A/T and M/T tires. Rather than conforming to the characteristics of existing tire classes, the R/T combines the on-road comfort of Toyo's A/T line with the off-road performance of its M/T tire.
With aggressive scalloped shoulder blocks, stone and mud ejectors, open tread blocks, and robust 3-ply polyester construction, the R/T is engineered to perform in extreme conditions. However, the tire's sipes and tread pattern are optimized for on-road comfort, ensuring a quiet, controlled ride on the street.
Rugged sidewalls
Open tread blocks with stone ejectors
Excellent on and off-road handling characteristics
Durable 3-ply polyester construction
Average performance in snow
After over a decade of producing the tried-and-tested Toyo Open Country R/T, Toyo expanded the R/T lineup with a sleek, all-new hybrid tire—the R/T Trail.
Due to its aggressive design, consisting of scalloped shoulder blocks, oversized tread blocks, and extra-wide circumferential grooves, the redesigned R/T Trail delivers superior off-road grip than a traditional all-terrain tire. In areas where conventional all-terrain tires suffer, such as sand, mud, and deep snow, the R/T Trail excels.
Toyo engineered the R/T Trail for truck and SUV owners who want more from their all-terrain tires without the noise and harshness of mud terrain.
Tough, multi-ply sidewalls
Mud-terrain-inspired scalloped shoulder blocks and oversized tread blocks
Superior off-road performance
Excels in challenging terrain, including sand, mud, and deep snow
One of, if not the most expensive tire in Toyo's off-road lineup
The General Grabber A/TX is a favorite among weekend warriors and off-road enthusiasts, thanks to the tire's excellent road manners and superior off-road traction. The tire's wide tread blocks make for smooth and quiet street use, while the siping maximizes ground contact in all conditions for excellent performance in dry, wet, and snowy conditions.
Aggressive side walls surround each tire, providing extra bite in extreme conditions. In addition, when aired down, the sidewalls effectively form additional tread blocks, allowing even better traction across slippery rocks and other surfaces.
Aggressive tread design
Quiet on-road
Excellent road manners
Exceptional off-road performance
Balance easily
Stabilitread chip and cut resistance
No notable cons to report
Where once Cooper only offered a single all-terrain tire, they now offer three, but why? Cooper's most recent endeavor into the A/T market doesn't reinvent the wheel—it simply smooths its edges for maximum efficiency. The three new tires in Cooper's new A/T lineup are based on the venerable A/T3 tire. However, each features some unique characteristics that set it apart.
Introducing the A/T3 XLT—a heavy-duty all-terrain coupling the long-haul capabilities of an LT tire with the aggressive styling and off-road performance of a mud terrain. The AT/3 XLT includes integrated stone-ejecting ledges, an extra-wide contact area for enhanced traction and tread life, and a rugged sidewall to bite into mud, snow, silt, and more. Simply put, the A/T3 XLT takes everything we know and love about Cooper's previous generation all-terrain tire and improves upon it.
60,000-mile treadwear
Rugged sidewall design
Excellent wet and dry performance
High load rating
Moderate road noise
Snow traction is only adequate
Mickey Thomspon has existed in the tire industry for decades, first gaining popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. A racer who engineered tires out of necessity, Mickey Thompson changed the way most manufacturers think about performance tires.
The company's flagship all-terrain, the Baja Boss A/T, is no exception to Mickey Thompson's reputation for excellence. Baja Boss A/T tires are engineered with the adventurous truck owner in mind. They feature an asymmetrical tread pattern to improve on- and off-road handling and reduce road noise. They also feature Mickey Thompson's next-gen Extreme Sidebiter® tread pattern, offering 150-percent deeper tread than comparable tires.
Asymmetrical Extreme Sidebiters® tread pattern
PowerPly XD reinforced sidewall
Silica-based compound
50,000-mile treadwear warranty
Severe Snow Service Rated
Deep tread can capture and kick rocks
Rounding out the list is the Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme—an impressive all-terrain tire from the South Korean tire manufacturer.
Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme Tires offer exceptional performance in all terrain types through extensive engineering and R&D. Standout features include multidirectional grooves and sipes for superior traction, a 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe snow conditions, and aggressive biting block edges that boost off-road traction.
Multidirectional grooves and sipes
Biting and staged block edges
3 Peak Mountain Snowflake qualified
Aggressive shoulders and sidewall
60,000-mile treadwear warranty
Moderate road noise
Less aggressive than other off-road tires on the list
All-terrain tires are the jack-of-all-trades of the tire industry. As the name suggests, they function well in all types of terrain, ranging from icy roads to deep, sticky mud. However, some all-terrain tires perform specific tasks better than others, including road manners, off-road grip, tread wear, and traction in Winter conditions. These are some of the main criteria to consider when selecting a set of all-terrain tires.
Factors such as treadwear, noise, ride quality, and fuel efficiency are critical for the average driver who spends most of their time on the road. Generally, all-terrain tires with less aggressive tread patterns and silica compounds provide excellent on-road performance and treadwear. In these cases, consider sticking with a tire like the Hankook Dynapro A/T2 Xtreme or the Cooper Discoverer A/TX.
For the weekend warrior or avid off-roader, you'll likely focus on off-road traction, specifically in the snow if you live in a Northern part of the country. Tires best suited for this driving style include aggressive tread lugs, rigid sidewalls, rock ejectors, sipes, and durable carcasses. Tires fitting this description include the Cooper S/T Maxx and the Toyo R/T—two hybrid options on the list.
A: Without a doubt, the answer to this commonly asked question is a resounding YES. Proper tires make a considerable difference, whether you're considering comfort or traction. All-terrain tires have substantially more grip than highway tires, allowing your vehicle to claw and gouge through challenging terrain. Proper tires are one of, if not the most important purchases you can make on your vehicle.
A: While there's no set answer, it's safe to assume that all-terrain tires typically last between 45,000 and 65,000 miles. Of course, this depends on various factors, including the weight of your vehicle, the driving you usually do, the terrain you generally drive across, whether or not you tow, and how regularly you rotate your tires and service your vehicle's suspension. In ideal conditions, all-terrain tires can last as long as comparable highway tires.
A: Once again, the answer to this common question varies. Some all-terrain tires, such as the Falken Wildpeak AT/3, pass USTMA and TRAC qualifications to receive the 3PMSF (three-peak mountain snowflake) symbol for excellent snow traction. This tire can easily handle snowy conditions, but other all-terrains may not be well-suited. If snow and ice traction is a concern, confirm that your top selection has received a 3PMSF rating.
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