Best Off-Road Tires: Comparing Top Manufacturer Models
Updated on Sep 23, 2024
Whether you’re looking to increase your ride’s off-road traction or improve its rugged aesthetics, there’s no better upgrade than a set of premium off-road tires; however, with tires being such an extensive market, how are you ever supposed to narrow down your choice to a single tire style, let alone a brand and model?
We’ve taken care of the difficult work for you at RealTruck. We're outlining the top off-road tire styles–all-terrain, mud-terrain, and hybrid-terrain–and our expert's top considerations in each category. But before we get into the meat of the article, let’s answer the most pertinent question: why upgrade to off-road tires in the first place?
Why Upgrade to Off-Road Tires?
Off-road tires are a worthwhile investment from a functional and aesthetic standpoint.
Functionally, off-road tires are one of the most vital upgrades for a dedicated off-roader, weekend warrior, or occasional trail rig, featuring rugged tread and sidewall patterns that significantly bolster traction. Off-road tires feature aggressive sidewalls to grip loose terrain, deep, angular tread blocks to claw through loose mud, dirt, snow, and sand, and rigid carcasses to resist tears, punctures, and abrasions, ensuring maximum durability.
Aesthetically, off-road tires significantly improve the appearance of a lifted or leveled truck, Jeep, or SUV, filling the fender wells with aggressively-designed rubber.
Off-Road Tire Types
Off-road tires come in several styles, each featuring unique characteristics for particular terrain types.
There are three primary off-road tire types–all-terrain, mud-terrain, and hybrid-terrain–let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of all three.
All-Terrain Tires
All-terrain tires are the mildest of the three off-road tire types regarding aesthetics and design. This tire type is engineered for use in, you guessed it, all terrain conditions; think of it as the jack-of-all-trades of tires. These tires are capable in most terrains, including street driving, mild off-roading, and wet weather; however, they don’t excel in any one area.
All-terrain tires feature smaller tread blocks and milder sidewalls, which produce a smooth, quiet, and comfortable experience on the road. They’re also more aggressive than conventional highway tires, providing far better traction in most conditions.
Aside from performance, all-terrain tires also have the longest mileage rating of the three tire types due to the implementation of stiffer tread compounds and siping, which allow the tire to conform to the road and wear evenly.
Pros:
Adequate off-road traction
Exceptional on-road traction
Excellent wet-weather and snow traction
Long treadwear
Quiet, comfortable on-road performance
Most affordable
Cons:
Less traction in deep mud sand
Mud-Terrain Tires
Mud-terrain tires are far more aggressive than conventional all-terrains, featuring wider tread blocks, more aggressive sidewalls, and little to no siping on the tread. These tires are engineered for use in demanding terrain, excelling where other tires typically struggle, like loose mud, dirt, and sand; however, they’re typically not the best on wet pavement or snowy/icy conditions.
On the road, mud-terrain tires typically produce more road noise and may cause mild vibrations, depending on the brand and style. Fortunately, modern tire technology has substantially improved the performance of mud-terrain tires on the street. Regarding longevity, mud-terrain tires typically utilize softer rubber compounds, which cause the tires to wear faster. As with driveability, modern technology has also significantly increased the lifespan of mud terrains.
Pros:
Excellent off-road traction
Durable sidewalls
Aggressive styling
Cons:
Pricier than other off-road styles
Noticeable road noise
Moderate treadwear
Poor performance on wet/icy pavement
Hybrid-Terrain Tires
Hybrid-terrain tires are a relatively new technology in the tire industry, popularized by the 2014 release of the Toyo Open Country R/T. This tire style blends the best characteristics of all-terrain and mud-terrain tires, bridging the gap between the two popular tire types. The resulting tire style is more aggressive than a comparable all-terrain, featuring larger scooping tread lugs and shoulder biters, yet more streetable than a comparable mud-terrain, featuring tighter packed tread lugs and mild siping. All these qualities offer the perfect blend of on and off-road performance.
Pros:
Excellent on and off-road performance
More capable off-road than all-terrain tires
More comfortable on-road than mud-terrain tires
Solid treadwear
Aggressive styling
Cons:
Typically more expensive than all-terrain tires
More road noise than comparable all-terrain tires
Less traction in extreme conditions
Top Off-Road Tires
Now that we’ve discussed the differences between the three common off-road tire styles, let’s dig into our expert’s top-rated off-road tires! We’re outlining our top two tires per style from our three top brands: Nitto, Toyo, and Falken.
Top All-Terrain Tires
The Recon Grappler is Nitto’s newest addition to its light-duty truck tire line, adding to the Terra Grappler G2, Ridge Grappler, Mud Grappler, Trail Grappler, Dura-Grappler, and Exo Grappler.
This all-new, all-terrain tire features some of Nitto’s most revolutionary tire tech yet, including prominent staggered shoulder lugs for maximum side bite, an aggressive hybrid-inspired tread pattern for maximum traction, and optimized siping for outstanding wet traction. Zig-zag shoulder grooves also bolster off-road grip, while reinforced block foundation adds durability and confidence to every driving experience.
Features:
Staggered shoulder lugs
Wide and narrow circumferential grooves
Large tread and shoulder blocks
Dual sidewall design
Zig-zag main and shoulder grooves
Reinforced block foundation
55,000 Mile Treadwear Warranty
The Wildpeak A/T3W is a premier all-terrain tire from Japanese-based Falken, offering exceptional performance on and off-road. The “3W” in the tire’s name symbolizes its excellence in three areas: wear, winter, and wet performance. Falken accomplishes these feats with a proprietary silica tread compound and an optimized tread design.
The Falken A/T3W is loaded with innovation, from Falken's 3D Canyon Sipes to its all-new outer apex sidewall. Heat diffuser technology dissipates heat to maintain structural integrity while offset shoulder blocks guard the carcass against punctures. Thanks to the tire’s silica tread compound, Falken backed the A/T3W with a staggering 55,000-mile tread life warranty.
Features:
Outer Apex sidewall with a secondary bead protects the internal casing of the tire
Heat diffuser technology dissipates heat to protect the internal tire components
3D Canyon sipe technology interlocks with the shoulders to prevent wear from high torque
Aggressive upper sidewall with offset shoulder blocks protects from protrusions
Rugged and rigid tread blocks provide tread-pattern rigidity and stability in the contact patch
Deepest tread in the LT size category providing long-lasting wear and consistent hydroplane resistance
Silica tread compound delivers superior wear life and wet performance
No mud-terrain tire list is complete without the Toyo Open Country M/T–Toyo’s top-selling mud terrain that’s remained largely unchanged since its debut in 2006 aboard legendary racer Robby Gordon’s Dakar Rally truck!
This tire features a classic scalloped tread pattern with deep tread grooves, effectively clearing mud and snow for excellent extreme-weather traction. Unlike most mud terrains, the Toyo Open Country M/T also features tread-wide sipes, which effectively clear water, allowing excellent traction on wet pavement and decent tread wear.
Features:
Deep siping for increased grip on wet surfaces
Aggressive tread design that delivers superior off-road traction
Scalloped shoulder blocks to eject mud/snow improving traction
3-Ply Polyester construction contributes to durability and impact resistance
Over-the-shoulder tread that provides traction in deep mud/snow and better handling in hard turns
Gracing the list is yet another product by Japanese tire maker Falken, this time in mud-terrain trimmings. The Falken Wildpeak M/T is a rugged, extreme terrain tire sporting excellent traction off-road. Rugged tread blocks and an aggressive sidewall help the Wildpeak M/T claw through even the harshest conditions, while tough Duraspec 3-ply sidewalls resist abrasions and punctures for maximum durability.
On the road, you can expect hybrid-like noise levels from the Wildpeak M/T. Variable pitch sidewalls and precision manufacturing offer a smooth and quiet ride on the street, making the Wildpeak M/T one of the quietest mud terrain tires on the road!
Features:
Duraspec three-ply sidewall for enduring the most punishing off-road conditions
Heat diffuser technology ensures vehicle stability when towing and carrying heavy loads
Rugged and rigid tread blocks provide tread-pattern rigidity and stability in the contact patch
Aggressive upper sidewall protects the tire from sharp rocks
Mud and rock defense features prevent loss of traction from mud and sloppy situations
Optimized tread pattern with three variable pitch positions to provide a quiet ride
Top Hybrid-Terrain Tires
Though we’re a sucker for the original R/T, Toyo’s new Open Country R/T Trail takes the spotlight in this guide. The R/T Trail is a premium hybrid tire, offering exceptional on and off-road performance and a stylish tread/sidewall design ideal for the dedicated wheeler, overlander, or weekend warrior!
The tire’s staggered, scalloped shoulder blocks help to claw through even the toughest terrain, while extra-thick sidewalls dig through sand, mud, and other loose surfaces. The extra-deep side walls also help to guard the tire carcass against cuts, impacts, and punctures, preventing flat tires and emergency tire changes on the trail.
On the street, the R/T Trail offers quiet and controlled performance, thanks to its variable pitch tread pattern and wide circumferential grooves that eject water from the roadway. As a bonus, the R/T Trail features an integrated rim protector, keeping your wheels free from curb rash and gouges.
Features:
Hybrid all-terrain/mud-terrain tire
Optimized tread pattern
Staggered shoulder blocks
Extra-thick sidewall
Rim protector
Wide circumferential grooves
Variable pitch pattern
45,000-mile warranty
Last but certainly not least, let’s discuss one of our all-time favorite tires: the Nitto Ridge Grappler. This iconic tire debuted in 2016 after the popularity boom of hybrid tires; since then, it’s become a staple in the off-road community, offering exceptional performance on and off-road.
On the road, the Ridge Grappler exhibits quiet performance thanks to its variable-pitch tread design. Nitto used advanced sound equipment to significantly minimize tire noise on the street, ensuring a smooth and quiet ride with minimal road noise.
Off-road, the Ridge Grappler is even more impressive. The tire’s dynamic hybrid tread pattern features shoulder and lateral Z-grooves, alternating edges and step blocks, and a reinforced block foundation to bolster off-road durability and traction. Built-in stone ejectors clear the tire’s deep tread blocks of stones and gravel, allowing the Ridge Grappler to keep biting, even on loose, rocky terrain.
Features:
Heavy-duty spiral-wound construction
Revolutionary dynamic hybrid tread design
Variable-pitch tread patterns provide quiet on-road operation
Shoulder and later Z-grooves provide unparalleled traction
Alternating tapered edges and step blocks
Dual sidewall design for enhanced personalization
Reinforced block foundation adds rigidity and reduces flex
Stone ejectors prevent stone drilling between tread blocks
Offered in a variety of sizes and specifications
500 treadwear rating (metric sizes only)
VIDEO: Tire Differences | Wheels Tips
Shop Now
RealTruck is your home for the best products to outfit your build for unforgettable adventures.
Wheels and Rims | Shocks and Struts | Exhausts and Mufflers | Lighting
See More Off-Road Articles Here...
- …
Join over 2 million RealTruck people
Get exclusive savings, insider information, and the latest RealTruck articles sent straight to your inbox.