| Choosing the Right Off-Road Tires | | | | the latest radial truck tires perform quite |
| | | | well in off-road situations, and are designed |
| Looking to buy some new off-road tires? Hold | | | | with versatility in mind to produce better |
| it right there. If you're just looking to | | | | road handling characteristics, even at high |
| grab the biggest, most wicked-looking | | | | speeds. |
| off-road tires available, there are a few | | | | |
| things you should probably know before you go | | | | While radial offroad tires may not provide |
| about doing so. | | | | the same traction or performance as a set of |
| | | | low air pressure bias offroad tires, their |
| The Truth about Off-Road Truck Tires | | | | longevity, handling, and smooth ride on paved |
| | | | roads makes up for it. Radials are perfect |
| Whether you're sand-racing, rock-crawling, | | | | for the weekend off-road enthusiasts who see |
| mud-plowing, or whatever other off-road | | | | a lot of driving time on paved roads. |
| activities conceivable, it's important to | | | | |
| understand precisely why you need a set of | | | | Sizing |
| off-road truck tires. | | | | |
| | | | Tire sizing can be a tricky thing, mostly |
| A common misconception with regard to offroad | | | | because the size of offroad tires you have in |
| tires is that you need them for improved | | | | mind is dependent upon a number of factors. |
| traction on rugged terrain, and naturally, | | | | The most obvious question is first whether |
| the general consensus suggests that larger | | | | your vehicle is capable of handling the size |
| tires equate to more traction. While such an | | | | of off-road tires that you want, and if not, |
| assumption makes sense, it is not entirely | | | | what modifications do you need to make in |
| accurate. | | | | order for the off-road tires to fit? |
| | | | Unfortunately, there aren't any universal, |
| True, the right off-road tires can provide | | | | all-authoritative guides available to |
| some additional traction in off-road | | | | simplify the process, since customization and |
| conditions, but there are better, more | | | | modification is vehicle-specific. Your best |
| efficient ways to improve traction than | | | | bet for getting a better idea of your |
| simply bulking up the rubber. If traction is | | | | vehicle's specifications is to contact the |
| your primary concern, trucks parts like a | | | | manufacturer. This will give you a general |
| traction differential (locker) with stock | | | | sense for what your vehicle is capable of so |
| off-road tires is more beneficial for your | | | | that you don't exceed its limits, or that you |
| rig than just adding a set of taller, more | | | | have the right parts installed in case you |
| aggressive offroad tires. Or for that matter, | | | | do. |
| a winch is probably a smart idea before | | | | |
| anything else. A locker or other 4x4-related | | | | In terms of choosing the right lift kit, |
| truck parts could inspire excessive boldness, | | | | accessories, and knowing what modifications |
| causing you to get caught in some real jams | | | | to make, factory service manuals, off-road |
| and then you'll wish that you opted for the | | | | magazines, internet message boards, |
| winch instead. | | | | manufacturer's guides, and a number of other |
| | | | resources are available to assist you. |
| The point is larger off-road tires are meant | | | | |
| first and foremost for the purpose of raising | | | | Choosing the Right Type of Tires |
| the height and ground clearance of your rig | | | | |
| to enable steeper ascent and descent in | | | | Before plunging headfirst into the sea of |
| off-road terrain. Simply put, when driving | | | | offroad truck tires and coming out with the |
| over boulders, slogging through mud, coasting | | | | meanest, most intimidating monsters you can |
| across the desert, or even just making your | | | | find, you have to at least know what type of |
| way through the occasional forest trail, | | | | monsters will best suit your offroad needs. |
| higher ground clearance facilitates | | | | First and foremost, you need to ask yourself |
| negotiating certain obstacles. | | | | a few questions. What type of off-road |
| | | | activities will you be doing the most? How |
| Not to downplay the traction aspect of | | | | much on-road and off-road driving will you |
| offroad tires, as a set of mud terrain bias | | | | do? What qualities in particular are you most |
| offroad tires will most definitely perform | | | | concerned with -- durability, performance, |
| better in the mud than a set of all-season | | | | traction, appearance, or ride quality? How |
| radials. Rather, improved traction is more of | | | | much are you willing to spend? Taking some |
| a secondary function that still bears | | | | time to consider these important questions |
| importance, but should not the sole | | | | can help to narrow down what type of off-road |
| consideration when it comes to buying truck | | | | tires are best for you. |
| tires, as there are far better truck parts | | | | |
| available for meeting that goal. | | | | All Season Tires |
| | | | |
| Are you ready for taller off-road truck | | | | All season truck tires usually have no |
| tires? | | | | business going off-road, as their composition |
| | | | and tread designs are not built to handle |
| Buying a set of taller off-road tires for | | | | beatings from off-road conditions. They do, |
| your 4x4 is like making a marriage work; it | | | | however, provide long-lasting tread that |
| involves sometimes drastic changes, | | | | excels on wet or dry paved roads and offers |
| sacrifices, and commitment, along with | | | | tremendous longevity. Most stock vehicles |
| constant care and maintenance. On the other | | | | come equipped with all season tires. For |
| hand, at least you won't have to remember | | | | vehicle enthusiasts adding larger truck tires |
| anniversaries. | | | | just for show, all-season truck tires are |
| | | | likely the most efficient way to go. Granted, |
| The first thing to keep in mind is that | | | | you won't get that aggressive look that's |
| upgrading to taller truck tires means | | | | quite popular as of late, but that may be a |
| upgrading a number of other truck parts in | | | | small price to pay for truck tires that will |
| your vehicle as well. Additional inches of | | | | last you tens of thousands of miles longer |
| vehicle clearance are needed for the truck | | | | than more aggressive truck tires. |
| tires to fit without rubbing against the | | | | |
| vehicle fenders. Truck parts like a | | | | All Terrain Off-Road Tires |
| suspension lift, body lift, or a combination | | | | |
| of both can provide those additional inches. | | | | Versatility is the name of the game when it |
| For off-road purposes, a suspension lift is | | | | comes to all terrain offroad tires, which |
| preferable for the increase in wheel travel | | | | typically makes them a jack of all trades but |
| ability, whereas a body lift simply allows | | | | a master of none. As a result, a broad range |
| for the fitment of larger offroad tires | | | | of all terrain truck tires are available, |
| without any offroad performance enhancements. | | | | based on whether a tire's focus is on or |
| | | | offroad performance. Typically, all terrain |
| Larger truck tires also mean that your | | | | truck tires are built with off-road standards |
| vehicle will be working harder to tote | | | | in mind and then are modified in certain |
| additional weight, which can result in | | | | areas to improve street performance. The end |
| significant strain to your axles and shocks, | | | | result is truck tires that can handle |
| and also alters the gear ratio set by the | | | | everyday driving, as well as some light to |
| manufacturer. To compensate for these | | | | moderate off-road conditions. For the most |
| changes, new ring and pinion gears and | | | | extreme off-road performance, all terrains |
| performance shocks (many complete lift kits | | | | won't perform as well as specialized off-road |
| typically include shocks) are strongly | | | | tires, but on the road, they offer peerless |
| recommended. To counteract the additional | | | | longevity, even wear, and excellent |
| weight and loss in performance, custom | | | | durability. |
| intakes, exhausts, computer chips, or any | | | | |
| other performance-enhancing truck parts are | | | | Extreme (Rock Crawling/Mud Terrain/Sand/Deep |
| also advised. | | | | Snow) Truck Tires |
| | | | |
| Bias Truck Tires versus Radial Off-Road Tires | | | | Designed for extreme off-road conditions and |
| | | | little else, rock crawling and mud terrain |
| Any driver will tell you that radial truck | | | | truck tires employ aggressive tread designs |
| tires have innumerable advantages over bias | | | | that extend to the sidewalls, giant lugs with |
| ply truck tires. In fact, the tire industry | | | | deep voids, and reinforced sidewall |
| has almost completely abandoned manufacturing | | | | construction to create tires that will grip |
| bias truck tires, save for a few exceptions. | | | | any surface and remain durable in the |
| Yet despite that bias truck tires come | | | | process. Extreme terrain offroad tires |
| attached with a number of disadvantages, they | | | | typically carry many of the same features, |
| still have their advantages when it comes to | | | | and consequently many mud terrain tires make |
| offroad conditions. | | | | excellent rock crawling tires, and vice |
| | | | versa. Extreme terrain offroad tires come in |
| The Case for Bias Off-Road Tires | | | | either radial or bias ply, but do their job |
| | | | best in a low air pressure bias ply, which |
| Bias off-road tires provide unmatched | | | | allows the tread to conform to surfaces for |
| performance in extreme off-road situations, | | | | increased traction. Yet despite that extreme |
| such as deep mud, jagged rocks, and rough | | | | terrain offroad tires are composed of |
| trails. The tread is designed to self-clean | | | | durable, cut and puncture resistant |
| and release mud or foreign objects much | | | | compounds, they usually do not produce very |
| easier to assist in maintaining traction and | | | | much mileage when driven on the street, |
| the rubber compounds are softer to produce | | | | particularly at high speeds. In addition, due |
| better grip on rough terrain. Additionally, | | | | to the wild tread designs and huge lugs, |
| the tire sidewalls are typically reinforced | | | | extreme terrain tires can cause a bumpy ride |
| to prevent damage. | | | | and are quite noisy on the road. |
| | | | |
| On the downside, however, the ride and wear | | | | Need More Help? |
| characteristics of bias offroad tires on | | | | |
| pavement are rather poor. High speed street | | | | Getting new off-road tires can be a |
| driving is an uncomfortable and noisy | | | | complicated process if you don't know how to |
| endeavor, and a set of bias ply truck tires | | | | go about doing so. It is strongly recommended |
| won't last much more than twenty to thirty | | | | that you do some research and take advantage |
| thousand miles. Even for off-road situations, | | | | of the many available resources before making |
| while low air pressure bias offroad tires | | | | a purchase. Yet in the end, if you still have |
| will deliver excellent performance, the | | | | doubts, by far the best way to determine the |
| center tread will still take a beating. | | | | right off-road tires and modifications for |
| | | | your vehicle is to consult an experienced and |
| The Case for Radial Off-Road Tires | | | | knowledgeable person who has a vehicle |
| | | | similar to yours, and has customized it in a |
| Although Bias off-road tires are ideal for | | | | similar manner to what you want to do. Not |
| the extreme off-road enthusiast, this is not | | | | only can such a person suggest the correct |
| to suggest that radial off-road tires aren't | | | | products, but also likely has experience with |
| effective on harsh terrain. On the contrary, | | | | installation and general drivability. |