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