Most drivers have a relatively simple set of considerations
to make when it's time to buy tired. The mileage rating, cost, and size are all
they usually need to think about. Commuter cars sometimes have additional tire
sets for snow, but rarely anything else. By contrast, off-road vehicles might
have multiple tire sets, and the best choice for your next upgrade is dependent
on your current build, the terrain you plan to cover, and all those other considerations
that go into everyday tire purchases.
If you are looking for a way to simplify the decision, look
no further. When you boil it down, there are really only two things you need to
consider when picking a tire, other than the price you're willing to pay for
improved performance. Before deciding on a price tier, make these choices to
simplify your own search.
Know Your Terrain
The biggest factor influencing the right tire choice for
your vehicle is the terrain you'll be driving on. If you are looking for
something that is reliable on the trail, snowy roads, and everyday driving
conditions, then Mickey Thompson all terrain tires are your best bet. Otherwise, you will find huge
differences in the tread based on what the tire is designed to be best at
navigating.
- Deep, knobby treads for loose dry material like sand,
gravel, or powder snow
- Varied tread patterns with a lot of contact area and a lot
of independent planes of contact for traction on trails, snowy or icy roads,
and dry pavement
- Designs that push water away from the vehicle to make
contact with the ground easier for rain and aquatic environments
- Deep treads for traction in mud, with channeled tread
designs to push liquid material and softened earth away from the tire so you
can keep traction
There are a lot of choices out there, including several that
are designed to work in multiple terrain types without being all-terrain tires.
A lot depends on what you are doing and how much you plan on investing in wheeland tire packages.
Tire Size Is a Factor
The other major factor that should influence your tire
choice is the size. Tire sizes are based on three things, and your vehicle has
limitations to what it can accommodate in each direction. Those three criteria
for sizing are the tire's tread width, the size of its total diameter, and the
size of the rim needed. Each one influences whether it is a good fit for your
vehicle, and aftermarket mods like lift kits change the range of tire sizes
that work best for a given vehicle.
If you are looking to upgrade to large off-road tires and
you have not yet lifted your truck, it's a good idea to price your lift kit and
research the tire sizes it allows you to accommodate before you go shopping for
mud tires for trucks. That way, you'll be better prepared to make the best possible
choice for your off-road tire purchase, based on your actual goals for the
vehicle.
