The Best Mud Tire in 2024
Given the improved comfort, efficiency and off-road prowess provided by all-terrain tires, their demand, and hence supply has increased. Competition between brands has stiffened. As such you can no longer depend on ads and online forums to provide you with the information you need of the best mud tire. After all, they all claim to be the best.
Luckily for you, I have taken it upon myself to sort you out. For years, I have bought and tested different mud tires on the market. In this article, I compile all the knowledge gained from the best mud tire and highlight the best features of each.
Each review is objective with specific pros and cons chosen to shed some light on the best mud tire available today.
You wanna have a first look on the new BF Goodrich KM3 tire? The concept behind the KM3 is a different compound, modern different compound, and they’ve focused on a number of things.
The block pattern allows the tire to flex more along cross plane, single bars restrict flex, so this is able to flex particularly if it’s a wide tire around obstacles.
The shapes are designed to reduce rolling resistance hence the shape of them, and the overall idea behind it is to be able to take a mud terrain tire and use it for everyday use and extremely good performance in wet, muddy climbs and rocks.
That’s what they’re designed for, that’s what they’re all about but not every user that will buy a tire like this will use it just in that environment.
They’ll also use it on the open road, they’ll also use it on gravel getting to the places where they may need it for rocks, climbs, and mud.
I must say I was very excited to try it because I’ve had mud terrains on a vehicle before, but they were the KM1, the first BF Goodrich mud terrain and they were very noisy, and I know the KM2 were much quieter, in fact the KM2 was the quietest mud terrain on the market so I have heard.
These tires are built stronger supposedly than the all terrain, the KO2 and they’re not noisy and I got the grip that I was hoping for on long stretches of gravel. Not to mention tar road. I may very well be a full time convert to KM tires as opposed to the all terrain KO tires.
- New modern compound
- Toughness and durability inside and out
- Acceptable levels of on-road noise and comfort
- Stiffer side walls and improved traction in dirt and mud
- Fairly expensive
Final Verdict
Reliable tires which are designed to be used in wet, mud, rocks and climbs.
The tread on the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 may be brand new but the technology used is the same, well, at least the basics of the tech are.
BFGoodrich somehow has managed to retain the TriGuard construction on the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2. This tech incorporates 3 polyester belts in the sidewall and treads.
These are fortified by nylon and steel. However, I did notice something new. The KM2 features some features elementary features of its predecessor – thicker poly cords and a sidewall more resistant to cuts and nicking.
With all it has going on, I found myself wondering the treads were designed a bit too hardcore (knobby and hardcore). But the testing that followed proved me wrong.
Once I hit the pavement, I was surprised at how quiet the KM2 was. Sure, the aggressive tread design and the mean looking sidewall lugs resulted in a rough ride while handling at low speeds.
However, the road did smoothen out as the speeds increased. At about ^0mph, the road was smooth and incredibly quiet compared to the OE mudders.
I should point out that while the KM2 does not outdo the Trail T/A in lateral stability, it does get pretty close to it. The stiff sidewall did help to compensate for the less adhesive tread.
The treads seemed to dig into the ground rather than float. This resulted in less than impressive directional stability. But this is not a deal breaker since, after all, soft ground running was not the primary function.
- Responsive to steering
- Quieter compared to other mud-terrain tires
- Exceptional tread life
- The tire is heavy resulting in rolling resistance and reduced fuel economy
Final Verdict
Overall, these tires come highly recommended. Their wear and tear is exceptional on asphalt and transitions from smooth highways to rough trails without a hiccup. They are more than perfect if you are one who encounters muddy terrain often.
The KO2 has gained great popularity among off-road users – and for good reasons. The KO2 features a tried and true design. So much so that it proves difficult to improve on it.
But BFGoodrich has managed to do something to the design without straying away from the original design thus improving the overall performance and quality.
The KO2 is designed to complete with sidewalls that are about 20% tougher. They are made of rubber from the Baja T/A KR2 which adds to the bruise and split resistance of the tires.
Additionally, it is important to note that the KO2 come with thick shoulders. The shoulders are made of rubber and extend down the sidewalls for improved protection on the sides when on the rough and rocky ground.
These serve as stone ejectors. I learned the hard way that picking up the rocks between the treads is not just a problem for other people’s windshields but also can cause stone drilling which severely weakens the steel belts and cap piles under the surface.
Last but not least, the treads, they wear out evenly on the KO2 courtesy of the interlocking design.
- Outstanding off-road performance
- Tough tread design
- Quality tread life
- Requires additional sizes
Final Verdict
We highly recommend the KO2. It is not often that we come across a tire that ticks everything on most drivers’ checklist. This tire is considered the top cream. When looking at a tire that can last long, the KO2 works hard and plays even harder on any terrain you can imagine
If you are looking for a versatile all-terrain tire, the Goodyear Wrangler Radial is perfect for use on light trucks, pickups, jeeps, and SUVs. It has been built o improve the overall usefulness of a car on all terrain types.
As its name suggests, it features a radial construction that ensures you get a cozy and smooth ride in all types of terrain.
Though we noticed the tires is not lacking in flaws with regards to tough and rough terrain, all the same, it excels as an all-weather tire.
With its load index of 105, it is perfect for the small and medium transport vehicles.
The tire also features circumferential grooves around its treads. This works to enhance the wet grip as well as reduce hydroplaning risk. Inside the tire are two steel belts that give it additional durability and strength.
I love the writings on the tire’s sidewall. These give the tire an attractive look even from a distance.
- Decent tread life
- Affordable low price for great value
- Good traction on wet, snow and dry grounds
- Is a little noisy while on rough terrain
Final Verdict
It is like the wrangler Radial has been around for several years now. Well, it has been and the tire has started to show in age. But despite this, it still is a capable performing tire. Its excellent dry traction and dependable winter and the wet drip are to die for.
Sure the off-road traction might be a little off at times, but generally, the tire delivers a solid performance on rock, grass, dirt, and gravel.
If you frequent remote worksites laden with gravel roads, you know all too well the hassle of changing tires every now and then. The road is tough on the tires.
However, in my test of the Nokian Rockproof tires, I found them to be quite long lasting in addition to being chip resistant. These tires have been designed specifically for the pickup trucks that carry heavy loads at high-speed levels on abrasive, grave and rocky roads.
Unlike normal tires, the Nokian provides great performance. It has been designed with a rubber compound coupled with a tread design that has been built to withstand harsh conditions.
The rubber used in building the tires has been tailored to effectively combat off-road conditions. This new rubber design makes the tire resistant to cuts. With this feature, I cruised through the gravel roads with new found confidence.
- Better durability
- Added strength and protection
- Stone ejectors that prevent stone drilling
- Not ideal for tarmac, snow and muddy roads
- Quite noisy
Final Verdict
Truly, the Nokian Rockproof tires are one of the premium pick-up truck tires designed for commercial purposes and for anyone in the mining and logging operations and have to cover long distances while on gravel roads. These offer the best possible traction and protection.
If you love mixing it up, one time you are going out fishing and the next you are out camping and then snowboarding or hunting, you need your car riding on a tire that can handle the huge terrain variations.
Most traditional vehicle tires fail in this. The Copper Discover A/T3, however, excels in this.
So far, its users have branded it as an all traction all terrain tire. It has been designed for light trucks and SUVs. The A/T3 sports a well-balanced combination of technology, design, and compounds to deliver a tire that performs great in multiple terrains.
The A/T3 features an aggressive 5-Rib All Terrain Design. The all-terrain aggressive design has been engineered to provide outstanding performance in both off-road and on-road driving.
The tread pattern on the tire is designed with a combination of features that specifically enables it to provide superior all-season traction, all-terrain performance, excellent stability, reliable tread wear ad confident handling.
The tread compound used on the tire is silicon-based. The compound also features carbon black. This compound mixture provides the tire with excellence while on the highway.
Wet traction is improved as well as its handling. In addition to this, the compound also works to improve the chip resistance and cut while on the gravel and rocky terrain.
Last but not least, the lateral groove protectors on the tread rib also compliment the reduction of stone drilling and stone retention.
- Performs great on both off/on road
- For an aggressive tread pattern, the handling is pretty impressive
- Has a 55,000-mile warranty
- Features an above average road noise
Final Verdict
Regardless of whether you intend to traverse dirt roads, rocky roads or highways, the A/T3 is a perfect all-terrain tire. The design is impeccable and provides high levels of traction without sacrificing on the performance.
While the tread design ad pattern on the AT2 is aggressive, more than any driver would need for day to day driving, it does perform great on dry roads.
The manufacturer has set apart this off and on-road tire for such use because of its reliable design. It handles any road condition thrown at it with great finesse and grace.
The tire has grown immensely in popularity in the off-roading community. The treads to this tire have 5 rows of blocks that are irregularly shaped.
They provide optimal traction when driving through rough roads as well as on off roads.
Failure to do this might leave your car with chipped paint or spray gravel and mud to the driver behind you. of course their performance is not as great as that of the MT mud tire while in deep mud, but nonetheless, it does perform surprisingly well. I had no problems getting out of boggy and soft situations with this tire.
The same deep treads that allow great performance in muddy terrain, works wonders in wet grounds as well. It allows for channeling of water away from the wheel with great efficiency even during a storm. I faced no problems trusting the tire to stop when I wanted the car to.
The AT2 also comes with miniature indents all around the tire. These allow a driver to install studs which provide even greater traction while on ice and snow.
The 5 tread block rows also compliment the tire traction while in heavy snow. In addition to this, the rubber compound the tire is built from prevents excessive stiffening of the tire when in extremely cold conditions.
This allows the tire to mold its shape for a better grip and traction when on icy surfaces.
Inside the tire and the secret behind the great performance of this unit are twin steel belts. With this internal structure reinforcement, the tire lasts for a long time.
With regards to the noise, I was pretty much impressed while taking the tires out for a spin. Unlike most all-terrain tires, their performance comes with a downside of being too noisy. But the AT2 is an exception to this ‘general’ rule. It is rather quiet considering its aggressive design.
- Excellent Acoustics
- High Tread Life
- Perfect for severe snow conditions
- Gets stiff on solid ground
- It is rather expensive
Final Verdict
This tire provides for the perfect upgrade from an all-season tire. It is aggressive and has all the right features making it perfect for all terrains. Sure the performance may be off in some than others but all the same, it exudes confidence and performs wonders.
Thinking of off-road tires, this is probably not the first company that comes to mind. Falken, however, with the Falken Wildpeak AT3W is clearly looking to change this perception about its brand.
Compared to its predecessors, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W has been constructed to be more aggressive. The aggressiveness it is adorned does not negatively impact its quiet highway operation or the on-road handling.
I did find it to be significantly less aggressive as a mud terrain tire. But on the flip side, it has a lot to offer as an all-terrain tire.
With a quick look at the tire, you can tell it was made for SUV and Truck owners who are looking for the comfort of daily commutes and to meet the demands of the off-road performance.
The emphasis on the tire being a snowy and wet tire earned it a Mountain Snow Flake symbol. Along with the new aggressive tread design, the tire also features an equally aggressive sidewall design for supreme grip.
The apex construction of the tire is purposeful and useful in protecting the tire casing and reducing the temperature build-up which can accelerate tire wear and tear.
- Deep treads
- Aggressive tread patterns and sidewalls
- Features heat diffuser technology
- Reduced mud-terrain performance
Final Verdict
The Falken Wildpeak AT3W is one of the latest hybrid tires that filled the gap between the traditional all-terrain and the mud terrain tires. It is aggressive and provides a smooth and quieter road performance.
The Federal Couragia M/T is a tire that has been built for off-road performance in mind. It is perfect for drivers of all kinds of SUVs, Trucks and 4×4’s. it probably the most popular 2nd tier MT tire there is.
It fetches a low price and is great for the budget minded drivers.
The tire has been built to be cut as well as chip resistant. This is feature coupled with the unique Sloped Radius Gradient lug design, adds to the overall tread block stiffness.
This works to increase the traction of the tire on all terrain types.
While I did notice it is not rated for a severe snow ride with the envied Mountain Snowflake emblem, the deep shoulder lugs, as well as the sipes, did help in delivering excellent grip while on snow, slush and ice.
The noise made by this tire is not as bad. The tires do hum while on the highway. They are gladly not as bad as I heard and had to endure with other tires.
- Great performance on snow
- Great performance at an affordable cost
- Enviable handling and traction on wet and dry pavement
- Perfect for all-terrains
- Not the best for street cruising
Final Verdict
The Federal Couragia M/T is one of those tires that most people either will hate or love with great passion. For most drivers, the tire provides excellent traction and great grip while in deep snow. It does well on both wet and dry pavement.
For others, however, the treads wear off fast and are too noisy. Overall, I feel the Federal Couragia M/T is a mid-pack performing tire. And for its price, it actually is a winner.
These are pretty monstrous tires. They are large and when used on my jeep, it gave it a 2-inch lift which is pretty sick. The treads on these tires are deep not to mention aggressive. Their high void design helps them deliver a superior off-road performance.
In addition to this, the tires feature self-cleaning interlocking tread lugs that provide for some pretty amazing and outstanding traction in soft soils and mud.
The mud claw’s alternating lug dimensions offer increased lateral stability as well as Bi-directional traction.
The tread compound used on the tire is chip and cut resistant which improves its durability. Considering the aggressive pattern, I found the Cordovan Mud Claw to be remarkably quiet.
- Deep treads
- Chip and cut resistant
- Quiet on highways
- Improved lateral stability
- Reduces speed while on highways
Final Verdict
This brand is not exactly as popular as the others we have listed and reviewed. Nonetheless, it is a premium tire, with great and quiet performance on/off road.
Whether you have heard of this all-terrain tire brand or not, one thing is undisputed, it is a great premium tire. Hankook was thorough with the Hankook DynaPro.
I tested this tire on a turf I was familiar with and where I had control over several variables.
The tire has a generously siped tread that can take some beating while on the road. Compared to other tires, the Hankook DynaPro provides a smooth ride. With road racing, the tire promotes minimal steer.
The sidewalls feature two-ply steel, two-ply polyester, and two-ply nylon while the tread plies feature two-ply polyester.
- Deep two-step sipes
- Wraparound treads
- 8% wide footprint
- The sidewall may be thin for some
Final Verdict
Though not as popular, the Hankook DynaPro tire pulls its weight as an all-round all-terrain tire. It is a more than capable tire for all terrain types.
Buyer’s Guide
Contents:
What Are All-Terrain Tires?
These are tires that can be used on all kinds of surfaces including on and off-road. They have been designed with a perfect combination of an open tread design perfect for offroad use and great handling featured on street tires. It is best to think of these as all-purpose tires. As such, they are not exactly the best for individuals who drive on highways only or off-road surfaces alone
Features of All-Terrain Tires
Open tread design – this design helps to improve the traction of tires on the off-road surfaces. The design sports numerous interlocking treads that work to enhance the grip on mud and rocks and provide great handling on the paved roads.
Reinforced sidewalls – these are featured in some all-terrain tires. The feature improves the load carrying capacity of a tire. This feature is usually best for aggressive tires. Such kinds of tires are used mainly by heavier trucks and more for the off-road use.
All-year operability – since they are considered as all-purpose tires, they feature great traction on icy and snowy surfaces. For drivers looking for regular above average performance, they do not have to change the tires when the seasons change.
Are All Terrain Tires Good In The Snow?
Will the all-terrain tires perform on snow covered roads? Yes, they will. They are, after all, all-purpose tires and can be used in all seasons and roads. All terrain tires provide an adequate performance and grip on icy and snowy roads.
However, in temperatures that are way folder than 10 degrees Celsius, the performance of all-terrain tires become worse. This is because the compounds they feature are optimized for warm weather. Braking tests performed on the snowy surfaces reveal that from 40mph the all-terrain tires required at the very least 56 meters to come to a complete halt.
Are Mud And Snow Tires Good For Winter?
Simply put, mud and snow tires are all seasonal tires that have the approval for use in both snowy and muddy conditions. The organization that makes the approvals is referred to as the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association. Most of these tires feature the M+S signature.
What Are The Best Mud Tires?
Mud terrain tires feature tread patterns that are designed to dig into the mud. These treads are large and chunky. They allow for the mud to clear between the lugs of the tires quick and with great ease. There are numerous mud tires on the market but only a handful are worth your attention.
What Does All Terrain Mean?
All-terrain refers to a tire or vehicle that can navigate through all types of grounds with great ease. It refers to tires that have qualities allowing them to perform great in all weathers and seasons as well. As mentioned above, all-terrain tires can also be translated to mean all-purpose tires.
What Is A Good Size Tire For A Jeep Wrangler?
Jeep Wranglers are received from manufacturers with varying tire sizes depending on their model. The Jeep Wrangler models include Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon among others. The stock tires are 255/70R18 (32″x10″), 225/75R16 (29″x9″) and 255/75R17 (32″x10″).
Backspacing will determine just how far the tire and the wheel will stick outside or even inside of the fender. Backspacing for stock wheels for the late Jeep Wranglers is about 6.25-inches. Backspacing to a smaller number say, 3.5-inches will give the wheel a wider stance and the tire will seem to stick out more from the fender than usual. This is what is known as a deep dish wheel.
The tire size affects the wear and tear, mileage and costs. The tire sizes also differ greatly from 33” to 40”.
What Is A Radial Tire?
Tires come in two classifications. These are bias ply and radial tires. Radial tires come with traverse radial plies that are perpendicular to the direction of the tire’s travel. This provides for a smoother ride with lesser heat generated. Adding to this, the plies in this tire types are radial and as such, the result is a flexible wall.
In addition to these it features;
- The radial tires also feature treads that protect the interior and that assure a high grip on all roads. It also provides for longevity and is well maneuverable.
- The steel belts provide the treads with the much-needed stiffness.
- There is a spiral layer that adds to its maneuverability and improved durability
- The thick shoulders wok to provide the tire’s interior from damage and shock.
Are The Sidewalls Of A Radial Tire Hard To Repair?
Yes, the tire sidewall repairs done on radial tires are the most challenging. The separate plies making up the sidewalls contribute to the difficulty in repair.
Conclusion
And there you have it. A comprehensive buyer’s guide and best mud tire reviews to get you started on your next purchase. The information provided is authoritative given that I have done the tests myself. I have walked down that path before.
That said; enjoy your best mud tire choosing process.
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