Community - The Right Tires for Off-Roading | Falken Tires

The Right Tires for Off-Roading

Making sure you select the correct set of tires for off-roading is extremely important. There are three types suited for off-roading: M/T (Mud Terrain), R/T (Rugged Terrain), and A/T (All Terrain). Simply put, you need to choose the right ones to make your experience as good as it could be.

Adam Heggenstaller – Editorial Director, Game & Fish: If you're planning on going off-road. The most important modification that you can give your vehicle is a set of tires up to the task. The bottom line, the right tires will make your off-roading experience better. There are three tire types suited for off-roading: M/T or mud terrain, R/T or rugged terrain, and A/T or All Terrain. Tread design, construction, and rubber compounds vary across all three of these tire types. Understanding their differences is important to selecting the best tire for your needs.

Mud Terrain Tires
Jeremy Templeman – Falken Tires: Mud terrain tires are designed for maximum traction. They’re for the most extreme and off-road conditions. You know, mud, rocks – whether it's loose rocks or big solid rocks. Our M/T is our most aggressive off-road design. They help shed mud easier, hence the name M/T mud terrain. This is for that person that's really choosing to be off road as much as possible and really seeking maximum traction.

All-Terrain Tires
Heggenstaller: For many of us, going off road half the time is stretching it. We only venture off the beaten path occasionally. We need a tire mainly for everyday driving, but we want one that's also up to the task of tackling most off-road obstacles. That's what an all-terrain tire is designed to do.

Templeman: So an A/T tire or all-terrain really kind of describes itself. It's meant for all terrains, whether it's the pavement for driving to work, you hit some snow on your way to the mountains, or just driving around town. They work great in wet weather. They're really taking all those all-season features to the next level and making sure that it is also capable off road. They might not do as well at shedding the mud as an M/T, but they're certainly capable in mud and sand and snow and in wet conditions. It's really the jack of all trades in terms of tires. I've not encountered anything that they can't do. It's a very capable tire, but also it's not going to let you down on road.

Rugged Terrain Tires
Heggenstaller: Let's say about half your driving will be on the pavement, yet you still want the performance of an off-road tire. That's where rugged terrain tires come into play.

Templeman: An R/T tire is pretty new to the market. They've only been around for a few years, and as such, a lot of people refer to them as a hybrid tire. The Falken Wildpeak R/T tire was designed to give that aesthetic look that people want out of an M/T, but give you the enhanced on-road performance that is usually required of larger pickup trucks. It's going to get you that off-road performance, maybe not quite on an M/T level. But it's also going to get you that on-road civility that you would like in an all-terrain. But again, maybe not quite at that same level. So it's somewhere in the middle. If you find yourself 50/50 on the dirt and on the pavement, R/T is probably a great tire for you. If you want the aggressive looks of an M/T, but you find yourself doing a lot of towing, R/T is probably the better choice for you.

Conclusion
Heggenstaller: A/T, R/T, and M/T tires have their advantages and their tradeoffs. Take the time to honestly assess your offroad needs, and then meet those needs with the right tire for the best experience, both on the trail and on the highway.