Truck owners who enjoy the thrill of off-roading might believe they’re limited by the size of their tires, engine or their vehicle itself. This, however, isn’t the case. With the proper tires, not only can owners utilize their vehicle for off-roading enjoyment, but can also tackle some of the most rugged terrains imaginable as well.
Know the Difference Between All-Terrain vs. All-Season Tires?
No matter what type of truck you drive, you need the right tires to enjoy off-roading in the manner it’s intended. Some of the features all-season tires offer include:
- Excellent traction for a majority of riding conditions in wet/winter weather
- A higher silica traction tread-compound rating
- Enhanced performance, regardless of weather conditions
Meantime, some benefits of all-terrain tires include:
- Built for on- and off-road riding conditions
- Ideal for extensive riding on gravelly or muddy roads
- Tread compound featuring high carbon black content
How Long are You Off-Roading?
Depending on the amount of time you plan on off-roading, the type of tires you’ll choose might vary from truck owner to truck owner. The frequency of your off-roading adventures should be considered when deciding whether to upgrade to all-terrain tires. For those who spend their time off-roading more than 50 percent of the time, the obvious choice is to choose all-terrain tires. If, however, you plan on camping or driving on gravel roads or bumpy terrain less frequently, the benefits of all-terrain tires might sway you to choose these tires for their riding enjoyment.
What’s the Weather Like Where You Live?
Truck owners who live in areas where it snows frequently will benefit from all-season tires. That’s because even the best all-terrain tires aren’t necessarily the best option for riding in snowy conditions. Conversely, dependable all-season tires offer better performance in snow (shallow and deep), providing your truck with better traction to grip roads an highways. With that in mind, it might be best to purchase all-season tires for winter seasons and all-terrain tires when off-roading during the rest of the year in certain locations.
Greater Load Capacity
Another feature which makes all-terrain tires a premium choice for off-roading is that many of these tires feature reinforced sidewalls. These sidewalls provide more load-carrying capacity. For heavier trucks or aggressive off-roading, these tires provide drivers additional stability and support on difficult or challenging terrains.
What’s Your Purpose?
Even in cases where you aren’t off-roading a minimum of 50 percent of the time, all-terrain tires might be a suitable option if you plan on off-roading. The reason being is they provide more stability, traction, support and towing capacity than all-season tires. Additionally, all-terrain tires can withstand bumpy road conditions and will help minimize jiggling, shifting and movement of the tire frames when riding on bumpy, off-road conditions.
Truck owners should consider the desired uses for their trucks. Even if you plan on riding on smooth road/pavement for a majority of the year, all-terrain tires are still a suitable choice for these driving conditions. And, as long as the weather in your area doesn’t see much snowfall, all-terrain tires will provide stability and traction on the road, just as well as they do off-road.
Regardless of the type of truck you own, if you plan on off-roading, consider installing all-terrain tires on your vehicle. They’ll not only help make your ride more enjoyable but will also provide drivers with more power, efficiency and maximum speeds when riding off-road, without causing as much damage to the trucks and tires as all-season tires would experience.
