photo by XH4D via iStock
Most people see tires as a grudge purchase. They cost a lot of money, wear out, and on normal cars, do not make a difference on appearance.
However, off-roaders love their tires.
Buying tires for us is exciting. A good set of all terrain tires can make a huge difference in performance, reliability, and even the way a truck looks.
This being such an important decision, we many times spend hours researching.
In most cases, the questions people have are something along the lines of best all terrain tires for trucks? Best off-road tires? Most aggressive all terrain tire? And other such topics.
In today’s article, we’ll provide some insight regarding all terrain tires while also providing a list of the best all terrain tires on the market right now.
Table of Contents:
- What are the Benefits of All Terrain Tires?
- Best All Terrain Tires for 2022: BF Goodrich KO2
- Hankook Dynapro AT-M
- Falken Wildpeak A/T3W
- Toyo Open Country A/T III
- Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S
- General Grabber AT/X
- Goodyear Wrangler AT/S
- Michelin LTX A/T 2
- Which Tire Would We Choose?
- Other Overlanding and Off-Roading Gear to Consider
What are the Benefits of All Terrain Tires?
photo by nuwatphoto via iStock
As is the case with most things regarding trucks and off-roading, you must sacrifice in one area in order to gain in another one.
In the case of off-road tires, more off-road grip means less on-road grip and increased road noise.
This is mainly because the tall lugs on off-road tires are spaced apart. Therefore, there is less rubber contacting the asphalt. This increases noise and reduces grip on wet or icy roads.
From the above, it is obvious that if you need something that performs well off-road and on-road you need rubber that sits in between a road tire and an off-road one.
This is where all terrain tires come into their own.
photo by PeopleImages via iStock
All terrain tires are the outcome of a marriage between a mud tire and a road tire. Their tread is aggressive but not to the point that it becomes noisy.
This design enables users to be comfortable on the road while also being able to reach the remote off-road areas we all love to travel to.
All terrain tires also have thicker sidewalls than normal road tires meaning that they are more puncture resistant.
The above is particularly important as it gives you the peace of mind that in remote areas, your tires will not give you any issues.
It is also worth noting that in most cases, all terrain tires weigh less than a same-size mud terrain. This is because mud-terrain tires tend to have even thicker sidewalls.
photo by J_Knaupe via iStock
The thicker sidewalls may provide more puncture resistance; however, you can feel the impact the weight has on acceleration, and in some cases, ride quality.
Finally, the design of all terrain tires means that they will also handle great during heavy rain, snow, ice, and even mud.
So, the benefits of these tires are obvious. Let’s have a look at some of the best choices in the market so you can choose which ones suit you the best.
Best All Terrain Tires for 2022: BF Goodrich KO2
When it comes to naming the best all terrain tires, you know the BF Goodrich KO2s will make the list.
The KO2 has one of the toughest sidewalls in the all terrain category while also having what is considered by many the most off-road oriented tread.
The deep side lugs and the design of the tire in general lead to the performance you would expect from one of the best all terrain tires in the market.
The engineers at BF used technology derived from BFGoodrich’s off-road racing program, which further solidifies the pedigree of this tire.
The greatest part here is that even though they are aggressive, they still perform great on the road. Therefore, they are the perfect match even for a daily driver.
The combination of impressive features these tires boast has pushed them to a rating of 4.5 out of 5 in the satisfied Tire Rack buyers.
It is worth mentioning that the KO2 also has a good tread life with a warranty of 50,000 miles.
Many people have stated that they had the tires for even more than 50,000 miles, and the wear marks have not been reached yet.
This may be a slightly pricier option; however, what you give is what you get. The BF Goodrich KO2s are some of the best all terrain tires one can buy.
Hankook Dynapro AT-M
At a very affordable price, the Hankook Dynapro AT-M makes the list as one of the best all terrain tires.
The tire has a wraparound tread design which protects the tire from rips and tears. The larger than normal tread blocks also do a great job of flicking mud and clearing the tread similar to what a mud tire would do.
Performance on dry roads is exceptional and decent in wet or wintry conditions. The biting edges and sipes do a good job of maintaining traction in most situations. However, some customers have reported issues with snow and ice performance.
The tread life of the Hankook is also great with an estimated life of 85,000 miles.
This isn’t the best performer out there; however, for the price, its performance is worth a spot on the best all terrain tires list.
Falken Wildpeak A/T3W
The Falken Wildpeak is a tire that will very happily do the tasks truck drivers tend to do. With the 3PMSF symbol, you will have no issues in light snow and ice. Furthermore, this tire will also perform great on-road and off-road.
The Falken comes with a 55.000-mile tread life warranty making it both a great performer and a decent value for money as you can use these on for many miles.
High performance during wet braking and hydroplane resistance is ensured by deep gaps between tread blocks and specially designed shoulder blocks for added protection.
Finally, a silica tread compound helps the tire stay grippy in snow.
The Falken’s high road performance and good off-road abilities make it one of our top picks in the list of best all terrain tires.
Toyo Open Country A/T III
Toyo tires have become very popular amongst off-roaders and overlanders in the USA, and it is easy to see why.
The Toyo Open Country A/T III is one of the best all terrain tires, and the best part is that it won’t break the bank.
It comes with an impressive 65,000-mile tread life warranty, wraparound shoulder design, and 3D multi-wave sipes that provide great traction. This model is mainly built for use in wet and dry surfaces but will also perform well in light mud or snow.
For drivers in the market for an all terrain tire that can deal with heavy loads, the A/T III is hard to beat. This is the main reason it is on our list with the best all terrain tires.
Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus
When thinking about all terrain or off-road tires, Pirelli isn’t the first brand to come to mind. However, the latest effort from the company – the Scorpion All Terrain Plus – has proven itself to be a strong contender for all-weather use, and that is mainly because of its great snow abilities.
The Pirelli performs so well in snow thanks to its proprietary symmetrical tread pattern and rubber compound that are equally competent in the dry as well as in the chilly winter days.
Drivers who will be driving in harsh winters will benefit greatly from this tire’s winter performance.
As an all terrain tire should do, the Pirelli’s also perform great in off-road situations thanks to good puncture resistance and deeply grooved independent tread blocks.
This tire managed to score a 4.5 out of 5 customer rating on Tire Rack; therefore, they make our list of best all terrain tires with ease.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S is one of the few tires that manage to score equal on-road and off-road performance.
When using the AT3 4S on road, you will not really notice any difference from a full-on road tire. However, unlike a normal road tire, you will be able to drive through mud or loose surfaces without any real issues.
Performance in the wet is also solid thanks to the companies Aqua Vac tread channels which do a great job of expelling water from the tread.
All the above once more add to a great score of 4.5 out of 5 from Tire Rack buyers.
With such credentials, the AT3 4S is certainly one of the best all terrain tires out there.
General Grabber AT/X
General has been in the tire market for decades and certainly has a great history of producing aggressive off-road tires. Therefore, there is no doubt that one of their tires would make the list of best all terrain tires.
The Grabber AT/X features multi-angle traction edges and notches on its five-row tread pattern to ensure plenty of grip off-road.
The good thing is that the tire is not aggressive to the point where it compromises handling or braking on the street.
This tire also has great all-weather performance; therefore, snowy days or wheeling trips will present no issues.
With features like the ones above, it is no surprise that the General Grabber AT/X also scored a 4.5 out of 5 on the Tire Rack customer rating.
The best part is that all this performance is offered at an affordable price – a benefit in anyone’s book!
Goodyear Wrangler AT/S
Goodyear is known for producing durable tires and the Wrangler AT/S is no exception. This aggressive all terrain tire has a wraparound tread that provides additional shoulder protection, dual self-cleaning traction lug channels, and interlocking tread blocks.
This specific model does not have the 3PMSF symbol so it won’t be the best tire in deep snow; however, you will have some winter abilities with it.
The Goodyear Wrangler AT/S expels water and other liquids great but has some reported issues with expelling small debris and rocks. Furthermore, a specified tread life warranty has not been provided from Goodyear. For these reasons, this tire is placed lower down our list of best all terrain tires.
Michelin LTX A/T 2
Let’s be honest here, the Michelin LTX A/T 2 are not the best tires for off-road use. However, this is the main reason this tire is on the list of best all terrain tires.
You see, the mild tread of this tire means that it makes very little noise during road driving while also offering a smooth and comfortable ride.
The Michelins also have an impressive 60,000-mile warranty meaning you will be able to enjoy them for many years to come!
This being such a mild all terrain tire it does not have the best off-road performance. However, for people who spend most of their time on the road, this is probably the best option.
Which Tire Would We Choose?
The list above contains some of the best all terrain tires; therefore, regardless of which one you choose you will not be disappointed.
However, each of these tires is aimed at different types of users as some will perform better on-road than off-road and others off-road rather than on road.
Before you choose which tire you go for you first need to assess the type of driving and budget you have and then buy accordingly.
For us, the best all terrain tires come from BF and specifically their KO2s. The main reason for our choice is the great off-road performance they provide, decent tread life, and excellent puncture resistance.
You can be sure that the KO2 will support you from on-road driving situations to the deep jungles of the African desert without any issues.
It is also worth noting that I, the writer of this article, have owned the BFs for 4 years and have purchased a second set for my second vehicle, a Land Rover Discovery 1, a few days ago.
I can reassure you that you will not be disappointed by them!
If you have any further tire-related questions post them in the forum section of our page!
Other Overlanding and Off-Roading Gear to Consider:
- Recovery Strap
- Recovery Board
- Winch
- KC Hilites
- Shackle Hitch Receiver
- Hi-Lift Jack
- Tire Inflator/Deflator
- Portable Power Station
- Portable DC/AC Refrigerator
- First Aid Kit