Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Good Mud Tires for SUV – Advantages of Mud Tires
- 3 Good Mud Tires for SUV – How to choose
- 4 Good Mud Tires for SUV – Comparison Table
- 5 1 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Traction Radial Tire
- 6 2 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 All-Season Radial Tire
- 7 3 Toyo Open Country All-Terrain Radial Tire
- 8 Conclusion
Introduction
Driving off-road and getting stuck in mud is no fun for anyone. This is why it’s important to equip your vehicle with the appropriate tires, regardless if you’re only driving off-road from time to time. You wouldn’t go hiking with your beach sandals so make sure your car has the right “shoes” as well. There are countless types of tires designed for practically any situation. All you have to do is think thoroughly about what you need and spend the time to find them.
Product | Goodyear | BFGoodrich | Toyo |
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Description | The Goodyear Mud Tires for SUV are very easy to install and they’re easily among the best on the market. Their quality is almost unmatched and they come at a pretty affordable price. This set of tires excels on pavement, snow, and mud.(Check price at Amazon) | The BFGoodrich Mud Tires for SUV are also of high-end quality and their performance is not far behind our first pick. They’re designed to excel in almost any season while also doing a very good job at climbing rocky roads.(Check price at Amazon) | The Toyo Mud Tires for SUV are the perfect balance between the pavement and mud performances. They’re specifically designed for normal drivers that don’t need a high-end performance but are looking for stability and good a tread lifespan.(Check price at Amazon) |
Mud tires can be specifically made only for off-road driving or they can have a mixed compound and tread design that allows them to be efficient on the highway as well. If you get hardcore mud, tires you should never use them on the highway just how you shouldn’t drive through extreme mud with your performance tires.
Don’t mix up mud tires with all-terrain tires as the tires made specifically for mud can go where an all-terrain would block immediately. An all-terrain is way too flexible to excel on harsher roads. If you only experience light mud and snow, an all-terrain might be all you need. But if you plan on driving on roads that can get very muddy, mud tries are the best bet.
Good Mud Tires for SUV – Advantages of Mud Tires
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Since we’re talking about mud tires that are great for harsher roads but still have clearance for highway driving, we should talk about their advantages and disadvantages. If you’re buying these types of tires for your SUV for the first time, it’s important to understand why these tires are so much better than performance tires in muddy conditions.
The main advantage of these tires is the rougher tread blocks that have more space between them. This allows the water and mud to flush right out and avoid having to deal with a messy mud buildup. Any muddy off-road can be filled with unpleasant surprises, some sharper than others. This is why you have to equip your vehicle with tires that are strong enough to withstand punctures, but reliable enough to get the necessary traction.
A good set of mud terrain tires won’t have any problems with fallen branches and rocks mixed with mud. But don’t use these tires if you always have to drive on sand. This is because while the big blocks are excellent for digging into the mud, they can also dig into the sand or snow. And this can cause some problems. Make sure the tires have a self-cleaning tread pattern regardless of what you choose.
When it comes to price tags, these tires can go anywhere from $120 to $300 and more. The better the quality and the longer the tread wear, the higher the price tag. If you’re looking for a tire that can be as resistant as possible and last a very long time, you should expect to spend a bit more. A disadvantage to these tires is that they are loud and not comfy on the pavement.
Good Mud Tires for SUV – How to choose
Shopping for mud tires can be a bit confusing at first. So let’s take a moment and talk about what exactly you should keep in mind when looking for your new tires. You will have to think thoroughly how long you will be driving off-road (compared to on-road), and how bad the roads are?
There has to be a proper clearance between the fenders of your vehicle and the tires. This means being careful about the size you want to get. If you own a truck or a bigger SUV, you can get away with investing in bigger and more aggressive mud tires. But if you drive a smaller SUV, you might have to make some modifications for the slightly larger tires. So if you want to avoid the need of modifying anything, make sure the tires are the exact size you need.
The tread pattern of the mud tires is very important. While the tread pattern is different from tire to tire, all of them will have deep grooves, some deeper than others. The purpose of the deep and chunky tread pattern is to provide as much traction as possible on loose gravel and muddy conditions. And to benefit from added grip, make sure the tires also have an elevated tread on the shoulders. The siped tread offers the most traction in wet conditions.
It’s a must to have thick and good-quality sidewalls as well. There can be all sorts of sharp rocks, small branches, and other objects that can cause punctures. You can easily figure out what you need by looking at the ply rating. The recommended rating for muddy roads is 3-ply or higher.
In this article, we’ll talk about Our Top 3 Mud Tires.
Good Mud Tires for SUV – Comparison Table
Product Name | Goodyear | BFGoodrich | Toyo |
Image | | | |
Rim Protector | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Self-Cleaning | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mountain Snowflake Symbol | Yes | Yes | No |
Great at Climbing | No | Yes | No |
Great on Mud | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Quiet on Pavement | Yes | Yes | Yes |
3-Ply Polyester | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Long Tread Lifespan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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1 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Traction Radial Tire
Description
Buy on Amazon!The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Traction Radial Tire is of high-end quality and can offer one of the best off-road performances on the market. It’s designed by a team of experienced professionals that took into consideration everything you might run into on a muddy country road.
More than that, it can also be used on roads with light snow and on the pavement. This makes this tire a pretty good all-rounder for people that drive off-road a lot and live in an area with hot summers and light winters.
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company is a very well-known American company that has over 120 years of experience. They excel in making a wide range of tires for cars, commercial and light trucks, motorcycles, race cars, SUVs, farm equipment, heavy earth-moving machinery, and even airplanes.
This makes them more than qualified when it comes to bringing some of the best mud tires on the market. As one of the most respected companies in America and the 4th tire manufacturer in the world, Goodyear strives to offer nothing but the best quality possible.
If you’re looking for a tire that looks as slick and elegant as possible for your SUV, this might not be the best choice. This is because Goodyear prioritizes performance and safety over looks. But despite being a quite aggressive-looking tire, you can install a set on an SUV without making it look too bulky. This way, you will drive on muddy roads with confidence and you won’t feel bad when you get on the highway either.
The price of a Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Tire is pretty good, especially taking into consideration its durability and performance. This makes safe driving available to anyone. And the great mileage makes them a must-have.
Features
The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Traction Radial Tire features TractiveGroove Technology, which offers it an incredible performance on muddy roads. The tire is made from a high-quality compound that is specifically designed for both pavement and mud. Goodyear made this set of tires specifically for SUVs that spend an equal amount of time off-road and on city roads. But it can also be equipped on different vehicles.
Thanks to the deep tread blocks, these tires are capable of handling deep mud and get you safely to your destination. The shoulder blocks are designed with a self-cleaning feature that has the job of providing the best traction possible. Your SUV will go smoothly on gravel, dirt, or mud without causing you any problems. This is because no matter how deep or thick the mud is, it won’t stick to the tires.
With the highly angled center tread blocks, you will also benefit from enhanced traction on the pavement as well. The lateral stability will also play a big role in keeping the road noise as low as possible. But since these tires are designed for country roads as well, you will have to get used to a bit of inconvenient noise while driving on the highway. By improving the performance on highways, this tire would have to compromise a lot on the off-road capabilities. This set of tires combines the best of both worlds.
Thanks to the Mountain Snowflake Symbol Designation sign, you can drive on snow-covered roads with confidence. These tires can offer outstanding winter traction as long as the snow is not thicker than 2 inches. If it is, the most responsible thing to do is to invest in snow chains. These tires also have a rim protector that protects the wheels from accidental curb damage.
Pros
- Easy to Equip on any SUV
- High-End Quality
- Rim Protector
- Excellent Traction
- TractiveGroove Technology
- Self-Cleaning Shoulder Blocks
- Mountain Snowflake Symbol Designation
Cons
- None
2 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 All-Season Radial Tire
Description
Buy on Amazon!The BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 All-Season Radial Tire is made with a high-end quality compound and is designed for harsher road conditions. While it does a good job on pavement, it does a lot better on both muddy roads and areas that require tires made for climbing. They’re designed for people that live in the city but drive off-road a lot.
This makes them excellent for people that work outside the city or love using their SUV for traveling. It doesn’t matter what you’ll encounter on your journey as this set of tires is made to help you out of any situation. And the best thing about these tires is the fact that they’re not very aggressive-looking, which means they look great on any car.
BFGoodrich is a company from the U.S.A. that was originally a part of the industrial conglomerate Goodrich Corporation. In 1990 it was acquired by Michelin and is now still one of the best American tire manufacturers in the industry. BFGoodrich tires are known to have been fitted for a few historical vehicles as well. This gives them the expertise they need to always make some of the best tires on the market. They have gained the trust and respect of millions of people all over the world, but especially in the U.S.A.
Each tire weighs around 6 pounds and it works great on cruisers, street bikes, and most cars made for adventure touring. The width of the section is 10 inches and the rim diameter is 14 inches. This radial tire has a Q speed rating and the tread depth is 18 32nds. You will be able to easily drive through areas that require a lot of traction and durability.
Features
The BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 All-Season Radial Tire features a terrain-attack tread design. This means that it’s made of a high-quality compound and a tread block design that is very well-thought. The tread blocks are quite massive and have the capability to deliver an incredible grip from any approach angle. You’ll be able to power through loose soil and mud without any worries.
Thanks to the self-cleaning shoulder design, these tires will drive on muddy roads effortlessly. The design stops the mud and debris buildup and prevents to wheel from spinning in place. But you should keep in mind that the load capacity is 1557.0 pounds. If you load something heavier you will have problems on the road. Make sure this limit is enough for you before buying the tires.
With the extra-durable sidewalls, these tires are also capable of resisting most punctures. You can never know what might be inside the mud you’re driving on. But these tires can withstand cuts from broken pieces of glass, thorns, sharp rocks, etc. The side walls are made to make sure you’re never stuck in the middle of nowhere with a tire that needs to be changed immediately.
The BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 All-Season Radial Tires are built to climb as well. This is actually why you might confuse them with all-terrain tires. While they excel on muddy and rocky roads, there are still lots of areas these tires can’t be used in. On the other hand, these tires are all-season, which means they can be used on roads with light snow as well.
For climbing, these tires are made with advanced UTV-specific tread compounds, which help increase grip on slick and rocky surfaces.
Pros
- Easy to Install
- Long-Lasting
- High-Quality Materials
- Massive Thread Blocks
- Great Grip in All Conditions
- Built to Climb Tough Terrain
Cons
- Since it’s designed to excel on rocky roads as well, the capabilities to drive on muddy areas have been slightly compromised.
3 Toyo Open Country All-Terrain Radial Tire
Description
Buy on Amazon!The Toyo Open Country All-Terrain Radial Tire is the last one on our Good Mud Tires for SUV – Top 3, but the quality is pretty remarkable. This is a tire made with lots of care and consideration so it can excel on muddy roads as much as on pavement. It’s a very balanced model that is the perfect match for drivers that spend an equal amount of time on city roads and country roads. Unfortunately, this also means that its mud performance is slightly lower than our first two picks. But the tire compensates when it comes to on-road comfort and reduced road noise.
The more aggressive tires are, the less time they resist on the pavement. This is why the time you spend off-road is very important when it comes to choosing the best tire for your driving habits. A set of the best tires might be perfect for your friend and a nightmare for you simply because you drive different roads. While the performance is not the best in neither condition, it offers a safe ride no matter where you go.
Toyo Tire Corporation is a Japanese tire and rubber manufacturer. That was founded in 1945, and in 1966 it extended to the U.S.A. The company focuses on manufacturing and marketing a wide range of car tires, industrial rubber, and other similar products.
They continuously try to offer the best quality possible, which is why they are still a leader in the industry. There are hundreds of thousands of drivers all over the world that respect Toyo for their reliable products.
These tires are pretty aggressive-looking, which is why you might hesitate to invest in them at first. But this is all because making tires that look like performance models will put your life at risk on dangerous roads.
Features
The Toyo Open Country All-Terrain Radial Tire is designed to work as best as it can on any road. This means that while it won’t excel on any type of surface, it can offer secure support no matter where you go. More than that, it has a pretty impressive treadwear lifespan.
Unfortunately, its ability to work on various roads forces it to give up some key features that would make it excel in various conditions. More than that, it can only be used on any road as long as the conditions are light. This means that you can use them to drive on light snow, light mud, not very aggressive rocks, pavement, etc. It’s the perfect tire for car owners that are looking for long life and decent performance wherever they go.
Thanks to the Open Country R/T-inspired design, these tires are built as rugged as possible to withstand any terrain. It’s a perfect fit for most SUVs that need 4×4 tires. The off-road traction is pretty good as you can easily notice from the slightly aggressive styling. And the durable construction helps you save money as well since you won’t have to replace them too often.
With the Open Country A/T II-inspired features, you will also benefit from a pretty quiet ride as well. They’re made to be as comfortable to ride on pavement as possible without causing the well-known annoying tire noises. And the 3-ply Polyester construction offers great impact resistance and enhanced handling capabilities.
These tires also offer customization with a pretty distinct look on both sides of each tire. The grip on sandy, muddy, and snowy roads is very reliable as the tire ejects the mud and snow through the open channels.
Pros
- Easy to Install
- Durable Construction
- Offers On-Road Comfort
- Optimized Pattern Arrangement
- Has a 3-Ply Polyester Construction
- Excellent Durability, Resistance, and Handling
Cons
- Mediocre Performance on any Road
Conclusion
Finding the best mud tires for an SUV can be a bit difficult as many people don’t take into consideration the amount of time they spend off-road. This is why we included a wide range of mud tires in this list. This way, you will be able to find the ideal set of tires regardless if you spend most of the time on pavement, off-road, or an equal amount on city and country roads. All the sets included in this list are high-end quality and designed with safety and long tread lifespan in mind.
