If you’re looking to go mudding this season or just need a durable work tire you’ll definitely need a solid mud-terrain tire. It can be time consuming sorting through endless catalogs of tires so we’ve compiled a top 10 list to help save you some time.
Mud terrain tires are specially designed to give four-wheel-drive (FWD) trucks, and SUVs good performance on loose surface and muddy roads. This is a unique tire because most tires will not be able to cope in these conditions. Mud terrain tires and larger and they come with extra reinforcements to prevent wheels from sinking when the ground is mushy.
Many people are deciding towards SUVs nowadays because of how practical they are. And as much as they are several other applicable vehicles, the tires are specially designed to work on slippery and harsh surfaces. Because modern SUVs are now much more powerful than before, the best mud tires for street should be completely safe to drive in dry and wet conditions, have a right level of traction and grip, as well as proper braking performance, as that is necessary. It should also be comfortable over bumps, and quiet enough for driving on the highway.
If you are looking for the best mud tires for your truck, you have come to the right place because we have taken time to list out the best mud tires that are available in the market. These mud terrain tires are the best for large vehicles and they provide the best comfort for driving conditions.
Table of Contents
Our Picks: Best Mud Tires in 2021
Nitto Trail Grappler M/T
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- Sidewall designed to add tread life to tires
- Unique siping to increase hydroplaning resistance
- Tread block reduce noise
Pros
- Excellent off-road performance
- Reduced noise on terrain
- Lower rolling resistance
- It has an excellent cornering grip at high speeds
Cons
- Sub-standard wet road performance
With a tough 3/ply construction and aggressive good looks, driving in the mud is a lot of fun on this Trail Grappler M/T. this tire goes through it all and keeps you in total control, and this is why drivers enjoy driving their trucks out for a day on the trails and river beds. Driving on this tire gives a pleasant and quiet experience.
The tires are programmed to combine some of the performance of its on-road comfort of the terra grappler with the off-road mud grappler tire with them. This combination is meant to allow drivers to take their trucks out on any terrain, while providing stability and a quiet ride.
This tire is an excellent mud terrain performer, it can overcome challenges that happen while driving on muddy roads while allowing responsive steering and stability. And this makes them a worthy choice to include in our list of best mud terrain tires.
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- This tire is built for debris blocking to increase tread life
- Tread design reduces the noise output
- Absorbs shoulder blocks to improve road traction
Pros
- Excellent off-road performance
- Noise output is low creating a good driving experience
- Design is aesthetically pleasing
Cons
- Noise can be an issue for some
These tires deliver exceptional off-traction and performance, yet it provides a smooth and comfortable ride. This tire is made for extreme off road driving conditions. Comes with a nice read design that will warrant second glances, this tire is ideal for trucks that are about to tackle muddy landscapes. For a mud terrain tire, these tires perform very well in dirt, over rocks, through mud and snow.
The tires come with a 3-Ply Armor-Tek3 for an extra layer of protection in the casing and under the tread. It has extra reinforcements to handle heavy duty trucks with brilliant performance on the harshest terrains.
BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A Km2
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- Long lasting tread life that allows tire to self-clean
- The sidewall design protects the tire from damage
- It comes with two steel belts and nylon cap ply that provides long-lasting quality
Pros
- Tire is very durable
- It has exceptional off-road performance
- Great handling on dry roads
Cons
- Expensive
These mud tires are the best tires sold today, it is specifically designed to provide excellent grip and handling in loose soil. It is built to withstand everything it withstands. This tire provides good marks for wet roads and snow handling as well. Tread life lasts long which makes it an excellent choice.
Tread wear on mud terrain tires vary depending on the driving conditions, vehicle set-up, driving style, and other factors. An averagely used vehicle should last for about 40,000 miles of both off-road and on-road driving. Mud terrain tires have softer rubber compounds, giving better grip to any surface. This is why they cost more and wear faster than a standard all-terrain tire.
Toyo Open Country M/T
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- It has tread blocks that are designed for better traction
- It comes with a 3 ply polyester construction for better durability
- Siping escalates navigating response in wet conditions
Pros
- It has exceptional traction on dry and muddy surfaces
- Tire performs well on wet and dry surfaces
Cons
- Durability of the tread wear is a concern
This mud tire has a three-ply sidewall and scalloped lugs for added protection and excellent traction. It is optimized to reduce road noise and that is why it is one of the quietest MT tires. It enters the list of the best mud terrain tires, with a design that matches the driving needs of a driver, along with the traction and grip requirements of a driver with a flair for off-road driving.
Cooper Discoverer MTP
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- The shoulders are big to allow improved handling and traction
- It has sipes that increases its wet road traction
- It has grooves that allow better handling and responsiveness on mud
Pros
- Its traction is excellent on rugged surfaces
- It has a sturdy and durable design
- It delivers good performance in light snowy conditions
Cons
- The tires produces more noise at high speed
Cooper have built the Discoverer MTP for some years now and made it available in the market. Despite only being a few years into the market, it has attained a top spot as one of the best tires you can put on your vehicle. The reason for this is the high level of durability Cooper ensures in its tires, so it could last the distance.
Cooper MTP is available for heavy-duty usage on every kind of rough topography. Cooper utilized the latest engineering for the Cooper MT to deliver top off-road driving while it maintains a good level for on-road performance. It is also more budget-friendly than a lot of the top tires in its class, making it offer more value than most.
Firestone Destination M/T2
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- It has more biting edges that increases snow traction
- Its debris and mud ejectors increases the tire tread life
- It has sidewalls that protects the tire from getting damaged
Pros
- It delivers a good level of stability and handling on all types of surfaces
- Driving with the tire on highways and straight roads is quite comfortable
Cons
- It can get noisy with time
The Firestone Destination M/T2 makes the list of best mud tires as a result of its outstanding performance on and off-road. It finally updated the Destination M/T2 in 2017 after 15 years with the previous
The Destination M/T2 is a top mud tire due to its ability in tackling the road issues and delivering a lovely driving experience. This tire has a good tread block pattern that enables it to get a strong grip on every type of surface.
The snow and mud traction is excellent, and the tire is as clean as any tire in its category. It offers on- road comfort and it delivers a good drivability. The tread life is longer than expected and this makes the tire a top contender for drivers that need to buy MT Tires.
Fierce Attitude MT
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- Its tread aids traction on mud terrains
- The rim protector protects the rim from getting damaged
- Its shoulder blocks increases the grip on all terrains
Pros
- It has excellent traction on mud surfaces and dry roads
- It produces a low level of tire noise
Cons
- It doesn’t have good protection for debris accumulation with a lot of driving
The Fierce Attitude MT might be unknown to a number of drivers, but it offers a great off-road performance in muddy terrain and it comes at a cost lower than a lot of tires in its class.
The Fierce Attitude MT is a mud terrain tire that has a beautiful and aggressive tread. And it handles the mud terrain with a lot of ease. It has good steering responsiveness for dry roads and the handling is nice.
It has a 3-ply sidewall, a tread design, and a staggered shoulder block which raises its ability on all kinds of terrain. It does this while alternating lugs and having added sipes that provide excellent on-road traction.
Pro Comp Xtreme MT2 Radial
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- It has sipes that improves handling on wet terrains
- It has a block design that enables better braking ability
- It has sidewall that prevents tire damage and increases tread life
Pros
- It delivers phenomenal performance on wobbly soil and slippery surfaces
- Comfortable driving on dry road
- Solid and durable build quality
Cons
- Produces a lot of tire noise
The Xtreme MT2 is one of the best off-road tires that Pro Comp have produced in their tough lineup. On the sidewall, it has a tri-ply construction that delivers outstanding puncture protection. It also has scalloped shoulder blocks that dig into mud, dirt, and rock for improved traction. It has added silica and a two-step block for increased braking and stability. On the highway, the Xtreme MT2 feels right home and it has a 40,000-mile tread warranty.
Pro Comp justifies the price of the Xtreme MT2 through the design made for enhancing performance in your pickup trucks and SUVs. It can take huge loads and deliver equipment and goods for long distances on muddy roads and rocky surfaces that will destroy an average tire.
Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ Radial
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- Sharp edges for more grasp and tire protection
- Improved construction to provide better mileage
- Blocks designed to provide for more traction in mud and snow
Pros
- Unique off-road capabilities
- Excellent performance on light snow surfaces
- Satisfying driving experience on dry roads
Cons
- Tires become noisy over time
This tire has a unique Power Ply sidewalls with a third angled ply that prevents punctures, it offers good off road capabilities with the ability to drive through mud and rocky terrain. It also gives it increased handling and pulling power. The radial tire construction provides a smoother ride.
Several reviews have covered a lot of the best light truck tires the brand has produced. The designs have been said to be among the best truck tires in the market, they are fuel efficient, which is a bonus. Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels opened its ultramodern headquarters and warehouse in September. The street, strip and off-road tires and wheels are made out of the company’s facility in Stow, Ohio.
Best Mud Tires: Buying Guide
Why should you buy Mud Tires?
Stone and mud ejectors
In order to preserve the biting edges and safeguard it against off-road junk tread, mud tires add new technology to clear fragments out of the tread. Mud ejectors are set within the tread spaces to expel remains that lodges itself between the tread blocks. Other mud terrain tires make the most out of the spaces to allow mud, dirt, and rocks to escape.
Aggressive tread pattern and important tread blocks
Mud tires generally have significant tread depth, which helps to form the great “biting edges” of the blocks. There is no question that tread design is an important part of the best mud tire equation, mud tire technology is much more than an aggressive tread and solid tread blocks.
The aggressive tread of a mud tire is evident in its effort to effectively develop grip where normal tires cannot. And even though the tread patterns and tread designs of the mud tires vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, they are all aggressive.
Sidewall lugs and tread
The unique characteristic of these tires include the extension of the tread onto the sidewall and aggressive tires. Some best mud tires make use of the upper sidewall of the tire to offer additional traction. Sidewall lugs fund additional edges to horizontally grab onto the terrain.
Chip, cut and puncture resistance
To optimize tire performance, highly engineered and targeted tread compounds are used to make tire types, ranging from winter tires to road racing slicks. Mud tire compounds are in the same way custom-built to create off-road performance and sturdiness. The surface layer tread compound of mud tires was created with durability in mind. Cut, chip, and puncture resistance is capitalized on to guard against off-road hazards.
Multiple ply layer construction
The strong sidewall that comes with this tire allows it to air down, whilst running on off-road conditions where it’s beneficial to do so. Mud tires usually have a 3-ply sidewall construction, and this creates a level of puncture protection. Another good advantage of the sidewall is high load range/ply rating, with massive hauling and towing capacity.
Some mud tires however, like the Toyo Open Country M/T offer in select sizes up to a 12-ply rating. There are also all-terrain tires with high ply ratings, like the Nitto Ridge Grappler and the Toyo Open Country A/T II Xtreme.
Mud Tire Limitations
Generally, mud tires don’t offer the same level of wet road traction and hydroplaning resistance as street-focused tires. The off-road orientation makes mud tires compromise on-road, especially in some road conditions.
The tread blocks and biting edges are of great advantage in deep snow, mud tires aren’t in their best in snowy, or icy winter road conditions. Mud tires are first and foremost off-road instruments and have evolved over the decades to become more street- friendly, and have come a long way from their natural roots in terms of on-road manners.
There are several things you should look for when choosing the best mud tires that are right for your vehicle:
What to look for in a Mud Tire
Aggressive tread pattern
Generally, mud tires can range from 6- to 10-ply in tread thickness, and the deeper the tread, the less likely you will be to get stuck or experience punctures. Getting a mud tire with an aggressive wall pattern will provide you with the best grip on slick zones.
Sidewalls
You want to consider the thickest sidewall as possible, ideally 3-ply or more.
Shoulder tread
This is important on a mud tire, it helps protect the tire and give you a wider grip on the ground when you are going off-road. It also helps maintain control while turning.
Overall construction
Compared to typical all-terrain tires, mud tires are usually made in a bias-ply construction which have a radial construction. When the terrain gets rough, bias-ply construction gives your tires more flexibility and road traction.
Types of Mud Tires
Heavy-Duty Mud Tires
Mud tires are also known as mud-terrain tires, and are built for off-road terrain. Off-road tires have an aggressive tread pattern with large tread blocks to grip surfaces that other tires usually will not. Standard truck and SUV tires have some off-road performance ability but are largely designed for use on the street. Their important tread depth creates powerful “biting edges,” and they often include embedded mud and snow ejectors. They’re designed for crawling, rock crawling, and other tough conditions.
Street-Focused Mud Tires
Hardcore mud tires are specially designed for rough surfaces, and while some brands have all-terrain functions, it allows them to be used on-road and off-road. You should consider finding the best mud-terrain for highways if you plan on driving on the pavement. It is a popular choice with off-road drivers also. It is a great choice for people living in rural areas and need dependable road traction all year round inclusive of ice and snow.
FAQs
What are mud-terrain tires?
Mud-terrain tires have aggressive, heavy blocked tread made for off-road use in rocks, deep mud, and uneven terrain. These tires come in large sizes with strengthened heavy-duty construction.
What kind of drivers use mud-terrain tires?
Drivers who use mud-terrain tires vary from off-road fanatics to drivers who want a more aggressive tire for a cosmetic look.
Can mud-terrain tires be driven on the street?
Yes. Mud terrain tires are legal for driving on the street and are safe for street driving and at high speed on the highway.
How long do mud-terrain tires last?
Mud terrain tires have a varying treadwear that is dependent on driving conditions, driving style, vehicle set-up and several other factors. The average tread life of a mud tire is about 40,000 miles for street and off-road driving.
What are the disadvantages of using aggressive mud-terrain tires?
Notably, mud tires have more tread patterns and they make more noise on the road when compared to highway street tires or all-terrain tires. A lot of mud terrain tires make use of heavy-duty designs that include numerous and thicker sidewall ply’s. As much as this increases resistance to abrasion, the reinforcement allows a firm ride. The large tread patterns of a lot of these tires do not have smaller sized sipes and tread that are required for good snow and ice traction. Due to this, you get better ice and snow traction from dedicated winter tires and all-terrain tires.