The Best Mud Tires For Your Next Trek Into the Wild

The Drive will always strive to deliver informative, honest takes but we understand it’s not always feasible to source every tire to test in every condition. That’s why we work hard to pair thorough research with our real-life experiences to deliver concise takes. Beyond that, expert opinions and consumer reviews alike from tire geek encyclopedias such as Tire Rack and Discount Tire continuously expand our knowledge with objective test results and real-world ownership stories. Only tires with extensive reported use across a plethora of conditions will be taken into consideration as we strongly prefer those with a trusted history to one day grace your adventure vehicle. For more details on how we compose our buyer’s guides and product reviews, you can check out this link.

And that wraps up our list of apocalypse-ready rubber. The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 scores Best Overall for bulletproof construction, refined road manners, and generally strong off-road abilities. The General Grabber X3 slips in at Best Value for putting up a stiff fight against premium brands plus a little added extra at a relative bargain. Toyo’s Open Country M/T is an Honorable Mention worth considering for its long life, road manners, and proven capabilities. 

Like any tire focused on specific disciplines, there are plenty of variables that affect how well it carries out the tasks on its to-do list. Nearly all mud tires share a common goal and often fall under a single classification, but some may be friendlier highway cruisers while others can be especially talented in mud or snow. Tread patterns can alter the perceived road noise while bulletproof sidewalls could knock a few fillings out. There are many tidbits to a mud tire that contribute to the overall experience, so here are a few things worth looking into.

Compared to road tires or all-terrain tires, mud tires will often have the most aggressive and “jagged” designs with large, angular tread blocks spaced relatively far apart. Tread patterns will be formed to properly grab at mud, sand, and rock faces. The void in between will typically be wide and filled with stone and mud ejectors to aid in evacuating foreign material which may otherwise get stuck in the tread. 

The end result is the most focused, highest-performing tire when escorted far from civilization, but be prepared for a symphony of road noise. Mud tires are almost never quiet, and your tread will determine if road noise is a tolerable hum or a raucous howl. Some premium brands do admirable jobs of countering road noise without sacrificing performance, so do your research if you’re interested in a specific model.

Compared to less focused rubber, mud tires will feature some of the strongest sidewall construction in the industry. They need the Superman-levels of invincibility to accommodate drivers who air down on harsh trails or those who frequently rub rubber with some nasty-looking boulders. 3-ply construction is common, but some models, while less common, may feature more.

An increasingly common trend on off-road tires in general, unique materials such as kevlar may be employed to improve a sidewall’s resistance to damage. The upper region near the shoulder will also sport unique “lugs” extending down from the tread blocks. Referred to as sidewall protection lugs or deflection ribs, these not only assist in traction on loose surfaces but also in repelling external objects that may cause damage.

It should be noted that mud tires come sized in two styles of measurements. There is the method most typically associated with passenger car tires which measure the width in millimeters, sidewall in aspect ratio, and wheel diameter in inches (i.e. LT255/65/R17). Then there is the method more commonly used for beefy off-road rubber which measures everything in inches. The total diameter of the tire will be measured in inches as is width and wheel diameter (i.e. 35x10R17LT). The letter before the wheel diameter denotes speed rating, and “LT” stands for “light truck.” 

The alternate method of tire measurement came about to help enthusiasts ensure their measurements were just right for their application. Having simple measurements means that a buyer can take those numbers and ensure that the tire will fit inside the wheel well in both height and width.

Mud tires will often ring the counter at higher price tags due to the technologies employed and the vast amount of material poured into each tire. Models at the lower end of the price spectrum in their smallest sizes will hover around $900 to $1,100 for a set of four or roughly $225 to $275 per tire. At the premium end with beefier fitments, expect to see prices range between $1,300 to over $1,700 for a set. The General Grabber X3, our Best Value pick can be sourced for anywhere between $1,100 to $1,500 when looking at various sizes of 33-inch and 35-inch tires.

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