The Best Mud Tires: Be Ready For Your Next Trek Into the Wild
Let us guide you through some of the best dirt-kickin’, mud-slingin’, rootin’-tootin’, adventure donuts that money can buy.
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If you enjoy off-roading, you need a good set of tires. The best mud terrain tires have big, chunky tread patterns that allow you to plow through deep mud or snow, and even scramble over some rocks. Our buying guide will help you select the best mudding tires for your truck, Jeep, or SUV.
“Mud tires” just sounds epic to say, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want a set of angry, crush-anything-in-your-path tires to tear up the trails in the nearby backwoods? One of the most versatile species of tires, mud terrain tires, or simply “mud tires,” are a hyper-aggressive breed suited to catering to all your post-apocalyptic overland fantasies. There’s plenty to choose from, so it’s important to make the right decision for you. Fortunately, we can help with that.
Enter The Drive’s buyer’s guide to the best mud tires for your next journey down the roads less traveled. It can be hard to jump on that perfect pick simply by browsing the parking lot at your local Bass Pro Shops, but we have you covered. Our blend of personal knowledge, customer feedback, and professional assessments have allowed us to curate this tool to walk you through a crowded and colorful market. So take a peek and happy shopping!
BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3
- Wonderfully rounded hero
- Good steering feel and response
- Admirable on-road refinement
- Tough-as-nails construction
- Ho-hum snow traction
- Slightly lags behind rivals on wet roads
General Grabber X3
- Strong pricepoint
- Strong overall off-road performance
- Class-leading wet traction
- Decent winter traction
- One of the noisier choices
- Tendency to vibrate with difficulties balancing
- Somewhat loose steering feel
Toyo Open Country M/T
- Reportedly easy to balance
- Great highway manners
- Well-rounded off-road performance
- Reportedly long tread life
- More prone to cracking in harsh weather
- Not the best traction in deep mud
Summary List
- Best Overall: BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3
- Best Value: General Grabber X3
- Honorable Mention: Toyo Open Country M/T
- Best Winter-Capable Mud Tire: Firestone Destination M/T2
- Best for Smaller Trucks/SUVs: Goodyear Wrangler MT/R With Kevlar
- Best For Rally-Style Passenger Cars: Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail
Our Methodology
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 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.
Best Mud Tires Reviews & Recommendations
Arguably the best all-arounder on this list, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 has consistently proven itself to be a real champion placing top marks on many dream sheets. It’s frequently cited for having a relatively quiet, stable, and comfortable street experience. In the hands of owners, they’ve performed exceedingly well in nearly every environment including sand, mud, and rocks on weekend jaunts and overland excursions. Dense sidewalls greatly resist tearing, a massive plus for consumers who enjoy deflating them down to tank treads and have reported no issues. The Traction-Armor Sidewall Sculpture works to prevent external hazards from also harming the tire, and the treads are riddled with stone ejectors and “mud-phobic” bars to expel foreign material from the tread blocks.
If there are any faults to be had, it could be that wet traction is reportedly good but not great. Cornering grip and hydroplaning resistance trail a few rivals by a smidge. Snow traction is reportedly only OK. These will work in deep, loose snow or a light layer, but many consumer reviews explicitly warn potential buyers to steer clear of ice and hard-packed snow; accounts have ranged from “a little sketchy” to “barely passable.”
Specs
- Manufacturer: BFGoodrich
- Recommended Vehicles: light-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, full-size SUVs, Jeeps
- Speed Rating: R
Pros
Wonderfully rounded hero
Good steering feel and response
Admirable on-road refinement
Tough-as-nails construction
Cons
Ho-hum snow traction
Slightly lags behind rivals on wet roads
Trading blows with industry giants, the General Grabber X3 holds its own with admirable comfort and composure on pavement plus stellar performance off the beaten path. Tire Rack testers have applauded its class-leading wet traction during their instrumented tests as well as its decent snow traction which was a level above some premium rivals. General’s DURAGEN 3-ply construction and sidewall protection lugs reinforce the rubber to create a robust, reliable tire out on the trail. It delivers it all at a great price point which, while not the lowest on this list, is quite alluring given its capabilities. The performance-per-dollar factor sets this apart as our Best Value pick.
Just know that it’s one of the nosier choices on this list. It’s as expected of such an aggressive breed of tire, but there are a few that can do the same job quieter. Testers have noted a somewhat loose steering feel on the pavement, and a handful of owners have repeatedly reported issues with balancing which have resulted in noticeable vibration on the freeway.
Specs
- Manufacturer: General Tire
- Recommended Vehicles: light-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, full-size SUVs, Jeeps
- Speed Rating: R
Pros
Strong pricepoint
Strong overall off-road performance
Class-leading wet traction
Decent winter traction
Cons
One of the noisier choices
Tendency to vibrate with difficulties balancing
Somewhat loose steering feel
A popular choice for a reason, Toyo’s Open Country M/T stands atop the company’s range as the most aggressive and capable tire in its Open Country lineup without sacrificing too much on the street. Consumers regularly report on its ease of alignment and commendable highway manners. Decent comfort and noticeable yet unobtrusive noise are recurring comments. A big plus for those who frequent trips to the moon and back, tread life is long with many consumers reportedly achieving 50,000 to 70,000 miles. An F-150 owner had even managed to achieve 90,000 (although we always advise monitoring your specific set’s wear and changing accordingly).
The tire gods give and the tire gods taketh away, however, and the Open Country’s construction isn’t quite up to snuff with others on this list. A small number have noted a tendency to crack when exposed to harsh weather or direct sun thus contradicting Toyo’s claims of stout build quality with their polyester construction. Ironically, while off-road performance is excellent in everything from sand to snow, the treads reportedly clog up with mud too easily making deep mud bogging a chore.
Specs
- Manufacturer: Toyo Tires
- Recommended Vehicles: light-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, full-size SUVs, Jeeps
- Speed Rating: R
Pros
Reportedly easy to balance
Great highway manners
Well-rounded off-road performance
Reportedly long tread life
Cons
More prone to cracking in harsh weather
Not the best traction in deep mud
Extremely limited sizes
Standing out amongst the premium brands is Firestone’s Destination M/T2. While not the most refined option on this list, it does come priced a smidge below the General Grabber X3 while delivering long tread life and admirable steering feel and response. Off-road performance is stout like its rivals with reportedly no issues traversing mud, dirt, and even clay in one owner’s experience. What especially shines with the Firestone is its dominant winter test results in the hands of Tire Rack staff with best-in-class acceleration, braking, and handling. One Jeep Cherokee owner described their winter experience as if the snow wasn’t even there.
You get what you pay for with such an affordable tire, however, and the Firestone does have some standout drawbacks. It’s noisier than some premium brands’ mud tires and exhibits a slightly firmer ride quality on the pavement. In Tire Rack’s road tests, they noted the overall experience wasn’t as refined and cornering grip trailed the other test subjects.
Specs
- Manufacturer: Firestone
- Recommended Vehicles: light-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, full-size SUVs, Jeeps
- Speed Rating: R
Pros
Stellar value
Class-leading winter traction
Reportedly long tread life
Good steering feel and response
Cons
Somewhat firm ride
More noticeable road noise
Not as refined or grippy on pavement
One of the older designs on this list, the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R With Kevlar has continuously satisfied off-road enthusiasts with great performance and a lovably fearsome appearance. The use of kevlar, the same material found in body armor, improves resistance to tearing and puncturing by 35 percent, according to Goodyear. Professionals and consumers alike share in admiration for its performance on many terrains including rocks, sand, and especially mud with owners citing unwavering traction at all times and testers reporting no issues crawling out of deep ruts. Sizing is what sets this tire apart on this list and can range from a girthy 37-inch tire for 20-inch wheels all the way down to an LT235/85/R16.
It seems just about perfect if you can withstand a stiff, noisy ride. Thanks to the aggressive tread pattern and rock-solid sidewall construction. They’ll make you a hero on the trail, but they won’t fare that well on the highway cruise home. Owners wouldn't call them deal breakers, but just know there are more refined options out there.
Specs
- Manufacturer: Goodyear
- Recommended Vehicles: mid-size trucks, light-duty trucks, SUVs, Jeeps
- Speed Rating: R
Pros
Broad size range for smaller wheels
Stellar off-road abilities especially in mud
Strong construction
Distinctive looks
Cons
Stiff ride
Noisier than others
Ain’t this a wildcard category, huh? Marketed at SUVs but incredibly popular with crossovers and wannabe rally cars, Falken’s Wildpeak A/T Trail exudes big off-road vibes in a smaller package. No, you probably won’t conquer Hell’s Gate without a seriously impressive rig, but it’ll surely inspire confidence nearly anywhere you take it. Tire Rack testers lauded the on-road refinement with stellar noise levels and steering precision. It even posted strong objective results when pushed at their track — because that’s totally what you do with lifted Miatas and Safari Porsches. Owners were equally cheering the quiet operation and eager traction on most surfaces including rocks and mud.
Most shortcomings are a bit obvious, at least among this crowd. Don’t even bother searching for a set for your Giga Chad-sized truck as these tires don’t cater to them. Exercise caution in the snow as well. While it’s thankfully winter-rated with the three-peak mountain snowflake badge, snow traction is merely adequate for its field. It’ll certainly outgun most traditional mud tires, but don’t expect a true set of winter rubber out of these.
Specs
- Manufacturer: Falken
- Recommended Vehicles: compact crossovers, mid-size crossovers, SUVs
- Speed Rating: R
Pros
Best road manners here
Commendable off-road traction even for this list
Among the lowest-priced options
Winter-rated (3PMSF)
Cons
Not a true mud bogger
Sized mainly for cars, crossovers, and small SUVs
Our Verdict on the Best Mud Tires
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.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
Q: Can mud tires be driven in the snow?
A: It depends, but you generally shouldn’t. In fact, mud tires can often be worse in the snow than all-terrains as their thick tread blocks can easily clog with snow. Their tough rubber compounds are susceptible to hardening, and they often lack the siping to evacuate moisture and grab at the snow.
Q: Are mud tires noisy in everyday use?
A: It depends, but you generally shouldn’t. In fact, mud tires can often be worse in the snow than all-terrains as their thick tread blocks can easily clog with snow. Their tough rubber compounds are susceptible to hardening, and they often lack the siping to evacuate moisture and grab at the snow.
Q: How long can mud tires last?
A: Due to their aggressive tread patterns and presumably abusive lifestyles, expect most mud tires to safely last between 30,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on use case and vehicle. More resilient models can go upwards of 50,000 to 70,000 miles, but always monitor your own tires’ wear and change accordingly.
Q: Can I tow or haul with mud tires?
A: Yes, you absolutely can. How much you can is a matter of load range. Which tires are the best? We can’t necessarily say as load range and max air pressure can vary down to the size of tire selected, and figures can fluctuate by hundreds of pounds and tens of PSI within a single range.
Q: How much should I expect to pay for mud tires?
A: 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.
Q: What should I consider when buying mud tires?
A: 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.
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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