Best UTV Tires: Ride and Haul With Confidence

To choose the best UTV tires for every kind of utility driving need, I took a look at the array of different UTV-specific tires available. I focused on tires from the top UTV and tire brands, including BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Kenda. From there, I sought out tires that were highly rated by users, with plenty of positive remarks from those who’ve put them to use out in the field. I looked for tires with various ply levels, from four to eight-ply, as well as those that could adapt to all types of terrain. My top picks are those that are low-maintenance, highly reliable, and long-lasting both in their tread and their consistent performance. 

If you’re looking for the best of the best for all-around performance, the BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 UTV Tire can provide everything you’re looking for. While it’s designed for mud, this tire performs well even when you’re driving over rocks, roots, and wet or slick road surfaces. Another alternative with great value for its price is the Sedona Coyote UTV Tire, which is a strong contender thanks to its high-tech tire design cues and biting tread pattern. 

Before you invest in any set of UTV tires, it’s important to do your research. By taking the following details into consideration and comparing different tire options, you can confidently settle on a set that works for your needs, your commonly-driven routes, and whatever you might be hauling. 

All-terrain tires are as straightforward as they sound: They’re designed to ride on all types of terrain. These all-around UTV tires are a great option if you want versatility and flexibility, as you’ll never really have to worry about riding over loose dirt or paved roads. They’ll even perform in various types of weather, from snow to mud to slick, rainy surfaces. All-terrain tires are also built with durable sidewalls that are prepared for puncture possibilities like sticks and rocks. However, with all of their benefits, all-terrain UTV tires can be a little less than ideal on specific surfaces. For example, using all-terrain tires on sand or softer surfaces can lead to lessened performance. 

If you’re frequently riding through mud and soft dirt, you may want to opt for mud tires. Featuring tall, aggressive tread blocks that can claw into soft roads, these are the tires you’ll want to rely on if you’re worried about getting stuck. They’ll move your UTV easily, evacuating whatever sticky substances lie in your path. They can grip, hook, and allow mud to slip away. As an added bonus, many mud UTV tires are 6-ply, which gives them a little extra rubber thickness.

If sand is the most common terrain you traverse in your UTV, then you’re going to want to choose sand tires. Made specifically for rolling over sand, these tires will prevent you and your UTV from sinking – and getting stuck – in soft, always-moving sand. Constructed with a paddle-like design, they propel UTVs forward and “float” on top of sand with a lighter-than-usual build and few tread blocks, if any.

A little general purpose, a little specialized, hard pack UTV tires (which are also called dual sport tires) are similar to your typical off-road tire found on crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. They feature similar tread patterns and are often made at either 8- or 10-ply for added ruggedness and reliability. They bite into unpredictable terrain and can handle water evacuation thanks to their wide channels. Overall, hard-pack tires have great grip. However, unlike all-terrain tires, many hard pack options are actually DOT-rated and legal for street or highway use. 

You’ve got to make sure you’re riding on the correct tire size when behind the wheel of your UTV. Tire size can affect everything from your traction to your speed to your vehicle’s center of gravity, and even an inch or two can throw you off. Make sure you check your owner’s manual or current tires for the proper size and fit, and keep your new set of tires at that same size. 

Your UTV needs to have tough, grippy tread no matter what type of tire you opt for. However, tread patterns and block sizing can vary depending on whether you’re choosing sand tires, mud tires, or all-terrain tires (or any other variation). Think about the terrain you’ll be driving over most often, and the kinds of terrain your tires are designed for, and consider the tread design and pattern. Wider tread blocks with narrow channels will be great for rocky roads, hard dirt, and gravel. But smaller blocks with widers channels, on the other hand, are great for extra grip in mud, sand, and other loose ground. 

UTV tires offer you two construction choices: bias or radial. Bias construction makes for tough tires on rough terrain and grippy performance on steep inclines. Radial tires, on the other hand, are best for smoother roads and don’t perform as strongly on uneven terrain. Think about where you typically drive your UTV, and how you plan to use it, so you can determine which kind of tire construction is the right fit. 

UTV tires can range pretty widely in their price. However, it’s possible to find options for as little as $90 per tire or as expensive as $200 or more per tire. It’s entirely based on the kind of UTV tire you want. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly or value-rich tire, you’ll find options priced between $90 and $125. Most UTV tires fall in the mid-range category of $125 to $175 per tire. And if you’re looking for a premium tire, or one that’s especially rough and rugged-road-ready, you can spend $175 or more.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.