Guest blog by Grant Spolander

WHAT'S THE BEST ALL-TERRAIN TYRE?

Although most tyre tests typically compare the traction performance of one product against another, with so many terrain types available, traction is arguably the most inconclusive way of comparing two all-terrain tyres.

Sometimes, the best way to compare two or more products is to just look at their specifications.

With this in mind, here's what matters when shopping for all-terrain tyres.

TREAD DEPTH

As far as features go, tread depth is seldom mentioned as a metric of comparison – even though it accurately determines the tyre's life expectancy and value. 

Most factory-fitted all-terrains feature a tread depth of 10 mm or less.

By comparison, many aftermarket Light Truck (LT) tyres feature tread depths of 12 to 15 mm.

On that note, if 5 mm of tread is used on either set of tyres, it goes without saying that the 50% loss will significantly affect the factory-fitted tyre's performance compared to an aftermarket Light Truck (LT) alternative with the same 5 mm tread wear.

Of course, in most cases, the factory-fitted tyre will cost noticeably less than the Light Truck option. Still, any comparison in price should include a comparison in value and, therefore, the depth of tread.

View prices on a wide range of all-terrain tyres using our TYRE FINDER here

ALL-TERRAIN TYRE WEIGHT

Much like tread depth, the weight of a tyre also hints at its value offering, but in many respects, it also tells us...

• – How strongly the tyre is constructed
• – The quality of the steel cords
• – The “bulk” or gauge of the rubber

In that regard, the carcass strength of a tyre directly relates to its puncture resistance, steering response and load capacity.

A tyre’s ability to shoulder a heavy load is especially important for those who tow a caravan, trailer or boat. But it also applies to heavily modified 4x4s with aftermarket accessories, too.

The weight difference between various all-terrains can vary by as much as 40%. Typically speaking, most factory-fitted all-terrains are designed to be lightweight to keep tyre costs, fuel economy and emission figures as low as possible for the vehicle manufacturer.

Needless to say, it’s in the vehicle manufacturer’s best interest to fit a lightweight tyre that offers optimum fuel consumption and on-road comfort while inadvertently not giving much thought to puncture resistance, load capacity,  and long-term tread life.

Light Truck tyres are easily identified by the letters 'LT' written before the tyre's size. If it doesn't say LT, it's not an LT.

View prices on a wide range of all-terrain tyres using our TYRE FINDER here

LOAD CAPACITY

As mentioned before, the load capacity of an all-terrain tyre is particularly important for vehicle owners with highly modified 4x4s or those who tow a trailer, caravan or boat.

Contrary to popular belief, the air inside a tyre carries the actual load, while the tyre carcass is merely the vessel that holds the air. The stronger the carcass, the more air pressure it can handle and the more weight it can carry.  

You’ll find that most of this information is available on your tyre’s sidewall, where it will state maximum air pressure and maximum load.

Again, many factory-fitted all-terrains will feature a load limit of about 950 kg to 1 100 kg. In contrast, some aftermarket LT products boast a load limit of 1 350 kg to 1 700 kg.

However, that’s not to say that one is automatically better than the other. If you don’t need an LT tyre with a high payload capacity, you’ll probably spend much of your time cursing the tyre’s strength and rigidity.

Likewise, if you need an LT tyre but currently have factory-fitted all-terrains, there’s a good chance you may be picking up punctures and/or suffering reduced tread life. Simply put, it’s not the right tyre for the application you’re exposing it to. 

PRICE… NO WAIT… VALUE!

Returning to the question: “What is the best all-terrain tyre?”. Perhaps the true answer is: “The tyre you can afford”.

Naturally, there’s far more to picking the right tyre (for you) than just comparing graphs and specifications. Ultimately, it’s a question of budget and what you can afford.

However, as mentioned before, cost and affordability are relative to value, so although one tyre may appear to be a sweeter deal than another, the bitter pill of longevity (or a lack thereof) is often the taste that lingers the longest.

View prices on a wide range of all-terrain tyres using our TYRE FINDER here