When it comes to tire selections, there’s such a broad range to choose from. We all know that not every tire is suitable for every occasion, and not every tire is suitable for every type of vehicle. In fact, there are specific tires, tire sizes, and tire types for nearly every type of road surface, vehicle size, and vehicle type out there. One popular type of fitting is the all-terrain tires designed mostly for off-road vehicles and especially for trucks, crossovers, Jeeps, and SUVs.
So who makes the best all-terrain tires? Well, the short answer might be Goodyear, Toyo, or BFGoodrich. But you just don’t want name brands thrown around; you want to know who makes the best all-terrain tires and why. So that’s what we’ll get into with this article and hopefully help shed some light on what sort of all-terrain tires you might want to put (or keep) on your vehicle.
Goodyear Wrangler
One of the most popular and critically well-received all-terrain tires comes from Goodyear. Specifically, the Goodyear Wrangler brand of tires. There are a variety of different types of all-season Wrangler tires, though, including the Fortitude series for light-duty trucks and Duratrac for off-road purposes.
The Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure tire is one of the more popular iterations of the all-season tire because it’s not only great for off-road use but for on-road use as well. The tires are found to be especially useful thanks to the Kevlar coating that helps reduce tread wear and gives the tires extra durability during the winter season or when treading through rain or snow.
For extreme off-road adventures, Goodyear Wrangler’s MT/R with Kevlar all-terrain tires are a cut above the rest, designed specifically for harsh trails, rugged pathways, and for siping clumps of mud, dirt, and gravel out of the tire treads. The MT/R series of Goodyear Wrangler also features convex designs to provide maximum grip and traction, while the armored layer prevents punctures and splits.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain
If you’re talking about quality, long-lasting, consumer-trusted all-terrain tires, you can’t talk about some of the best brands and not talk about BFGoodrich. Specifically, BFGoodrich’s All-Terrain T/A KO2 line of tires.
The tires are designed for light trucks, SUVs, and crossovers and specifically engineered to handle some of the toughest off-road terrain mother nature could throw at your vehicle. This is thanks to increasing the threshold of the sidewalls by 20%, reducing bruises and splits, while also having protuberant ridges along the outer circumference of the sidewall to deflect objects from puncturing or splitting the side of the tire. Thanks to serrated treads along the shoulder with indented ridges, it helps the tires gain traction through difficult terrains such as mud, loose rock, and gravel. The tires are also snow-rated and have even been used in Baja competitions, making them great not only for basic all-terrain excursions but also for competitive purposes.
Toyo Open Country
You might occasionally hear the name “Toyo” thrown around when discussions about tires pop up, but oftentimes it’s associated with smaller, sportier vehicles. What you probably didn’t know is that Toyo Tires has been a go-to brand for many truck, jeep, crossover, and off-road enthusiasts looking for a reliable all-terrain tire. Keep in mind, however, that not just any type of Toyo Tires will do for all-terrain travel. There is a specific brand of Toyo that is rated and qualified for on and off-road use, specifically the Toyo Open Country line of tires.
The Open Country line consists of a variety of different all-terrain tires for light-duty trucks, 4x4s, SUVs, and crossovers. The Toyo Open Country C/T, in particular, is a qualified Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake tire that is designed to handle on-road, off-road, and even snowy conditions. The Open Country M/T tire is a top-of-the-line, hardcore off-road tire built for maximum traction, durability, and rugged conditions. The R/T and A/T III are also popular all-terrain tires for different vehicles and perfect for multiple on and off-road types.
Michelin LTX
It might seem redundant to have Michelin listed when BFGoodrich is above, considering that Michelin owns BFGoodrich. However, both companies still have different ranges of tires for different purposes, even if one owns the other. In the case of Michelin, they do have an all-terrain, all-season tire specifically designed for larger vehicles as part of their LTX line. The Michelin LTX A/T2 is one of the company’s best-rated all-terrain tires.
However, it does not qualify for the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake seal. While the LTX A/T2 may have a lot of good reviews and strong recommendations as an all-season, all-terrain tire, it has been noted as not being up to the task when it comes to heavy wintry conditions. The LTX M/S is an all-season tire designed to fare better in snowy conditions but is not designed for off-road use like the LTX A/T2. The LTX A/T2, however, is highly proficient on various types of rough surfaces like dirt, gravel, and loose rock and comes with a 60,000-mile warranty, which is surely useful for those who often trek off the beaten path.
Falken Wildpeak/Rubitrek
Falken is another one of those tire companies you oftentimes see associated with high-performance vehicles. They’re popular in the tuner scene and fantastic on sports cars, but did you know that they make highly rated and very durable all-terrain tires, too? Well, they do.
It’s not just any Falken tire, though; you specifically need the Falken Wildpeak or Rubitrek tire brand to garner the benefits of the all-terrain capabilities espoused by the company. This includes the Rubitrek A/T, which is a versatile all-terrain tire designed for heavy off-road use. It is qualified for the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol while also being designed to handle all sorts of weather conditions thanks to its patented 3D sipes and traction-efficient grooves.
The Wildpeak line of tires is just as beloved among drivers who go off-road often. The Wildpeak A/T3W and Wildpeak M/T are designed for light-duty trucks, Jeeps, and 4x4s. While the A/T3W is certified by USTMA and TRAC for snowy conditions and provides venerable all-season, all-terrain durability, the Wildpeak M/T takes ruggedness to the next level. With proprietary Duraspec technology for some of the most durable sidewalls on the market, they’re perfect for rock crawling, hill climbs, and undulating trail runs.
Knowing Your Vehicle For The Right Tire Brand
Now that you have an idea of who makes some of the best all-terrain tires and a handy rundown of what to look for, you can now go tire shopping with confidence. Just remember that if you don’t plan on using the tires for many miles but more-so for very specific occasions, you’re going to want to go for performance over longevity. Some tires are designed to handle very specific tasks, while others are designed for light use over a long period of time. It’s best to check some user reviews to find out how long some of the tires last and on what type of vehicle – which is another thing to keep in mind.
Depending on the size of your vehicle and how you plan to take it off-road will determine which sort of all-terrain tire you may want to go with. Some are better for all types of seasons and weather conditions, while others are more useful for dealing with jagged rocks or preventing punctures. Having a clear outline of how you plan to use the vehicle makes it easy to figure out which of the brands you should go with for the best all-terrain tires.