Off-roading is fun, but choosing the right 4WD tyres can be tricky if you don’t know what to look for. Read on to find out what you should consider when buying mud tyres for your 4×4.
Your Budget
4WD tyre prices can vary substantially. Prices start at about $75 per tyre, and rise sharply from there. For instance, top of the line tyres can cost upwards of $700 each, not counting installation fees. Most 4x4s can use tyres one to two sizes larger than the factory-supplied set – changes such as these won’t affect your vehicle’s handling too much. However, if you’re thinking of buying super-sized 4WD tyres and rims, a lift kit and other mods may be necessary, and those can get expensive.
Decide What you Need
Before buying a set of Maxxis 4WD tyres, you should decide how much off-roading you’ll be doing. Think about how often you drive on pavement, rocky and muddy areas, as well as how frequently you drive through sand, ice and snow. All of these conditions can affect your tyre buying decision.
Unless you’re using your vehicle expressly for off-roading, you may need to make concessions when buying tyres. Thankfully, there are many cheap 4WD tyres available that offer adequate performance in most off-road and street situations.
Consider All-Purpose Tyres
For most owners of 4WDs, all-purpose tyres are a good choice – in fact, most vehicles come from the factory with such tyres. An all-purpose tyre performs well on paved roads, as well as wet surfaces. However, they’re not perfectly suited to heavy off-road use because of their closed tread patterns and lighter weight.
All-Terrain (A/T) Tyres
For most off-roaders, all-terrain tyres are better than the all-purpose variety. A/T tyres come with more open and aggressive tread designs, giving better traction in sandy and rocky areas. These tyres are built tougher than all-purpose tyres, to withstand Australia’s toughest driving conditions.
Mud Terrain (M/T) Tyres
Among all the types of tyres available for 4WDs, M/T tyres offer the most durability and best traction during off-road use. Mud terrain tyres are ideal for use in sandy, rocky and muddy conditions, but don’t perform very well on wet or icy pavement. Because of their larger size, decreased ride quality and unusual tread designs, M/T tyres aren’t a good choice for city driving.
There are many places in Australia to enjoy off-roading, and to make the most of each trip, you’ll need a durable, practical set of off-road tyres. By considering your choices and knowing what to look for, you can find the ideal set of 4WD tyres for your vehicle.
