Let’s talk about one of the many ways we can improve our vehicles off road performance. Probably the first thing that most of us will do is replace the stock tires. This is one of the easiest and cheapest things we can do because we have to replace the worn out ones anyhow, so why not upgrade to something that will help us off road. There are so many different types of tires how do we even begin to choose? To simplify things I am going to talk about three basic types of tires for pickups and SUV, either 4 x4 of 2 x 4.

One question you have to ask yourself is what is the vehicle’s purpose? Is it a truck that you use everyday to go to work, just for recreation, or somewhere in between? Another question is just what type of off road adventures are you planning?

If you do not intend to do much more than drive on hard packed dry dirt roads and you use your truck everyday then the stock type M+S (mud and snow) tires might be the right choice for you. They generally have good wear ratings, meaning you will get a lot of miles out of them. They will be quiet on the road and will work just fine on hard dry off road adventures such as going to campgrounds or sightseeing on Arizona’s many miles of dirt roads. Also with good tire placement they will get you into some pretty rough stuff but you need to be careful in rocky situation because they tend to get torn up in the sidewalls easily.

Now let’s say you drive your truck daily but your off roading takes you into some more nasty, possibly wet or snowy situations. You might want to look at an all terrain type of tire. Most of the all terrain tires have a more open tread and usually will wear pretty good but they do make more noise on the road. They will work well on dirt roads, dry rocky trails and will be more resistant to sidewall damage because of tougher carcass construction. On or in wet muddy roadways or snow they will perform much better than the stock type M+S tires. For most off roading they will be fine and are a good compromise for a vehicle that is used daily along with weekend adventures.

If you are looking for a no compromise off road tire then you might look at mud type tires. These are generally a very aggressive open tread tire that will not usually wear as well as the other types. They make quite a bit more on road noise than the other types but man do they work off road! A lot of times they can mean the difference between getting in and out of a wet gooey road or snow too. About the only place I have found them not to work better is in deep sand. They tend to dig in, so you should keep your speed up or air down. So if you take your off roading serious or you do not want to let a bit of bad weather keep you from getting where you want to go take a look at this type of tire.

Now this is just a very basic look at a few of the types of tires we have to choose from. There are many different manufacturers and types of tires offered. One thing you can do is ask people you know or see and find out how the tire they have works for them. The next set of tires you purchase can make a big improvement on your vehicle’s off road performance. So take some time and ask questions. A little research can get you a tire you are happy with.

Other things to consider is where you purchase your tires. When you use your truck off road the potential for damage is much greater so a road hazard warranty is not too bad of an idea, just make sure it covers off road hazards. If you buy from a local dealer you usually need to return to them to take care of your problems. If you chose a national company and have problems out of town you can usually be taken care of there. I usually carry two spares when on an extended journey. I prefer to keep my money in the local economy but they are getting hard to find. It is also hard to beat the convenience of the big boys with shops everywhere.

No matter what type of vehicle you use or what type of tire on it and no where you go off road, remember to adhere to the "tread lightly" principle. Good luck.

Ted Scholl
AZOD Off Road Staff Writer