All-terrain tires with aggressive tread designs provide both superior traction and handling on unpaved roads and off-road conditions, such as driving through mud, sand, and rocks. Conversely, all-terrain tires with less aggressive tread patterns deliver a smoother and quieter ride on paved roads. Depending on the tread patterns, all-terrain tires come in various styles and configurations, including All-Season, All-Terrain and Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF). The 3PMSF symbol means the tire has met specific performance standards for use in harsh snow and weather conditions.

“You’ll need to consider your personal driving habits, the climate where you live, and where you will be doing the majority of your driving before selecting the type of all-terrain tire tread pattern best meets your needs,” says off-road tire expert Dave Hulsey.

Ahead, tire and off-roading experts share tips to help you decide if you should switch to all-terrain tires and the benefits of their different tread designs.

What Are All Terrain Tires?

All-terrain tires have distinct features and functions designed for driving under a variety of road and weather conditions, including off-roading, unpaved, uneven, and rough roads.

“Even all-terrain tires with less aggressive tread designs have large, deep grooves for better traction,” says Mike Debro, owner and operator of tire and auto service center United Tire and Service, of motoring on less than pristine road surfaces and road conditions. Meanwhile, tread patterns on more aggressive all-terrain tires come with larger lugs and deeper grooves, which provide exceptional handling and grip when off-roading.

Due to their tread patterns, composition, and versatility, all-terrain tires typically perform better in severe weather conditions, such as rain, mud, and snow.

How Are All Terrain Tires Different From Regular Tires?

To withstand rough environments, “all-terrain tires are constructed using stronger and reinforced compounds, as well as up to 10 ply treads and three-ply sidewalls reinforced with lightweight Kevlar, steel belts or high strength Aramid fibers,” says Hulsey. Hulsey explains that “three-ply sidewalls are more durable” than a traditional all-season tire that uses a two-ply-polyester. They “resist cuts and abrasions when driving on rocky or uneven roads,” he adds.

Aggressive all-terrain tires may have tread patterns that continue over the sidewall of the tire, increasing traction and grip when driving off-road. Unlike a traditional all-season, all-weather or summer tire, all-terrain tires provide good handling and performance on paved roads and uneven surfaces and are suitable for on-road and off-road driving.

All Terrain Tire Cost

Surprisingly, the cost of all-terrain tires isn’t that much more than standard all-season or all-weather tires. I recently installed four new, highly rated all-weather tires on my full-size SUV. Comparable, highly rated all-terrain tires cost only about $50 more per tire than all-weather tires for my vehicle. Additionally, the all-terrain tire was 3PMSF rated.

Still, tires are generally expensive. For example, for the recommended size tires for my vehicle (255/60R19 109H), prices ranged from $210 to $325 (per tire) for an “entry-level” all-weather tire. The same size all-terrain tire with a less aggressive tread—again, from a highly rated tire manufacturer—can start around $250 and can go up to $400 or more if you’re looking for tires with aggressive off-roading tread, for example.

Reasons to Switch to All Terrain Tires

There are several benefits to switching to all-terrain tires, including:

Challenging Road Conditions

All-terrain tires are particularly effective when driving on gravel, mud, sand or rocky surfaces. All-terrain tires’ aggressive tread patterns afford enhanced traction on loose, irregular or hazardous surfaces.

Extreme Weather Conditions

If the climate where you live experiences heavy snow accumulations, consider all-terrain tires with the 3PMSF symbol. According to Goodyear, “specialized tread compounds help the tread to adapt to all seasons,” offering increased traction, better handling, and maneuverability on wet, snow, and ice-covered roads. Debro added, “You still need to drive carefully on ice, no matter what tires are on your car.”

For a Smoother Driving Experience

Regardless of their robust (some may call it knurly) tread patterns, “less aggressive all-terrain tires can provide a quieter, smoother, more comfortable ride on highways and paved streets, but still will always be noisier than all-season highway tires,” said Debro.

Look and Feel

Of course, all-terrain tires’ rugged looks add a muscular aesthetic, giving your vehicle a more exciting and dominant look on the road.

Reasons to Not Use All Terrain Tires

All-terrain tires offer several benefits, but depending on the make and model of the vehicle, they might not be right for you. If you drive a sporty car, large sedan, compact or electric vehicle, or do most of your driving on paved roads and city streets rather than off-roading, stick with all-weather or all-season tires.

Even with advances in tire design and construction, all-terrain tires tend to run noisily. Because of the three-ply sidewalls, the ride is much stiffer than regular tires, and they have a much higher rolling resistance that reduces fuel economy. Aggressive tread patterns may wear quicker on paved roads, reducing tread life.

Are All Terrain Tires Worth It?

Yes, all-terrain tires are worth it if your vehicle will benefit from their design and they match your driving habits.

However, if you drive a sports car, luxury sedan, a sub-compact or an electric vehicle, then no, all-terrain tires would be a waste of money and could adversely affect handling and overall performance (for example, EV tires are designed specially to have very low rolling resistance for increased driving range).

Additionally, according to Debro, “all-terrain tires are not suitable for SUVs that have ‘refined suspensions’ engineered for highway driving and all-season tires. Even if you can find a set that will fit, they will be loud, give you a hard ride and affect handling.”

FAQ

Are All-terrain tires less likely to get nailed?

Yes. All-terrain tires have deep reinforced treads and sidewalls and are designed and built to drive in harsh, rough conditions. Their thick, aggressive treads protect against sharp objects and offer increased resistance to punctures from nails and other objects. While all-terrain tires are less likely to get nailed, they are not impervious to punctures. Sharp objects can still pierce the tread if the tires are worn.

How long do all-terrain tires last?

According to Hulsey, “Better quality all-terrain tires come with limited 50 to 70,000-mile tread life warranties, and you get what you pay for.” How long they last depends on several factors. “First is how you drive on them,” Hulsey says. “Lots of off-roading or driving through rough terrain will quickly wear the tread.”

Additionally, tires made with softer compounds that offer better traction tend to wear faster than tires constructed with harder compounds. Meanwhile, tires made with harder compounds last longer, but you trade traction for tire life.

Ultimately, Hulsey warns, lack of maintenance, incorrect air pressure, or tires that are not rotated, balanced and aligned regularly will wear prematurely, as with any tire.

About the Experts

  • Dave Hulsey is a 10-year Master Technician and tire expert at Street Road Accessories located in Feasterville, PA.
  • Mike Debro is a Master Technician and owner and operator of United Tire and Service, located in Feasterville, PA.

SOURCES

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Bob Lacivita
Since rebuilding his first engine at age 14, cars have been Bob Lacivita's passion, as well as his way of life. He went on to become an award-winning ASE and General Motors auto technician, vocational educator, career and technical center administrator, technical consultant and freelance writer; teaching legions of students and readers about DIY ca...
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