Mud Terrain Tires vs All Terrain Tires

In this post, we cover:

• Differences between all terrain and mud terrain tires
• Advantages of AT tires
• Advantages of mudding tires

Deciding between all terrain and mud tires can be tricky to navigate. With letters like AT, MT, XT, and more it’s hard to know what’s what. Here we provide the right information to help you know which all terrain and mud terrain tires are the best for you — and best for your next adventure!

Advantages of All Terrain Tires

All terrain tires are specifically designed for those who want an aggressive style tire that can do a little off-roading with the main purpose being highway and street driving. These tires have the ability to travel on landscapes with sand, light gravel, dirt roads, and snow. Buying all terrain tires online is a great way to start your next traveling experience!

All terrain tires are meant for work and play, and are constructed so they do not create excessive vibration while rolling on flat surfaces. All terrain tires are great for the person traveling to work during the week but also some fun on the weekends.

Features of All Terrain Tires

All terrain tires have to be ready for uneven landscapes, shifting terrain, and significant obstacles. Unlike normal tires, all terrain tires aren’t as concerned with comfort, road noise, or fuel efficiency. Their design ensures that you’ll be safe and stable in tough off-roading conditions. 

But, unlike dedicated off-road tires, makers of all terrain tires do have on-road comfort in mind. All-terrain tires feature:

• Reinforced bead around the inner part of the tire
• Wider, interlocking treads to grip dirt, loose rocks, and uneven terrain
• A tough tire ply, resulting in a thicker tire tread that can handle impacts and resist punctures
• Tough sidewalls to resist damage from stray debris
• Good snow/ice performance and ratings (such as the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol)

Examples of AT Tires

Advantages of Mud Terrain Tires  

With mud terrain tires, you will often notice a more intense and dramatic tread, which is used to grip the dirt and mud-filled terrains they are designed for. The dramatic tread designs of these tires aren’t just for looks, they have a specific and powerful purpose.

If you’re looking to conquer rocky, steep, mud and dirt filled landscapes, a mud tire could be a better choice for you than an all-terrain tire. This is personal preference of course, but mud terrain tires provide better off-road traction in extreme, deep mud, dirt, rock and sand filled terrains. They are meant to provide stability and durability throughout the toughest adventures.

Features of Mud Terrain Tires

Mud terrain tires are a subcategory of all-terrain tires that includes all tires manufactured for muddy or rocky terrain. Mud-terrain tires achieve this niche through very wide tread blocks that expel, rather than trap, excess mud, dirt, and rocks. Where mud would build up between the tread of other all terrain tires, mud terrain tires push it up and away. They’ll also feature reinforced sidewalls to protect against damage and a softer tread compound for better grip. 

This all comes at the sacrifice of on-road performance. Mud terrain tires are known to be more noisy on flat surfaces, like highway roads, but today’s best mud tires are designed to combat the negative aspects of traditional mud tires.

Examples of MT Tires

AT Tires vs MT Tires: Which are Best for You?

So, now that you understand all terrain and mud terrain tires, which is right for you? 

Well, this depends on where you plan to drive and where your priorities are. All terrain tires are a great general-use option that keeps you safe if you plan to do a bit of off-roading with your vehicle.

All-terrain pros

• Good on- and off-road performance
• Durable tires that can withstand minor damages from the road
• Usually good winter performance
• Lower road noise compared to mud-terrain tires

All-terrain cons

• Higher road noise compared to a highway, all-season tire
• May have a hard time in the toughest off-road conditions

 Mud-terrain tires are more specialized, providing optimal performance in driving environments with soft, loose ground. 

Mud-terrain pros

• Tread blocks with higher void areas, optimized for mud, gravel, and loose terrain
• Softer tread compounds for better grip
• Keeps you in control during almost every off-road condition

Mud-terrain cons

• Poor on-road performance
• High road noise
• Shorter tread life due to softer tread compound

Mud terrain tires may be overkill if you’re not regularly taking your vehicle out into the wilds where there are no roads. A mud terrain tire will offer unmatched mud and dirt performance but for trails, an all-terrain tire may suit you better.