Tyres and Off Road Pressures
This time I would like to talk about something different as tyres and their pressures seem to be a
topic of many opinions and recommendations. Almost everyone out there has some encounter or
experience when it comes to tyres.
My aim is to only put some points that you may need to consider when selecting and using a tyre for
your 4WD.
Tyre Types
There are 3 main types of tyres for 4WD’s and each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
Type
Highway Terrain
All Terrain
Mud Terrain
Advantages
The construction has thinner sidewalls
and for heat dissipation. The tread pattern
has very fine lugs. This combination
provides the quietest on road
performance and handling at higher
speeds.
Thicker side wall construction with more
ply. The tread patterns have bigger lugs to
throw off mud and have some self-
cleaning properties.
The strongest construction and the most
aggressive tread pattern. MT tyres can
handle the most extreme off road
situation.
Disadvantage
The load rating is low. Grip off-
road is poor due to the fine
tread pattern. The thinner side
walls make the tyre prone to
damage.
The bigger tread pattern and
thicker walls make the tyre
noisier and less economical
compared to the HT type. On
road handling is compromised
together with the speed rating.
Very noisy on road due to the
tread pattern and
construction. Not economical
at all and poor on road
handling. Many manufacturers
will not specify the MT tyre
sizes. Mud tyres perform
poorly in sand and tend to dig
in.
As the above table show, All Terrain (AT) tyre types are what most 4WD users will select. AT’s
generally strike a 70% on road, 30% off road balance. However in this type, there are several levels
in the scale. Some AT’s are just a notch away from a HT tyre, while others are almost a MT tyre.
Selecting the most suitable AT will depend on a number and elements, some described later in this
article.
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Tread Pattern
Aspect Ratio – higher aspect ratio’s contribute to more ground clearance
Rim Size – larger rim sizes limit using a tyre with a higher aspect ratio
Price
Availability and support