Why Your Tire Choice Matters More Than You Think
Your tires are the only thing between your rig and the terrain. Suspension lifts, lockers, and skid plates all matter — but none of it performs the way it should if you're running the wrong rubber. Whether you're daily-driving a Jeep Wrangler, running trails on weekends in a Ford Bronco, or pushing deep into the backcountry in a in a side-by-side, picking the right off-road tire is one of the highest-leverage decisions you'll make for your build.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know: terrain types, tire categories, how to read tire specs, ply ratings, and our top picks from the brands we carry at Offroad Trading Company.
Step 1: Know Your Terrain
Before you look at a single tire spec, be honest about where you actually drive. The best tire for a Moab rock crawler is a terrible choice for someone who spends 80% of their time on pavement with occasional dirt roads. Here's how to think about it:
All-Terrain (A/T)
All-terrain tires are the workhorse of the off-road world. They're engineered to handle a wide range of conditions — gravel, dirt, light mud, and wet pavement — without sacrificing too much on-road comfort or tread life. If you daily-drive your truck or Jeep and hit trails on weekends, an A/T is almost always the right call.
Our top pick: the Toyo Open Country A/T III (37X12.50R17) is one of the most respected A/T tires on the market. It features an aggressive tread pattern with stone ejectors, excellent wet traction, and a 65,000-mile tread warranty. For those running a slightly smaller setup, the Toyo Open Country A/T III in LT285/70R17 is equally capable and a popular fitment for stock-height trucks and Jeeps.
Mud-Terrain (M/T)
Mud-terrain tires are built for the deep stuff — thick mud, loose rock, and technical terrain where an A/T would pack up and lose traction. They feature wide, aggressive tread blocks with large voids that self-clean as you drive. The trade-off is noise on pavement and faster tread wear if you're logging highway miles.
The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 (LT315/75R16) is a standout in this category. Yokohama engineered it with a triple polymer compound for durability in extreme conditions, and the sidewall lugs provide extra bite when you're airing down on rocks. It's a serious tire for serious terrain.
UTV / SxS Tires
Side-by-sides and UTVs have their own tire ecosystem, and the right choice depends heavily on whether you're trail riding, dune running, or rock crawling. Radial tires offer a smoother ride and better high-speed stability, while bias-ply tires are more puncture-resistant and better suited for slow-speed technical terrain.
Step 2: Understand Tire Specs
Tire sizing can look like alphabet soup if you're not used to reading it. Here's a quick breakdown:
Standard Format: 37X12.50R17
- 37 — Overall diameter in inches
- 12.50 — Section width in inches
- R — Radial construction
- 17 — Wheel diameter in inches
Metric Format: LT285/70R17
- LT — Light Truck designation
- 285 — Section width in millimeters
- 70 — Aspect ratio (sidewall height as % of width)
- R — Radial construction
- 17 — Wheel diameter in inches
UTV Format: 30X10R14
- 30 — Overall diameter in inches
- 10 — Section width in inches
- R — Radial construction
- 14 — Wheel diameter in inches
Step 3: Ply Rating — Don't Overlook It
Ply rating (PR) is a measure of a tire's load capacity and sidewall strength. Higher ply ratings mean a stiffer, more puncture-resistant tire — critical if you're running sharp rocks or carrying heavy loads. Here's a general guide:
- 4PR — Light-duty, recreational use
- 6PR — Mid-range, good for trail riding and moderate loads
- 8PR — Heavy-duty, ideal for trucks, Jeeps, and serious off-road use
- 10PR (E-rated) — Maximum load capacity, common on 3/4-ton and 1-ton trucks
The Toyo Open Country A/T III LT285/70R17 is E-rated (10PR), making it an excellent choice for tow rigs and heavily loaded overlanders.
Step 4: Match the Tire to Your Vehicle
Trucks & Jeeps
For full-size trucks and Jeeps, you're generally choosing between A/T and M/T tires in the 33"–37" range depending on your lift. The Toyo Open Country lineup covers both ends of the spectrum and is one of the most popular choices among Jeep JL and JK owners for good reason — they're built tough, look aggressive, and hold up on the highway.
UTVs & Side-by-Sides
The UTV tire market has exploded in recent years, and we carry a wide selection to match every riding style:
- Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 (27X9R14, 6PR) — One of the most popular UTV tires ever made. The Bighorn 2.0 features a directional tread pattern optimized for trail riding, with excellent self-cleaning ability in mud and loose terrain. Also available in the AT25X10R12 fitment for smaller machines.
- Maxxis Liberty (30X10R14, 8PR) — A newer addition to the Maxxis lineup, the Liberty is designed for high-speed desert and trail riding. Its 8PR rating gives it serious sidewall strength, and the tread pattern handles hardpack and loose terrain equally well.
- Maxxis Rampage (32X10R15, 8PR) — Built for the most aggressive terrain. The Rampage features deep, knobby tread blocks and reinforced sidewalls for rock crawling and extreme trail use. If you're running a high-horsepower SxS and pushing into technical terrain, this is your tire.
- Maxxis Ceros (26X11R14, 6PR) — A versatile all-around UTV tire with a smooth, quiet ride on hardpack and solid traction in mixed conditions. Great for riders who want one tire that does it all.
- Toyo Open Country SxS (35X9.50R15) — Toyo's purpose-built SxS tire brings the same engineering DNA as their truck lineup to the side-by-side world. Excellent for high-speed desert running and mixed terrain.
Kenda: Value-Driven Performance
Kenda has built a strong reputation in the UTV and ATV tire space by delivering solid performance at a competitive price point. Here are our top Kenda picks:
- Kenda Klever XT (30x10R14, 8PR) — A radial all-terrain tire with an aggressive tread pattern and 8PR construction. Excellent for trail riding where you need durability without breaking the bank.
- Kenda Warhawk (32x10R15, 8PR) — Kenda's most aggressive UTV tire. The Warhawk is built for mud and extreme terrain, with large tread blocks and deep voids that clear debris fast.
- Kenda Cross Trail (29X11R14, 8PR) — A balanced all-terrain option with a wide footprint for improved flotation on soft terrain. Great for riders who mix trail, mud, and hardpack in the same ride.
Step 5: Don't Forget Fitment
Before you order, confirm three things: your wheel diameter, your wheel width, and whether your vehicle has enough clearance for the tire diameter you're considering. Running a tire that's too wide for your wheels can cause handling issues and uneven wear. Running a tire that's too tall without a lift can cause rubbing on your fenders, control arms, or sway bar links.
If you're unsure about fitment for your specific vehicle, reach out to us — we're happy to help you find the right tire for your rig.
The Bottom Line
Picking the right off-road tire comes down to four things: where you ride, how you ride, what your vehicle can fit, and how much highway driving you do. Get those four factors dialed in, and the right tire becomes obvious.
Browse our full tire selection at Offroad Trading Company — we carry Mickey Thompson, Maxxis, Toyo, Yokohama, Kenda, and more, with options for trucks, Jeeps, UTVs, and side-by-sides across every price point and terrain type.