Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ Radial Tire
Why do you need the Best Mud Tires?
It is not easy trying to pick out the best mud tires, the best off-road tires, or the best all-terrain tire. There are tires for all situations that come in all shapes and sizes. While you can take any tire off-roading, there are some tires that perform better strictly off-road and some that can be good both on-road and off-road.
For example, the best all-terrain tire can be used for anything from driving in the city to going through sand, snow, and mud. The best mud tires are designed to only be used off-roading through mud and rocks and have greatly improved traction. Using the right type of tires that fit your lifestyle can really make a difference in how you enjoy your hobbies. For most people, having a good set of the best all-terrain tire is all they really need.
You won’t have to worry about switching them out and they perform favorably in most conditions. For true outdoor enthusiasts, we recommend that you use two sets of tires. Have one set of tires for daily commuting to and from work and a set of the best mud tires for weekend adventures. Lastly, be sure to research carefully and purchase the right-sized tires for your truck. We have reviewed some of the top brands on the market and will focus primarily on size 33 tires, although you can scale up or down depending on personal preference. We also rate the tires based on durability, fuel efficiency, off-road capability, braking, and control.
Best Mud Tires | Best Off Road Tires | Best All Terrain Tire Reviews
- BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO Off-Road Tire
- Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ Radial Tire (Top Pick)
- Super Swamper TSL Bogger
1. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO Off-Road Tire
In the world of tires, there is no better-known brand than BFGoodrich. They make some of the best mud tires, best off-road tires, and best all-terrain tires. We think BFGoodrich particularly shines in the all-terrain space with the T/A KO series. These tires deliver great off-road performance as well as steady handling on paved streets. They are made for the semi-professionals who occasionally need to drive on rough terrain but mostly commute to and from work.
These all-terrain tires have three-ply sidewalls and a somewhat aggressive trend to help to handle tough road conditioners and are even suited for some moderate rock climbing and treading through dirt, sand, and other debris. The weekend warrior should really appreciate these tires as they are ok at getting through hard-to-reach camp spots as well as going through dirt and mud roads. We wouldn’t recommend attempting any sort of aggressive mudding on these tires, so save that for a proper set of mud tires.
In terms of on-road performance, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain series is a beast and has incredibly long durability. It is hard to find a tire that is great for driving on paved roads and highways and can also get a bit roughed up during the weekend. You can probably get a good 50k miles from these tires. The specially formulated tread design is designed to reduce chip and tear from gravel and other road debris. With the interlocking tread design, these tires are also incredibly stable on the highway and have great control and handling. They help you improve fuel efficiency with its low rolling resistance tires. The sidewalls are built 20% tougher with its CoreGuard technology so that your tires are protected when going through hazardous road conditions and prevented sharp objects from splitting your sidewall. Overall, we think the BFGoodrich is the best all-terrain tire and possibly even the best mud tire or best off-road tire for those who need a durable tire for driving in the city while occasionally treading the outdoors.
2. Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ Radial Tire
The Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ Radials is a serious competitor to the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO and one of the best mud tires, best off-road tires, and best all-terrain tires on the market. While BFGoodrich is clearly the better-known brand, it does not mean you should discount Mickey Thompson’s, which is owned by Cooper Tire.
The MTZ tires are radial, which means the sidewall flexing is not transferred to the tread, which leads to decreased transversal slipping. What does this all mean? This allows your car to transfer more power to the ground, increases fuel efficiency, and increases the durability of your tires by reducing ground compaction and damage. The tires have a multi-lug design that allows for a quiet ride on the highway and paved roads at high speeds. This also means that the MTZ radials handle well off-road. Although the Mickey Thompsons are technically considered all-terrain tires, they are better off-road than on-road. Compare this to the BFGoodrich T/A Kos, which performs better on the road than off the road.
With the three-ply sidewalls and six-ply tread, the Mickey Thompsons are really meant for the mud. The extra layer of protection makes it a great shield to protect against punctures. They have great tread wear and awesome traction in the mud and snow with the self-cleaning high void lugs and Sidebitters technology. Since the lugs have a good amount of dead space between each other, you also get added traction and bite in harsh conditions and even are able to clean themselves.
While these tires do not have the same grip as SuperSwampers, we are amazed at how well the MTZs handle themselves on the trail. We talked to many off-road enthusiasts who really like these tires since they offer great off-road performance without sacrificing too much performance on the road. It is perfect for those who don’t mind some underperformance in the city in exchange for the convenience of not having to change out these tires for trail riding on the weekends. All in all, these are the best mud tires, best off-road tires, and best all-terrain tires if you want a dual-purpose tire that is better for the mud.
3. Super Swamper TSL Bogger
If you are a pure off-road enthusiast, the Super Swamper TSL Bogger is the perfect match for you. These are commonly agreed upon to be the best mud tires, best off-road tires, or best all-terrain tire period. Super Swampers are the Rolls Royce of off-road tires. When you see these on the street, you will immediately recognize them as Super Swampers, which have a reputation for having huge lugs and a super aggressive tread design. Don’t worry, these lugs and treads are not meant to be for show.
The three-stage lugs and deep voids in the tread help power your vehicle through all sorts of harsh terrain. Once you break these tires in you will shred through any trail with ease. The major drawback with Super Swampers is that they really are not built for the city, although Super Swampers did try to make some minor adjustments to make it more on-road friendly. Although they are barely street legal, the ride on pavement and especially on highways will be bumpy and loud. They will probably make your vehicle vibrate when going above 70 mph and may even damage the tires.
In terms of off-road performance, there is no comparison. When you put a set of these on your truck, you will go through rocks and mud with ease. And because these tires are thick, they pretty much absorb all shock and cannot be punctured by road debris and sharp objects. One small issue we found with the Super Swampers is that they are not really made to grip from side to side. When you are going up a hill or encounter some kind of slope these tires tend to have some sideways slipping. In terms of fuel efficiency, forget about it.
You will have pretty bad gas mileage with these tires. The trade-off is you get great durability off-road, as these tires are known to last longer than all the tires on the off-road market. Overall, the Super Swamper TSL Boggers are the best mud tires, the best off-road tires, and the best all-terrain tire if you are an off-road junkie. It is best to change a set of road tires during the weekdays when you are commuting to work and change out to the Boggers when you go off-roading.
References:
https://www.carsdirect.com/car-repair/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-radial-tires
