Tire question

Can anyone give examples of when an all terrain tire wouldn't work compared to a mud terrain? I spend 95% or more of my time on the highway but don't want to get a tire that can't handle moderate off road stuff like trails and rocks and some mud.

 

Thick mud. Mud tires have a more open pattern and clear out that heavy, thick mud you guys have down south. A/T's just get clogged up and turn into useless slicks. If you get into a deep enough hole, even M/Ts can clog up or dig you in so deep that you'll need a tug to get out. Keep in mind that within the A/T realm, there is a huge difference between say the Michelin AT2 and the Goodyear Duratrac.

 

^x2

 

and FYI mud tires don't last long at all if its your daily driver

 

I have the duratracs now but don't really want to drop that much money again. Would other agressive AT tires handle loose rocks, big rocks, URE trails for instance? Basically anything other than thick clay mud? Lol... I've already had a bad experience with thick mud and try to avoid it if possible.

 

Also, how does tread depth affect traction in loos rocks, trails etc

 

Tread depth is just how much material the tires can 'clear' and how quickly they can do so. It can also impact how much of a bite they have. Tread pattern can be just as important though as well as the compound used.

If you off road with other people, pay attention to the tires they use and how hard or easy of a time they have going through the trails you like. That's the best review you can get.

 

I can't really chime in on quite what you are asking for, but I am also looking for tires that will do good for me for daily drivers as well as moderate offroading. the 3 tires i am considering now are the goodyear duratracs, bfg rugged terrain TA, and cooper discover AT. on discounttire.com, the goodyears and bf goodrich run about $185 each, while the cooper is $130. tirerack is about the same, but doesn't carry the cooper line. btw, pricing i was looking at is for 265/75/16

 

I have a set of Cooper STT's and I like them. They do quite well on the offroad trails I hit. Mind you I have them im a 35"x12.5"... but still, they surprised me a few times!