Getting the best from your 4x4 tyres
With so much choice out there it pays to do your homework before you decide on a set of new tyres for your 4WD.
We asked Maxxis to come up with some tips for choosing tyres that will work for you. Highway, All Terrain, or Mud Traction? No one tyre fits every application, but with the huge variety on the market, you can be sure that you’ll find something that works for what you’re doing. If you’re doing a majority of highway driving with a bit of off-road here and there, you’ll be surprised how far a good All Terrain (A/ T) tyre can take you. Look for tapered tread lugs and self-clearing tread grooves to expel mud and stones and keep you moving. On the road the best All Terrain tyres drive and handle similarly to a highway tyre, so look for siped tread blocks which will mean better grip on wet roads, and ask about the tyre’s road noise and handling.
Load rating: If you’re carrying heavy loads or regularly towing, you’ll need a tyre to suit. 4x4 tyres can be rated to carry anything between 850 kg and 1800 kg per tyre, so ask about the load ratings of the tyres you’re looking at and make sure they’re appropriate for your needs. If you’re regularly towing or carrying loads that approach the limit of your tyres’ capacity, this will likely make them wear faster and you’ll want to consider something with a higher load rating. If you don’t need the extra load capacity however, you’ll probably get a better ride with a lighter construction.
Wet road grip: Almost all 4x4 drivers find themselves doing some highway running and this is where mud traction tyres can vary significantly. Again look
for siping – tiny grooves in the tread lugs that help to expel water – and ask about the tyre’s road noise and wet road handling. A well-designed mud traction tyre will handle safely and drive comfortably on the road without compromising its mud traction off-road, so make sure you know about all aspects of its performance before you buy.
Check the spare: There’s nothing worse than being stuck on the roadside with a spare that doesn’t fit. If you’ve changed from your original size, make sure you carry a spare that is suitable to use should you require it.