The range of tyres available for your 4WD these days is incredible. While this means that there is the perfect set for all scenarios, it also means it\u2019s hard to make a final decision. Narrow the field by thinking about what sort of driving you plan on doing. Will you be mainly city-based, rarely tackling the unsealed road? Do you have some decent road trips planned that take you away from the beaten path? Perhaps you plan on seeing some remote areas of our country and need tyres capable of handling roads that barely deserve the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basically, how much time you spend on bitumen compared to unsealed roads determines the type of tyre you should look at. The three 4WD tyre categories are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s take a look at the type of driving they\u2019re intended for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll spend around 90% of your driving time on sealed roads, Highway Terrain tyres are perfectly adequate. Nearly all 4WDs roll off the lot with these attached. Their less aggressive tread (compared to ATs and MTs) means more comfort, less road noise and greater fuel efficiency, which is exactly what you want for city driving. They still have plenty of grip to handle wet bitumen, but they aren\u2019t really appropriate for much off-road driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you plan on splitting your time between sealed and unsealed roads at a ratio of around 60\/40, All Terrains are your best bet. They\u2019re generally considered the Goldilocks option as they provide more grip than HTs but less than MTs. Their ride comfort, road noise and fuel efficiency also sits in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a city-based family that loves to throw the tent in the back of the car and head off somewhere remote and a little wild, then ATs are just what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re spending at least 85% of your driving time on rough, rugged tracks, then you\u2019ll want to seriously consider Mud Terrain tyres. As the name suggests, these tyres are suitable for muddy and extreme off-road conditions. Their tread is made up of deep, blocky trenches that channel the mud away to find purchase on the most compromised \u2018roads\u2019. They\u2019re also made of a sturdier construction, which makes them tough and puncture-resistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, the compromise of this chunky tread is more noise, less ride comfort and reduced fuel efficiency. Because there\u2019s less rubber in contact with the road, these tyres offer less grip on wet bitumen than the other two. MTs really are for off-road driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nA mix of bitumen and off-road driving<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regular off-road driving<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n