Why All-Terrain Tires Make All the Difference for Rural Drivers

All-terrain tires are sometimes viewed as off-road tires, but in fact, these tires live up to their name for working well on any type of terrain. If you live in a rural area, all-terrain tires can be a huge benefit for dealing with wet roads, dirt roads, or the occasional foray off-road. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of all-terrain tires.

Con – Increased Road Noise

The tread pattern on all-terrain tires is very open with blocks of tread and big channels between them. This allows the tires to grip unstable surfaces really well, but on the highway, the air is forced through the channels, creating more road noise than you would get with regular street tires. This road resistance can also contribute to reduced fuel economy.

Pro – Reinforced Side Walls

All-terrain tires tend to have reinforced sidewalls. This additional support allows them to support heavier loads, which makes them a great choice for trucks and SUVs. A strong sidewall is also a benefit to dealing with rough roads and going over obstacles.

Con – Tread Wears Down Faster

Thanks to the softer rubber on all-terrain tires, the tread can wear down faster through friction generated by road contact. It’s an important thing to be aware of as you may have to replace your tires every 40,000 miles or so. Some higher-end all-terrain tires can go as long as 50,000 to 70,000 miles.

Pro – All Season Tires

All-terrain tires more or less double as all-season tires, which is great for rural drivers who regularly deal with snow and rain on roads. All-terrain tires perform well in almost any kind of weather. Some all-terrain tires lean more toward snow or rain, and you can get them with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol, which means they’re rated for cold temperatures. The aggressive tread and siping on all-terrain tires make them ideal for driving in rain or light snow.

Should You Get All-Terrain Tires?

Many new AWD and 4WD trucks and SUVs already come with all-terrain tires installed. But if you’re considering used cars and are wondering if it’s worth it to replace street tires with all-terrain tires, the answer is probably. If you live in a rural area with four seasons, you’ll likely be dealing with snowy roads and wet roads regularly. AWD and 4WD are a benefit in these conditions, but it’s more of a benefit to also have all-terrain tires.

What Kind of All-Terrain Tires Should You Buy?

There are many examples of all-terrain tires on the market. As previously mentioned, some of them do come with the three-peak designation, but not all of them do, so it’s important to check if you need tires that perform better in snow. If you’ve dipped into looking at all-terrain tires, you’ve probably noticed that the BFGoodrich AT tire is among the most recommended. These tires are generally good for 50,000 miles and are rated for severe snow conditions.

BFG AT tires are on the higher end of AT tires, but there are many other brands to choose from, including Toyo Open Country, Falken Wildpeak AT Trail, and Yokohama Geolandar G015.