Did you know that your ATV tires should be tailored specifically for whatever you’re doing?

A lot of people just assume that the ATV tire that comes on ATV is the only kind they’ll ever need, but that’s not true. You could take the same ATV into different terrains and need different tires.

Choosing the right ATV tire can make your ride smoother and safer, so it’s important to pick the right ones. This guide will help you understand just how to pick between each popular type of ATV tire so you can get the most out of your ATV.

Why Do ATV Tire Types Matter?

Tires are arguably the most important part of any vehicle, and they can be a huge safety hazard if something’s wrong. While we all love ATVs, about 45,000 people lose their life in ATV accidents that could have been prevented if proper safety protocols were followed.

Tires are the main place where people start getting lazy with safety. You want to make sure that you have the right tires and that your tires are good on the tread, and that they’re even before taking your ATV out for a ride.

To look more into ATV tire maintenance and upkeep, check out this article. We’ll be going more in-depth about the kinds of ATV tires and how to choose the perfect one for you to protect yourself, but you’ll want to learn about how to keep your tires in good condition as well.

Choosing the Best ATV Tire

The first step to choosing the right ATV tire for you is evaluating where you’re going to take your ATV for rides. There are a few different options: mud, sand, rocky, racing, snow, and all-purpose.

Each of these tires will be better in certain situations, and it’s important that you choose the best one for the places you’ll be. While you might take your ATV to different areas, it’s still better to have tires that suit your standard ride.

Mud Tires

If you plan on taking your ATV out in the mud, then you’re going to need tires that are ready to move through mud. This is both a safety feature and a way to make sure you’re not going to get stuck every 15 feet you drive.

Mud tires have long, wide tread patterns that are designed to move through mud instead of getting mud stuck into a bunch of little crevices like you would find on regular tread. Oftentimes, they’re pretty deep as well; this helps prevent mud from getting caked into the tire quickly.

These types of ATV tires are great for soft terrain, but they aren’t going to do you any good on hard, compacted ground. You don’t want to use them on tracks or anywhere where the dirt is pretty solid—you’re going to have a much harder time controlling the ATV and keeping traction.

You’re generally going to find mud tires in 6 ply, but there are 4 and 8 ply options available at some retailers. These tires also last a while, and it’s difficult for them to pop because the rubber is so stiff.

Sand Tires

Sand tires are the most unique looking ATV tires. With the signature paddle tread, you can recognize them a mile away. They wor, similarly that canoe paddles do, by scooping through sandy terrain in order to propel forward.

While this is oversimplified, it does make sense when you think about it. This type of motion means that your ATV isn’t going to get stuck anywhere or have any problems pushing through sand. Similar to the mud tires, the tread is pretty thick so that you’re not going to get stuck in the sand.

Sometimes the front sand tires are completely bare, so don’t be alarmed if you notice this. This is to help get over and through sandy dunes without sinking, and you’ll be fine as long as you have the correct, paddle treaded tires in the rear.

You’ll really only find sand tires in 2 ply because you need them to be lightweight while also getting through the sand with the read design. Anything more than 2 ply just wouldn’t work.

If you want some tips and tricks about riding your ATV in the sand, check out these tips and techniques.

Rocky Terrain Tires

When you want to take your ATV somewhere that’s rocky, it’s important that you have the right tires. Unlike sandy or muddy terrain, you can get in a bad accident by having the wrong tires if you’re anywhere mountainous or rocky in general.

Rocky terrain tires have a jagged pattern on the tread so that there are plenty of angles to find traction on despite all the rocks you’ll run into. Losing your tread while you’re going up or down a mountain is a dangerous thing, so it’s important that your tires can catch onto something while you’re riding.

You’ll notice that a lot of these tires have extra siding along the parameter of the tire. This allows you to run into things or run over things without worrying about popping a tire, which can be just as bad as having the wrong tire.

You’ll want to get these in 6 or 8 ply. While 4 ply does exist for rocky terrain tires, it’s best to go as heavy-duty as your budget allows. You don’t want to be caught in an accident in rocky areas, so preparing with thicker tires is going to help you in the long run.

Racing Tires

If you want to race ATVs, then you’re going to look for racing tires. Yes, racing tires exist, and they’re pretty handy for any kind of flat, semi-hard terrain. You’ll also hear these called sport tires, and you can tell them apart from other ATV tires by the small knob tread.

The goal of racing tires is to give you as much traction in as many places as possible so that you can get all the traction you need while also having complete control over your ATV. Traction has a lot to do with how the ATV drives and how easily you can control it, and racing tires try to minimize any driving complications.

The only negative aspect of racing tires is that they are made out of lighter materials, so you can go as fast as you can. However, this means that you’re going to go through these tires quickly, and that can get expensive.

You can get these tires in 2, 4, and 6 ply. If you want the tires to last as long as possible, go for the 6 ply ones. However, if you’re looking to max out on speed, then check out the 2 ply tires.

Snow Tires

If you plan on taking your ATV through the snow pretty often, then you might want to optimize your tires for the snow. While there aren’t any special snow tires, there are specific tires and alterations that will keep you safe as you ride through snow and the rare ice patches you might meet.

Mud tires are actually the best option for snowy weather because of the wide tread. Keep an eye out on which ones you buy, and look for the widest tread mud tires you can find.

Before taking your ATV out in the snow, add some tire chains to them. This simple tool is great at gripping snow and ice patches, but just make sure you don’t end up speeding off through the snow. This can be extremely dangerous, no matter how fun it sounds.

If you’re looking at riding your ATV in the snow because of the area you live in, make sure to learn about storing your ATV in winter weather!

All-Purpose Tires

For most people, all-purpose ATV tires are the ideal option. You may not know where you like to ride yet, or you might live somewhere that you can take your ATV to a variety of different places.

These look pretty similar to racing tires, but you’ll be able to find them at higher ply ratings. The tread is going to look like knobs, and they’ll do great with most terrains, even in some mud.

These tires aren’t going to work well if you’re looking for something that will get you through snow, ice, and even sand. You’ll want to steer towards tires that are specifically for your own situations.

For ideas on different ATV tires and the best ones to get, check out this article from ATV.com.

Looking to Buy an ATV?

Westshore Marine & Leisure is here for you if you need tips about your new ATV tire, but we can also help you if you’re looking to buy your new ATV.

Be sure to contact us if you have any questions or want to be a part of the ATV community!