Off-Road Guide: How to Choose the Right Tires

When it comes to off-road tires, performance should always come before looks.

Choosing between all-terrain vs. mud-terrain tires is one of the most important steps in prepping your rig for the trail. Unless you’re building a race truck or tackling extreme rock crawling, you’ll likely be deciding between these two types.

Don’t be swayed by aggressive tread alone, just because a mud-terrain tire looks tougher doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for your driving style. Focus on how a tire performs in the real world.

Think about where you drive, how often, and what you actually need from your tires. Do the research, ask questions, and make a decision that fits your terrain and your goals.

All-Terrain Tires

All-terrain tires are built to handle a wide variety of surfaces with balanced performance. Their less aggressive tread design offers better highway comfort, quieter ride quality, and improved on-road handling compared to mud-terrain options, while still holding their own on moderate trails.

Best for:

Long-distance overlanding and expedition driving
Mixing trail time with highway commuting
4x4 trucks used for towing or daily work
Winter driving conditions where traction matters

Mud-Terrain Tires

Mud-terrain tires are built for serious off-road traction. Their large tread blocks and wide voids are designed to eject mud, sand, and soft soil while gripping uneven surfaces like rocks and ruts.

These tires aren't quiet or fuel-efficient, but if you spend more time on the trail than the road, the trade-offs are worth it. Mud-terrains are all about control in the most unpredictable conditions.

Best for:

Deep mud, sand, and loose soil
Technical rock crawling and uneven trails
Aired-down driving in low-traction environments

Extreme Specialty Tires

Not every build is meant to be street legal. For hardcore off-roaders and competitive drivers, extreme-use tires are available for specialized terrain.

BFGoodrich offers purpose-built options like the Baja T/A KR3 for desert racing and the Krawler T/A KX for extreme rock crawling. These aren’t tires you’ll find on a rack at your local shop, talk to your local BFGoodrich dealer to order exactly what you need.

Pro Tip

Alignment can easily get knocked out after trail time, but you can fix it in your driveway.

To set toe-in at home:

Measure the distance between the front and rear of your front tires.
Loosen the sleeves on both ends of the tie rod.
Rotate the tie rod 1/16" to 1/8" inward.
Tighten the sleeves once your toe-in is set.
Center your steering wheel and you’re good to go.

Proper alignment helps your tires wear evenly and your vehicle track straight, both on the road and off it.

Sizing

In off-roading, size matters, especially when it comes to tires. The right size can help your vehicle clear obstacles, improve stability, and even boost performance in loose terrain.

Thinking about going bigger? Make sure you understand what comes with that choice. Larger-than-stock tires often require aftermarket modifications like a lift kit. That may also mean adjusting brake lines, steering geometry, and suspension components. All those changes can impact handling and increase your rollover risk.

The golden rule: Choose the tire that matches your terrain and your build. Off-road recovery can be tricky, especially in remote areas, so it's smarter to be prepared than to get stranded.

Most off-road tires fall into one of two categories: LT-metric or high-flotation.

LT-Metric Sizes

LT-metric tires are engineered for light trucks. Compared to passenger tires, they’re stronger, more durable, and built to handle towing, hauling, and off-road abuse. You’ll also find them as OEM equipment on most heavy-duty trucks for good reason, they’re made to work hard and last longer.

Size It Before You Buy It

If you’re stepping up in size, double-check that your vehicle can handle it. Know what the numbers on your sidewall mean before you buy.

We’ll break it down for you in the next section.

High-Flotation Sizes

High-flotation tires deliver similar performance to LT-metric tires, but with easier-to-understand sizing. These tires are a popular upgrade for off-roaders who want a bigger footprint without diving into load charts.

Flotation tires are especially useful for driving in loose terrain like sand, mud, or snow, where maximizing surface area helps you stay above the surface instead of sinking in.

Know the Difference

LT-metric and flotation tires follow completely different sizing systems. Don’t mix them up, and don’t guess. Always check that your calculations and measurements are accurate before making the switch.

Original Equipment Check

Not all tires that come on a new SUV or light truck are off-road ready. In fact, many roll off the lot with P-metric (passenger) tires, chosen to meet fuel economy goals, not rugged performance.

If your vehicle has P-metric tires, consider replacing them immediately. These tires are not built for the demands of off-roading and can be a weak link in your setup.

Never replace original LT tires with P-metric tires. You’ll lose critical load capacity and durability.

Tire Pressure

You don’t need to be a scientist to understand the importance of tire pressure, but you do need to manage it. Correct pressure helps extend tire life, improves traction, and optimizes vehicle control across different terrains.

Because trail conditions vary, you’ll need to adjust tire pressure depending on where you’re driving. Always carry a reliable pressure gauge and portable air compressor. That way, you can deflate for grip and reinflate for the ride home.

On-Road Air Pressure

Proper tire pressure is essential for safe on-road driving. It directly affects your vehicle’s handling, traction, and tread life.

If you're running your vehicle on original equipment (OE) tires, always follow the manufacturer’s recommended PSI for both front and rear tires. You’ll find this info:

-In the owner’s manual

-On the tire placard (typically located inside the driver’s side door)

However, if you’ve upgraded from P-metric tires to LT-metric or high-flotation tires, it’s not a one-size-fits-all equation anymore. These tires have different load and inflation requirements. To avoid underinflation or overinflation, consult the tire manufacturer’s pressure recommendation for your specific size and use case.

Getting this right ensures your off-road tires deliver optimal performance when you return to paved roads.

Changing Tire Size Affects Recommended Pressures

When you upgrade to a larger tire size, the manufacturer’s recommended pressures (listed on your vehicle’s door placard and in the owner’s manual) no longer apply. Larger tires typically require less pressure to carry the same load.

Don’t guess. Always consult a tire professional to calculate the correct tire pressure for your upgraded setup. The right PSI ensures optimal safety, handling, and tread life.

Off-Road Air Pressure

Airing down, lowering your tire pressure, is one of the most important off-road techniques. It increases your tire’s footprint for better traction on soft or uneven terrain and creates a smoother ride over bumps and rocks.

That said, there’s no universal number. The best air-down pressure depends on your tire type, terrain, and vehicle weight. If you’re new to off-roading, talk to a seasoned driver before airing down for the first time.

Keep in mind:

Tire pressure changes with temperature. Cold mornings = lower pressure. Hot days or direct sun = higher pressure.
Always check your PSI before you hit the trail, not after.
If your pressure reads “perfect” when the tire is hot, it’ll be too low once it cools down.
Don’t overdo it. Too little pressure can unseat the tire from the rim and cause serious damage. Beadlock wheels can help prevent this if you air down often or to very low levels.

Flat Tire Prep

Even the most rugged off-road tires can take a beating. Make it a habit to inspect your tires for cuts, bulges, and other visible damage before and after every trail run.

And always be prepared in case of a flat. Here's what you should carry:

Full-size spare tire and wheel (within ±1 inch of your main tire diameter)
4x6 wooden block – gives your jack the extra lift needed on uneven terrain
Tire plug kit – for quick, temporary trail repairs
Portable air compressor and pressure gauge – for inflation and monitoring

If you’ve used a temporary fix, visit a tire shop once you're back on pavement. Replace any tire with sidewall punctures, deep gashes, or compromised integrity.

Always Air Up Before Returning to the Road

Tires that are aired down for off-road use must be reinflated before driving on paved roads. Underinflated tires can:

Reduce handling and traction
Accelerate uneven treadwear
Run hotter, increasing the risk of blowouts

Pro Tip:

Never head off-road without a way to air back up. Whether it's a portable compressor or a CO₂ tank, reinflating your tires is critical for safe highway performance.

BFGoodrich answers your most asked questions.

FAQ

All-terrain tires balance performance across many surfaces, offering better highway comfort, quieter running, and improved on-road handling while still capable on moderate trails. Mud-terrain tires use larger, more widely spaced tread blocks for maximum bite and self-cleaning in deep mud, at the cost of road noise, on-road grip, and tread life.

Be honest about where you actually drive. If most of your miles are highway with occasional trails, all-terrain is the better tire even though mud-terrain looks tougher. If you spend real time in deep mud, rock, and committed terrain, mud-terrain earns its trade-offs. Do not choose based on aggressive appearance alone.

Airing down means lowering your tire pressure before hitting the trail. It increases the tire's footprint for better traction on soft or uneven terrain and creates a smoother ride over bumps and rocks. It is one of the most effective off-road techniques available, and it costs nothing beyond the time to air back up afterward.

There is no universal number. The right pressure depends on your tire type, the terrain, and your vehicle weight. If you are new to off-roading, talk to an experienced driver before airing down for the first time. Going too low risks unseating the bead and damaging the rim on hard obstacles.

Temperature. Cold mornings mean lower pressure, hot days or direct sun mean higher pressure. Always check your psi before you hit the trail rather than after. On a long day the swing between a cold start and a hot afternoon can be significant, particularly if you have aired down.

Yes, and do not guess. A different tire size carries a different load at the same pressure. Always consult a tire professional to calculate the correct pressure for your upgraded setup. The right psi is what ensures safety, correct handling, and full tread life on your new tires.

It can. Lifting your rig and fitting bigger tires raises the center of gravity and changes handling characteristics. Those changes can increase rollover risk, particularly on side hills and in emergency maneuvers on pavement. Build thoughtfully and adjust your driving to match the vehicle you now have rather than the one you started with.

Tire Selection

What You'll Find in This Section

All-Terrain Tires

Mud-Terrain Tires