Mud-Terrain Tires

Mud-terrain tires are purpose-built for traction where there is no pavement. The defining feature is the tread void ratio: the huge gaps between tread blocks let the tire dig down through mud to find something solid, and let the mud pack out and fling clear as the wheel turns instead of filling in and turning the tire into a slick. The large blocks themselves are what bite into rock and rutted dirt.The other half of a real mud-terrain is the sidewall. Aggressive sidewall lugs give you traction from the side of the tire when you are in a rut, and a three-ply sidewall construction resists punctures from rock edges when you air down. If you air down to 12 to 18 psi for trail traction, sidewall construction is the specification you should be reading first.Be realistic about the tradeoffs on pavement:Noticeably louder, especially between 45 and 65 mph, and the noise grows as the tire wearsShorter tread life, commonly 30,000 to 40,000 milesReduced wet pavement braking compared to an all-terrain, because there is less rubber touching the roadA measurable fuel economy hit from weight and rolling resistanceFaster irregular wear if you do not rotate on a strict scheduleIf your truck is a daily driver that sees mud a few weekends a year, a rugged-terrain tire will make you happier. If you actually get stuck for a living or for fun, nothing else does this job.