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Do I want an A/T, M/T or R/T tire for my truck, SUV or CUV?

Truck owners have always outfitted their trucks with chunky tires, but a newer trend we’ve noticed here at Rolling Stock is what we call the Urban Warrior look: folks are outfitting their Subies, 4Runners, Highlanders, even X5s
and RAV-4s with beefy off-road tires so that they can reach the best surf spots on sandy roads, the best hiking trails on gravel or dirt and the best ski slopes for shredding in the  winter time.

If you are considering a tire with off-road capabilities, you’ve probably wondered about the differences between  A/T, M/T and R/T tires.  Read on for a quick explanation! 

A/T or All Terrain tires: these are the most versatile of the three. All Terrain tires are good all-around tires, although they may not be the best in any one specific situation. A/T tires can easily run on dry
pavement, gravel, hard packed sand, wet, snowy and icy conditions. A/T tires are a good choice for solid surfaces, plus they have better fuel economy and lower road noise than other Terrain tire options.  A/T tires offer the
longest treadwear.

Go for an A/T tire if:

✅ You do most of your driving on the street

✅ You frequently drive in snowy or icy conditions

✅Fuel economy and tire longevity rank high on your list of importance

M/T or Mud Terrain (sometimes called Maximum Terrain): M/T tires are made for extreme surfaces like mud, gravel and sand. These tires are perfect for off - road exploring. They have wide channels that will eject
mud, rocks and water. A drawback to M/T tires is that they don’t do so well in icy and snowy conditions. Snow will clog the chunky tread and diminish traction. M/T tires are made of a softer rubber compound, which makes them
sticky and offers good traction, but the downside is that the tires will wear quicker.

Go for an M/T tire if:

✅ You are an off-road enthusiast who does not drive on snowy or wet roads frequently

✅ You love a meaty tire that you can hear coming from a couple miles away

✅ You don’t mind spending the time and money required to keep these tires balanced and replaced as often as needed (more often than other tires)

R/T or Rugged (or rough) Terrain: R/T tires are kind of like an A/T - M/T combo, I’ve actually heard R/T tires referred to as “tweeners”. On the street, R/T tires are pretty well-mannered, they
have lower road noise than M/T tires, yet they also do great on extreme surfaces. R/T tires offer good wet or snowy traction, too. R/T tires aren’t as aggressive as a Mud Terrain, but they are more aggressive than an All Terrain
tire. R/T tires will not wear as quick as a Mud Tire.

Go for an R/T tire if:

✅ You need more on-road performance on wet, icy or snowy roads

✅ You drive on City streets to work during the week, but on weekends, you need a tire that will take you to the mountains

✅ You don’t mind giving up a bit of the smooth ride an AT tire would offer, in exchange for better off-road performance

I hope this article has helped you decide on the best tire for your off-road adventures. Remember to keep exploring, stay safe...and HAVE FUN!