All Terrain Tires | Info & Tests

All-terrain tires provide off-road capability while maintaining a quiet and comfortable ride on the road. These tires are specially designed to offer stability in both environments. Finding the perfect balance between these two terrains is challenging, requiring extensive engineering and tread design to achieve optimal results.

That’s where I come in, to help you understand exactly what these tires offer.

Scroll below, to find the best all terrain tires.

What Exactly are All Terrain Tires?

All-terrain tires typically come with a more aggressive tread design, featuring staggered shoulder blocks and sidewall lugs, enhancing off-road handling and grip. They are more durable than highway touring tires, often having a greater number of plies (internally) to protect the sidewalls, which are particularly vulnerable to off-road damage.

With their larger tread voids, they’re able to effectively expel out dirt, mud, and water. However, larger grooves mean less rubber-to-road contact, which reduces dry grip. Therefore, all-terrain tires have to find a balance here.

Moreover, many of these tires are also rated for severe snow conditions, and those with the 3-peak mountain snowflake ratings, offer slightly more stable winter traction.

For highway use, these tires are equipped with full-depth sipes, some featuring an interlocking design, enhancing wet traction. The rubber composition is balanced — not too soft or hard — as a harder compound compromises wet grip, while a softer one affects dry grip.

A softer compound also prevents the tire from becoming too stiff in winter, and enhances comfort, by soaking up road irregularities. However, overly soft compound is susceptible to faster wear. Hence, all-terrain tires incorporate polymers that maintain softness and elasticity, making them resistant to chips and cuts for travel on gravel and stones.

So you see, with so many factors to consider, choosing the right all-terrain tires can be overwhelming.

Enter my list of top all-terrain tires.

Best All Terrain Tires:

In this carefully curated list, you’re sure to find the tire that perfectly fits your needs. Each tire featured here has earned its spot due to a unique performance attribute. Take, for example, the Mickey Baja Boss AT– it’s highlighted in this list because of its outstanding performance in winter conditions.

Here’s the List of Best All Terrain Tires:
https://tiredriver.com/best-all-terrain-tires/

In this diverse lineup, you’ll find tires that are exclusively on-road or off-road centric, and then there are those that masterfully blend both worlds. To me, the quintessential all-terrain tire is one that elegantly bridges this divide, offering a harmonious mix of on and off-road capabilities.

Falken Wildpeak AT3W

The Falken Wildpeak AT3w is a tire that truly delivers an optimal balance for diverse terrains. Its standout feature is its versatility, providing excellent performance both on highways and rugged terrains with minimal compromise. This tire not only offers a 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rating but also has the deepest tread in its category.

On pavements, it excels especially in wet conditions, and impressively scores well, in terms of noise reduction and fuel efficiency.

Though the tire has some improvement areas too, where notably, its steering responsiveness, and tread durability/longevity, could be improved.

Read full review of Falken Wildpeak AT3w here:
https://tiredriver.com/falken-wildpeak-at3w-review/

I have also compared Falken Wildpeak AT3W with following tires.

This tire is updated to Wildpeak AT4w

BF Goodrich KO2

Now updated to KO3, the BF Goodrich KO2 is a very famous all terrain tire. The tire is very tough an is capable of going on pretty rugged terrains. And it does that by still providing you with a satisfactory on road comfort.

Read full review of BF Goodrich KO2 here:
https://tiredriver.com/bf-goodrich-ko2-review/

Tire comparisons with BF Goodrich KO2:

General Grabber A/TX

The General Grabber A/TX looks very much like the BF Goodrich KO2. The tire provides a similar interlocking ribs which provide almost same kind of traction on road in dry and wet.

Read full review of General Grabber A/TX:
https://tiredriver.com/general-grabber-atx-review/

Comparisons of this Grabber ATX available:

Toyo Open Country AT3

The Toyo Open Country AT3 is an update to Toyo AT2, the tire now comes with updated design that allows it to have 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rating.

Read full review of Toyo Open Country AT3:
https://tiredriver.com/toyo-open-country-at3-review/

Comparisons of Toyo Open Country AT3 available on site:

Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac

Almost a decade old now, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac was the first ever tire to come up with hybrid design. It’s aggressive tread voids allow it to have amazing mud traction capabilities.

Read full review of Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac:
https://tiredriver.com/goodyear-wrangler-duratrac-review/

Comparisons of DuraTrac, available on site:

DuraTrac has a new addition the DuraTrac RT.

Kumho Road Venture AT52

Replacing AT51, the Road Venture AT52 provides some decent mixture of on and off-road performance.

Check this tire out here: https://tiredriver.com/kumho-road-venture-at52-review/

Comparisons of Road Venture AT52, available on site:

Nitto Terra Grappler G2

Nitto Terra Grappler is now updated, that’s why it has a “G2” in it’s name now. The updated tire now features dual sidewall design, variable pitch technology and 3 peak mountain snowflake rating for winter traction. It’ the least aggressive off all, in the Grappler family.

Read full review of Nitto Terra Grappler G2:
https://tiredriver.com/nitto-terra-grappler-g2-all-terrain-review/

Comparisons of Nitto Terra Grappler available on site:

Nitto Nomad Grappler

Review it here: https://tiredriver.com/nitto-nomad-grappler-review/

Comparisons of this tire, available on site:

Nitto Recon Grappler

Nitto Recon Grappler is an all terrain tires, which comes in between the Terra and Ridge Grappler. It’s the first tire to come up with 3PMSF ratings. Apart form lacking in the wet on-roads, the tire pretty much checks all boxes.

Read full review of Nitto Recon Grappler:
https://tiredriver.com/nitto-recon-grappler-review/

Comparisons available:

Nitto Ridge Grappler

My go to tire for rocks is Nitto Ridge Grappler. This tire gives me no trouble and has never let me down.

Read full review of Nitto Ridge Grappler:
https://tiredriver.com/nitto-ridge-grappler-review/

Comparisons of this tire, available on site:

Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT

The Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT is the most aggressive variant of the Discoverer family where the other two are 4S and LT. I have compared this variant here as it’s a better suited all terrain tire, and the only variant with powerful sidewall lugs, that you can not miss.

Read full review of Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT here:
https://tiredriver.com/cooper-discoverer-at3-review/

Comparisons of this tire, available on site:

Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus

Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus provides with a combo of fuel economy and dry handling. The tire’s steering response is very sporty and never lets you down. It comes with 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rating.

Read full review of Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus here:
https://tiredriver.com/pirelli-scorpion-all-terrain-plus-review/

Comparisons of Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus available:

Sumitomo Encounter A/T

The Sumitomo Encounter AT, is a Japanese tire which basically excels on wet roads, (an area where many A/T tires lag, I must add). Though its dry traction is also notable.

And same goes for snowy terrain performance as well, as the tire’s all season compound earns with 3 peak mountain snowflake rating. However, its off-road performance could use a boost, specifically on muddy terrains and rocky surfaces, as the tire lacks self cleaning grooves and durability.

Read full review of Sumitomo Encounter AT here: https://tiredriver.com/sumitomo-encounter-at-all-terrain-review/

Comparisons of Encounter A/T available:

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT is one of the newest addition to all terrain tires. The tire provides the best snow performance out of all the off road tires, in it’s category. The tire is basically a hybrid but is marketed as all terrain. Hybrid tires have bigger gaps between shoulder blocks compared to middle ones.

Read full review of Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT here:
https://tiredriver.com/mickey-thompson-baja-boss-at-review/

Comparisons of Baja Boss A/T available:

Yokohama Geolandar AT G015

When it comes to all terrain tires, the focus is off road, sure, but they try to make these as comfortable as possible off road, and that’s where the Yokohama Geolandar AT G015 comes in, as the tire is the most comfortable tire that you can find out there.

Read full review of Yokohama Geolandar G015 here:
https://tiredriver.com/yokohama-geolandar-g015-review/

Comparisons of Geolandar A/T G015 available:

BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A

Trail Terrain T/A is another all-terrain tire addition from BF Goodrich, where the main focus is improving on-road comfort and traction. The tire does a great job in fuel efficiency, tread wear and winter performance, though it needs some wet traction overall.

Read full review of BF Goodrich Trail Terrain here:
https://tiredriver.com/bf-goodrich-trail-terrain-review/

Comparisons of Trail Terrain T/A available:

General Grabber APT

Grabber APT Detailed Review: https://tiredriver.com/general-grabber-apt-review/

Comparisons of Grabber APT available:

Continental TerrainContact A/T

Continental TerrainContact A/T is a very on-road oriented tire, offering the top performing dry and wet grip on highways. Out of all tires I reviewed, this one is the most silent, outperforming some passenger tires there as well.

Read full review of Continental TerrainContact A/T here:
https://tiredriver.com/continental-terraincontact-at-review/

Comparisons of TerrainContact AT available:

Firestone Destination X/T

The Firestone Destination X/T provides well-rounded traction both on and off-road, where it really impresses you with its grip on dry and wet surfaces. This is mainly because of it’s lightweight design which offers quick dynamic response and cornering abilities.

Read full review of Firestone Destination X/T here: https://tiredriver.com/firestone-destination-xt-review/

Comparisons of Destination X/T available:

Firestone Destination AT2

AT tires are infamous for lacking behind in the fuel consumption department, but that’s not the case with the Firestone Destination AT2, as the tire is the most fuel efficient that you can find staying in the all terrain tires category.

Read full review of Firestone Destination AT2 here:
https://tiredriver.com/firestone-destination-at2-review/

Comparisons of Destination AT2 available:

Kenda Klever AT2

Kenda Klever AT2 is a very nice budget pick. It’s one of the latest addition to all terrain tires, and it’s performance always impresses me given it’s price tag. The tire is 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rated and is very capable on and off road, except for muddy terrains.

Read full review of Kenda Klever AT2 here:
https://tiredriver.com/kenda-klever-at2-review/

Comparisons of Kenda Klever AT2 available:

Goodyear Wrangler AT/S

The Wrangler ATS proves its capabilities, particularly on dry roads, being an A/T tire that is. It gives you above average grip, fuel efficiency, tread longevity and overall comfort. Although it isn’t tailored for heavy off-roading, and it could really benefit from an upgraded wet and winter performance, I mean it makes sense why the tire isn’t 3 peak mountain snowflake rated.

Read full review of Goodyear Wrangler AT/S here: https://tiredriver.com/goodyear-wrangler-at-s-review/

Comparisons of Wrangler AT/S available:

Michelin LTX A/T2

The Michelin LTX A/T2 showcases excellent dry traction, with directional grip being its standout feature. The tire also performs well in comfort and tread life, though it falls short in wet traction and fuel efficiency. And off-road, it handles dry conditions well, specifically excelling in climbing on rocks and sand.

Read full review of Michelin LTX A/T2 here: https://tiredriver.com/michelin-ltx-at2-review/

Comparisons of Michelin LTX A/T2 available:

Hankook Dynapro AT2

The Dynapro AT2 excels with robust dry grip, agile steering response, superb noise cancellation, and long (enough) tread life. This tire doesn’t disappoint off-road either, handling most terrains with ease, though it could really use some sidewalls. Moreover, there is also a lot of room for improvement, when it comes to wet conditions and impact comfort performance.

Read full review of Hankook Dynapro AT2 here: https://tiredriver.com/hankook-dynapro-at2-rf11-review/

Comparisons of Hankook Dynapro AT2 available: