The Best ATV Tires (Review) in 2023 | Autance

When searching for ATV tires to install on your 4×4 quad bike, be on the lookout for durable models that…

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The Best ATV Tires (Review) in 2023 | Autance © The Best ATV Tires (Review) in 2023 | Autance
Best Choice best choice atv tire ITP Mud Lite AT Mud Terrain ATV Tire
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Premium Pick premium pick atv tires WANDA Set of 4 ATV/UTV Tires
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Best Value affordable atv tires Carlisle Knobby ATV Tire
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When searching for ATV tires to install on your 4×4 quad bike, be on the lookout for durable models that stand the test of time. You need your tires to be suitable for the surfaces which you will drive it on. Obviously, the more often you drive your ATV, the quicker your tires are going to wear down, but you want them to be as long lasting as possible.

With a host of different options out there, making a decision can feel a little bit tricky, but our guide makes things just a little bit more straightforward. After all, you don’t want to risk causing yourself an injury because you opted for sub-standard tires. We look at the best ATV tires for sale in extensive detail.

The Best ATV Tires

First are these four-wheeler tires that are an excellent replacement for many high-performance ATV tires. However, check that your vehicle is compatible before purchase. The rubber compound is made for extended wear, so it is designed to stand the test of time. The tires also offer good value for the money.

It is an all-condition tire that is designed to handle a range of different trails. And while you are ploughing through the mud, there is a unique center tread that helps to provide a smooth ride.

Key Features
  • Mud tire designed for trails
  • Smooth, radial-like ride
  • High level of durability
  • Designed to handle all conditions
Specification
  • Brand ITP
  • Model 56A306
  • Weight 14.4 pounds

Designed for non-highway use, these 4-wheeler tires feature angled knobs that are designed to dig into the terrain and provide a high degree of traction. The casing is 6-ply rated and extra tough to resist punctures, so you are less likely to need to replace them regularly. At the center are lugs that offer an extra level of traction and increased control. Built in are rim guards to offer your wheel further protection, while the treat compound is long range.

Key Features
  • Angles knobs for max traction
  • Extra-tough casing for puncture resistance
  • Built-in rim guard for additional protection
  • 6-ply rating
Specification
  • Brand Kenda
  • Model 082991245C1
  • Weight 17.4 pounds

A complete set of tires for your ATV, the angled tread design offers a high-performance on many types of trails including dirt tracks, deserts, and rocky surfaces. Premium rubber is used to withstand even the most intense of racing conditions.

To resist punctures and abrasions, 6-ply rated construction has been used. Ultimately, these tires are supposed to give you are smooth ride no matter what type of surface you are taking on.

Key Features
  • Made using premium rubber
  • Enhanced skid and traction control
  • Great on most types of terrain
Specification
  • Brand SUNF
  • Model A033 Power.I
  • Weight 92 pounds

Available in a wide range of different sizes to suit a variety of vehicles, these ATV tires are best on flatter surfaces like pavement or dirt. Using a 4-ply rating and low-profile construction, they are lightweight while still offering a decent level of durability.

Designed to have a long tread life, you won’t need to keep replacing them time and time again. And, as you would expect, they offer a smooth ride which is an upgrade on a wide range of different machines.

Key Features
  • 4-ply construction for dirt and hard surfaces
  • Adds versatility to your machine
  • Smooth ride and long wear life
Specification
  • Brand Carlisle
  • Model 511507
  • Weight 19.7 pounds

Whether you want to ride your vehicle on dirt tracks, mud trails, woods or desert, the handling offered by these all terrain ATV tires is high-quality. Protecting the rim and sidewall are additional shoulder lugs.

To offer a longer lifespan to the Wanda ATV tires, the tread is as much as 36% deeper than the major competitors on the market. Punctures and abrasions are resisted thanks to the 6-ply rated construction.

Key Features
  • Full set of tires for replacement
  • Deep, solid tread pattern
  • 6-ply rated construction to protect against punctures and abrasions
Specification
  • Brand WANDA
  • Model P350
  • Weight 110 pounds

Made from a puncture-resistant casing, this is the kind of tire which you can expect to stand the test of time. Using a long-range compound in construction, it is designed to offer both solid control and traction.

Essentially, it is a high-quality option for your ATV or UTV tires. The tread pattern is specifically designed to roll easily and ensure that you enjoy a smooth ride.

Key Features
  • Made using puncture-resistant casing
  • Smooth ride provided by tread pattern design
  • Uses long-range compound
Specification
  • Brand Kenda
  • Model 085301191A1
  • Weight 15.2 pounds

Designed specifically for hard-packed surfaces, these ATV street tires are made for stability. The tread pattern is non-directional with a long-lasting construction firmly in mind.

At the same time, this is still a tire which is meant to give you a smooth ride. But it is also durable enough to resist all manner of chips, cuts, and abrasions.

Key Features
  • Blended tread pattern offers self-cleaning and traction
  • Spread out footprint for solid surfaces
  • Resists cuts, chips, and abrasions
Specification
  • Brand Carlisle
  • Model 5883B9
  • Weight 20.5 pounds

A complete set of tires for your ATV, the tread pattern is nice and deep to ensure that the lifespan is longer, and the performance is biting. As for the angle of the treads, they are a ‘V’ shape with wide gaps in the middle. Overall, the cleaning action is designed to offer good traction levels over rougher terrain. Shoulder lugs defend the rim and sidewall, while the heavy nylon construction protects against punctures.

Key Features
  • Directional ‘V’ angled tread design
  • Cleaning action offers traction over rough terrain
  • Nylon construction resists punctures
Specification
  • Brand WANDA
  • Model ATV22S4P341
  • Weight 75 pounds

The ribbed design of this tire is made specifically to go on the front of your ATV. Essentially, it is made to offer improved steering precision ahead of OEM tires. Every single knob is reinforced to offer a high level of tracking and cornering.

As for the casing, it is designed to resist punctures and make it more likely that you can continue driving on it for a longer period of time.

Key Features
  • Puncture-resistant casing
  • High-level steering precision
  • Reinforced knobs for better tracking
Specification
  • Brand Kenda
  • Model 082841190A1
  • Weight 16 pounds

Not only does this tire look good, it performs well too. The deep tread design is meant for off-road riding and high levels of acceleration. Its durable design means that it is meant to continue functioning effectively for years. Since it is heavy duty, it is designed to manage all sorts of difficult terrain. It is also designed to provide an extra level of protection against abrasions and punctures from sharp materials.

Key Features
  • Original tire pattern for high-quality gripping
  • Good for off-road riding
  • Puncture-proof design 
Specification
  • Brand Carlisle
  • Model 5150031
  • Weight 7.1 pounds

Best ATV Tires Buying Guide & FAQ

Features to Consider When Buying ATV Tires

Now that you know some of the specific products on the market, you can start to look closer at the positive features which are all worth taking into account.

  • Traction

The sense of touch on your tires is known as the traction. ATV tires have the tough job of needing to adjust to the power and load, as well as ensuring that they keep moving your forward. No matter where you are out riding your ATV, you need to make sure that the traction is high-quality. Ultimately, this has a large bearing on how well you are able to travel over the terrain. The better the traction on your tires, the more control you should have over your vehicle. Ultimately, you don’t want to feel like you are always going to skid or lose control of your ATV.

  • Tread Style

Depending on the terrain that needs to be traversed, tread styles can vary significantly. Good tire treads need to be balanced. Essentially, they should offer durability and high-level performance when you are going around corners. If you head into tough terrain such as mud, you need the type of tread design which will dig into the surface and keep hold. All terrain tires give you the freedom to take on a variety of different surfaces. Whichever style of tread you select, you need to be confident that the tires will handle as well as the ones which you had before.

  • Tire Size

The size of your tires will also have a determining impact on how well the ATV will work. Just some of the areas which tire size impacts include the handling, horsepower, and gearing. But your tires also need to be based on what size of ATV you have, and how well they are going to fit on the vehicle. Ultimately, everything comes back to the turning radius and the amount of space you have around the fenders. Standard tire sizes are around 24 or 26 inches tall on a 12-inch rim. The majority of ATVs can take a size or two bigger than stock tires without issue. However, if you decide to go any bigger, you will need to lift the suspension of the machine. So, as a rule of thumb, you should stay as close to the stock tire size as you can. Whether you choose 25x8x12 ATV tires or 25x12x9 ATV tires, make sure that you have done your research in advance.

  • Durability

As mentioned at the start, ATV tires need to have the ability to deal with all sorts of different surfaces and obstacles such as rocks, logs, thorns, and loose branches. Hazards are part and parcel of riding an ATV. The best tires available offer a high level of durability, as well as being puncture and damage-resistant. Ultimately, you want them to be reliable to carry you through thick and thin.

  • Weight

The weight of each of your tires obviously increases the weight of your machine. As well as this, since heavier tires increase the engine load and components, you need to be sure that you select a tire which the engine of your ATV will easily turn. Some engines may struggle to pull the tire properly, and you don’t want to reduce the performance levels of your machine. An engine which is too small will strain when turning aggressively heavy treads.

  • Flat or Round

A factor which is often overlooked is the flatness or roundness of the tires. Most utility ATVs come with round-top tires, while racing tires usually come with flat-top tires. It is worth knowing a little bit more about what the main differences are. Flat-top tires increase the amount of tread on the ground, while also offering a superior level of sidewall stability. As for round-top tires, they offer an increased level of versatility, rolling under themselves when you take corners particularly hard. On the most part, they also offer a smoother and more comfortable ride than their flat counterparts. While this doesn’t have to be a major issue, it is still one which is worth knowing about in a little more detail.

  • Price

Obviously, price shouldn’t be the sole issue when you are looking to buy ATV tires, but it is inevitably going to play a role in your decision-making process. Of course, your main aim is likely to be getting the best tires that your money can afford. The price which you pay should be a reflection of the brand, tire quality, performance, and lifespan.

Different Types of ATV Tires

Bias and radial tires are the two standard varieties. Let’s look at both of these in more detail to help make your mind up about which is best. Following on from this, we will look closer at all-purpose tires which provide the compromise between smooth highway riding and strong enough grip to deal with a variety of road surfaces.

  • Bias Tires

If you are planning on driving on particularly rough terrain or steep hillsides, bias tires may end up being your best option. The nubs are designed to powerfully ‘dig in’ and gain traction on difficult terrain such as gravel, mud or water. However, when you are riding on flat surfaces such as tarmacked road, these tires will feel bumpy. Also, they are likely to wear out quickly, so you will need to look at replacements more frequently. On the plus side, punctures are easier and cheaper to replace than with radial ATV tires. However, as well as being less stable, they are also inferior when it comes to fuel economy too.

  • Radial Tires

As for radial tires, they are designed to be driven on at higher speeds on flat surfaces and roads. As you would expect, they are supposed to provide a smoother ride than bias tires, and the fuel economy is better too. On the downside, they are easier to puncture or damage, and they are also often more difficult to repair. So, if you are planning on bumping along challenging surfaces, they may not be the best option for you. But if you take good care of them and ride on the appropriate surfaces, they should last longer than bias tires.

  • Off-Road Tires

First up in the all-purpose tire list is off-road tires. The tread is strong and durable enough to deal with unpaved roads, loose rocky terrain, sand, mud, and most other rough surfaces that you test them out on. However, they are also suitable for speeding over sand dunes, solid trails, and more conventional roads. Essentially, they give you the best of both worlds without being specialized like either of the two previous varieties.

  • Snow and Mud Tires

Some manufacturers centre on making winter tires for ATVs. Generally tough and durable, ATV snow tires are designed to resist punctures. The best ATV mud tires have high knobs are built into the traction patterns to shift the snow or mud in front of you. And although they work well with in these conditions, they are not suitable for hard surfaces, and they can even end up being damaging, so take this into account if you were considering leaving them on.

  • Sand Tires

Perhaps racing over sand dunes is one of your main pastimes, which means that you will need the slickness and bulkiness of sand tires. While the straight paddles offer increased traction, the V-shaped paddle affords easy turning. The more paddles on the tire, the greater the level of traction you will generally have.

  • Racing or Motocross Tires

The most durable tires which you can buy are the professional-standard racing or motocross tires. As well as withstanding the trials of a racing environment, they also need to have enough grip and traction to deal with loose dirt tracks. The solid strip at the center allows for an extra burst of speed. You are unlikely to need these tires unless you go racing on your ATV.

How to Change an ATV Tire

If you learn to replace an ATV tire on your own, this will help to save you a significant amount of time and money. And this is an invaluable skill if you drive your quadbike on a regular basis. Since you are riding your vehicle over rough surfaces, there is every chance that you will hit some debris out on the trail, the tires will become weathered, or simply degrade over time. Changing your ATV wheels and tires shouldn’t be an overly complicated task, and here are the main steps that you will need to take.

  • Drain the Air and Break the Seal

In order to take off the old tires, you are going to need to drain their air. Remove the valve stem to allow the air to leave the tires. On some ATV rims and tires, a wire boundary sits around the lip of the tire to hold it in place and also keeps the air in place. All you need to do is push in the sidewall of the tire. Alternatively, there may be a small tab along the rim which you need to flip up in order to break the seal.

  • Take Off the Old Tires

After you have drained the air and the seal is broken, you can take off the tire from the rim. This may simply be a case of pressing on the sidewall to get it to pop over the edge. Otherwise, you could try using the flat part of a tire iron underneath the edge. Now, using a second tire iron, you can slide it all the way around the circumference over the edge of the rim. You will need to do this again for the second edge, entirely taking the tire off from the ridge.

  • Put in the New Tires

The final step that you need to take is to install the new tires. Essentially, you need to go through the same procedure of taking the tire off the rim, but in reverse. Take your tire iron and lever one edge onto the rim. Next, take your second tire iron and lever the next section onto the rim. Bit by bit, you should be able to position it onto the rim. If you are struggling to complete this task, a little water-based lubricant can make things easier. Once you have got it on, you should engage the seal tab if there is one. Finally, fill the tires with air and check for any leaks that are present.

Best ATV Tires FAQ:

Q: How do I choose the right size?

You should aim to replace the tires of your ATV with models with a close-to-equal width and height, or as similar as you can get. Remember that ATV manufacturers have carefully researched and tested to ensure that the size of the tires match other important issues like the gearing, engine power, handling etc. Riding on tires which are too small can put too much pressure on a number of your components including the engine, transmission, and axels. Too larger of a tire can end up overheating the engine as it has to work much harder to turn properly. The same also goes for a tire which is too wide. Ultimately, this will just increase the rolling mass. A tire which is too narrow will reduce the amount of tread pattern in contact with the ground. If you do decide that you want to switch tires, you should go for a set which are as similar as possible to the width and/or height of your originals. Ultimately, you don’t want to risk overstressing the components of your ATV, causing damage, and potentially putting your own safety at risk.

Q: Will a deeper tread improve grip in ice and snow?

Your tires are so important when it comes to giving your vehicle control and handling in snowy and icy conditions. There are three main tire features which impact grip on snow and ice. These are proper tread design, pliable tread compound, and enough tread depth. All three need to work in conjunction with one another. Tires require increased tread depth during the winter months as this helps to compress snow into the grooves, releasing it as they roll along. If there is not enough depth, the snow can no longer be processed on each revolution of the tires. Therefore, your ATV’s mobility and traction in snow will be lessened. Special winter tires are molded with deeper tread depths than their standard counterparts. Some even feature winter wear indicators to show that the depth is enough for winter riding. While they don’t necessarily show that tires are legally worn out, they indicate that the treads have been worn down to 5/32″ of the remaining depth and it is a good idea to get them replaced.

Q: What is the difference between a regular tire and a mud tire?

Mud tires are well-known for their powerful looks and treading. The less-aggressively treaded tires work in a variety of conditions, apart from hard-packed surfaces. However, if your tires have tail lugs as well, they only tend to work well in mud, and should only be used for ATVs which will only be driven in mud pits. Generally, mud tires are larger and need more low-end power to effectively turn through the mud. As for the tread pattern, it is usually directional to properly cut through the mud. Also, the lugs are spaced much wider apart in comparison to regular trail tires. This allows the tires to clean themselves by spinning off the mud. While this tread pattern and lugs may work well in the mud, you will be in for a bumpy ride if you try to use these tires on hard surfaces. The handling is likely to be diminished too.

Our Top Pick

ITP Mud Lite AT Mud Terrain ATV Tire

A highly-rated ATV tire, it has been specifically sized to work on the majority of late-model vehicles. The extended wear of the tire is designed to withstand the rigors of a range of different surfaces, and it is also crafted to be long-lasting enough to ensure that you don’t need continual replacements.

This all-condition tire still works well in muddy conditions, so you can be confident when you are tearing up the trails on them. In the middle is a unique center contact area which offers you a smooth ride.

Its range of high-quality feature has put it in our number one spot of the best ATV tires currently on the market.

Sources:

  1. How Off-Road ATVs Work – howstuffworks
  2. How to Change an ATV Tire – wikiHow
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