Truck Tires - Rubber Match - Tire Test

  |   truck Tire Test tested Trucks When it comes down to choosing a tire for your lifted truck, the question we hear asked the most is, Should I get an all-terrain or a mud-terrain? Many people like the aggressive looks of the mud-terrain, but want the highway manners of the all-terrain. The truth is, both tires have their place and can each fill the role for several types of drivers with different needs. We asked our friends at BFGoodrich to supply us with an A/T and M/T, so we could set out and determine what the differences are in living with an aggressive tire from day to day. Both of our tires were approximately 33 inches tall, but since they were installed on two different trucks, we decided to give you a general overview of their characteristics. Both Center Line wheels and Weld Racing graciously supplied each truck with a set of each company's polished forged wheels, which offer superior strength over stock and cast wheels. The stylish Center Line Stingray III, in a 17x8-inch size, was installed on our project Ranger, while the trick-looking Weld Rod Lite XP came in 16x8s for our project Silverado. The All-Terrain T/AKO has been the bastion of off-road tires for decades and comes standard from the factory on such off-road machines as the Chevy S-10 ZR2, Ford Ranger FX4 Level II, and HUMMER H2. Highly regarded for its robust construction, including a three-ply sidewall known as the TriGuard, the BFGoodrich A/T is also designed with a rim protector to keep those beautiful rims safe from angry curbs. The A/T benefits from an exceptionally long tread life, where in our experience, seeing a 50,000-mile old A/T that has been cared for and still retains tread is not an unusual occurrence. The A/T is now available in 34 sizes as large as 37 inches for 14- to 20-inch wheels. BFGoodrich's mainstay in the extreme off-road department has been the Mud-Terrain T/AKM. Billed as the ultimate off-road tire after proving itself everywhere from racing to rockcrawling, the new KM version retains all of its original off-road-ability, while increasing streetability. Big open tread blocks keep this self-cleaning tread design digging and finding traction in the worst terrain. The M/T is available in 26 tread sizes for 15- to 18-inch rims and is available as large as 37 inches in diameter. The M/T also has TriGuard construction. Anaheim Wheel Center, in California, expertly mounted the wheels and tires on our project Silverado, while our good friend at Best Value Tire in Huntington Beach, California, handled the wheels and tires on our project Ranger. Off-Road
Off-road, the three-ply sidewall offered in both tires is awesome protection from rocks and other road hazards, and both tires are exceptional in handling and performance. The M/T definitely has more bite on the terra firma, but with driving skill, the A/T can get you through about 95 percent of the places that the M/T can. In the mud and muck, the M/T shines, especially when realizing the type of terrain they got you through once you are back safely on the highway reflecting on your adventure during the return trip home. The only place off-road where the A/T has a clear advantage is in the sand dunes, where the A/T's design offers better floatation above the sand than the M/T, which has a tendency to dig through the sand. Our Pick
For everyday driving and performance, our pick is the All-Terrain T/AKO, which offers an excellent compromise between off-road ruggedness and on-road driveability, while still offering that classic design. But if your adventures take you on to the trail more often than not, or if you are building a show truck stunner, than the Mud-Terrain T/AKM is for you. Its aggressive looks and giant open blocks give your truck the most style points, but the superior streetability of this Mud-Terrain will not make you regret choosing an the M/T down the road. On-Road
Having sampled both the A/T and the M/T tires on each vehicle, we can tell you that the M/Ts are a great, well-rounded tire and offer almost the same ride quality as the A/T. However, there is no doubt that the A/T is superior to the M/T in terms of noise and vibration transmitted to the cabin, especially at low speeds. Once you get up to speed, the M/T vibration is more than smooth enough for a daily driver, although, you will hear the tires humming along with the engine and the wind. When it comes to handling and on-center steering feel, the A/Ts definitely feel more responsive on the street. Cornering is better with the A/Ts, but the strides that have been made with M/T's design to provide a true M/T-rated tire with highway civility built in are noticeable the first minute you have them installed. If you have to drive in inclement weather, the A/T is the tire to own. Because of it closed design with siping, which the M/T lacks, the A/T is better in the wet, especially under braking. However, the M/T is a still very capable in wet conditions, especially when encountering large puddles of standing water, waiting only for the snow to fall to really start showing any weakness. Because the best traction on snow is more snow, the self-cleaning nature of the M/T fails to pack up the tread with snow for the best grip. Here the closed lugs and siping on the A/T will be your friend.