The Ultimate ATV Tire Guide

Your ATV is rugged and tough, capable of handling almost any type of terrain you may want to ride over. However, you can only ride over certain terrain with the right kind of tires, and it may not be the set that came with your ATV when you bought it. That’s why there are other types of tires that are specialized for different riding styles and terrain conditions. It’s important to consider what type of tire you might need for the riding you wish to do.

Specialty Recreation & Marine is your local ATV dealer in Coeur d'Alene, ID. We’ve prepared this basic breakdown of the types of tires you can get for your ATV so that you can make a wise purchasing decision.

Off-Road Tires

The classic off-road or all-terrain tire is probably what your ATV was equipped with when it came from the factory. These knobby tires are built to take a beating and they’re good for a wide range of general off-road riding. Whether you’re working on your farm or taking a few laps at an ATV track, a good set of off-road tires will serve you well. Tread depths on the standard trail and off-road tires are typically a fraction of an inch to about an inch deep. The treads are closely aligned to give you good traction on a variety of surfaces.

Mud Tires

Love to slosh through mud puddles in wet riding areas? Then you’re going to need tires that give you the necessary traction to get through that shifting, sliding terrain. Tall lugs on mud tires are made to solidly grip deep into the mud, providing you with more stability. You may need to lift up your ATV or use wheel spacers, though, since these tires are bigger and weigh more than other styles.

Mud tires do require your ATV to have more power and they may wear down certain joints. You should also be wary of riding with these tires on any other type of terrain, since the lugs will be swiftly worn down and ruined by hard-pack dirt or dry surfaces, not to mention they’d give you a pretty bumpy and uncomfortable ride!

Sand or Paddle Tires

These tires are perfect for driving over loose materials that are likely to shift under your vehicle, like sand. Instead of knobs, sand tires have “paddles” that scoop up the loose material under your vehicle and push it away, giving you the traction you need on the beach or over other challenging areas. The front and rear tires are designed differently to give you the traction you need, with front tires having slicker treads to improve steering performance.

With sand tires, like with mud tires, you need to be aware that you can’t use these tires on flat or hard surfaces. The paddle protrusions will be worn down and ruined by riding over pavement or hard-packed dirt.

Pavement Tires

Otherwise known as “turf-savers,” pavement tires are perfect for riding over flat lawns, turf, and even pavement or concrete! These tires are designed with shallow and tightly-spaced treads that aren’t liable to tear up the grass. You get a smooth ride over flat ground, but you won’t get much traction, so beware of using these on inclines or uneven surfaces.

In search of a new ATV? Visit Specialty Recreation & Marine in Coeur d'Alene, ID, to take a look at our vast selection of ATVs. We proudly serve all those in Spokane, WA.