Off-road tires are those tires which are generally designed for various rough terrains such as muddy, sandy, rocky, snowy and many other types of terrains. Off-road tires are specifically used by people living on these rough, unpredictable terrains. One can go for a general highway tires if the road is non hazardous and properly paved. However, if you are on a road trip where uneven terrains are possible, then you must opt for off road tires.
The basic function of tires is to provide proper grip and traction. For normal vehicles, this means holding on a comparatively smooth paved or slightly rough surface. But for off road vehicles this means clenching onto a lot of non uniform rough surfaces such as rocks, boulders, sand, mud, snow and so on. As a result you must choose the tires accordingly. The ultimate purpose of off-road tires is to ensure a smooth and safe drive over risky terrains, without the risk of skidding and slipping. These tires are wider than the general counterparts and come with a specially designed grip to hold on firmly and prevent from slipping and enable smooth driving. These tires generally have smooth, horizontal treads that are designed for such non uniform terrains in particular. This type of tires are quite expensive in comparison to the general tires.
There are many applications of off road tires and they are used for driving vehicles such as sports utility vehicles and all-terrain vehicles through rough terrains. These tires are also used for mud bogging and rock crawling. Dirt bikes also use this type of tires. It should be mentioned that there is a variety of off road tires each specified for a particular purpose. This depends on the types of traction. The all terrain tires may be classified into mud tires, off road tires, gravel tires, slick tires and swamp tires. These tires fit into sport utility vehicles, all terrain vehicles, drag racing cars, jeep, snow mobiles and sport bikes. The off road tires generally come in two different sizes, 20 inch rims and 22 inch rims. The type of tread will depend on the type of vehicle and the terrain you will be driving on. All terrain tires are designed with interlocking tread elements. Mud tires have aggressive tread patterns and larger lugs that enables strong grip while snow tires are used in subzero climate.
When you have purchased your off-road tires, make sure they are properly installed before you go on your road trip. And if you are uncomfortable changing the tire yourself, then it is most convenient to employ the help of a car mechanic who can easily do the installation for you.