How to Buy All Terrain Tires

There's not much fun in having a big 4x4 if you're not going to play a little. However, being able to play means having the right kind of tires on your rig. It's not that difficult to buy all terrain tires for your vehicle, but there are a few considerations to make when planning this purchase.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Identify whether or not your 4x4 is a vehicle that you drive everyday or simply a toy for weekends and days off. If your rig is something you drive everyday, you'll want to consider a tire that is good for both the highway and the trail.

2. Determine the type of terrain you'll be maneuvering. Some offroaders stay strictly to muddy trails, while others are on sand. You'll want to decide what type of terrain you'll be taking your vehicle over. Maybe you'll be driving trails with a variety of terrain. This is an important factor to consider as well.

3. Explore your vehicle to determine what the largest size of tire your vehicle will allow. This may mean experimentation with tires, reading your owner's manual, contacting the manufacturer or asking a trusted tire professional.

4. Ask questions about whether or not a taller tire will impact your gear ratios on the highway. Another consideration is whether or not your offroad crawl ratio will be negatively influenced by your taller tires. If you have to install lower differential gears in order to make up for the taller tires, this is something to keep in mind.

5. Calculate your budget. You'll also want to purchase a spare tire the same size as your new all terrain tires. Tires are an investment.