How to Select Mud and Snow Tires

The purpose of mud tires and snow tires is implicit from their name. These tires are designed with treads that provide better traction and performance in conditions that are challenging for conventional road tires. The two types of tires, however, are very different from one another. To select the right tires, you must consider your vehicle, your lifestyle, your climate and your budget.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Select the Right Mud Tires

1. Determine the maximum tire height for your car by looking at your vehicle's owner's manual. Many mud tires are extra large to supply more traction in tough terrain. If you need bigger mud tires than your vehicle can accept, you can have a lift installed and other adjustments made to accommodate them.

2. Consider how much on-road driving you expect to do. Most mud tires are designed strictly for off-road use and ride rough and loud on paved roads. There are, however, some mud tires that perform better on paved roads than others and mimic some of the qualities of all-terrain tires.

3. Keep in mind that mud tires are designed only for 4x4 vehicles.

Select the Right Snow Tires

4. Evaluate the predominant weather conditions you face in your region. Studded snow tires, or tires with metal spikes in the rubber, are good for areas where ice is the biggest issue, but there are many nonstudded tires that perform equally well on snow and ice.

5. Determine if performance snow tires are right for your car. These tires are relatively new on the tire scene and offer the same performance in winter weather conditions as conventional snow tires with the added bonus of better handling at high speeds. Not available in large tire sizes, these tires are most suitable for luxury and performance cars.

6. Look for narrower tires rather than wider ones. Narrower tires perform better in winter weather conditions.

7. Select a full set of snow tires when you buy them. Don't try to save money by just buying two snow tires for your drive shaft. This can cause handling and maneuverability problems, which you definitely don't want when you are already driving in winter weather.

Tips & Warnings

• Mud tires perform the best when they are slightly underinflated. This allows the tread to get better traction and the lugs to grab onto the terrain.
• Expect snow tires to have a "Q" speed rating, the lowest speed rating at 99 mph.
• Studded snow tires offer excellent performance in some winter weather conditions, but because they cause so much road damage, they are prohibited in many areas of the U.S.
• Many snow tires do not perform well on wet asphalt where the potential for hydroplaning exists.