About 4x4 Tyres

The need of 4 X 4 Tyres

You may have just purchased your first 4X4 vehicle but now need to learn about the various items to care for on the 4X4 vehicle. For example, what are the tires like; can you buy any type of tire for your 4X4? Let’s look at what types of tires are needed for a 4x4 vehicle.

Two main types of tires for 4X4 vehicles

There are two main types of 4x4 tyres - the multipurpose tire and the special all terrain tires. The multi-purpose tire has a surface of at least 35 percent grooves and tread that is at least 8 to 12 mm deep. This type of tire provides good off road performance as well as on the road regular driving performance.

The special all terrain tires have groove coverage of 40 percent and tread that is at least 15mm deep. This tire is suited for the demands of off road driving, such as going over rocky roads and trails. They can be driven on regular roads as well but are not recommended for daily use.

So it is it very important when thinking of buying 4x4 tyres for your vehicle that you know what type of driving you will be doing on a dedicated basis. Another thing to know before buying the tire is what your vehicles weight is. Because this has a lot to do with which tire is the correct type to buy. Each class of vehicle from super light to super heavy has a different weight and therefore a different tire height and width. Each is specific, so make sure you know what your parameters are for your truck.

The amount of tread your tire should have is also important to consider. There are four basic types of tread that are used for trucks and SUVs:

• Street tread – this is made for use on highways and streets, not applicable for 4x4 vehicles.

• All Terrain – These tires give great balance between driving on the streets as well as off road. These are also really good for all types of weather conditions, rain, snow ice and mud.

• Mud Terrain – These types of 4x4 tyres are the overall best for you driving in sand, dirt, rocks and snow. Be warned, they are noisy.

• Special - There are some special types of tires meant for use in special conditions, such as the Super Swamper Bogger. This tire will let you go through the heavy mud, but are not used in any other conditions or on the street.

It is suggested by some that you buy mud terrain 4x4 tyres for your daily needs. They are overall the best for sand, dirt and rocks as well as snow and give great grip in most other driving conditions. B. F. Goodrich makes a great Mud Terrain, as well as Mickey Thompsons Dick Cepek D-C Kevlar tire.

Now you need to know what your wheel size and type are. Do you have alloy wheels or steel? Alloy has a weight advantage but come with a very high cost. These are lighter than steel so they give much better mileage and do not strain the bearings of the wheels as much. The downside to alloy wheels is that they can break very easy, such as when you hit a rock. Do that in the deep forests of the outback and you are in serious trouble since they are almost impossible to repair without shop assistance. Steel wheels on the other hand are much better for off road applications, such as driving down river banks or up rocky hillsides.  They are sturdier in off road conditions and won’t break on you in the middle of nowhere.

Also consider tread in your 4x4 tyres. The likelihood of a puncture is a reality for off road driving so the longer the tire will last after this event the better for you. Also, the cheaper tires will puncture more often than the better and higher tires.

One small discussion on new vs. used. If you can locate new unused tires from someone who simply purchased the wrong type go for it, this will save you some serious money. But steer clear of tires that have great amounts of wear on them, this will just be another tire purchase in the short term future.

If this is your very first 4x4 vehicle, be prepared for the higher cost for tires. These tires are on average a third more costly than normal tires. This is due to the extreme wear and the purpose of the tires. Take some time to learn about your vehicles needs, and who manufactures the best 4x4 tyres as well as who has the best warranty and return policies should there be a problem with the tires after installation. There are many great car websites on the Internet that do reviews of vehicles and tires so read some reviews to find out who has the best products for your needs.

Buying 4x4 tyres can be tricky but as soon as you learn what your needs are and what tires are available on the market you have done half the battle.