Choosing the right ATV tires

Racing down small, wooded trails or tearing through mud encrusted hills can be an adrenaline rush for anybody and with the proper ATV tires is completely possible. As the name implies an all terrain vehicle, or ATV, was meant to be able to transport the rider over any surface type the situation offers but the proper tire is a must when attempting these feats. Tires available for these compact methods of transportation include mud, racing, sand, and trail tires.

To begin with, for those who foresee mud pits in the future, a good mudding tire is essential. Even within this genre however, choosing the right set can come down to simply checking the type of mud being encountered. Throughout the world, there are many differing varieties of mud and these must be taken into account when choosing the proper tire. For example, if the mud is slick on the surface but has a hard layer underneath, a narrow tire should be chosen in order to cut through the top layers and gain traction on the hard layer underneath. Sometimes mud can have a hard shell on top however and be a mess underneath that is simply impossible to gain traction on. For these instances, a wide, flat mud tire should be used to help float on the surface without breaking through. General characteristics of all mud tires however are deep, v-shaped treads spaced wide apart. However, mud is not the only terrain that will be encountered on an ATV adventure.

Racing tires are also an option for proud owners of a high performance ATV. Sets of racing tires typically feature a narrow front set and a wide rear set to save on weight in the front while promising maximum traction in the rear. Due to typical racetrack conditions, these are designed primarily for dirt and feature narrowly spaced, rectangular shaped tread that is relatively shallow on the tire. Since not everybody wants to risk life and limb racing their expensive machine there are plenty of other options for tires.

With extremely wide spacing between the grooves and a generally wide profile sand tires are designed to help the ATV and its rider float over the terrain. Sand typically creates sinking hazards for any heavy object making it exceptionally difficult to get vehicles over this type of terrain. With wide, smooth tires, an ATV rider can actually float while these act as a paddle to push them through the sand.

Finally, trail tires are the best choice when enjoying traveling on one of the many trails offered throughout the world. Designed for a little bit of everything, if a general purpose tire is sought, this is it. Featuring a medium width and tread of every variety, these truly are an all terrain tire. When picking a trail tire, consider the most common terrain on a particular trail and base the tire off what would be best for the most common terrain.

ATV tires come in all shapes and sizes for all types of terrain. Choosing the right one can mean the difference between tearing through obstacles as if they were not even there and being forced into calling for help. Experts at a tire shop can be consulted to assist with the final decision but an educated consumer is sure to get the best possible deal.