TREAD WARS

Which tyres best suit your needs?

This is a commonly asked question at the counter of all 4WD and tyre shops, and a question that is constantly emailed in to us. In this test, we will clear the air and give you all the facts, on and off-road, so you can choose the correct rubber for your beloved 4WD the first time without wasting money on the wrong ones. No one tyre will suit everyone’s own needs, so we have completed a massive comparison so you can make up your own mind from the results.

We compared different tyre tread types and brands from four different all terrain (A/T) tyres, four different mud terrain (M/T) tyres and two sets of highway terrain (H/T) tyres. We looked at the different traction and handling issues that these types of tyres have. Every tyre is made of different rubber compounds with the inner casings made of a combination of polyester, nylon and steel belts. At the end of the day, the tyre choice most 4WDers find the hardest to make is A/Ts or M/Ts, but this test will help you make a better-informed decision.

We went out for a solid week of testing with a car trailer filled with 40 tyres and a handful of tools with only one thing in mind – push every tyre to the limit. We tested the tyres so hard that we managed to break the front diff of the test LandCruiser, stripping eight teeth off the crown wheel. Luckily we brought the tools!

We found a big difference in what each tyre is capable of, and used a series of scientific testing procedures including braking distances, high-speed swerve tests, noise testing, driving in sand, dirt, hills and mud. We had proper testing equipment and recorded the results so we could give you the answers that you can’t find anywhere else.

H/T TYRE CONSTRUCTION

The H/T (highway terrain) tyre has relatively small voids or gaps and depth between the tread blocks. This means more of the tyre is in contact with the road, which makes it grip better on the blacktop.

They feature several design aspects that allow them to perform well on high-grip road surfaces. Thinner material beneath the tread gives them a higher speed rating due to less heat build-up, fewer voids between the tread blocks to stop the blocks moving around under the tyre, and generally a minimum of material used throughout to minimise weight. These features that make them great on road, but are the exact opposite to what’s needed off the road.

Light construction and a closed tread pattern make the H/T very vulnerable to punctures, lack grip in the slop, and not suited to harsh dirt roads or extreme terrain.