4x4 and SUV Tyres
Highway, all-terrain and mud-terrain. Chosen for the roads you actually drive gravel out to the block, bitumen down the highway, and something rougher on the weekend.
4X4 & SUV
Highway, All-Terrain or Mud-Terrain?
This is the decision that costs people the most money when they get it wrong. A mud-terrain tyre on a vehicle that spends ninety percent of its life on bitumen will be noisy, thirsty and worn out in half the expected time. A highway tyre on a vehicle that lives on gravel will chip, cut and puncture.
| TYPE | BEST FOR | ON-ROAD | OFF-ROAD | NOISE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway Terrain (H/T) | School runs, highways, sealed roads, mostly unladen SUVs. | Excellent | Limited | Very Low |
| All Terrain (A/T) | Mixed gravel and bitumen, towing, farm tracks, touring. | Very Good | Very Good | Low to Moderate |
| Rugged/Hybrid Terrain | Serious gravel and rock with regular highway kilometres. | Good | Excellent | Moderate |
| Mud Terrain (M/T) | Deep mud, clay, rock crawling, low highway use. | Fair | Outstanding in Mud | High |
Load Rating Matters More Than You Think
If you tow a van, carry a canopy and drawers, or run a tray with weight in it, the load index on the tyre is not a detail, it is the difference between a tyre that survives and one that fails on a hot day at highway speed.
Look for
Light Truck (LT) construction on any 4x4 that carries or tows regularly. LT tyres have stronger casings and higher load ratings than passenger-construction tyres of the same size. They ride slightly firmer when empty, which is the trade-off, and they need higher pressures.
- Towing a caravan or float, LT construction, check the load index against your GVM.
- Canopy, drawers, long-range tank, roof rack, LT construction.
- Unladen family wagon, mostly sealed roads, passenger construction is fine.
Going up a size? Larger tyres change your speedometer reading, your gearing, your braking and sometimes your legality. Talk to us before you order, we will tell you what fits without rubbing and what it does to the rest of the vehicle.
GRAVEL ROAD SURVIVAL
Getting More Life out of 4x4 Tyres
Gravel is hard on tyres, and most of the damage is avoidable.
- Drop your pressures on gravel. A slightly softer tyre absorbs sharp stones instead of being cut by them. Re-inflate before you get back on the highway.
- Slow down for corrugations. Speed on corrugated road is what kills sidewalls, shocks and wheel bearings alike.
- Rotate every 10,000km. Front and rear wear at very different rates on a 4x4, especially a heavy one.
- Get the alignment checked after any suspension work. A lift kit without a follow-up alignment will scrub a set of new all-terrains out in a season.
- Check the spare. The one tyre nobody checks is the one you will need at the worst possible moment.
4x4 Tyre Questions
Are mud terrains worth it if I only go bush occasionally?
Usually not. If you are on bitumen most of the week, a good all-terrain will get you almost everywhere a mud tyre will, while being quieter, longer-lasting and safer in the wet. Save the mud terrains for vehicles that genuinely live in mud.
Will bigger tyres affect my speedo?
Yes. A larger rolling diameter means your speedo reads lower than your actual speed, you will be travelling faster than the dash says. We will tell you the percentage difference before you commit.
Do I need to tell my insurer about tyre changes?
If you have significantly changed the tyre or wheel size or fitted a lift, it is worth checking. Modifications outside manufacturer specification can affect a claim. We can tell you exactly what has changed so you can give your insurer accurate information.
What pressures should I run for towing?
Higher than unladen, most manufacturers specify a separate laden pressure on the tyre placard. Under-inflating a tyre under load builds heat, and heat is what destroys tyres. Bring the van or float in, and we will set them properly.
Talk 4x4 Tyres With Someone Who Drives Them
Tell us where the vehicle actually goes and what it carries. We will match it to the right tyre, not the most expensive one.
