Mud tires are usually purchased as an aftermarket choice by vehicle owners, particularly for 4 x 4 trucks. These tires have wider tread components that provide more traction on gentle, slippery ground. They have more space between both the tread parts, allowing mud to pass the treads more easily. Mud tires may or may not have great traction on hard surfaces, based on their structure and tread pattern. Moreover, because of their open treads, mud tires are louder at high speeds.

Types

Basic mud tires are intended for trucks that are often driven on roads and only occasionally used in mud. Their tread patterns are similar to regular tires, except the treads may be up to one inch wide. These tires have a comfortable ride on rough surfaces while also digging into mud.

A medium mud tire has characteristics that fall somewhere between a simple and an intense mud tire. The most common form of 4x4 mud tyres are built specifically for motorists who spend the majority of their time in mud. These tires normally have a tread depth of one to 1.5 inches, allowing them to easily sling mud out of the tread. They also have strong traction on other types of soft terrain, such as sand and gravel.

Extreme mud tires are specifically made for traveling in mud, also known as mud bogging. They have very wide treads with a min depth of 1.5 inches, which allows them to drive a vehicle through thick mud. Extreme mud tires are usually found on wide-bore ATVs, which must often be adjusted to accommodate these large tires.

Tire Width

The optimal width of a mud tire is determined mainly by the type of mud you will be driving into. Narrow tires, for instance, are ideal for a soft layer of mud on top of a rough bottom layer. These tires have the ability to break through the top layer in order to achieve traction in the hard layer underneath. A big tire, on the other hand, has a potential to settle on the top layer without ever touching hard mud, a concept known as hydroplaning.

For mud with a dense cement-like texture, a big mud tire is best, particularly if the terrain below is unpredictable. The hydroplaning propensity of this tire is also advantageous when driving on sand. Broad tires are also best suited for underinflation, also known as "airing down."

This method enhances the contact area between both the tire and the terrain, resulting in better traction. Mud boggers with large tires typically air down by 15 to 20 pounds per square inch (psi), but the exact amount varies depending on factors like tire size and toughness.

Tread Pattern

The tread pattern of a tire is usually made up of voids and lugs. The lugs are the portions of the tread that droop above the surface of the tire, while the spaces are the ridges in the tire that divide the lugs. Mud tires are distinguished by larger lugs and broader, deeper voids than regular tires. When the tires spin through dirt, mud is funnelled out of the tread, essentially self-cleaning the tyre.