All About ATV/UTV Tires

If you’re driving off road and over rough terrain, either for work or pleasure, chances are you have an ATV/UTV or are looking into getting one. Now even if you’ve been off-roading for a while and know the basics of ATV/UTV tires, it never hurts to know more. If you’re new at it, it can be especially useful to learn a little bit.

However, before we get into it, let’s take a second to talk about the vehicles.

What’s the difference between ATV and UTV?

ATV and UTV are both vehicles made for going off road, but if you’re not familiar with them you may not know the difference (or that there is a difference). So let’s break it down:

ATV: ATV stands for All Terrain Vehicle and this is probably the one you’re most familiar with. These are the ones that look kind of like jet skis with wheels. You sit on top of them and steer them with a handlebar, and they’re made for 1 or maybe 2 people to ride. These are primarily recreational and are pretty nimble.

UTV: UTV stands for Utility Task Vehicle, and you may not be as familiar with these. These look a little more like cars that aren’t quite finished yet and seat 2-4 people. They have bucket or bench seats that you sit upright in, and a steering wheel. These are used more for rougher terrain and, while you will see them in off road sports, they’re also good for off-road jobs (like farm jobs) and hauling.

Despite their differences they both use the same kinds of tires, so now that we’ve got the vehicles out of the way, let’s talk about those.

Tire Sizing

If you’re used to standard tire sizes, these can look pretty confusing. But don’t worry! It’s not as confusing as it look. The main reason it looks so different is because the numbers are listed in inches instead of millimeters. But it’s also set up a little differently. Let’s take a look:

First Number: This number is the overall height of the tire when it’s inflated to its proper air pressure. (This would correspond to the middle number of the metric sizes)

Second Number: This is the overall width of the tire when it’s properly inflated. (This would correspond to the first number of metric sizes)

Third Number: This is the diameter of the rim (This would correspond to the last number in metric sizes)

See? Not too complicated. Now aside from the numbers the size might also have a letter just before the rim size. This letter indicates the tire’s construction (something we’ll talk about a bit later) and it will usually either be R (for radial) or D (for bias). If there is no letter, it’s pretty safe to assume it’s a bias ply tire.

Changing Sizes

You have a little bit more versatility with sizing on ATV/UTVs than you would on a regular vehicle, and there are a few reasons you might want to change your size. Sometimes you’ll want to increase the ground clearance of your vehicle, or maybe you just like the look of the bigger tires. Either way, you can go up from the stock size, but there’s a pretty easy rule of thumb to follow: only increase the height and width by 1 inch. Essentially, this means you can go up one size with little to no issue, but anything more than that and you’ll have to consult your owner's manual or contact the manufacturer.

Fun Fact: unlike with car and truck tires, it’s possible to mount your ATV tires on a rim smaller than the width of the tire. This leaves some overhang to act as a rim guard if your tires don’t have one. It is recommended you check your manufacturer’s guidelines before doing this, though.

Tire Construction

Now let’s get into the details and talk about the different tire constructions. Not only is there the two types of casings to think about (bias or radial) but there’s also different shapes, ply ratings, and even sidewall features, and the right combination of these can really boost your performance.

Flat vs Round Tires: Now if you’re just into some casual ATV activity, then you don’t have to worry about this too much. But, if you really want to get the best performance you should think about your tire shape.

• Round tires are better for softer surfaces, like sand, where the tires might sink in. The round shape of the tires helps extend the footprint on the softer surface. The all purpose type of ATV or UTV will usually benefit from these.
• Flat tires are better for medium or harder terrains, like rocks, where the tire won’t sink in. These give the tire a wider footprint and thus more grip on surfaces with very little give. You’ll see these a lot on sport and racing ATV/UTVs.

Bias vs Radial: Bias tires are more standard for ATV/UTV tires, but just like with other specialty tires, radial construction is becoming more popular. They each have their benefits, so it helps to know a little about them.

• Bias tires are made by laying the plies diagonally from bead to bead, creating a crisscross pattern. These tires flex more evenly across the body, making them great for conforming to rocky terrain.
• Radial tires are made by laying the plies straight across from bead to bead, perpendicular to the center of the tread. This construction is also usually stabilized with belts that run around the circumference of the tire. They don’t flex as uniformly across the body, but they make up for it with stability and by being more puncture resistant.

Pay Attention to Plies: Since we’re on the subject, let’s talk about plies. Originally, the ply rating on these tires was actually how many plies it had in the body. However, tire technology has increased, and with the advent of nylon, kevlar and steel plies, they can achieve the same strength with less. So today, the ply rating is really a measure of the tires strength. Ply ratings on ATV tires will range anywhere from 2 (usually sand tires) to 12 (very heavy duty, high capacity tires), and this will be noted on the sidewall.

Fun Fact: Some tires will have stars on the sidewall, and it’s really just another way of indicating the ply rating. In this system, each star represents 2 plies.

Sidewall Features: Sidewalls on an ATV tire can be just as important as the tread for performance. Something as simple as the size of the sidewall can make a big difference, but depending on the tire type, they may also have some special features. So here are some things you want to pay attention to when it comes to the sidewall.

• Short sidewalls: Shorter sidewalls tend to be stiffer and less flexible, so they’re better for high speeds.
• High sidewalls: Higher sidewalls have more flex so they’re better for lower speeds and rough and rocky terrain.
• Lugs: Lugs are essentially a bit of tread pattern that extends down the sidewall. If you have lugs that extend farther down the side of the tire you’re going to have more grip if you get stuck in a rut or up against a rock. They basically act like your regular tread in unconventional areas, and they offer additional sidewall protection.
• Rim guards: Rim guards are a little space around the bead that allows the rim to sit recessed inside the tire. This is a feature especially designed to, as the name puts it, guard the rim from damages. You can imagine how this would be useful on rough terrain, but they also help on soft surfaces by keeping grit and dirt from getting into the bead area.

Tire Types

We’ve talked about size, shape and construction, it’s about time we get into the different types of ATV/UTV tires you can find out there.

All Terrain/Trail - When you buy an ATV, chances are these are what it comes with. They’re very versatile and so a popular option. They have good grip in just about anything thanks to their larger contact patch. They can handle mud, sand, dirt, gravel and some ply ratings can even be driven on the road.

Mud - These tires have long, tall, widely spaced lugs to handle the loose, soft, muddy terrain. The lugs disperse water and prevent mud from packing between the tread, and they essentially act like paddles to gain traction. Because the tire is designed for such soft terrain, it won’t perform well on hard surfaces.

Sand Like mud tires, these are designed for soft terrain, and they cannot be driven on the road. In fact, they’re the most specialized tires available and shouldn’t be used on any other terrain. Designed to be especially light weight, the rear tires feature widely spaced, paddle like ridges to cut through sand. Sand tires for the font of the vehicle are usually featureless except for a ridge or two in the center that runs all the way around the tire, which gives it some bite for steering.

Race These tires are designed to handle a variety of surfaces, particularly those found in motocross courses. They can perform well on medium to hard surfaces, with their knobby lugs and harder compound giving them a good grip while maintaining speed. They also tend to be flat to get a wider footprint.

Turf Saver/Pavement - These tires are specifically made for lawns, turf, and pavement. Whereas the other tire designs will tear up turf with their aggressive tread, these are designed more like lawn mower tires. They have a tightly spaced tread with a low depth that will give a smooth ride without biting in. This tread style is a great choice for traction on hard surfaces.

Finding the Right PSI

You’re almost ready to go, but there’s one more thing we should talk about: tire pressure. Terrain, temperature and payload should all be considered when setting your psi, and it’s recommended you check your psi before every ride.

These tires will have a maximum psi listed on the side but that’s generally not what you’ll want to use. Instead, look at your ATV. Most machines will have a sticker or placard or a manufacturer's guide with the recommended psi.

So there you have it! You’re ready to go out there and blaze your own trail! Where you’re going, you don’t need roads.