Mud Tire Buyer's Guide

Pick The Right Mud Treads For Your Ride

From the September, 2008 issue of ATV Rider

By Eli Madero

You pull up to the edge of the pit and just stare-it merely looks like a water puddle or pond, but what lies beneath can ruin your entire day. It could be relatively hardpacked and give you little trouble when you decide to go through it, but it could also suck in your quad, making it seem virtually impossible to get out. Have you figured out what we're talking about yet? If not, we're talkin' mud.

No matter what quad you ride, you'll probably want to replace your stock tires with ones that'll propel you through the slop with less concern. You might want something with an aggressive lug because you're constantly hitting the deepest and most gnarliest pits, or you might want a nice trail tire that still allows you to do some mild bogging. No matter your taste, we've compiled a list of the best mud tires on the market that's likely to suit your needs.

Model: Mud Lite XL Price... read full caption Model: Mud Lite XL Price range: $81.95-$143.95 Sizes offered: 25x8-12, 25x10-12, 25x12-12, 26x9-12, 26x10-12, 26x12-12, 27x9-12, 27x10-12, 27x12-12, 28x10-12, 28x12-12, 27x10-14, 27x12-14, 28x10-14, 28x12-14 Description: This tire is proven on the trail and is also capable of slinging mud with the best of them. Utilizing the same rubber compound as the famed 589, the Mud Lite XL offers great tread life, a radial-like ride and a price that won't break the bank. If you have a UTV, you'll feel comfortable to run the 14-inch version with its 1000-pound maximum load capacity per tire.	Model: 589 M/S Price range:... read full caption Model: 589 M/S Price range: $143.95-$177.95 Sizes offered: 25x12-10, 26x12-10, 25x8-11, 25x10-11, 25x8-12, 25x10-12, 26x9-12, 26x12-12, 27x9-12, 27x11-12, 28x9-12, 28x11-12, 27x9-14, 27x11-14 Description: A great all-around trail tire, the 589 M/S is also a proven performer in harsh environments like mud and snow. Its six-ply construction keeps these incredibly durable while its light weight helps keep horsepower loss to a minimum, and an extended-wear rubber compound is designed for longer tire life.	Model: Mud Lite XXL Price... read full caption Model: Mud Lite XXL Price range: $165.95-$192.95 Sizes offered: 30x10-12, 30x12-12, 30x10-14, 30x12-14 Description: Offering all of the same great features as the Mud Lite XL, this tire is designed for highly modified, bigger-bore ATVs that operate in the muddiest of conditions. The taller profile and aggressive lugs make this an extreme tire for extreme conditions.
Gorilla www.gorilla-axle.com... read full caption Gorilla www.gorilla-axle.com Model: Silverback Price range: $158.95-$208.95 Sizes offered: 27x10-12, 27x12-12, 28x10-12, 28x12-12, 30x9-14, 30x11-14, 32x10-14 Description: If you're looking for a tire designed with nothing else in mind than getting through the nastiest of mudholes, this should be one of your top choices. Its six-ply rating makes it extremely resistant to puncture from submerged roots and rocks, while the deepest lug available on an ATV tire keeps you motoring forward. Don't look for a smooth ride on the trails, though, because comfort isn't what this was designed for.	Model: Mud Lite XTR Price... read full caption Model: Mud Lite XTR Price range: $133.95-$179.95 Sizes offered: 25x8R-12, 25x10R-12, 26x9R-12, 26x11R-12, 27x11R-12, 29x9R-12, 27x9R-14, 27x11R-14 Description: Leave it to ITP to come out with the industry's first extreme terrain radial tire. The radial construction gives a smoother ride and better traction than any bias-ply tire on the market. While this tire is under a load, the footprint actually gets larger, giving even better traction in all conditions.	Goodyear www.goodyear.com... read full caption Goodyear www.goodyear.com Model: Mud Runner Price range: $110.95-$146.95 Sizes offered: 25x11-10, 26x12-10, 25x8-12, 25x10-12, 26x9-12, 26x12-12, 27x9-12, 27x12-12 Description: The Mud Runner has deep, aggressive lugs that are sure to get you out of the nastiest muck while still giving a decent ride out on the trails. Some may say the tire isn't aggressive enough for competition, but it still gives plenty of bite that will keep you moving forward.
Model: Mud Bug R Price range:... read full caption Model: Mud Bug R Price range: $115-$150 Sizes offered: 25x8-12, 25x10-12, 26x9-12, 26x11-12, 26x9-14, 26x11-14 Description: This radial mud tire offers great traction and a smooth ride. This is more of a trail tire with its mud-capable characteristics coming in after its hardpack-handling qualities. The tire is lightweight and has an aggressive tread pattern that will get you through the toughest terrain.	Maxxis www.maxxis.com ... read full caption Maxxis www.maxxis.com Model: MU02 Zilla Price range: $80-$140 Sizes offered: 22x10-9, 25x11-9, 22x11-10, 25x11-10, 24x8-11, 23x8-12, 23x10-12, 24x8-12, 25x8-12, 25x10-12, 26x9-12, 26x11-12, 27x9-12, 27x11-12, 26x9-14, 26x11-14, 28x9-14, 28x11-14 Description: A good, all-around tire that provides excellent traction in the muddiest of conditions. Its lightweight design makes for good acceleration and braking, and the center tread leaves you with a comfortable ride.	Model: Mud Bug Price Range:... read full caption Model: Mud Bug Price Range: $75-$135 Sizes offered: 22x10-9, 22x11-9, 25x12-9, 22x8-10, 22x11-10, 23x7-10, 23x8-10, 23x11-10, 24x11-10, 25x11-10, 25x12-10, 26x12-10, 27x12-10, 23x8-11, 24x8-11, 24x9-11, 24x10-11, 25x10-11, 25x12-11, 26x12-11, 25x8-12, 25x10-12, 26x10-12, 26x12-12, 27x8-12, 27x10-12, 27x12-12, 28x10-12, 28x12-12 Description: If you're looking for a good mud tire, the Mud Bug can't be overlooked. These tires are great performers, and you can visit the Maxxis website to see customer testimonials. It has sweeping angled tread bars that move out mud from the tread, giving the most possible traction in the worst of conditions.

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