ATV lovers of all ages want to add shiny, turbocharged accessories to their new rides, but no matter what color air scoop they decide to add to their Honda TRX450R, the most important component is the tires! As one of the most beat up toys on the market, all terrain vehicles need to be able to handle tough jobs and even tougher terrain.

While there are some tires that can handle more than one environment, it's best to use tires in their recommended settings. With all of the different options for ATV tires on the market today, the average consumer can easily become overwhelmed and spend money on a set of inadequate, unsafe tires. Read on to figure out which ATV tires would work best for your ATV!

ATV Dirt Tires and All Terrain Tires

Whether it’s a casual family trail ride or overlanding through the PNW, all terrain tires are the go-to tires for everything outdoors. With rubber nodules sticking out in almost every direction, dirt tires can be trusted to tackle soft dirt, medium to hard packed trails, water and light to intermediate mud.

Dirt tires, more commonly known as all-terrain tires, are primarily known for their superior performance in mild to moderate terrain. The patterns may vary, and the treads may be a little more shallow than their muddy counterparts but they can be just as beefy! While they are a heavy hitter in the ATV tire game, all-terrain tires cannot go all-out. Tires come in all shapes and sizes for good reason. Consumers should steer clear of the eye-level impulse buys and stick to finding the right tire for the job.

ATV Sand Tires

In stark contrast to the all terrain tires, sand tires are strictly used for sand. While other tires can be seen as multipurpose in some cases, using sand tires in any other environment is ill-advised. The tread patterns used in sandy, desert terrain are easily damaged and wouldn’t work in any other situation. Sand tires are very lightweight compared to other tire types due to the fact that they have so much less tread. Sand tires have a common staggered tread pattern but they always differ from the front to the back.

Front tires have limited tread options but it’s common for them to have a raised lip that wraps around the lateral circumference of the tire. This ridge is designed to provide additional steering control as well as lateral stability. Front tires usually have little to no treads while the rear tires, also known as drive tires, have very distinct tread patterns. The rear tires have large paddle-like, scoop-treads that are placed equally between areas of smooth, trackless or lugless rubber.

ATV Tires and Specifications

Not only do consumers need to be aware of the type of tread, they need to know the shape and ply they're looking for. ATV tires come in two general shapes: flat top and round. Round tires are used more for recreational and utility purposes. These tires offer security and a smooth ride over almost any surface. Flat top tires are commonly found on the ATV race tracks but they can also be found in the sand tire family.

Just like toilet paper, the more plies the better. But more than just specifying the number of cords within the tire, the ply rating refers to the tires overall strength and load capacity. For example, an 8-ply tire is stronger than a 4-ply which is stronger than a 2-ply. The main differences beyond the ply number is found in the way that the cords/belts are arranged within the tire.

There are two interior cord set ups: Radial and Bias. In bias tires multiple rubber cords are overlain diagonally in a criss cross pattern forming a thick less flexible internal layer. These tires are better suited for rough terrain. Radial tires are more flexible than bias because they allow the sidewall to move independently from the tread. The interior plies are arranged perpendicular to the tire centerline and capped under the tread with a steel belt. These tires have a broader contact with the ground giving the driver better handling at higher speeds, better fuel economy, and less tread wear overall.

ATV Tires and Sizes

Once a rider has figured out what kind of tires they need, being able to decipher the ATV tire-sizing jargon is the next step. ATV tires come in all different shapes, sizes, and compositions. For instance, they can either be flat, 2-ply, treadless sand tires with a 12” wheel diameter or they can be round, 8-ply, deep tread, all-terrain tires with a 14” wheel diameter. ATV tires come in standard and metric sizes, each using their own format. Read on to find out how to choose the right replacement tires for your ATV.

Standard sizing chart

In a standard tire sizing chart the tire sizes can be written 25x8-12 or 25x8x12. The number ‘25’ in this description is the overall height of the tire when mounted and inflated to recommended air pressure. The number ‘8’ represents the overall width of the tire when mounted and inflated to recommended air pressure. The number ‘12’ is referring to the diameter of the wheel that the tire will be mounted to, or the hole in the center of the tire. When looking at the numbers consumers should try to think : Height x Width x Center.

Metric sizing chart

In a metric tire sizing chart the tire sizes are written in the format: 205/80R12. The first thing to notice about this algebraic tire description is the fraction at the front. This fraction ultimately gives the sidewall height of the tires. The first set of numbers, 205, is referring to the width of the tire in millimeters. The number following the fraction bar is the sidewall height expressed as a percentage of the tire width. The number used in this example is ‘80’ meaning the side wall height is 80% of the tire width. (This number is expressed in millimeters but ATV owners that need to convert to inches can do so by dividing by 25.4.) The capital letter R in the description represents the construction of the tire; R meaning radial. Finally, the number ‘12’ expresses the diameter of the wheel that the tire will mount to. This is expressed in inches.

Moving Forward with ATV Tires

No one wants to be caught changing a tire in the middle of the white sands! Whether the plans are to climb the steep trails of WA or rip through the sand dunes of NM, having the right tires makes all the difference. While there are many exceptional tread styles, both the sand and all-terrain style tires have made their mark in the ATV tire line up. Here at ZM Performance we carry tires as well as a variety of ATV tire accessories to choose from. So, whether it's an LED strip antenna, bluetooth speaker system, or a pair of ATV tires, we’ve got you covered!