What to Consider When Choosing Off-Road Tires for Hauling
Selecting tires that suit your off-road application, vehicle weight and driving conditions is essential for a safe and efficient ride. Long-haul jobs can strain your commercial tires, especially if you drive over rough terrain regularly. Finding tires with the appropriate tread pattern, weight capacity and rubber compounds help optimize off-road operations.
Factors That Influence Your Selection
Terrain: What works on paved roadways may not be suitable for rocky, sandy or muddy conditions. Commercial tires come in various styles such as mud terrain and all-terrain that have specific features to help them navigate different driving environments and retain vehicle stability.
Tread pattern: Deep treads are effective at gripping muddy and loose soil. Wider patterns channel mud, water and snow away from your tires, allowing them to maintain contact with the ground.
Load capacity: Be mindful of tire weight limits, as overloading can increase your risk of accelerated wear or a blowout. Higher ply ratings offer better durability and puncture resistance to rocks, sticks and other debris.
Size profile: Larger diameter tires raise your vehicle’s undercarriage, which is crucial when driving on steep inclines and declines and over obstacles. Commercial tires with a wider profile move on mud and sand without sinking.
Tire construction: The quality of your tires’ sidewalls can make or break their functionality. Reinforced sidewalls provide better protection against cuts, punctures, scrapes and impacts.
Rubber compound: Soft rubber offers better grip on varying terrain but wears faster on hard-packed surfaces. Harder tires typically have a longer service life and are good for mixed-terrain applications but aren’t ideal on loose or slippery ground.
How Terrain Affects Your Tire Choice
Mud: Tires can sink or get stuck in muddy environments. You may also lose traction as mud builds up in the tread. Wider tires with deep lugs and tough sidewalls distribute vehicle weight evenly and prevent punctures.
Rocks and gravel: Uneven surfaces increase sidewall strain and sharp rocks can tear or puncture your tires. Thick rubber compounds and reinforced sidewalls are essential when driving on rocky ground.
Sand: Loose particles make tires more susceptible to sinking, especially if your vehicle is carrying a heavy load. Wide tread patterns with shallow designs allow tires to better distribute weight and float over sand.
Snow and ice: Cold temperatures reduce rubber flexibility and slippery driving conditions affect tire traction. Soft rubber and deep siping provide enhanced grip on snow and ice.
Load Capacity and Durability
Your tires must be able to handle the weight of your vehicle, trailer and cargo. It’s also important to consider the speed at which you’ll travel, as rolling resistance can increase fuel consumption. A heavy payload may increase the rate of wear if your tires aren’t rated for a certain weight. Higher load ratings have reinforced internal structures to help handle heavy cargo and prevent tire deformation.
Balancing Off-Road Performance with Driving Comfort
Tires designed for rugged terrain create road noise when driving over paved surfaces. You may also experience a rougher ride, as bulky treads cause uneven rolling at high speeds. Soft rubber that’s effective on various landscapes is more likely to wear faster on asphalt and cement. All-terrain and hybrid tires offer moderate tread depth for a smoother ride while maintaining enough traction for off-road work.
Off-Road Tires for Long Hauls from Bauer Built
Haul trucks, bulldozers, tractors and loaders – Bauer Built has OTR tires for them all. Our tires are engineered to meet specific machinery and application standards so you can count on their durability on the job. Find a Bauer Built location near you for product information.
Categories: Bauer Built Blog
