by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
When you own a Jeep, it is almost like owning some living, breathing soul that is never quite complete. Change one thing and then there is another that needs to grow. Or evolve. Or mature. Yeah, it always seems like there is something to address on the modification horizon.
Add some new headlights for additional visibility, or toss in some floor liners and seat covers for better interior protection. Maybe even swap over bumpers and side steps for enhanced vehicle coverage and optimal off-road performance.
These are all excellent ideas, but one of the top mods, in fact, one of the first mods people usually make after purchasing a new or used Jeep, is swapping out its tires — especially if you have any kind of ‘away-from-the-pavement’ vision for your Jeep’s future.
This actually isn’t limited to those with newly acquired vehicles, either. Perhaps you’ve had your Jeep for years and it is just time for new tires. Maybe one picked up a stray nail or some kind of other road debris and you want to turn over the entire set.
Regardless, a fresh set of shoes for your Jeep is an excellent way to add more traction, improve vehicle appearance and, yes, improve overall safety. Plus, moving from a worn street tire to an all-terrain version provides better road and trail performance as well.
Why all-terrain?
Well, all-terrain tires are a great balance between factory-type street tires and more aggressive mud-terrain versions. Kind of like a hybrid-style tire. This allows for great performance during day-to-day driving throughout the year, while still being a solid off-road option.
A good all-terrain tire should deliver a quiet, comfortable on-road ride, as well as supply traction, use an aggressive tread pattern that helps eject mud, sand, water and other debris, and utilize burly sidewall protection for off-road use.
Of course, there are plenty of options in this category once you’ve decided on new tires. There are also plenty of things to know if you are planning to bump up that tire size on your Jeep.
But when it comes to looking at highly-recommended all-terrain tires, here are our top five:
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is one of the most popular choices for a number of reasons, including its outstanding durability, aggressive tread design and all-weather capabilities. Additionally, the brand's CoreGard Technology adds more shoulder rubber into the sidewall, providing increased protection from cuts and punctures, and making it a solid companion for off-roading.
As far as overall performance, the KO2 offers excellent traction in weather from all four seasons, and its updated tread pattern features Mud-Phobic bars, serrated shoulders, stone ejectors and increased siping (extra slits in the tread blocks) – all meaning it gains an additional 10 percent traction in mud and 15 percent in snow over previous editions, while lasting 15 percent longer on asphalt and 50 percent on gravel.
The KO2 is offered in sizes from factory versions up to 37 inches and widths from 15- to 22- inches — ensuring there will be something to fit your Jeep’s future plans.
Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac
Goodyear’s Wrangler DuraTrac is a versatile all-terrain tire that combines aggressive tread design with a hardy all-season compound that offers outstanding off-road performance, as well as well-mannered, all-season, on-road handling.
Part of its popular draw is the brand’s TractiveGroove Technology at the bottom of the tire’s circumferential grooves that improves vehicle traction in deep mud and snow, as well as self-cleaning shoulder blocks designed to quickly eject debris. The DuraTrac also boasts a robust construction with two steel belts and a polyester cord body, ensuring durability in more severe off-road environments.
Turning to overall performance, this tire features a symmetric tread design complete with wider tread blocks that help wick away all kinds of moisture for a smooth driving feel whether the Jeep is a daily driver or off-road machine. Additionally, its construction offers a longer tread life over other tires which could make this one a great option for those who stick more to pavement.
The Goodyear DuraTrac is offered from factory sizing up to 35” tires, with diameters ranging from 15- to 20 inches.
Toyo Open Country A/T III
With nearly three years now under its belt, the Toyo Open Country A/T III has really become known for a reliable balance between off-road performance and on-road comfort.
The tire's high-void advanced tread design offers superior traction on a wide range of terrain and provides longer-lasting tread life, while its 3D Multi-Wave sipes improve wet grip and reduce road noise. This tire is particularly suitable for those who often switch between off-roading and daily driving, as it provides a smooth and quiet ride on highways without compromising off-road capabilities.
Overall performance of this tire solidly hits the all-terrain sweet spot, as it maintains a quiet, high-performance on-road feel while its S-pattern tread blocks are impressively siped and the tire is engineered with plenty of tread voids to eject rocks and moisture in order to provide superior traction.
The Toyo Open Country A/T III tire provides scores of sizes and width dimensions, as well as numerous different load ratings to fit nearly every need.
Nitto Ridge Grappler
Nitto’s Ridge Grappler all-terrain tire features a unique wide-void tread pattern that also has a variable pitch design and tapered edges — all to give the best off-road traction while supplying superior on-road performance and less noise in a variety of conditions. Its tread blocks are also staggered, helping to improve traction in mud and snow, while the tread itself contains deep grooves that quickly evacuate water for a sturdier wet weather road grip.
Additionally, this tire utilizes a durable stiffened rubber compound designed to reduce unwanted tread flex and resist wear and tear, and features a thick, edgy sidewall engineered for more traction and better protection from rocks and other obstacles.
On this tire, its overall performance handles mud, snow, sand and rain with relative ease, while retaining excellent rock crawling and off-road performance, as well as excellent durability thanks to those wider and deeper tread voids and aggressive sidewall.
The Nitto Ridge Grappler offers tire sizes from factory replacement versions up to 38-inch styles, along with diameters stretching from 16- to 24 inches depending on your needs.
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T Radial
Mickey Thompson has long been synonymous with high-performance on-road and aggressively tractioned off-road tires, and its latest Baja Boss edition is an excellent replacement for those familiar with the older ATZP3 tires.
Like most highly-popular all-terrain tires, these are deftly engineered to provide demure pavement manners with very little road noise, high-end stability, deft steering response and reactive braking, while also displaying next-level off-road strength and performance.
This tire version utilizes a deep, wide asymmetrical tread pattern for superior traction across all surfaces, and its silica-reinforced compound — along with PowerPly XD reinforced sidewall means a longer life expectancy along with a tougher shield against cuts or punctures.
As far as overall performance, the Baja Boss rides nearly whisper quiet on-road and tracks well once installed and balanced for how aggressive it looks. Additionally, it is quick and responsive in just about all on-road conditions throughout the year, while that tread pattern and sidewall design attention make it pretty fearless off-road through mud, snow, sand and over rocks.
The Mickey Thompson Baja Boss All-Terrain tire features tire sizes from factory-type replacements through 38-inch versions, and runs from 15- to 24-inch in wheel diameter.
