A Buyer’s Guide to UTV Tires

Your utility terrain/task vehicle or UTV is designed for use in both professional and recreational riding circumstances. And while the vehicle is equipped with a set of rugged tires that can handle challenging terrain, it can be helpful to invest in one or more additional sets of tires so that you’re adequately prepared for many different types of riding, including mudding and dune-riding. 

Car Corral Polaris®, with locations in Flora and Carmi, is your Illinois UTV dealer. Below, you’ll find a handy breakdown of the different UTV tire types so you can choose the ones you’ll need for the type of riding you want to do.

All-Terrain or Trail Tires

The type of tire that’s likely installed on your UTV by the manufacturer is simply an all-terrain tire, otherwise known as a trail tire. These tires have a wide variety of tread patterns and tread depths ranging from one to two inches. The treads are closely aligned to give you suitable traction on most surfaces. Trail tires are perfect for general-purpose riding conditions like those you’d find on a nature trail or in an off-roading area.

Mud Tires

Those who love mudding will want tires with better traction than the trail tires can give you. Your UTV needs to be able to stay upright and not slip around when you’re coasting through mud, which is where mud tires come in handy. These tires are equipped with tall lugs that grip into the mud and prevent slipping. Some mud tires even have lugs on the shoulders to clear away mud. You may need to lift up your UTV or add wheel spacers to it in order to use mud tires because these tires are larger and heavier than your average all-terrain wheels.

You’ll also want to make sure that your UTV has enough power to handle bigger and heftier tires. Be aware that these tires may wear down certain joints or bearings on your vehicle if you’re not careful. Bear in mind that you cannot use mud tires on hard-pack terrain or pavement; you cannot ride in mud and then try to ride a dirt path without ruining the lugs on your mud tires.

Snow Tires

Here in the Midwest, winter snows can be thick and heavy, and those who use their UTVs for work during the winter will need tires that can handle the snow. Snow tires are equipped with either short, spaced-out lugs or thin lugs that are closer together. The short lugs can have studs attached to them to improve traction while driving over ice. The thinner lugs are best for powdery snow. Wide tread spacing helps to clear away snow from the tire so that it doesn’t spin out and cause your vehicle to skid as you ride.

Sand Tires

Those who love riding over dunes or across a sandy beach will need to equip their UTVs with sand tires. These tires absolutely must not be used on any other type of terrain as they are specifically designed to work only with loose sand. Sand tires are equipped with paddle-like protrusions that shovel sand away from underneath your tire, giving you better traction for jumping dunes or crossing the beach. The front tires have a slicker tread pattern to help you steer.

Pavement Tires

Otherwise known as “turf savers,” UTV tires designed for the pavement are meant for riding across flat lawns, turf and, of course, hard pavement. While lug or paddle tires will shred up turf and become worn down, pavement tires have shallow, tightly-spaced treads that allow you to ride smoothly over flat, hard ground. Don’t use these tires on any surface where more traction is needed, as you probably will skid and slip around, causing an accident.

If you need some assistance buying UTV tires, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on our website so that we can answer any questions you may have. And you can also browse our website to see our wide selection of new and used UTVs for sale. Car Corral Polaris® proudly serves the cities of Carmi and Flora, IL.