Are you planning on buying some new Off-Road tyres? Hold it right there. If you just want to grab the biggest, most weird looking tyres available, there are a few things you should probably know before you go about doing so. 

Whether you are sand-racing, rock-crawling, mud-ploughing, rallying, or whatever other on and off Road activities imaginable, it’s important to understand exactly why you need a set of such tyres. 

Many drivers get it wrong at the beginning and of course, the end result will not be any desirable. 

A wrong set of tyres could lead to the vehicle getting damaged or consuming more fuel than necessary or dangerously skidding off the road etcetera!

It is not a matter of fashion to wear a particular type of tyre or the other; the choice must be professionally made!

A common misconception with regard to truck tyres is that you need them for improved traction on rugged terrain, and naturally, the general consensus suggests that larger tyres equate to more traction.

While such an assumption may seem to make some sense, it is not always the case; it does not always hold water.

True, the right Off Road truck tyres can provide some additional traction in Off Road conditions, but there are better, more efficient ways to improve traction than simply bulking up the rubber.

If traction is your primary concern, a traction differential (locker) with stock truck tyres is more beneficial for your rig than just adding a set of taller, more aggressive looking truck tyres.

Or for that matter, a winch is probably a smart idea before anything else. A locker could inspire excessive boldness, causing you to get caught in some real jams and then you’ll wish that you opted for the winch instead.

Truly, larger truck tyres are meant first and foremost for the purpose of raising the height and ground clearance of your vehicle to enable sudden ascent and descent in Off Road topography.

When driving over rocks, trekking through mud, drifting across the desert, or even just making your way through a forest trail, higher ground clearance facilitates negotiating certain obstacles. 

Not to overlook the traction feature of Off Road truck tyres, as a set of mud terrain bias tyres will most definitely perform better in the mud than a set of all-season radials.

Under some situations, improved traction is more of a secondary function that still bears importance, but is not the main consideration when it comes to buying truck tyres.

Acquiring a set of high truck tyres for your 4X4 is like making a marriage work; it involves sometimes drastic changes, sacrifices, and commitment, along with constant care and maintenance.

On the other hand, at least you will not have to remember anniversaries. The first thing to keep in mind is that upgrading to taller truck tyres means upgrading a number of other components in your vehicle as well.

Additional inches of vehicle clearance are needed for the truck tyres to fit without rubbing against the vehicle fenders. A suspension lift, body lift, or a combination of both can provide those additional inches.

For Off Road purposes, a suspension lift is preferable for the increase in wheel travel ability, whereas a body lift simply allows for the fitment of larger tyres without any performance enhancements.

Larger truck tyres may imply that your vehicle will be working harder to heave some additional weight, which can result in significant strain to your axles and shock absorbers, and also alters the gear ratio set by the manufacturer.

To compensate for these changes, new ring and pinion gears and performance shocks (many complete lift kits typically include shocks) are strongly recommended.

To counteract the additional weight and loss in performance, custom intakes, exhausts, computer chips, or any other performance-enhancing components are also advised.

Now you can see the additional cost this modification could add to the value of the vehicle.  It is not merely the change of tyres and reams but a host of many other items!

(To be cont’d)
motoringcorner@live.co.uk