If you are mostly driving off-road, you need a set of tires that can comfortably handle the terrain while giving you the best performance and mileage.
While there are different tire brands in the market designed for challenging terrains, mud tires, in particular, are ideal for off-road use, especially muddy roads. So, exactly how long do mud tires last? Here are the details.
How Long Do Mud Tires Last?
Mud tires can last for up to 40,000 to 50,000 miles (64,000 km to 80,000 km) when used for off-road and street driving. On average, car owners commute between 12,000 to 15,000 miles yearly; therefore, these mud tires can be good for two to three years. However, the mileage can be as low as 20,000 miles depending on individual use.
To learn more about mud tires, how long they last, how they perform in different weather conditions, the types, and when to replace them, keep on reading!
How Many Miles Will Mud Terrain Tires Last?
Shortened as M/T, mud tires are designed to drive in off-road conditions where there’s mud, jagged rocks, loose soil, and sand; therefore, they come with a large tread block design and deep spaces.
With these deep and wide voids between the tread, the tires don’t hold on to mud, sand, dirt, and rocks, ensuring that the tire surface area is always unclogged for excellent traction on the terrain.
While most mud tires last between 40,000 and 50,000 miles, some drivers report getting over 60,000 miles and some up to 100,000 miles.
Based on these numbers, it’s evident that the mileage will last depending on how you drive and the conditions you expose your tires to. If you use them for off-road only and don’t take them for rotation and air pressure checks, they will not last long.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the average person drives around 13,500 miles every year; therefore, these mud tires will get you about 2.9 to 3.7 years.
Mud tires are a favorite for truck and jeep drivers because they can handle muddy off-road terrains without any problem.
How Many Seasons Do Mud Tires Last?
While tires like all-season handle both dry and wet conditions, mud tires are not ideal for all seasons, especially winter and snow.
Therefore, they shouldn’t be used all year round, especially if you are not driving on muddy terrains.
Instead, you can use all-season tires for other standard terrains. Additionally, they are considered a three-season tire.
Do Mud Tires Wear Out Fast?
As stated, these tires will wear out faster depending on how you use them, the road conditions you expose them to, and the level of maintenance.
If your tires are mainly for off-road driving, you might get a lower mileage than a driver with a mix of highway and off-road drives.
Most Jeep and truck drivers have to decide between mud tires and all-season tires by looking at which wear outs faster and the expected mileage.
Mud tires will also wear out faster if used during some seasons because they are designed with a soft rubber compound that reacts to temperature changes.
Therefore, for your tires to last longer, you have to pay attention to maintenance and driving habits.
When Should You Replace Mud Tires?
Like other types of tires, mud tires should be replaced once the tread starts wearing out.
There are different methods of measuring the tread depth, and they include the penny test, the quarter test, and the indicator bar.
If the depth is less than 2/32″ with the penny test, or you have 4/32” on the quarter test, it’s time to replace your tires.
Furthermore, you should constantly check for uneven tread wear, damaged valve caps and listen in for any vibrations when driving.
All these factors indicate that your tires are gradually wearing out and need to be changed.
Do Mud Tires Have More Gas Mileage?
Every vehicle owner is concerned about fuel economy and gas mileage and the factors that might affect these elements.
While different factors determine the fuel efficiency, the tire type, design and size are among them. Tire tread patterns, weights, and rolling resistance could either reduce or increase fuel consumption.
For instance, mud tires are bigger in size and have deep tread blocks, hard with complex designs.
As a result, they have more rolling resistance, making it harder to move, so they need additional energy to move forward.
Additionally, they are heavy, and weight affects gas mileage because the tire requires more energy to move forward. Because of the bulkiness, these tires result in a drop in fuel economy.
Are Mud Tires Good In Snow?
Mud tires are built with aggressive traction, making them perfect for tough terrains.
Although they are good with muddy roads, their performance on snow depends on the type of snow, vehicle’s weight, and type of tires.
Therefore, mud tires can only handle snow-covered roads in certain situations; otherwise, you might need to mount all-season or winter tires.
Mud tires become dangerous on snow when the snow gets packed in the deep treads causing the tire to lose most of its traction. Once the snow fills up these spaces, you are likely to get stuck.
Are Mud Tires Good In The Rain?
Now that we’ve established where mud tires excel the most, how do they perform in the rain?
During the rainy season, your car will be better served by other types of tires like the all-season one, especially if you are not planning to go off-road.
However, if you are driving on the highway, the tires are prone to hydroplaning, which causes the tire to make little contact with the road surface.
Are Mud Tires Good on Highways And Pavements?
Although these tires will work well on the highway and street pavements, they can be chunky and pretty noisy.
Since these terrains and surfaces are not the most ideal, they might become quite irritating and lead to an uncomfortable ride.
Why Should You Use Mud Tires?
When driving through muddy terrain, you should use mud tires because they have the best traction in these road conditions compared to all-season tires.
Additionally, they are durable and self-cleaning. Designed with aggressive tread patterns and huge spaces in between, they don’t hold on to the mud, which improves the traction and grip on the road.
On the other hand, these tires are versatile; you can switch from driving off-road to the highway without changing tires.
Although, you need to keep in mind that they will be noisier and uncomfortable on the tarmacked roads because of the size and design.
These tires also have an impressive mileage as long as you maintain them properly and use them well.
How Long Do Michelin Mud Tires Last?
Michelin has the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 designed for the toughest off-road challenges. It comes with extreme sidewall protection, chip-and-tear resistance on gravel, and pinch shock resistance.
Like all other tires in this brand, these mud tires have a standard manufacturer’s limited warranty, which covers six years from the day of the purchase.
On average, these tires last about 60,000 to 80,000 miles, according to customer reviews.
How Long Do Goodyear Mud Tires Last?
Goodyear has the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R With Kevlar mud tire that’s designed for extreme off-road expeditions and can power through mud, rocks, and sand.
With the reinforced sidewalls, this tire resists punctures and is made from silica rubber that provides excellent off-road traction.
Car owners who install these tires get a mileage of about 60,000 to 90,000 miles.
How Long Do Bridgestone Mud Tires Last?
Bridgestone’s mud tire, the Dueler M/T 674, is designed to comfortably drive through off-road terrains and heavy mud.
Incorporating 3D technology, the company offers superior traction with this tire to handle challenging terrains.
These tires have a mileage warranty of 50,000 miles; therefore, they would last much longer.
To find out more about tires, you can also read our posts on how long do tires last in Florida, why do tires dry rot, and how long do summer tires last.
Conclusion
Mud tires are necessary if you constantly drive on off-road terrain with rocks, mud, and sand.
On average, these tires last about 40,000 to 50,000 miles but can last much longer if well maintained by the driver.
Furthermore, mud tires may not be ideal for all seasons; therefore, you still need to have all-season, summer, or winter tires if you mostly drive on the highway and dry roads.
Tire manufacturers design these types of tires with the right technology to handle challenging terrain.