Are Off-Road Tires Good in the Snow

Author: Sterling Feathers

January 8, 2021

Whether you're new to trucks or just here to get some more information on tires, we have you covered. Today we're going to answer a question that gets asked a lot in the truck community. Are off-road tires any good in the snow?

Types of Off-Road Tires

All-Terrain

All-terrain tires are the entry level to off-road tire designs. These are made to be more aggressive than your standard all-season to cater to more off-roading activities. However, the all-terrain will maintain the most road comfort and daily drivability since the tread isn't as aggressive as the other types of off-road tires. These also tend to be the most cost-effective option for someone looking for a little bit of off-road performance.

Ram with All Terrain Tires in Snow

Hybrid Terrain

Hybrid tires bridge the gap between a mud tire and an all-terrain. The tread is designed to be able to handle a more intense environment but still maintain some daily comfort. Hybrid tires are the most popular type of off-road tire thanks to the increase in off-road performance and being less expensive than a mud tire.

Tacoma with Kansei Wheels

Mud Terrain

Mud tires are the most aggressive off-road tire available for road use. These focus primarily on tackling the most difficult off-road terrain. Featuring large tread voids and tread blocks parired with deep grooves to get the most possible off-road traction. Most mud tires are not recommended for snow use because of a lack of siping. Sipes are the small grooves cut into the tread blocks that are meant to bite into the terrain below. These increase grip in wet and cold conditions.

Can You Run Off-Road Tires in the Snow?

To make a long story short, yes! You absolutely can run off-road tires in the snow. You just have to be sure to choose the right tire for the job. Off-road tires are packed full of technology to make them more capable in a wide variety of conditions, but there is a good way to tell if the set of tires you're looking at will perform well in the snow.

Jeep Drifting in Snow

When it comes to picking out a set of off-road tires that might need to be used in the snow, look out for the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake marking on the sidewall of the tire. This is a certification that the tires need to pass which test the tires in a variety of snow and ice situations. This will ensure that the tires you pick out will have been tested in similar winter conditions that you will be using them in.