Your Guide to 4x4 Tyres

Now this is a big question.  You can pick up a set of cheaply made All Terrain tyres in a common size, say 15”, for about $180 a piece.  A quality All Terrain tyre in 265/65R17 starts at about $300.  A decent mud tyre in the same size is likely to be more like $450 an upwards.  Want a proper mud beast for extreme action?  A 40x13.50-17 will set you back at least $900.  Like all things, it depends on what you want.  Just consider this though...you’ve gone to all the expense of purchasing a 4WD so why inhibit the single biggest advantage of a 4WD by plopping rubbish rubber on it?  You wouldn’t load up your backpack and get ready to go bush, then stick a pair of old jandals on your feet...would you?

Generally speaking, it’s not a good idea.  If your two other tyres are half worn, you’ll risk damaging your transmission by effectively running tyres of different dimensions.  Sure, it might be ok on a 2WD but it’s not a good idea on a 4WD.  Instead, change all four and then rotate regularly.  That way you’ll ensure they wear as evenly as possible.

A better quality tyre will give you improved highway handling, self-clearing and longer tread life.  A low quality (cheap) tyre will make more compromises.  These are typically in highway handling and noise.  That said, a higher price doesn’t always mean higher quality.  Beware of very expensive tyres that make claims about extra long tread life.  You’ll find high quality but competitively priced tyres, such as those on offer from Maxxis, will likely give you a better cost per KM.

Again, this can vary significantly.  A passenger rated 4x4 tyre might have a load rating of 96 (710kg) in a size to suit a Suzuki Jimmy.  A relatively standard 10ply 4x4 tyre will be good for up to 120 (1400kg) or 121 (1450kg).

Only if you need it.  That said, even if you don’t think you’ll need it now you might in the future  The beauty of owning a 4WD vehicle is putting it to use.  You might not think you will but often just because you can often means you do.

Oddly enough, we’ve not found a manufacturer that recommends it.  That said, we’ve also not heard of too much going wrong when it’s done.  That is, as long as you only drive at low speeds and the pressure doesn’t go below around half of what the recommended pressure for highway speed is.  We do have to stress this though:  only do it if you have a pressure gauge and compressor.  You need to get the pressure back up before hitting the road.  Driving at highway speeds on underinflated tyres is extremely dangerous and you risk losing control of the vehicle.  If you don’t have any way to inflate your rubber back to recommended pressures before hitting the tarmac, don’t let them down.