When the time comes to replace your 4 x 4 tyres, you'll find yourself faced with a considerable range of choices and, unless you're already an expert off roader, you might find it a bit of a struggle to choose exactly the right 4 x 4 tyres for your vehicle and your usage requirements. In fact you will find that there are broadly four categories that 4 x 4 tyres fall into and you need to choose the right one for you as tyre choice makes a significant difference to the performance of your vehicle under a range of driving conditions that ranges from severe duty to occasional off road use. At the top of the list for the serious off road enthusiast, Mud Terrain (MT) 4 x 4 tyres are designed for 80% off road use and just 20% on road use. The composition, construction and tread pattern of these specialist 4 x 4 tyres have been carefully engineered with large tread lugs and wide gaps to ensure outstanding traction and grip in severe conditions. However this is at the expense of on road performance where less ride comfort and longer braking distances mean they are not the right 4 x 4 tyres for those who make higher mileage road and motorway journeys. Drivers who have a 50/50 split between off road and on road use should consider All Terrain (AT) 4 x 4 tyres which are especially designed for mixed use and are an excellent choice of 4 x 4 tyres for many people in rural and farming communities. Indeed AT 4 x 4 tyres are often an extremely cost-effective choice where they fit the requirements, since they are capable of relatively high mileages whilst still providing good on and off road grip and acceptable levels of comfort. One of the most popular choices for the casual off roader, Standard Original Equipment (OE) 4 x 4 tyres provide an effective blend of comfort and performance where the requirement is for 80% on road use and 20% off road use. These 4 x 4 tyres are frequently fitted as standard to new 4 x 4 vehicles where they provide good on road ride comfort, grip and performance and a degree of off road safety. High Performance 4 x 4 tyres are available for specialist and sports vehicles with an on road usage requirement of 95%. These advanced 4 x 4 tyres are designed to provide high levels of comfort, grip and roadholding on conventional road surfaces but, since they are not intended to offer high performance under off road conditions, should really be only considered as 4 x 4 tyres for occasional off road forays. Whatever 4 x 4 tyres are appropriate to your own particular motoring requirements, it is extremely important to ensure that all wheels on your vehicle - including the spare - are fitted with exactly the same tyre make, type and specification because if you fit a mixed set of 4 x 4 tyres you can seriously compromise the performance and safety of your vehicle.
| 
