What Are All-Terrain Tires?

All-Terrain tires are “all-purpose” tires that combine the more open tread design of an off-roading tire with the precise handling of a street tire. The open tread provides good grip on surfaces such as gravel or mud, but enough tread is still in contact with the road, for responsive handling.
All-Terrain tires have reinforced sidewalls for heavier trucks and off-road driving. These tires are best for Light Trucks, Pickups, and SUVs on both paved surfaces, and on off-road terrains, since they are designed for both surfaces.

They are also a great option for drivers who don’t need studded winter tires, but still want confidence driving in winter weather. An All-Terrain tire with a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating provides good traction in snow and on wet surfaces.

However, there can be some trade-offs. Due to air passing through the larger spaces between tread blocks, some A/T tires can be noisy, unless they have been specifically designed for noise reduction. Lastly, since less of the tire is in contact with the road due to the more open tread and flexible rubber, some consumers complain that their tires wear too fast, or don't provide the good handling they expect.