One of the first items a proud owner of a new ATV replaces is the tires. After-market ATV tires are probably the biggest and best upgrade money can buy over any stock item on your 4-wheeler.

ATV owners love their tires and demand performance from both their machine and the four tires on the ground. Both are nearly synonymous therefore, choosing the right tire to address the type of riding and the ground conditions is paramount to a successful and enjoyable day on your 4-wheeler.

If you try riding the dunes out in the desert without a paddle tire you're not going to get very far. Similarly, an all-purpose tire built more for all-around moderate terrain riding won't offer the same performance as a mud tire with thick, deep knobbing.

Finding the right ATV or Quad tire need not be hard. Above all, know your terrain. If you've found an ATV or Quad tire that works and you're happy with it by all means stick with the tire you found that suits your riding style and terrain.

If you're new to riding or looking to replace a failed tire or simply want to test the waters, so to speak, then this guide is your first stop. MotoSport's ATV Tire Buying Guide is designed to help you narrow down the broad scope of available tires to a manageable purchasing opportunity.

The first thing to consider is the type of riding:

All-Purpose ATV Tires

All-Purpose or All-Terrain riding is exactly that. Riding most non-extreme conditions all year round.

All-Purpose Tire Design/Pattern

All-Purpose tires provide all-around, intermediate grip ideal for general riding on multiple terrains without extremes.

Top Selling All-Purpose ATV Tires

Top Selling All-Purpose ATV Tires

Top Selling All-Purpose ATV Tires

Kenda Klaw XC Tires

Artrax MXT-R Tires

Maxxis All Trak

Price: $43.77-$84.18

Price: $37.39-$44.99

Price: $81.69-$88.34

Features:

Pros:

  • Versatile tire that works in soft, medium and medium hard terrain.
  • Good for cross country, motocross and short course racing.
  • A great 6-ply tire.

Cons:

  • Tend to push with more aggressive riding.
  • Cornering is not optimum.

Features:

Pros:

  • Great all-around tire delivers crossover performance for all terrain types.
  • The "V" tread pattern gives versatility in mud, snow and hard pack.

Cons:

  • A heavy tire better on smooth surfaces.
  • Not ideal for extreme conditions like thick mud or heavy sand.

Features:

Pros:

  • Multi direction tread design
  • Great for mud and sand
  • Shoulder knobs give side bite and grip

Cons:

  • 2-ply
  • Better for extreme conditions
  • Cost
 

Highest Rated All-Purpose ATV Tires

Highest Rated All-Purpose ATV Tires

Highest Rated All-Purpose ATV Tires

Kenda Pathfinder Front Tire

Artrax MXT-R Rear Tire

ITP Holeshot ATV Rear Tire

Price: $34.95-$73.49

Price: $44.99

Price: $80.06-$83.24

Features:

Pros:

  • Versatile tire that works in all conditions for utility purposes
  • Easy roll and smooth riding

Cons:

  • 2-ply tire
  • Not ideal for extreme conditions

Features:

Pros:

  • Flexible cornering
  • Ideal for cross country, GNCC and wet weather
  • Great shock absorption

Cons:

  • Tread wear

  • 2-ply

Features:

Pros:

  • 4-ply
  • Tough puncture resistance
  • Great track tires
  • Solid traction

Cons:

  • Bouncy
  • Not ideal for trails

Sand ATV Tires

Riding the sand dunes is a completely different experience you must try.

Sand Tire Design/Pattern

Perhaps the most recognizable ATV tire. The rears look like paddles and the fronts are nearly slick except for a rib down the middle or sides for steering.

Top Selling Sand ATV Tires

Top Selling Sand ATV Tires

ITP Sandstar Rear Paddle Tire

Sedona Sand Tire

Price: $61.99-$133.99

Price: $43.00-$76.99

Features:

Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Delivers flexibility, solid cornering and flotation
  • A great sand tire

Cons:

  • Loses grip in deeper sand

Features:

Pros:

  • Aggressive
  • Great paddle tire
  • Good control

Cons:

  • Throws lots of sand
  • Digs holes
 

Highest Rated Sand ATV Tires

Highest Rated Sand ATV Tires

ITP Sandstar Rear Paddle Tire

Sedona Cyclone Sand Front Tire

Price: $73.30-$97.84

Price: $46.50-$48.40

Features:

Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Delivers flexibility, solid cornering and flotation.
  • A great sand tire

Cons:

  • Loses grip in deeper sand

Features:

Pros:

  • Great price
  • Lightweight design
  • Alternating centered dual ribs for precise steering

Cons:

  • Below average float and traction
 

Mud ATV Tires

Similar to sand but you'll be unrecognizable after five minutes. So will your ATV.

Mud Tire Design/Pattern

ATV Mud tires bring serious grip. Large, high knobs act as shovels to keep you moving in the most extreme conditions. Also a good snow tire.

Top Selling Mud ATV Tires

Top Selling Mud ATV Tires

Top Selling Mud ATV Tires

Interco Swamp Lite Tire

ITP Mud Lite AT Tire

Kenda Bearclaw Tires

Price: $47.50-$141.55

Price: $60.68-$82.71

Price: $55.52-$137.64

Features:

Pros:

  • A well built 6-ply tire
  • Outstanding grip
  • Versatile performance in mud, snow and hard pack.

Cons:

  • Ideal for extreme conditions only
  • Wears quickly regular terrain.

Features:

Pros:

  • Great tire
  • Designed for trail riding and mud performance.
  • Light and smooth ride.

Cons:

  • Not ideal for extreme mud conditions.

Features:

Pros:

  • 6 ply
  • Angled knobs give great traction
  • Versatile in array of conditions

Cons:

  • Tread life
  • Cornering
 

Highest Rated Mud ATV Tires

Highest Rated Mud ATV Tires

Highest Rated Mud ATV Tires

Interco Swamp Lite Tire

ITP Mud Lite AT Tire

Kenda Bearclaw Tires

Price: $47.50-$141.55

Price: $60.68-$82.71

Price: $55.52-$137.64

Features:

Pros:

  • A well built 6-ply tire
  • Outstanding grip
  • Versatile performance in mud, snow and hard pack.

Cons:

  • Ideal for extreme conditions only
  • Wears quickly regular terrain.

Features:

Pros:

  • Great tire
  • Designed for trail riding and mud performance.
  • Light and smooth ride.

Cons:

  • Not ideal for extreme mud conditions.

Features:

Pros:

  • 6 ply
  • Angled knobs give great traction
  • Versatile in array of conditions

Cons:

  • Tread life
  • Cornering
 

Motocross ATV Tires

ATV Motocross events take place on closed course dirt race tracks featuring jumps and other man-made dexterity testing obstacles.

Motocross Tire Design/Pattern:

Motocross ATV tires use tread design ideal for loose track conditions common in MX racing. Stiffened knobs provide consistent cornering and a wide-spaced tread pattern give bite and better clean-out.


Top Selling Motocross ATV Tires

Top Selling Motocross ATV Tires

Top Selling Motocross ATV Tires

QuadBoss QBT734 Sport Front Tire

Artrax MXT Tires

Maxxis RAZR 4 Tires

Price: $50.99

Price: $37.39-$44.99

Price: $71.24-$99.74

Features:

Pros:

  • 4-ply
  • Lug design provides better braking control
  • Performs well in soft to hard pack conditions.
  • Superior weight-to-performance ratio

Cons:

  • Better for trail vs. track racing
  • Cornering

Features:

Pros:

  • Great dirt tire
  • Offers traction, control and performance.
  • Heavy duty frame provides durability and shock absorption.

Cons:

  • A 2-ply tire not good for high horse power ATVs
  • Wears quicker than others

Features:

Pros:

  • Great contact surface for acceleration and braking
  • Traction
  • Tread life
  • Reduced squirm

Cons:

  • Not ideal for wet conditions
 

Highest Rated Motocross ATV Tires

Highest Rated Motocross ATV Tires

Highest Rated Motocross ATV Tires

Maxxis RAZR MX Front Tire

ITP Holeshot MXR6 Rear Tire

Maxxis RAZR 4 Tires

Price: $70.29-$77.89

Price: $74.37-$83.20

Price: $71.24-$99.74

Features:

Pros:

  • 4-ply tire
  • Performs well in aggressive conditions
  • Solid traction surface and easy on tread squirm.

Cons:

  • Hard to control when wet or on super fine dirt.

Features:

Pros:

  • Designed specifically for MX tracks
  • Ideal for loose track surfaces
  • Wide-spaced knobs provide bite and easy clean-out

Cons:

  • Primarily limited to track riding.

  • Off-road and trail riding wear hard on the tire.

Features:

Pros:

  • Great contact surface for acceleration and braking
  • Traction
  • Tread life
  • Reduced squirm

Cons:

  • Not ideal for wet conditions
 

Off-Road ATV Tires

Off-road trail riding varies from tight single track trails in the mountains, down to high speed wide open desert riding and everything in between.

Off-Road Tire Design/Pattern:

The ATV Off-Road tire is close to the All-Purpose tire but with stronger tread and extra durability to tackle varying hard pack surfaces and soft, loamy dirt commonly found on trails and other off-roading surfaces.

 

Top Selling Off-Road ATV Tires

Top Selling Off-Road ATV Tires

Top Selling Off-Road ATV Tires

Maxxis RAZR 6 Tires

Artrax XC Radial

ITP Holeshot XCT Tires

Price: $81.69-$112.09

Price: $41.99-$59.99

Price: $73.16-$108.31

Features:

Pros:

  • Traction
  • 6 ply
  • Ideal for all terrain types
  • Tread squirm

Cons:

  • Extreme conditions
  • Price

Features:

Pros:

  • Great versatility
  • Price
  • V tread pattern

Cons:

  • Not ideal for fast, aggressive riding or racing.

  • Kicks up dirt and rocks

Features:

Pros:

  • Great handling
  • Aggressive cornering
  • Durability
  • Puncture resistance

Cons:

  • Price
  • Not ideal for extreme conditions
 

Highest Rated Off-Road ATV Tires

Highest Rated Off-Road ATV Tires

Highest Rated Off-Road ATV Tires

Artrax MXT Rear Tire

Kenda Kutter XC Front Tire

ITP Holeshot XCT Tires

Price: $37.39-$44.99

Price: $44.77-89.19

Price: $73.16-$108.31

Features:

Pros:

  • Great dirt tire
  • Offers traction, control and performance.
  • Heavy duty frame provides durability and shock absorption.

Cons:

  • A 2-ply tire not good for high horse power ATVs
  • Wears quicker than others

Features:

Pros:

  • Large, thick knobs give a sound bite
  • Spot on, predictable steering
  • Easily handles rough terrain.

Cons:

  • Not ideal for fast, aggressive riding or racing.

Features:

Pros:

  • Great handling
  • Aggressive cornering
  • Durability
  • Puncture resistance

Cons:

  • Price
  • Not ideal for extreme conditions