Some people own trucks just because they fancy them; others own trucks because they see them as utility vehicles. The elite in truck owners routinely use them as utility vehicles. A truck is only as good as its tires, and mud tires for trucks must fulfill their function.
Most modern tires have several patterns of tread, from the center to the outer edges. Each pattern allows the tire to grip and perform in different conditions or terrain, such as water and snow. Although multipurpose tires are safer in adverse conditions than a plain tread, they are not specialized tires. On-road tires are built for efficiency on an even surface, but cannot endure rough treatment for long. Off-road tires are tougher at the expense of fuel economy. Mud tires for trucks are a variety of off-road tire that understands a surface that does not understand itself, in terms of whether it wants to be a solid or a liquid.
There are several global tire companies, each of which pumps out millions of dollars in new research every year to develop a fancy new tire. In spite of fancy tweaks, the design of a mud tire is basically the same: Thick rubber and fat treads designed to grip. They are inefficient road tires, though, and companies are pushing to prove they can provide the best of both worlds. Ahead are the premium mud tires offered by the leading companies.
1) BF Goodrich is proud to present the Mud-Terrain T/A KM. Apparently it has been around for a few years, but the company is still touting it as one of their best products. It has held up to many tests, and it succeeds best on all manner of off-road terrain. JP Magazine listed the tire as one of the top ten all-time off road products, and it was the only tire listed. BF Goodrich willingly admits that the T/A KM makes for a poor road tire, even if it can withstand abuse.
2) Goodyear offers several high-profile off-road tires. The one most specific to mud and other off-road obstacles would be the Wrangler M/T with Kevlar. It has deep and irregular treads, and the rubber is reinforced with Kevlar, which is the same stuff found in bulletproof vests. The runner up on their line is the Wrangler DuraTrac. If offers excellent off-road traction, but also performs very well in snow and heavy rain. It is also a smoother ride, which makes it a highly versatile tire.
3) The Japanese owned Bridgestone tire company produces an enormous selection of tires, to appeal to the varied and fickle appetites of its customers. Because the Japanese are big on fuel efficiency, they prefer multi-purpose or all-terrain tires. One that does fit specifically into the mud and ice category is the Vertex IV Plus. As a new tire, its specs have yet to be definitively rated, but the design and durability of it seem promising. It provides superior traction and handling, and the treads do not slough off.