If you happen to travel on gravel roads often, you would know that a regular tire is nowhere near a tire for driving on a gravel road.
To eliminate the risk of any damage or accident on a gravel road, you need to make sure that your vehicle is equipped with the best tires for gravel roads. These tires can stand the test of the storms offered by the muddy and rocky gravel roads.
The gravel will eventually lead to wearing off of the tire’s tread, which will make them less effective in providing traction. Therefore, to keep yourself safe and your drive comfortable, you need to find the perfect tires.
You can find a pool of options of tires for your vehicle in the market. But choosing the perfect tires can be incredibly intimidating given the vast range of options. Here we have narrowed down a list of the 10 best tires for gravel roads after doing a lot of research.
- Michelin LTX A/T2
- Continental Extremecontact DWS06
- Kumho Crugen HT51
- Falken Wildpeak A/T3W
- Maxxis Mudder MT-764
- Milestar MS932
- Toyo M55 All-season Tire
- General Grabber AT2
- Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail
- Crosswind M/T Tire
This A/T2 from Michelin is a design that provides excellent off-road traction and on-road comfort. This combination makes it the best option for light truck or SUV drivers who travel to the countryside with gravel roads off and on. This tire from Michelin will not let you down as it is designed with a tough endurance capability.
The tire has a load capacity of up to 2365 pounds which means it can hold plenty of weight in all conditions. It supports a comfortable ride on all types of terrain. Tread life and tread pattern are interlinked to some extent. Some tread patterns are designed in a way that allows more endurance off-road.
The tire features a biting edge technology with notched blocks in the tread pattern. It enables them to provide a long-lasting traction capability. Even if you drive on roads that are not less than sandpaper for your tires, you’ll be satisfied with the tread life of this tire.
The tread depth is around 13/32 inch that allows them to last quite long, even in reasonably challenging situations. Additionally, the mileage warranty of these tires is around 60000 miles, however, some people have reported using them for over 70k miles. The tough tread of these tires helps them resist chipping and tearing.
- Durable tread
- Reduced vibration and road noise
- Exceptional traction and grip
- Sometimes hold rocks
- Excellent tread life
- Less road noise due to angled tread pattern
- Great traction dry/wet/snow
- Mileage could have been better
Being the largest tire manufacturer in the world, Kumho never fails to deliver an exceptional driving experience to its customers. The Crugen HT51 tires feature a sturdy tread that makes them perfect fit for gravel roads.
These tires are one of the best tires for gravel roads because of the stability, traction, and ease of handling they provide while driving. The tread pattern of the tires is very favorable for safe driving on unpaved gravel roads.
They feature a five-rib tread block design. The three central ribs have a similar zig-zag pattern while the two terminal ones sport a zig-zag design that is opposite to the central ones. These five rigid tread blocks with alternating patterns improve the traction of the tires as well as their life.
Moreover, tread blocks also have 3d sipes which tremendously maximize the grip of the tires. The improvement in braking performance will also be clearly noticeable once you try them out. The stiff center also ensures maximum grip and stability.
- Reduced road noise
- Circumferential grooves provide decent grip on gravel
- Enhanced grip and brake performance
- Less traction in deep snow
These tires are a sure thing for gravel roads. They provide superior performance on rough terrain, however, they are great on the pavement just as well. So they are ideal for a ruggedized use on gravel in the countryside or an everyday ride in the city.
These tires show an aggressive off-road performance owing to the deep treads and full-depth sipes on its surface. They are made to deliver a consistent performance throughout their life.
So you can rest assure that traveling with these tires on gravel roads will be the safest option. They are one of a kind in their category in terms of the tread. Also, they feature the deepest tread of 20/32nd inches.
The deep tread allows them to provide fantastic off-road traction with long-lasting wear. These tires are basically a hybrid between the MT and AT types and are suitable for all types of trucks, SUVs, and crossovers.
- Work amazing on dry, wet, or snow
- Internal cooling protection allows longer life
- Long lasting wear
- Maybe a little noisy on pavements
- Work amazing on dry, wet, or snow
- Internal cooling protection allows longer life
- Long lasting wear
- Little loud on highways
So if you are looking for tires that are not too heavy on the pocket yet are capable of not making your drive hazardous on gravel roads, then these are for you. They feature a modern tread design with a tread depth of 10/32nds. The pattern is not too detailed, but it still provides good traction on rough terrain.
These tires have rounded shoulders with quite large tread blocks that render increased handling and cornering grip. The tires are not quite impressive in heavy snow, but they were not built for that either. So we cannot blame the manufacturer.
In addition to that, the wide circumferential ribs aid in improving the stability of the tires. The tread features sipes around it which is effective in creating a quick steering response. The advanced silica tread compound allows the usage of tires for a longer time. It helps provide strength and endurance to the tires, which is beneficial for the tread life of the tires.
The inner body of the tires is built to provide even tread wear of the tire, which results in longer tread life. The tires provide superior control, either on-road or off-road. Road noise has been a problem for a few people.
Other than that, these are some outstanding performers, given their price range. The mileage warranty is up to 50k miles. The tires are ideal for modern sedans, sport sedans, CUVs, and sports coupes, etc.
- Great traction on rough terrain
- Affordable
- Cornering grip is excellent
- They create a little noise on highways
- Not suitable for heavy snow
They are one of the most heavy-duty tires we’ve reviewed so far. They offer exceptional traction with the aid of the rugged tread design. The aggressive siping all over the tires enable them to outperform on all sorts of terrain. The open shoulder design then again adds to the stability of the tires on every type of terrain. Also, the grip of these tires is like no other.
The lug and block tread design make them a strong and reliable option that delivers the perfect amount of traction no matter what. These tires feature a tread depth of 17-19/32nds, depending on the tire size you buy.
Moreover, they offer very responsive control due to the tough tread design. The brake and acceleration ability of this tire cannot be put into words.
The Toyo M55 also boasts a cut and chip-resistant tread compound, a solid point for making them one of the best tires for gravel roads. Like every other tire mentioned in our list, this one also has an even wear.
The three-ply sidewall comes in handy when encountering rocks, dirt, or gravel. It offers great protection to tires while keeping them stable. These tires are ideal for minivans, pickups, 4×4, and light trucks. Overall they provide a smooth ride and consistent performance with even tread wear.
- Long tread life
- Toughest commercial grade tire
- Works well even in heavy snow
- A little extra road noise
- Excellent snow traction. Meets the RMA & RAC requirements.
- Work equally well on dry, wet, snow, gravel, etc.
- Perform as good as they look
- Slightly noisy at 25-50 mph
- Smooth ride and phenomenal handling
- Provide off-road traction and on-road comfort
- Durable
- Not good for snow
- Good all-weather traction
- Open tread pattern promotes self cleaning
- Amazing driving stability
- A bit noisy
Best Tires for Gravel Roads: Buying Guide
To cope with the rough and rocky conditions of the gravel roads, you need to purchase the best tires for gravel roads. These are some of the things you should consider while buying such tires.
Traction
Sipes and grooves in the tread also play a significant impact on the traction of the tire. Biting edges in the tread pattern render superior traction. They are especially useful in heavy snow. The amount of traction provided by the tire determines its efficacy on a gravel road.
Grip and Handling
The tread depth and tread stiffness are two factors that lay a huge impact on the tires’ grip. The handling is greatly affected by the tread compounds and, of course, the tread patterns. Wide circumferential ribs and sipes improve the overall performance of the tires.
Acceleration and Puncture Resistance
You cannot drive as fast on gravel roads with regular tires. Tires that are made to work on gravel roads should have an aggressive tread pattern. It promotes a ruggedized use and increased acceleration as well as braking performance.
Moreover, the tires’ shoulders and sidewall should also be tough enough to drive past rocky surfaces without getting flat. Tough shoulders with strong sidewall protection allow you to go a long way without getting a flat tire.
Tread life and Durability
Always look for tires with a very tough and aggressive tread with great rolling resistance, grip, and puncture protection. The tires should be able to provide stability at high speeds as well.
Tires enriched with silica compounds and chip and tear-resistant components not only last a long while but also enhance the handling and stability of the tires.
Gravel roads reduce the efficiency of the tires and take a toll on their life. If you are a regular visitor to the countryside or you happen to travel a lot on gravel roads, there is no way a regular tire will deliver a comfortable ride.
Tires with softer treads are not appropriate for ruggedized use. In addition to that, they are not safe for traveling on such roads. Choosing the right type of tire will affect the overall performance of your vehicle, so choose wisely!