WHEN DO YOU NEED NEW TIRES?

Unsurprisingly, the first question to ask is, when do I need new ATV or UTV tires?

Because of their specific design and the use they see, ATV/UTV tires don't typically wear the way car and truck tires do. Here are a couple quick tips you can use to make sure your tires are still in fighting form or see if they're down for the count:

• Inspect the tread lugs for chunking or cracking.

• Check the lug edges to see if they're severely rounded or losing their sharp edges.

• Lookout for punctures, tears or foreign objects (ie nails, rocks, sticks, etc.) that may cause air loss.

• Check the air pressure to make sure your tires are all properly inflated.

If you notice any serious issues on your tires, they may need replacing.

We recommend regularly inspecting your ATV tires using the checklist above, ideally before each ride. Not only does this help ensure that the air pressure is set, it also helps you make sure there isn't any obvious damage.

Please note, if you have multiple punctures, or punctures larger than ¼ inch, your tires should be replaced. Tire "slime" and "sticky plugs" are rarely effective for preventing air loss long term. Check out our tire repair guide to learn more.

WHAT DO YOU USE YOUR ATV/UTV FOR?

When you take your ATV or UTV out, it's typically for a specific type of driving on a particular terrain, whether it's mudding, off-road racing or dune riding. Each terrain comes with its own demands, which is why ATV/UTV tires are engineered for specific types of performance.

Consider your regular riding conditions when looking for new tires. For example:

• All-terrain tires are perfect if you ride on very rocky, soft-packed trails.

• If mud is your main terrain, you can't go wrong with a set of mud tires.

• Racing tires are your best bet for hard-packed, off-road trail racing.

When going sand or dune running, you can't miss with a set of sand tires.

ATV/UTV tires are very specialized and will give you their best performance when used on their recommended terrain.

You might find that mud tires don't handle, ride or wear as well on hard-packed terrain and pavement. Likewise, sand tires won't perform well in deep mud or on rocks. Whatever terrain you use the most, choose the tire that's optimized for that terrain.

Typically, all-terrain tires are the most versatile and perform well across a wider range of terrains, making them a very common choice for replacement tires. Check out our guide to ATV/UTV tire types to learn more!

HOW MANY ATV/UTV TIRES DO YOU REALLY NEED?

So, you've inspected your tires, realized that one or more of them need replacing and determined the type of tires for you. Now, how many ATV or UTV tires do you really need?

The answer: it depends.

If your tires are relatively new and one has a non-repairable leak, it should be safe to replace just the one tire, as long as you can replace it with the exact same make/model. But, if more than one has significant wear or catastrophic air loss issues, you may need to replace all four. Here's why:

Replacing all four tires allows you the most flexibility in choosing a tread pattern that matches your driving demands and provides your machine with optimum traction no matter the terrain. Because ATVs/UTVs see a variety of harsh conditions, having the best possible traction makes all the difference in performance and safety.

Plus, tire mixing can lead to serious mechanical issues. Most ATV/UTVs are all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), which means the tires need to be the same size and tread design to prevent damaging the drivetrain and transmission. A large difference in tread depth or even tread pattern can cause serious problems.

Check out our guide on replacing tires on AWD/4WD vehicles to learn more.

WHAT SIZE TIRES SHOULD YOU GET?

Like any good off-roader, one of your first thoughts when replacing tires might be, is it possible to go bigger? And the answer is often yes.

Going with a bigger set of tires when replacing all four of your ATV/UTV tires can give you a more menacing stance, a wider footprint and better all around off-road performance. However, when upsizing, downsizing or plus-sizing the tires on your machine, keep in mind that it can alter the way your off-road rig performs.

If you decide to change tire size, it's vital to maintain clearance between the tires/wheels and your suspension. Be sure you know the OE fitment before making any upgrades to your ATV/UTV. If you're not the original owner of the machine, we recommend verifying the OE tire size via the owner's manual, just in case the previous owner altered the size already.

Learn more about ATV/UTV Tire Sizing!

DO I NEED NEW ATV WHEELS TOO?

Our final question: Do I need new ATV or UTV wheels? While new wheels aren't necessary for every tire replacement, if you want to enhance your off-road rig's grit and performance, there's no better way than with an ATV rims and tires package.

After all, we have a huge selection of ATV/UTV wheels, not to mention the best prices in town. So if you want to upgrade the style and performance of your ATV, UTV or four-wheeler, there's no better place for it.

Shop ATV/UTV Rims

If you have any questions or require any assistance, stop by any of our America's Tire locations and we'll get you taken care of!