For a pickup that lives mostly on pavement and only sometimes leaves it, an all-terrain (A/T) tire is usually the right call: it is quieter, easier on fuel, longer-wearing, and many carry a severe-snow rating. Choose a mud-terrain (M/T) only if you regularly drive in deep mud, loose rock, or sand. That off-road grip costs you noise, fuel economy, and tread life on the road.
How A/T and M/T tread is built
The visible difference is the void ratio, meaning how much of the tread face is open space instead of rubber. An all-terrain tire keeps a fairly tight, interlocking block pattern with plenty of siping (the thin slits cut into each block) so it behaves much like a highway tire on pavement while still biting into dirt and gravel. A mud-terrain runs large, widely spaced blocks and deep channels that scoop out mud and self-clean as the tire rotates, plus reinforced shoulder and sidewall lugs for grip when the tire is aired down on rock.
That open design is also why the two feel so different on the road. Bigger voids and deeper tread mean more empty space meeting the pavement, more flex in each block, and more weight to turn, which are the roots of the noise, fuel, and wear gap below. New A/T tread typically runs around 12 to 16/32 inch, while many mud-terrains start closer to 18 to 20/32 inch. The extra rubber helps off-road life but takes longer to wear evenly on the street.
A/T vs M/T: a six-dimension comparison
| Dimension | All-Terrain (A/T) | Mud-Terrain (M/T) |
|---|---|---|
| New tread depth | About 12 to 16/32 inch | About 18 to 20/32 inch |
| Highway noise | Low hum, close to a highway tire | Pronounced growl that grows with speed and wear |
| Fuel economy / rolling resistance | Lower rolling resistance, smaller mpg penalty | Heavier with more rolling resistance, larger mpg penalty |
| Tread life / mileage warranty | Commonly backed 50,000 to 60,000 miles | Usually little to none; some up to about 40,000 miles |
| Severe-snow rating (3PMSF) | Many models earn the 3PMSF symbol | Most do not; usually M+S only |
| Off-pavement grip (mud, rock, sand) | Capable on gravel, dirt, and light mud | Strongest in deep mud, loose rock, and sand |
Numbers vary by brand and model, so always read the specific tire's spec sheet and sidewall, but the pattern above holds across the category.
Living with them daily: noise, fuel, and wear
On pavement, the mud-terrain's strengths turn into daily annoyances. The big, widely spaced tread blocks slap the road and produce a persistent growl that gets louder as the tire wears. The extra rubber and open voids also add rolling resistance and weight, so an M/T usually returns fewer miles per gallon than an A/T on the same truck. An all-terrain's tighter pattern keeps most of that in check, sounding and driving much closer to a highway tire.
Wear is the other gap. Many A/T lines are backed by 50,000 to 60,000-mile treadwear warranties; most M/T tires carry little or none, partly because the soft, blocky tread that grips off-road also scrubs and wears faster on the street. Both A/T and M/T pickup tires are commonly sold in LT (Light Truck) sizes with load ranges C, D, or E. If you tow or haul, match or exceed the load your truck's door placard calls for; our ST vs LT tire guide and load range guide explain how those ratings work.
Off-road and winter: mud, rock, and snow
Off-pavement, the M/T earns back its penalties. Deep voids clear mud and sand instead of packing full, and aggressive shoulder lugs claw up rock and ruts, especially when the tire is aired down. An A/T handles gravel roads, packed dirt, light mud, and moderate trails well, but it runs out of grip in exactly the conditions where a mud-terrain is just getting started.
Snow flips the picture. Many modern A/T tires carry the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, meaning they passed a severe-snow traction test; most mud-terrains do not and wear only the older M+S marking. The wide voids that shine in mud pack with snow and give up biting edges on packed white roads. If winter traction matters, an A/T with the 3PMSF stamp is usually the safer daily choice, though on ice neither type replaces a dedicated winter tire.
Which should you put on a daily-driven pickup?
Pick an A/T if your truck spends most of its miles on pavement, you care about noise and fuel, you want longer tread life, or you see real winter weather. That describes most daily-driven pickups and SUVs. Pick an M/T if you regularly run deep mud, loose rock, sand, or job-site ruts and are willing to trade road manners for that grip, such as a weekend rig, a hunting or work truck, or a trail vehicle that lives off-pavement.
One category to keep straight: the tires on your truck are not the tires for anything you tow. Trailer axles need purpose-built Special Trailer (ST) tires, not truck A/T or M/T rubber, and passenger car tires do not belong on a trailer either, for the reasons in our guide on why car tires should not go on a trailer. If you need trailer rubber, that is a separate buy from our trailer tires collection.
We stock A/T all-terrain tires across common pickup and SUV sizes, including LT sizes up to 235/85R16, the largest size we carry (25 listings), from value brands such as LANDSAIL, LEAO Lion Sport, GOODRIDE, and ZEETEX. Everything ships free from our Orlando, Florida warehouse and usually reaches the Southeast in 1 to 3 days. For mud-terrain availability or help matching a size, call us at (407) 821-7008.
FAQ
Are mud-terrain tires bad for daily highway driving?
Not bad, but they come with trade-offs. M/T tires are louder, use more fuel, and most lack a severe-snow rating, so for a truck that mostly sees pavement an A/T is usually the better daily tire. A mud-terrain makes sense when you are regularly in deep mud, loose rock, or sand.
Do all-terrain tires work in snow?
Many modern A/T tires carry the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, meaning they meet a severe-snow traction standard; most mud-terrains do not. Look for the mountain-and-snowflake stamp on the sidewall. Neither type replaces a dedicated winter tire on ice.
Will M/T tires wear out faster than A/T?
Usually yes on pavement. Mud-terrains often carry little or no mileage warranty, while many all-terrains are backed for 50,000 to 60,000 miles. The big tread blocks and open voids that grip off-road also scrub and wear faster on the road.
Sources: U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association guidance on tire construction and sidewall markings; DOT / UTQG treadwear labeling; the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) severe-snow traction standard; and manufacturer spec sheets and treadwear warranties for all-terrain and mud-terrain tire lines.