A Mud-Terrain tyre looks impressive on a country lane, but on the motorway it roars like a tractor and wears down noticeably faster. All-Terrain sits in between: the tread is more aggressive than on an ordinary road tyre, so it grips more securely on gravel, sand and mud, yet the tarmac stays bearable. Listed here are off-road models for SUVs, pick-ups and 4x4s - for those who spend most of the journey on hard surfaces and the rest on light off-road terrain.
All-Terrain (off-road) tyres
The middle ground between quiet tarmac and off-road grip - for SUVs, pick-ups and 4x4s that spend part of the journey on gravel and mud.
101 tyre models available
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Where A/T fits in - and when to look at a neighbouring segment
It is easier to understand if you think in three levels. A highway SUV tyre is quiet and economical but slides on wet gravel. At the other end, a Mud-Terrain gets through deep mud but roars on the motorway and wears quickly. All-Terrain stands in the middle, and an even more aggressive in-between option is Rugged-Terrain (R/T) - somewhere between A/T and M/T.
In Baltic conditions the season matters too. In summer an A/T does its job without complaint, but a year-round tyre needs a winter marking, because in December a country lane is just as slippery as the motorway.
- Load and XL. For a loaded pick-up or when towing a trailer, choose a sufficient load index. If the car came with XL from the factory, the new ones must also be XL with the same or a higher index - an ordinary (SL) tyre will not carry the required weight. XL versions are widely available in this segment, and there are also C-type models for commercial vehicles.
- Noise and consumption. A more open tread hums louder on tarmac and slightly raises fuel consumption. Compared with an M/T, though, it sounds almost quiet.
- Winter marking. In Latvia only 3PMSF (the "mountain and snowflake") counts during the winter period; M+S alone is not enough. Some of our all-season A/T models carry this marking.
- Mileage. An A/T's life on tarmac is usually longer than an M/T's but shorter than a pure road tyre's. You pay for the looks and off-road grip with slightly lower mileage.
- Size by the book. Stick to the manufacturer's permitted size and speed or load index. Oversized off-road tyres rub the wheel arch and throw off the speedometer, ABS and ESP readings.
For an electric SUV nothing changes here: an ordinary off-road tyre suits it too, only mind the load index because of the heavier weight. And an honest warning from the fitting side - a 3PMSF A/T copes with moderate snow and satisfies the law, but on sheer ice or in deep snow a dedicated winter tyre, especially a studded one, is still safer.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if the tyre carries the 3PMSF marking. According to the CSDD, from 1 December to 1 March winter tyres are mandatory for vehicles up to 3500 kg, and since 1 October 2024 they must bear the "mountain and snowflake" symbol - M+S alone is no longer sufficient. An A/T model without 3PMSF is not legal during the winter period.
An M/T tread with large, widely spaced lugs clears mud by itself and copes with heavy off-road use, but on the motorway it is loud and wears quickly. An A/T is quieter, more economical and better in the wet and in winter, but falls behind in deep mud and on rocks. For an everyday car with occasional off-road use choose an A/T; for constant heavy off-road use, an M/T.
No. M+S denotes only the geometry of the tread pattern, without a snow grip test, so it is not enough for Latvia's winter period. Winter requires 3PMSF, which demands an actual snow grip test.
If you regularly drive on gravel, sand, through forest or on a building site, or tow a trailer over uneven surfaces, an A/T gives better grip and resistance to cuts. If, on the other hand, almost all of your driving is around town and on the motorway, a road SUV tyre will be quieter and more economical.
For heavy loads or towing a trailer, choose a sufficiently high load index - often that means an XL version. If the car came with XL from the factory, the new tyres must also be XL with the same or a higher load index; an ordinary SL tyre in the same size will not carry the required weight.
Yes. Ordinary tyres fit electric SUVs too; an electric car is simply heavier, so choose a sufficiently high load index or an XL version.
Special tyre categories
Niche tyre segments for specific applications - from all-terrain and sports tyres to seasonal and technology-focused tyres.