Choosing the right tires for your lifted truck is crucial. The wrong choice can hurt performance, fuel economy, and even safety. This guide covers the best all-terrain and mud-terrain tires for lifted trucks in 2025, plus how to choose the right size for your build.
All-Terrain vs Mud-Terrain: Which Do You Need?
All-Terrain Tires (A/T)
All-terrain tires are the most versatile choice for lifted trucks. They offer:
- Good on-road comfort and noise levels
- Capable off-road performance
- Longer tread life (50,000-60,000 miles)
- Better fuel economy than M/T tires
- Year-round capability including light snow
Best for: Daily drivers who occasionally go off-road, towing, highway driving.
Mud-Terrain Tires (M/T)
Mud-terrain tires are designed for serious off-road use:
- Aggressive tread for maximum traction in mud, rocks, and sand
- Self-cleaning tread pattern
- Stronger sidewalls for rock protection
- Louder road noise
- Shorter tread life (30,000-40,000 miles)
- Reduced fuel economy
Best for: Dedicated off-road vehicles, mudding, rock crawling.
Top All-Terrain Tires for Lifted Trucks
1. BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrain
The gold standard of all-terrain tires. The KO2 offers excellent durability, great looks, and capable off-road performance without sacrificing on-road comfort. CoreGard technology protects sidewalls from damage.
Pros: Excellent durability, great wet/dry traction, 50,000-mile warranty
Cons: Premium price, can be noisy on highway
2. Nitto Ridge Grappler
A hybrid between A/T and M/T, the Ridge Grappler offers aggressive looks with reasonable road manners. Variable pitch tread reduces noise while maintaining off-road capability.
Pros: Aggressive appearance, quiet for its class, good wet traction
Cons: Slightly shorter tread life than pure A/T tires
3. Toyo Open Country A/T III
Excellent all-around performer with snow capability (3PMSF rated). Great value for the performance offered. Quiet highway ride and long tread life.
Pros: Snow rated, quiet, good value, 65,000-mile warranty
Cons: Not as aggressive looking as competitors
4. Falken Wildpeak A/T3W
Best value all-terrain tire on the market. Severe snow rated, excellent wet performance, and a 55,000-mile warranty. Hard to beat for the price.
Pros: Excellent value, snow rated, long warranty
Cons: Slightly less aggressive appearance
Top Mud-Terrain Tires for Lifted Trucks
1. BFGoodrich KM3 Mud-Terrain
The successor to the legendary KM2. Linear flex zones improve traction on rocks, while Krawl-TEK compound provides excellent grip. CoreGard Max sidewall protection.
Pros: Excellent rock crawling, self-cleaning tread, durable sidewalls
Cons: Premium price, road noise
2. Nitto Trail Grappler M/T
Aggressive look with surprisingly good road manners for a mud tire. Three-ply sidewall construction and excellent mud evacuation.
Pros: Great looks, reasonable road noise, strong sidewalls
Cons: Moderate tread life
3. Toyo Open Country M/T
Excellent value mud tire with proven durability. Deep tread depth and aggressive lugs provide outstanding off-road traction.
Pros: Good value, deep tread, reliable performance
Cons: Louder than competitors on highway
Tire Sizing Guide for Lifted Trucks
Common Tire Sizes by Lift Height
Stock/Leveling Kit (0-2"): 33" tires (285/70R17, 285/75R16)
3-4" Lift: 35" tires (315/70R17, 35x12.50R17)
5-6" Lift: 37" tires (37x12.50R17, 37x13.50R20)
7"+ Lift: 38-40"+ tires (with modifications)
Will Bigger Tires Affect My Truck?
Yes. Larger tires impact:
- Speedometer accuracy: Will read low (recalibration recommended)
- Fuel economy: Expect 1-3 MPG decrease with larger tires
- Acceleration: Slightly slower due to increased rotating mass
- Braking: May increase stopping distance
- Gear ratio: May need re-gearing for optimal performance (especially 37"+)
Our Top Picks by Use Case
- Best Overall: BFGoodrich KO2 - Best balance of on/off-road capability
- Best Value: Falken Wildpeak A/T3W - Excellent performance at lower cost
- Best for Highway: Toyo Open Country A/T III - Quiet and long-lasting
- Best Aggressive Look: Nitto Ridge Grappler - M/T looks, A/T manners
- Best for Mud: BFGoodrich KM3 - Superior mud/rock performance
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