Mastering ATV Tyres in Australia: A Guide to Choosing the Right Quad Tyres for Every Terrain

From hardcore track riding, to hauling oilfield tools, quads, ATVs, and UTVs are as much of a part of Australia’s automotive landscape as utes and road trains. And with more than 300,000 quad-type bikes in use across the country for recreational and workplace activities, they’re arguably the best-wheeled vehicles of any kind for the most nimble on-, and limited off-road use.

Regardless of the type of quad you have though, or whether you spend more time crisscrossing sand bars or assaulting sealed surfaces, it’s your tyres that makes all the difference. To understand the whole story, however, you have to bear in mind that details like widths and diameters are just the beginning. Everything from the amount of ground clearance your quad has to the size of the contact patch it needs to apply power to are all determined by your tyres, and making sure they match the type of riding you’re doing is a crucial part of safe ATVing.

Premium ATV and Quad Tyres that Deliver the Grip and Traction You Need

Let’s be honest: while quads are possibly the least complicated of all 4-wheeled vehicles, the science behind choosing ATV and quad bike tyres is probably one of the most complex. The severe extremes of Australia’s terrain, and the virtually unlimited range of tasks quads are called on to do means that although some tyres are certainly capable of handling a wide array of jobs and environments, none are designed to do it all. Aussie ATV and quad owners have a rich choice of premium tyre options to choose from though, and the key to picking the right one is understanding both what you need, as well as what you expect from your 4-wheeler.

Everything from the type of terrain and weather you expect to ride in, to the amount of weight you plan to carry and your vehicle’s output, all have a bearing on the types of ATV tyres for sale you should be looking at. That’s why when it comes to tyre lineups, manufacturers like Armor, BF Goodrich, Dirt Commander, and Obor are recognized as the market leaders when it comes to quad tyre variants that include:

• All-terrain tyres. Rugged all-terrain tyres are the best all variant for on- and off-road riding, and are known for their aggressive treads, as well as their superior strength and puncture resistance.
• Mud tyres. Long-lasting, self-cleaning mud tyres offer uncompromised performance in muddy, sticky terrain, and feature reinforced sidewalls for protection against rocks and other unseen hard objects.
• Sand tyres. The paddle-type treads found on sand tyres are designed specifically for traction on loose, fluid-like substrates that would ordinarily defy compaction, even under heavy weight.
• Rock tyres. Lightweight, heavy-duty rock crawling tyres feature large, tough contact patches and sidewall treads that offer maximum traction and puncture resistance for crawling over hard, craggy terrain.
• Racing tyres. For the ultimate in high-speed quad activity, extra grippy racing tyres utilize wide tread blocks and contact patches constructed from soft rubber compounds that are perfect for heavily compacted terrain or asphalt tracks.

Once you’ve determined which tyre can deliver the best combination of grip, traction, and even comfort for the terrain that you’ll be doing the most riding over, you need to drill even further into your requirement by assessing how much weight you’ll need to safely carry. Whereas an ATV or quad used purely for recreation might typically only carry a rider and a light-duty winch, an ATV or UTV used for farming, mining, or utility company duty may be expected to carry 2 riders and an additional 500kg – 600kg of tools and equipment. That means your tyre’s load capacity also has to be considered.

Understanding ATV Tyre Ratings Lets You Choose the Right Tyre Combination

Make no mistake: load capacity isn’t just a case of how much your ATV is designed to carry: it’s also a matter of how much your ATV tyres are built to handle. That’s why in addition to the stiffness of your tyre’s shoulders and sidewalls, the ply rating/ply range that’s stamped on each tyre also has to be considered.

Plies are the rubber-reinforced layers of material like nylon, Kevlar, or steel that tyres are constructed from, and ply ranges are a reference to the number of layers in each tyre. Modern quad bike tyres for sale also offer alphabetic cross-referencing as a way to take the ambiguity out of interpreting the strength of multiple layers, and follow a range rating system that covers ATV tyres as such:

• 4 ply / B range rating. For average track riding on loose terrain, and for 4-wheelers with lower output capacities, 4-ply tyres offer satisfactory support for conditions where obstacles and weights are kept to a minimum.
• 6 ply / C range rating. 6-ply tyres offer versatile strength and carrying capacity under demanding conditions for ATVs and UTVs without sacrificing comfort or long-life qualities.
• 8 ply / D range rating. These tyres offer increased strength and puncture resistance for transporting most loads over the widest range of rugged conditions.
• 10 ply / E range rating. With 10 reinforced layers, these tyres are perfect for heavy ATVs and UTVs moving considerable payloads through severe off-road conditions.
• 12 ply / F range rating. 12 ply tyres offer both maximum strength and puncture resistance and are best for hauling heavy loads over the absolute worst terrains.

It’s important to remember that your tyre’s weight also has to be factored into your ATV’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Not only is a tyre with more plies heavier, it’ll invariably have an impact on your vehicle’s performance, speed, and potentially even shorten the life of driveline components.

Tyre Safety Features that Let You Take Your ATV’s Performance to the Limit

Even after you’ve addressed your concerns over applicability and range ratings, you still can’t afford to improve safety where possible. Official statistics outlining the risks of ATV and quad bike accidents are too compelling to ignore, which is why when you’re looking at your full range of suitable ATV tyres for sale, you also want to keep an eye out for added features that spell safety.

No matter if you’re looking at buying ATV tyres online or in person, when possible, you’ll want to insist on features such as:

• Run flat technology. Run flat quad tyres for sale are constructed with extra thick sidewalls which, even if you experience a puncture while you traveling, will continue to support the weight of your vehicle until you reach your destination.
• Reinforced lugs. Also known as beadlockers, these tyres are secured to special beadlocking wheels by a separate outer ring and are designed to prevent the tyre from either spinning on, or separating away from the wheel.
• Non-directional treads. These symmetrically treaded tyres are designed to rotate in either direction, and offer an ideal balance of traction, durability, and long-life reliability on the widest range of terrains.

A wider range of features not only means your quad tyres safer but they can also be used with a greater selection of wheels. They help give you every advantage possible when it comes to versatile performance.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, no matter if you use your 4-wheeler for work or play, it’s your tyres that ultimately make the difference in how well it performs. It’s why choosing the right ones inherently means choosing the safest ones; and why there’s no shortage of ATV and quad owners with multiple sets of tyres.

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of high-quality ATV and quad bike tyres on the market to satisfy any type of riding. Regardless of how many sets you have, they’re an investment in performance and safety that you won’t regret making.