Best All-Terrain Tyres for UAE Desert and Road Driving

All-terrain, highway-terrain or mud-terrain?

SUV and 4x4 tyres come in three broad types. Highway-terrain (H/T) tyres are built for tarmac: quiet, comfortable and efficient, with limited ability in soft sand. Mud-terrain (M/T) tyres have large, open tread blocks for rock and mud, but are noisy and wear quickly on the road. All-terrain (A/T) tyres sit between the two, with a tread that grips on sand and gravel but is still civilised on the motorway.

Most UAE 4x4 owners drive mainly on the road and go into the desert occasionally. For them an all-terrain tyre is usually the right balance. If you never leave tarmac, a highway-terrain tyre will be quieter and last longer; see our SUV and 4x4 tyres page for both types.

Further reading: Continental: off-road tyres

What matters for desert driving

Sand is soft and shifting, so flotation matters more than aggressive tread. A tyre with a strong, flexible sidewall can be run at reduced pressure without damage and spreads the car's weight over a longer footprint. Load rating matters too: a loaded Land Cruiser or Patrol with recovery gear, water and passengers is heavy, and the tyres must carry that weight.

Check these points when comparing all-terrain tyres:

• Load index and, for pick-ups and heavy SUVs, whether an LT (light truck) construction is recommended.
• Sidewall strength, because aired-down tyres are more exposed to cuts on rocks and wadis.
• On-road noise and comfort, since most kilometres are still on tarmac.
• Size availability for your exact rim and vehicle.
• A recent DOT production date, particularly important in UAE heat.

Five all-terrain tyres UAE drivers ask about

These five are widely available in the UAE and are the ones 4x4 owners most often ask us to compare. The descriptions summarise how each manufacturer positions the tyre and how they are generally regarded; they are not our own test results.

Choosing between them

If 90 per cent of your driving is on the road and you visit the dunes a few times a season, a road-friendly all-terrain such as the Geolandar A/T G015 or Open Country A/T III is usually the sensible choice. If you drive off-road most weekends, carry heavy loads or tow, a tougher option such as the BFGoodrich All-Terrain or Nitto Ridge Grappler may justify the extra noise and weight.

Large 4x4s such as the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol use sizes that all five ranges cover in many cases. See Toyota tyres and Nissan tyres for sizes used on those models. Fit the same tyre on all four wheels: on a four-wheel-drive vehicle, mixed tyres can strain the drivetrain.

Lowering tyre pressure for sand: do it safely

Reducing pressure before driving on soft sand lengthens the tyre's footprint and helps the car float rather than dig in. Continental notes that tyre pressure usually needs to be lowered before going into sandy, muddy or rocky terrain. How far to lower it depends on the vehicle, its load, the tyre and the sand; desert-driving groups in the UAE give their own guidance for their trips, and your vehicle and tyre maker's advice comes first.

These safety rules apply whatever pressure you use:

• Lower pressure only when you reach the sand, and drive slowly while aired down.
• Avoid sharp turns and sudden braking at low pressure, which can push the tyre off the rim.
• Carry an accurate gauge and a reliable compressor, and reinflate to the road pressure on the vehicle label before returning to tarmac.
• Never drive on the road at sand pressure; the tyre overheats and can fail.
• Check tread and sidewalls for cuts before and after each trip.
• Do not drive into the desert alone; go with other vehicles and recovery equipment.

Further reading: Continental: off-road driving

The on-road trade-offs

All-terrain tyres make compromises on the road. They are usually noisier than highway tyres, can slightly increase fuel consumption, and may stop less sharply in the occasional wet. Their tread blocks can also wear faster if pressures are not kept right after desert trips.

Rotate all-terrain tyres at the interval your fitter or handbook recommends to keep wear even, and have the alignment checked after heavy off-road use. If the car pulls or vibrates after a trip, see wheel balancing and alignment.

Buying and fitting all-terrain tyres

800 Motor supplies and fits all-terrain tyres from the brands above across Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ajman, at your home, office or a partner centre. Send your size and how you use the car, and the advisor will suggest suitable options with the production date and fitted price confirmed in the quote. You can start at the tyre shop or read our top 10 tyre brands in the UAE for brand background.