What is the difference between AT tires and MT tires?
2 Answers
AT tires refer to all-terrain tires, while MT tires refer to mud tires. The main differences between AT tires and MT tires are as follows: 1. Suitable environments: MT tires are a more extreme type of off-road tire, heavily focused on muddy terrain and not suitable for dry northern regions. AT tires, on the other hand, balance both off-road and on-road performance. 2. Traction capability: MT tires are more suitable for off-road vehicles, offering strong traction and off-road capabilities. AT tires, known as all-terrain tires, are versatile and can be used in many different environments, making them a common choice in the market. 3. Design philosophy: AT tires feature bold and rugged tread patterns with large gaps, while MT tires do not have this design. 4. Comfort level: AT tires are built upon the performance limitations of MT tires, with their rugged tread patterns and gaps leading to increased tire noise and reduced driving comfort.
I've been driving off-road vehicles for over a decade, having changed three sets of AT tires and two sets of MT tires. The most obvious difference lies in their usage scenarios. AT tires are like master keys—they provide sufficient grip on gravel roads and don't produce a humming noise on highways. When I drove to Tibet, I used AT tires the entire way without any issues. MT tires are specifically designed for mud and rocky terrain, with particularly deep tread patterns that can grip mud in swamps and prevent getting stuck. However, on urban paved roads, they not only create unbearable noise but also tend to skid at higher speeds. If you frequently drive on construction sites or engage in serious off-roading, MT tires are more durable, but ordinary drivers hardly need them. Additionally, AT tires last much longer—the set I used ran 50,000 kilometers with half the tread still remaining, whereas MT tires need replacement after just 20,000 kilometers.
