What is the difference between HT tires and AT tires?

[OLevi]

AT tires are all-terrain tires, which are designed to balance both off-road and on-road performance. MT tires are mud tires, and the difference between them and AT tires is that MT tires are a more extreme type of off-road tire, heavily favoring muddy terrain and unsuitable for driving in northern regions where most seasons are dry. HT tires are highway tires, designed for on-road driving. Below are the relevant introductions: 1. Characteristics of HT highway tires: HT tires have relatively soft sidewalls and finer tread patterns, offering excellent quietness and comfort. They perform exceptionally well on paved roads and have light off-road capabilities but are not suitable for high-intensity off-roading. 2. Characteristics of AT all-terrain tires: AT tires are designed to be more versatile than HT tires. The tread patterns of AT tires are more rugged, and the spacing between the tread blocks is slightly larger than that of HT tires. The downside of this design is reduced on-road performance and increased noise, but AT tires offer better durability and traction on unpaved surfaces compared to HT highway tires.

[CalvinMarie]

I've tried several sets of tires and found that HT (Highway Terrain) tires are more suitable for daily city driving. These highway tires perform exceptionally well on asphalt roads, with dense tread patterns that result in low noise levels, making the ride quiet and comfortable inside the car. However, during a rainy day when I drove onto a dirt road, I noticed the traction wasn't great with even a little mud. AT (All-Terrain) tires are different—they have deeper tread patterns, wider grooves, and more robust sidewalls. Last weekend, I went for some light off-roading in the suburbs, and the AT tires provided solid grip on gravel roads, though they do increase fuel consumption during daily commutes. If you don't often venture off-road, choosing HT tires is actually quite cost-effective.

[OBentley]

I own a city SUV currently equipped with HT tires. They perform steadily on highways, especially with good water drainage during rainy days, and the braking distance is shorter than before. However, last time when I went to a farmhouse and encountered gravel roads, I noticed many small cuts on the tire tread upon returning. A friend told me that AT tires are much more durable, using thickened rubber and double-layer cord fabric, making them resistant to punctures from stones, and they feature specially designed serrated shoulders to prevent stone retention. Although they feel a bit stiffer over speed bumps, they provide much more confidence when driving off-road.

[DelDeclan]

Last week during maintenance at the 4S shop, the technician pointed at my tires and said they needed replacement. HT tires are very quiet in the city, lasting 40,000 kilometers before needing a change. My friend's off-road tires wore out after just 20,000 kilometers. HT tires have multiple tread blocks with less friction, which indeed saves fuel. AT tires' large block patterns provide excellent grip in mud, but on highways they sound like drumming, and you can hear a humming noise on asphalt roads in summer. As a commuter, I'll stick with HT tires, but I should really borrow a set of AT tires to try before my next road trip.