Although we all get caught up in the coolest power, suspension, and cosmetic modifications, we often forget about forget about the most important modification of all: tires. Fancy suspension and big power don’t matter if your UTV doesn’t have any grip. Not only will tires make you faster in the turns and a straight, but it can also significantly improve braking performance, greatly improving safety.
There are a ton of great tires to choose from when it comes to UTVs. This is both a good and bad thing, as you have lots of options to choose from, but choosing the right tire can be overwhelming. For this reason, we put together this short list to help your search for the perfect UTV tire.
UTV Tire #5: Tensor Regulator A/T
Most factory UTV tires are very thin, puncture easily, use a small size, and don’t supply that much grip. This is where companies like Tensor Tire come into play. Unlike many UTV tires, the Tensor Regulator A/T uses a tread design based off of truck tires rather than ATV tires, with some minor changes. The big benefit of the Regulator A/T is the super durable compound reinforced with an 8-ply construction and a steel belted bead. The result is a tough carcass that can withstand everything you can throw at it. With a variable pitch tread pattern and DOT approval for those UTVs lucky enough to have plates, the Regulator rides very smooth and isn’t noisy like other more aggressive tread patterns.
- DOT Approved
- 8-Ply Construction
- Available in 28” to 32” sizes
UTV Tire #4: Fuel Off-Road Gripper
You may know Fuel Off-Road for their Jeep, truck, and UTV wheels, but they also offer some very popular tires. For UTVs, they offer their Gripper UTV tire. This tire was tested on Vegas to Reno and designed to be super tough. While the Regulator A/T tire above has an 8-ply construction, the Gripper UTV tire uses an extra tough 10-ply construction. On top of that, this tire uses Fuel’s lightest casing yet at under 41 lbs. It also features aggressive side lugs for added puncture resistance.
- DOT Approved
- 10-Ply Construction
- Available in 28” to 32” sizes
UTV Tire #3: GMZ Race Products Ivan Stewart
In the world of off-road racing, “Ivan Stewart” is one of the most iconic names around. GMZ offers a few different UTV tires, but for this tire, they teamed up with Ivan Stewart for development. Together, they developed one of the best handling UTV tires on the market. The tread extends far down the shoulder to help with cornering traction. Not only does this tire look amazing, but the amount of grip it provides is sure to impress even the most experience UTV drivers.
- DOT Approved
- 8-Ply Construction
- Available in 30” to 32” sizes
UTV Tire #2: SuperATV RT Warrior
Of all the tire listed so far, these RT Warrior tires from SuperATV are the only ones available in a 34” size. Granted, most 34” tires are HUGE for a UTV, and not many people run them, at least you have the options. On top of the larger size option, the RT Warrior is the only one available in a super soft “Sticky” compound. This is perfect for the UTV owners who love low-speed rock crawling and need the stickiest tire possible. Even the non-sticky compound is a superb tire for rock-crawling purposes.
- DOT Approved
- 8-Ply Construction
- Available in 30” to 34” sizes
UTV Tire #1: Sandcraft Destroyer Tire Package
You can’t make a list of UTV tires without including some paddle tires. You can use your standard tires if you air down enough, but they still won’t compare to a proper paddle setup. Available in 31” and 32” packages to suit a wide range of UTVs. Designed to be super lightweight and super strong, Sandcraft destroyer tires are perfect for any dune trip.
- Not DOT Approved
- Available in 31” and 32” sizes
The Benefits of a Larger Tires
You may be wondering why even bother changing tire size if you upgrade your tires. What’s the point of a bigger tire? Well, a bigger tire effectively makes holes, rocking, and obstacles smaller. This means you’ll be able to go faster and your suspension won’t have to work way harder. A larger tire also means a larger contact patch, resulting in more grip while cornering, accelerating, and braking.
To put it simply, a larger tire will help you go more places, help you go faster, and help you grip more. Unfortunately, larger tires increase rotational mass and change gearing, which may require you to change your clutch setup. Read more about UTV Clutching here.
If you’re still not sure what tires will work best for your UTV, contact our performance specialists by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-480-966-3040. We can help you find the perfect tires for your UTV!
