9 Best Tires for Off-Road/Gravel Towing!
Towing on the highway is one thing, but towing off-road and on gravel present different challenges. These nine tires rise to that challenge the best.
Intro
What's the best tire for off-road towing? It's a simple question with a complicated answer.
Talking about tires is like talking about children. Ask a parent who they think is the smartest and best-looking kid in class, and they will almost always say it is their own kid. Ask a Ford truck owner what the best tire is, and they will almost always say whatever tire is on their truck at the moment. And that is just one part of the challenge. The other part is defining what “best” means. Best for traction? Tire wear? Noise? And everyone has different priorities. You may be willing to sacrifice a bit of grip for a tire that lasts longer. But your neighbor may want more grip than anything else.
Recently, a Ford Truck Enthusiasts member started a thread in the 2023+ Super Duty forum called “Best tires for off road towing?” Naturally, it elicited quite a few responses. We encourage you to read through the thread yourself. But we also thought that it would be helpful if we presented here the tires that folks consistently named as the best for this type of work. Ranking the tires would have been impossible, so we simply listed them in alphabetical order. If you see any tires that you think should be included, please share your thoughts in the thread.
1. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
There is a good chance that you are already quite familiar with the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 (aka OEM equipment on the F-150 and Bronco Raptor). It has been on the market for over a decade, and the original BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO dates all the way back to 1976. The aggressive tread pattern ensures good grip in off-road conditions. Although snow performance is not a strong suit of these tires, they perform while enough for most, and they are so popular that they are basically the default selection for many. The KO3 was released in 2024 and is the newest version in the KO line.
2. Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
Cooper is the only tire company with two tires on the list. The first is the AT3 XLT. The tire was designed to handle heavy loads and provide increased off-road traction. The tires are rated for severe winter conditions and are backed by a 60,000-mile warranty so they should last you a long time.
Image: Cooper Tire
3. Cooper Discoverer STT Pro
The next Cooper tire on our list is the Discoverer STT Pro. It is more off-road focused than the AT3 tire. That has pros and cons. It has better grip in mud and gravel conditions. However, on the highway, you will notice more tire noise and a decrease in fuel economy. Is the added grip worth it? Only you can decide.
Image: Cooper Tire
4. Falken Wildpeak A/T4W
The Falken Wildpeak A/T4W is another solid tire choice. This is another severe-snow-rated tire that can get you through some tough terrain. But what makes this tire special is that it has updated Heat Diffuser technology. Tires in this category can often build up heat while towing, but the A/T4W helps to combat that.
Image: Falken
5. General Tire Grabber A/T X
General Tire may not have the brand cachet of BFGoodrich or Goodyear, but some folks believe that the Grabber A/T X might be the best tire of all for off-road towing. (It's also the OEM tire for some F-Series Tremor models.) Some did complain that after a few thousand miles that performance would drop off a bit. But given the good overall feedback, this is a tire that is at least worth considering.
Image: Ford
6. Goodyear Wrangler Ultraterrain AT
The Goodyear Wrangler Ultraterrain AT also got some love. One commenter said that he has used these tires on both his F350 drw and srw trucks with excellent results. That includes pulling a 16,000-pound 5th wheel trailer down gravel, muddy, rocky roads, and even wet grassy fields. If a tire can get you through all that, then it is worth a closer look.
Image: Michael S. Palmer
7. Hercules TIS RT1
It sounds like a strong tire, right? Hercules may not be the most popular truck tire brand, but some folks like the TIS RT1 that they make. They perform well, but another key advantage is the price. A set of these can save you as much as $1,000 compared to other well-known brands. That is a significant price savings. So, if performance on a budget is what you are looking for, then the Hercules TIS RT1 just might be your tire.
8. Kenda Klever R/T
If this list were sorted based on tire name, the Kenda Klever R/T would certainly be at the top. But funny name aside, these are serious tires. Some folks rank this among the very best. And that is from folks who have put many thousands of miles on these tires. Don’t let the name scare you off, these are rugged tires that will get you and your truck where you need to go.
Image: Kenda
9. Toyo Open Country A/T III
If you are often driving in deep mud, then this is probably not the best tire choice. But for just about everything else, people rave about the Toyo Open Country A/T III. They are praised for their grip in everything from snow, ice and rain to dirt and wet grass. And it will tow you through all of it. This is a top tire that is worthy of your consideration.