When it comes to off-road tyres, many would assume that deeper tread and more aggressive tread patterns are always going to deliver superior performance, and certainly as we progress from a pair of Highway Terrain tyres like the Open Country A25s fitted to your brand new dual cab ute from the factory, to our unstoppable Open Country M/T tyres we can see that deeper tread delivers a measurable improvement in off-road performance.
“If we look specifically at the Open Country M/T, it’s designed for maximum off-road grip. It’s got the most tread depth of the Open Country SUV range and an open tread pattern to help deliver awesome off-road performance, but we compromise a lot of on-road performance,” begins Toyo Tyres Australia veteran Tech’ Expert, Steve Burke.
The physics of tyre performance and the dynamics of the rubber that they’re made from means that an increase in tread depth and the associated benefits in off-road traction come at the expense of increased temperature in the tyre (shortening tyre life) and increased squirm in the tread blocks, as well as increased reflected road noise among other factors.
To unite adventure seekers with the best tyre for their needs we need to be honest about their requirements for an off-road tyre, and if their off-road ambitions extend to a quick jaunt down the beach in summer and a fire trail towards their favourite camping spot in winter, then perhaps something as rugged as our Open Country M/T, or even the legendary Open Country R/T might be chronically over-servicing their off-road tyre needs.
“Everyone thinks that more tread depth is good, but it depends on what you’re trying to do. Let’s say we've got the same tread pattern - extra depth will improve off-road traction, specifically in loose surfaces. However, on sealed roads or anything hard-packed, less tread depth will give us less tread squirm, better grip and better feel,” adds Steve.
It’s also easy to see why consumers might consider tyres with deeper tread a ‘better value’ option as they’re getting more tyre for their money, or how producing tyres with shallower tread depths might be misconstrued as cost-saving on behalf of the tyre manufacturer.
“Actually, more tyre flex from deeper tread increases wear!” adds Steve Burke. “More rubber volume from taller tread blocks also holds more heat, so it’s about finding a happy medium between performance, flex and tyre wear,” he adds.
The other major factor to consider is the extra weight of all that rubber you’re not making full use of, and how that weight translates into increased braking distance, while also negatively affecting your fuel economy.
“Choosing the wrong tyres for your application will see them wear prematurely, and it’ll totally disrupt your vehicle dynamics including making you use more fuel, so you’re literally paying for stuff that you won’t use with the wrong off-road tyres fitted!” chuckles Steve.
Rather than grabbing the ruler and measuring tread depth or choosing a tyre based on how aggressive the tread pattern is, Steve implores off-road enthusiasts to try a more methodical approach. “We need to consider things like weight - both of the tyre and of the vehicle they’ll be fitted to. Their construction is important too, as well as the vehicle set up and the types of driving it will be doing.”
The Open Country SUV range is constantly increasing it’s product offering to better serve the needs of Australian adventure and off-road enthusiasts, including the all-new Open Country A/T III serving as the ‘jack of all trades’, as well as new fitments in existing product lines to ensure the Open Country SUV range caters to modern vehicle fitments.
For assistance in finding the best Open Country SUV tyre for your application, contact your nearest Toyo Tires Dealer, or the Toyo Tires Tech Team.
