Top 10 Best UTV Tires for Trail and Mud: Recommendations & Reviews

Some people might think that it’s messy and stupid, but playing with your UTV in mud is a hell of a fun ride. Driving in these conditions is super unpredictable – at one moment, you’re at a trail section with a little bit of mud, and then you immediately encounter a big pool of mud.

For most UTV drivers, the unpredictability factor is only a part of the fun, together with the speed and G-forces they encounter. With that said, whatever your idea of fun is, you won’t be going anywhere without a good set of tires.

Sure, UTVs are vehicles that are already equipped to tackle these conditions, but they still have to be paired with high-quality tires to provide you with ample traction everywhere you go. And there is no better way to tackle those conditions than with proper mud tires.

Luckily for you, there are many different models to choose from today. Apart from the well-known premium manufacturers of UTV and ATV tires, some new names just emerged on the scene, offering products at very low prices.

Those models might be tempting, but in our experience, very cheap tires are often not worth the investment. Still, there are some budget-oriented UTV mud tires that offer excellent performance in demanding off-road conditions.

That said, the tires you buy must have other qualities – not just good traction in mud. The best UTV tires for trail and mud should also be super tough and with a sufficient “ply” rating. Furthermore, having long treadlife means that you can use the tires for longer, thus saving money in the long run.

Finally, the best UTV mud tires should also be smooth-riding on the road. You probably won’t be using a helicopter to transfer your UTV directly on a forest trail. Instead, you will be driving it on public roads. Having tires that aren’t smooth in these circumstances can be tiring, to say the least.

Fortunately, we already researched and tested the best UTV tires for you. Having done that, we curated a Top 10 list of the best UTV tires for trail and mud. In that list, you will find both premium and budget-oriented models. 

There are differences between tires on the list, of course, but we always strive to give you tires that are safe to drive, durable, and tough, excellent for off-roading, and priced fairly. Let’s dig in and find the best UTV tires for your trail and mud sessions!

Top 10 Best UTV Tires for Trail and Mud

1. Maxxis Carnivore

Best UTV tires for trail, engineered for performance in extreme terrains

The Maxxis Carnivore UTV tire is one of the most all-rounded products on the market right now. The tread pattern of the Carnivore makes it useful on almost every type of surface, including dirt, gravel, rocks, mud, grass, and even sand.

The company took inspiration from their truck tires when designing the Carnivore. That can be seen in the 8-ply rating, which is higher than most UTV tires. The 8-ply rating means that these tires can withstand a lot more weight, and can be driven with very low pressure for longer periods of time.

When it comes to off-roading, the Maxxis Carnivore is here for you everywhere you go. With a set of these tires, you don’t have to worry if it rained or not. Traction is sufficient both on gravel and dirt, and light mud.

Furthermore, the Carnivore also shows excellent performance on hard-packed surfaces and rocks, which isn’t something most tires can be proud of. The Maxxis Carnivore is also very responsive and stable on fast trail sections – you will be having a lot of fun on these tires.

The Carnivore is so good that it is even usable on the street. Stability and traction are excellent, and the Carnivore even has DOT approval, so it is completely legit. Finally, all Maxxis tires are known for their excellent treadlife and durable construction.

2. GBC Kanati Mongrel

The preferred choice of professional and recreational drivers

Overall, the GBC Kanati Mongrel’s are the best UTV tire for Trail and Mud right now. The combination of tough and durable construction with an all-rounded tread pattern gives this tire unique characteristics.

Unlike many tires on this list, the Kanati Mongrel has a 10-ply construction, which means that it is extra tough. However, that also means that the price is also higher than most of its competitors.

On a positive note, the Kanati Mongrel is one of the best tires for trail driving, especially on hard-packed surfaces. The responsiveness is excellent, and there are ample grip and traction for fast driving through the corners.

The Kanati Mongrel also works in light mud, something that can’t be said for most all-rounded tires. Deep mud shouldn’t be an issue as well, but we’d still go for a proper mud-terrain tire in those conditions.

The Kanati Mongrel also exceeds DOT standards, which means that you can use it on every street. Handling on the pavement is good, but not on the level of real street tires. Fortunately, the ride is very smooth.

3. Carlisle All Trail ATV Tire

Best UTV Tires for Trail

As its name suggests, the Carlisle All Trail is designed to tackle most off-road surfaces, including dirt, gravel, sand, rocks, and mud.

Unlike mud tires, the Carlisle All Trail has a large number of lugs and grooves on the tread, which gives it an all-rounded appeal.

With a set of these tires, you can expect outstanding stability and responsiveness on hard-packed surfaces, both dry and wet.

Thanks to the shallower lugs, this tire won’t destroy the grass beneath you, yet it will still give you reliable traction and braking.

That said, while it is usable for driving in light mud, the Carlisle won’t work very well in very deep mud. For that, you will need a specialized mud tire.

On the positive side, the Carlisle All Trail works tremendously well on the street, providing the driver with a smooth and safe ride.

4. EFX MotoClaw Radial

Best UTV Tires for Trail

EFX’s MotoClaw is one of the unique tires on this list, with a tread pattern that looks unlike anything else in the category.

The company promises outstanding lug strength, which makes the tire usable on hard-packed terrains, gravel, and dirt. We can confirm this – the MotoClaw is super responsive on all trails we encountered, and also provides the driver with excellent responsiveness and stability.

The same tread pattern works surprisingly well in mud. While not as good as a proper mud tire, the MotoClaw still provides enough traction and braking in most circumstances. Only very deep mud can stop this tire.

Furthermore, the tread pattern allows for a very smooth ride on the street, something that other tires with deep lugs can’t really brag about.

With all that said, the EFX MotoClaw is also a tad more expensive than its rivals, but that is expected given its qualities.

5. Fuel Gripper T/R/K Kevlar

Best UTV Tires for Trail

The Fuel Gripper T/R/K Kevlar is easily the toughest and most durable tire on this list, thanks to the synthetic aramid fiber, but also the puncture-resistant technology. It also comes with a 10-ply rating, which means that it can be driven at very low pressures.

Apart from its outstanding toughness and durability, the T/R/K Kevlar works excellently on various trails. Performance on intermediate and hard-packed terrains is especially good – responsiveness is among the best in the category, and there is ample traction.

The T/R/K Kevlar is surprisingly usable in light mud, despite the tread pattern designed for hard-packed surfaces. Nonetheless, deep mud should be out of the question.

On the road, the Gripper is outstandingly responsive, grippy, and stable. The ride quality is also very smooth and comfortable.

6. ITP Mud Lite II ATV/UTV

Best UTV Tires for a Combination of Trail and Mud

ITP is a budget-oriented manufacturer of UTV tires that doesn’t skimp on features and performance. Their Mud Lite II model is one of the most popular tires for trail drivers. It is designed to tackle precisely those conditions, including light mud, grass, and wet gravel.

The company used computer engineering for designing the tread pattern of these tires, which certainly pays dividends when you drive on the trail. The same design features a unique center tread contact that provides the driver and passengers with a smooth ride on the road.

Fortunately, we can confirm that – the ITP Mud Lite doesn’t feel like a mud tire when you drive on pavement. Sure, performance will be worse than all-terrain or hard-packed tires, but within the category, the ITP Mud Lite is one of the best street tires.

When it comes to trails, though, the Mud Lite II is a champion. In our testing, we found that the tire is very responsive, even on some very demanding surfaces. The angled and deep lugs work very well for driving on wet trails and gravel, but also give excellent mud traction.

ITP also redesigned the tread pattern for better mud cleanout, and we can confirm that this works very well in demanding sections.

For very deep mud, there are better tires on the market, though. However, none will beat the all-round capability of the ITP Mud Lite II, which really works on almost every surface, other than hard-packed and intermediate trails.

The ITP Mud Lite II is also 6-ply rated and made from a tough and durable compound. Owners report excellent treadlife and a strong and durable casing.

7. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 UTV

Best UTV Tires for a Combination of Trail and Mud

BFGoodrich is a tire manufacturer that’s mostly known for its SUV and truck tires. However, lately, they started launching ATV and UTV tires, and each one of them is in a class of its own.

The Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tire bears the same name from the truck alternative, but the design is actually different. The tread pattern of this tire is different from its mud competitors – instead of large and deep lugs, the KM3 is covered in smaller and shallower lugs.

This design makes the KM3 a tad worse for driving in very deep mud, but the difference isn’t that big. On the positive side, BFGoodrich’s model is much more responsive and better to drive in light mud.

Furthermore, this tire is one of the best tires for driving fast on various trail roads, including dirt and gravel. Responsiveness in these circumstances is top-notch, while high-speed stability second to none. Try this tire on dirt roads, and you’ll immediately see why it became a Baja champion.

The best thing about the KM3 is that it works on the street as well. The ride is very smooth, almost like on a pavement-focused tire, and there are ample grip and traction for spirited driving.

The KM3 even comes with a 6-year warranty, something that most competitors don’t offer. However, the BFGoodrich tire is also slightly more expensive than the competition.

8. Kenda Executioner

Best UTV Tires for Deep Mud

If you are interested in the best UTV mud tires, Kenda should always be in your top choices. The Taiwanese company specializes in making ATV and UTV tires and has one of the best lineups of models right now.

The Kenda Executioner is the company’s specifically developed mud tire for UTVs. Right now, this is one of the best tires for people that are serious about wet off-roading.

Kenda made an interesting tread design choice. Apart from the deep angled lugs, they also opened a space inside the lugs to improve traction even further.

This design also helps when driving on sand, especially because the reinforced knobs can work at lower pressures. While other mud tires would dig into it, these will stay on top. And trust us, you wouldn’t want to have tires that dig into sand the next time you go exploring the desert.

But, let’s get back to trail and mud because that’s where the Executioner truly shines. This is one of the most responsive UTV tires around, providing the driver with an excellent steering feel. Stability is also excellent, even when driving at very high speeds.

As expected, the unique lugs provide the driver with outstanding traction in deep mud, but also excellent side-to-side grip in tight corners. Furthermore, the Executioner works very well on wet trails, wet gravel, and grass.

With all that said, the Executioner isn’t really made for street driving. The ride quality isn’t very smooth, while handling is only marginal.

On the positive side, the Kenda Executioner comes with a 6-ply rating, extra-tough casing for increased puncture resistance, and rim guard to protect your wheels.

9. ITP Cryptid

Best UTV Tires for Deep Mud

The ITP Cryptid is absolutely the best choice for drivers that want the ultimate mud traction everywhere they go. This tire is a real game-changer when it comes to mud-terrain performance – it can go seemingly everywhere.

You can easily notice that the first time you look at it – the chevron-style tread pattern with extremely deep lugs looks like it can churn through everything you throw at it. Perhaps more importantly, the lugs are deeper at the shoulders, which should additionally improve traction.

Furthermore, the grooved center lugs channel away mud and debris from the tire, keeping it clean and ready for the next big puddle of much. Finally, the paddle-like shoulder configuration provides maximum side bite for climbing in and out of the mud, without sacrificing on-road comfort and dynamics.

But let’s start with mud traction because that’s where the Cryptid truly shines. This tire works without an issue in the deepest of mud, even if covered with 20 inches of water. Press the gas pedal, and the Cryptid will start churning right away, giving you significant traction advantage over comparable tires.

Despite the focus on deep mud, the Cryptid still works very well on trail and grass. The responsiveness of the Cryptid is top-notch, thanks to the stiff sidewalls, while the high-speed stability is exceptional.

Interestingly, despite the outstandingly deep lugs, the ITP Cryptid is surprisingly good for driving on the road – the stability is good and the ride smooth.

Owners of this tire report that the lugs can take a very hard beating and that the case is very tough. That’s important because the Cryptid will certainly be used in very demanding conditions.

With all that said, you will need a very powerful UTV to drive on these tires. The deep lugs create a lot of resistance, which can put a lot of strain on the engine and transmission components.

10. Maxxis Mudzilla

Best UTV Tires for Deep Mud

Maxxis’s mud-terrain model is one of the best in its category, right there with the Kenda Executioner and ITP Cryptid. Just like its competitors, the Mudzilla has very deep grooves with an incision in the middle, which helps improve traction in very deep mud.

Furthermore, the step-down tread improves cleaning and lug strength, while the advanced rubber compound enhances straight-line traction, something that most mud tires suffer from. Finally, the stiff sidewalls help with responsiveness and stability.

In the real world, the Mudzilla provides the driver with outstanding traction in deep mud, even when covered with a lot of water. On top of that, the Mudzilla performs surprisingly well on trail roads, both on dry and wet surfaces.

On-road traction is also very good, but not exceptional. Also, the ride isn’t as smooth as we would’ve liked, especially considering the excellent performance in this area from the ITP Cryptid.

Still, on the bright side, the Maxxis Mudzilla comes with a 6-ply rating and very strong and tough rubber for long-lasting performance.

Type of UTV Tires That Work on the Trail and Mud 

There is no single tire that will work excellently over every surface. With every tire design, there is a compromise. That’s why most manufacturers offer a variety of different tire types for ATVs and UTVs. 

The most popular type is all-terrain UTV tires, which are designed to work over every type of terrain. They won’t give you the best performance in every category, but they are good enough for most people.

Sand tires are designed only for sand driving and are overall the least useful, in our opinion. You really need to be a desert-driving enthusiast to purchase specialized sand tires.

Hard-packed terrain and intermediate-terrain are designed for hard and dry surfaces, such as dirt, gravel, and rocks. These tires should work well on the street and in light mud.

Mud-terrain tires are specifically designed to work in the mud. They have big and deep lugs that can churn through the mud, even a very deep one. That said, most mud-terrain tires aren’t the best for driving on hard-packed terrain, and almost bad for driving on the street.

Conclusion

The list above should give you a good indication of the performance of various tires. However, if you’re serious about off-roading, you need to make your own calculation and see where you will use your UTV mostly. In other words, there is no point in buying the best UTV mud tires if you only drive on hard-packed terrain. Always purchase tires that are designed for your favorite surface. Only then you will be completely satisfied with the purchase.