Ford F250 is one of the toughest and meanest pickup trucks this manufacturer has to offer. Knowing Ford, they would absolutely mean it to be used off-road, in some swamp or a mud pool. And that’s how most drivers use it – occasionally or quite regularly. But it’s also viable on the road, which creates a conundrum.
Which sort of tires do you use? Do you buy primarily off-road treads, sturdy highway options or just pick something in-between? There are multiple options for various approaches. To speed you on your shopping, we’ve gathered a list of most efficient candidates fit for being F250 tires.
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All mud enthusiasts know about this one. It’s the most obvious choice – the KO2, an iconic mud-tire. It’s very effective in mud, gravel, sand and most substances you’ll find off the beaten path. It’s also reliably stable (therefore, the shaking is minimal) and effective even on paved roads
Season-wise, KO2 can boast superb dry and wet traction, and it’s even somewhat competent in snow. The strength and durability are undoubted – you’ll have to try hard to puncture these.
But of course, it has one gaping problem – the tire produces too much noise. It’s hard a nuisance for seasoned drivers, although the discomfort can’t be denied.
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Another BFG product, this time meant for mud-diving. It is very reliable on most sorts of terrain, including dirt and harder surfaces. Mud, however, is where it shines most. The compound was specifically designed to withstand muddy terrain and preserve steady pace even if you’re rallying through the slog.
Obviously a tough nut to crack and a durable product, but it’s also extremely noisy – nothing unexpected, to be fair. On the road, the tread performs well. You can use it to get to places, but it was obviously not designed for highway use at all.
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Geolander is one of the most efficient mud tires at the moment. Not only do these tires excel while going through the mud, sand, gravel and dirt, but they also perform rather well on a roadway. You get all that and the outstanding sturdiness and toughness which enhance the tire’s survivability and longevity.
They aren’t particularly silent, but they also won’t be roaring. The grip on dry and damp tarmac is good, although they aren’t meant for long trips on highways. They look and act like tank tracks, even if they don’t sound like it.
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Wrangler is a reliable off-road tire, but its purpose is shifted towards the on-road use just a bit. It is efficient in most off-road scenarios (although, BFGs might be better for mud), although the on-road experience doesn’t disappoint. Wrangler is very capable both on dry and wet terrain, and even on thin snow.
Obviously, if you drive it through a highway, you’ll suffer from the noise. It’s not terrible, but also far from comfortable. On a positive note, you get a guaranteed mileage of 100.000 km.
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Road Venture AT51 has undergone an even more sizeable shift towards the highway comfort. Notably, Kumho made some sacrifices to make sure you can drive through paved roads with relative ease and comfort. For instance, the tire is only really viable in mild off-road conditions – no deep mud or sand.
However, on most other surfaces, it’s reliable as a brick – and just as resistant. On a paved road, the noise and shaking have been significantly reduced. They are still there, but you can almost pretend to drive in touring tires.
Another element where AT51 excels is now. Even in deep snow, the tire retains its handling and movement.
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Discoverer AT3 is another example of a 50-50 tire that can both go through dirt when it needs to and take you across a roadway with comfort and efficiency. Because Cooper invested more into this tire (and consequently made it rather costly), they managed to negate some sacrifices.
For instance, although the tire is pretty quiet and smooth on the roads, it can still swim in mud. Of course, you don’t want them to do it all the time, and it’s better to avoid mud if you can. Fortunately too, there are several mechanisms that make this tread harder to puncture or cut through natural means.
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General Grabber is an all-season tire meant to battle most conventional weather effects on roadways. It does its job well – grip in wet and dry is impeccable. The real deal, however, is the control. It takes little effort to move these treads where you want them – they respond very smoothly.
Grabbers are usually pretty comfortable to ride with, and the noise is generally pretty immaterial. To top it all, the expected mileage sits at about 100.000 km. It’s not too bad for an all-season tire, although many tires on this list last longer.
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Although Encounter HT is rather cheaper than most tire exemplars of its kind, it has a certain degree of quality and reliability. The pattern they introduced here allows the tire to confidently go through wet and even snowy roads, not to mention dry ones. The stability is also not bad, especially in terms of steering.
They also tinkered with its composition to make the noise less obnoxious, and it all bore some fruit – they aren’t the quietest tires, but they also don’t remind you about themselves all too much. In the end, they’ll live with you for about 100.000 km.
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Defender LTX MS is a sound option if you want a sturdy tread with a good dose of stability to withstand bumpy rides or haul heavy loads. The stability is the main advantage here – these tires rarely shake, and you generally won’t feel anything that happens below you.
It’s also why these tires are pretty quiet, by the way. In terms of grip, they are outstanding. However, it should be noted that extreme weather, such as harsh cold (and subsequent ice) aren’t a very friendly environment for them.
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Rover HT is one of the more notable Dunlop all-season options. They did a god job on it – considering that it doesn’t slip at all whether it’s a moist or a snowy road. It’s equally good on dry land, so you should feel pretty safe with them on. The steering response is another good thing about them, although there is another interesting feature.
Because of the aggressive and thorough grooving Dunlop subjected them to, these treads are reliable when it comes to mild dirt or mud. They are by no means an off-road candidate, but if duty calls you into the countryside, you’ll survive.
The minimal warranty on them is 70.000 km, although it highly depends on the size.
