When you’re heading off the beaten path, the right set of tires is your vehicle’s most critical upgrade. For trucks and SUVs sporting a 35×12.50R17 size, an all-terrain tire offers the perfect blend of rugged off-road capability and civilized on-road manners. The ideal choice will provide confidence whether you’re navigating rocky trails, powering through mud, or simply driving on the highway in a downpour.
Selecting from the many options available can be challenging, as each tire brings a unique set of strengths to the table. This roundup is designed to cut through the noise and highlight the top performers in this popular size. We’ve compiled a list of proven favorites and noteworthy contenders to help you find the perfect set of shoes for your off-road adventures.
Top 8 All-Terrain Tires for 35×12.50R17 Wheels
- BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 Radial Car Tire
- Zeetex MT1000 35X12.50R17 E/10PLY BSW
- Venom Power Terra Hunter X/T All-Terrain Radial Tires
- Cooper Evolution M/T All-Terrain Tire
- Kenda Tires Klever R/T Kr601 All Terrain Tire
- Nitto Ridge Grappler All-Season Radial Tire
- BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 All-Season Radial Tire
- Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T All-Terrain Radial Tire
BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 Radial Car Tire
The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is a legendary name in off-roading, known for its impressive balance of toughness and on-road comfort. It is engineered to provide durability, control, and comfort across a wide range of surfaces, including mud, dirt, snow, sand, and rocks. This makes it a versatile choice for 4×4 vehicles, light trucks, and SUVs.
A significant advantage of the KO2 is its year-round capability. It carries the three-peak mountain snowflake rating, meaning it is recognized for severe snow service. This allows drivers to maintain traction in winter conditions without needing to switch to a dedicated set of snow tires, providing true four-season performance for adventurers who don’t let weather slow them down.
Zeetex MT1000 35X12.50R17 E/10PLY BSW
The Zeetex MT1000 is an all-season tire built for drivers seeking a capable off-road option. Its construction as a 10-ply rated (Load Range E) tire provides a robust foundation, offering enhanced resistance to punctures and damage from rough terrain. This durability is essential for tackling unpredictable off-road environments with confidence.
As an all-season tire, it is designed to perform in a variety of conditions you might encounter throughout the year. While focused on off-road performance, its design also considers the need for stable handling on pavement, making it a practical choice for vehicles that see dual use as daily drivers and weekend explorers.
Venom Power Terra Hunter X/T All-Terrain Radial Tires
The Venom Power Terra Hunter X/T is marketed as an extreme terrain all-terrain tire, indicating its readiness for challenging off-road conditions. A standout feature is its 50,000-mile treadlife warranty, which suggests a focus on longevity and value. This is a considerable benefit for those who log many miles both on and off the road.
This tire is designed to handle a spectrum of environments, from daily commuting to aggressive trail riding. Its construction as a Light Truck Radial in Load Range E ensures it can handle heavy loads and resist impacts, making it a solid option for lifted trucks and SUVs that are regularly put to the test.
Cooper Evolution M/T All-Terrain Tire
The Cooper Evolution M/T is a mud-terrain tire that provides the confidence to power through challenging conditions. Its bold tread pattern, which utilizes Earth Diggers Technology, is designed to dig into mud, sand, and dirt. Large blocks with alternating mud scoops work to provide grip where other tires might struggle.
For enhanced traction in thick mud, this tire features Mud Slingers Technology with deep, wide trenches that help clear debris from the tread. Furthermore, the tire is studdable, allowing for the addition of metal studs for extra traction on icy winter roads, adding another layer of versatility for year-round, all-weather adventuring.
Kenda Tires Klever R/T Kr601 All Terrain Tire
The Kenda Klever R/T Kr601 is built with durability as a primary focus. Its construction includes three full carcass plies, an aggressive sidewall tread, and a robust bead protector. These features work together to provide maximum resistance to impacts and damage from sharp rocks and other off-road hazards.
Performance is enhanced by an optimized tread design that uses interlocking center tread blocks to deliver superior grip in mud, snow, and wet conditions. Additionally, large groove volumes efficiently channel water and slush away from the tire’s contact patch, which enhances wet traction and helps reduce the risk of hydroplaning on paved roads.
Nitto Ridge Grappler All-Season Radial Tire
The Nitto Ridge Grappler occupies a unique space as a hybrid tire, blending the aggressive look and off-road traction of a mud-terrain tire with the quieter ride and comfort of an all-terrain tire. This design philosophy aims to provide the best of both worlds for the modern off-road enthusiast.
It is engineered as an all-season radial, capable of handling daily driving duties with less road noise while still being prepared for weekend trail excursions. The tread pattern is designed to offer biting edges for rock crawling and traction in loose surfaces, without compromising too much on highway manners, making it an excellent choice for a do-it-all vehicle.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 All-Season Radial Tire
This entry represents another listing for the iconic BFGoodrich KO2, reinforcing its popularity and widespread availability. As an all-season radial tire, it is built to be a reliable partner in diverse conditions, from highway commuting to remote backcountry exploration.
The KO2’s reputation is built on a core of rugged reliability and advanced technology. Its sidewalls are reinforced to resist bruising and tearing, and the tread compound is designed to resist chipping and tearing. This focus on durability, combined with its severe snow rating, makes it a benchmark against which many other all-terrain tires are measured.
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T All-Terrain Radial Tire
The Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T is designed to be a high-performance all-terrain tire that doesn’t hold back. It features an aggressive tread pattern with deep grooves and biting edges meant to conquer mud, rocks, and sand. Its robust construction is aimed at drivers who demand maximum traction without switching to a dedicated mud-terrain tire.
Despite its off-road focus, engineering efforts have been made to provide a comfortable and controlled on-road experience. The tread design works to minimize road noise and vibration, making it a more civilized choice for daily driving than a purely off-road-focused tire, while still retaining extreme capability when the pavement ends.
What to Look For in Top 8×12.50R17 All Terrain Tires for Off-Road Performance
When I’m looking for a new set of all-terrain tires in the 8×12.50R17 size, I know it’s about finding the right balance. I need something that can handle a muddy trail on Saturday but won’t make my daily commute miserable for the rest of the week. The first thing I consider is the tread pattern. A good all-terrain tire has a mix of large, sturdy blocks for grip in dirt and rocks, along with smaller sipes and channels to handle rain and light snow on the pavement. The space between the tread blocks, called the void, is also important. More void means the tire can clean out mud and gravel better, but it can sometimes lead to a bit more road noise.
Next, I always check the tire’s construction. Off-roading is tough on tires, so I look for features like reinforced sidewalls. Some tires have special rubber compounds or extra layers of material in the sidewall to help resist punctures and damage from sharp rocks. This is often called “3PMSF” or “Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake” rating, which is a good sign for winter capability, even if I don’t live in a super snowy area.
Finally, I think about my actual driving habits. Am I mostly on forest service roads, or am I crawling over serious boulders? For mostly dirt and gravel with some pavement, a less aggressive all-terrain might be perfect. But if I plan on tackling rougher terrain, I might lean towards a more aggressive “hybrid” all-terrain tire that borders on a mud-terrain design. It’s a trade-off, as the more aggressive the tread, the more road noise and potentially faster wear I might experience. Getting the right set of top 8×12.50R17 all terrain tires for off-road performance means being honest about where I’ll actually drive.
FAQ
What is the main difference between all-terrain and mud-terrain tires?
From my experience, the biggest difference is in the tread design and on-road manners. All-terrain tires have a tighter, more closed tread pattern. This makes them quieter on the highway and generally provides better traction in wet conditions and light snow. Mud-terrain tires have larger, more aggressive tread blocks with wider voids (gaps) between them. This is fantastic for self-cleaning in deep mud and providing bite in soft ground, but it almost always means more road noise and can be less stable on wet pavement. For most people who do a mix of driving, all-terrains are the more practical choice.
How long can I expect a set of 8×12.50R17 all-terrain tires to last?
Tire lifespan really depends on how you drive and maintain them. A good quality set of all-terrain tires can often last between 40,000 and 60,000 miles. If I do a lot of hard off-roading or don’t rotate my tires regularly, I’ll see that number go down. Aggressive driving on pavement will also wear them out faster. To get the most life, I make sure to keep them properly inflated and get a tire rotation with every oil change.
Will these larger tires affect my truck’s fuel economy?
Yes, almost certainly. Switching to a larger, more aggressive all-terrain tire like a 12.50 width will typically cause a drop in fuel economy. The tires are heavier and have more rolling resistance than standard highway tires. The exact impact varies by vehicle and driving style, but I usually expect to see a decrease of 1 to 3 miles per gallon. It’s one of the trade-offs you accept for gaining that off-road capability and rugged look.
Do I need to get a lift kit to run 12.50 wide tires?
This is a very common question. For a 17-inch wheel, a 12.50-wide tire is quite large. On many modern trucks and SUVs, you will likely need some level of modification to avoid rubbing against the wheel well or suspension components when turning or going over bumps. This might be a simple leveling kit, a full suspension lift, or at the very least, adjusting the crash stops. It’s best to check forums for your specific vehicle model to see what other owners have done to fit this size successfully.
Are all-terrain tires good for towing and hauling?
Generally, yes. Many all-terrain tires are built with robust construction and are Load Range E (10-ply rated), which means they are designed to handle the heavy loads associated with towing trailers or carrying heavy payloads. The stiff sidewalls provide good stability, which is crucial for towing. However, I always double-check the tire’s load index and make sure it meets or exceeds the requirements for my truck, especially when I’m planning to tow near its maximum capacity.