Top 9 Best Cheap Mud Tires: Latest Options

Mud tires meet the needs of any enthusiast off-road rider. Yet, the durability and complex construction make the price of this tire higher than other tires.

With a limited budget, can you pick a version you like? The answer is yes!

I have tried to help you find affordable versions and do many test drives with them. The top 9 best cheap mud tires include the perfect picks I've rounded up.

Read my detailed reviews on each tire below to choose the best one!

Let's explore them right now.

In-Depth Reviews of the Best Cheap Mud Tires Available in 2024

Spending a lot of money on a quality mud tire model is not necessary. The models below come at an affordable price but with reliable performance.

1. Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003

Best for Overall

The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 is the most versatile mud tire I have ever used. It has accompanied me on a long road trip. And despite moving on many different terrains, its handling performance is not less stable.

First, I started my journey on the red dirt trail. This packed soil layer does not make the Geolandar M/T G003 difficult. Its steering response is quite good, making my driving journey more enjoyable than ever.

Also, on that trip, it rained pretty heavily. So, the Yokohama tire faces a tough challenge in the mud. Surprisingly, it still provided decent traction, which kept me from getting stuck in that rough terrain.

My journey also moved through the rough dirt road. Anti-chip compounds and auto-cleaning spikes make it easy to navigate this challenging terrain.

In addition to the above extreme terrain, I test-drive the Geolandar M/T G003 on wet roads and light snow.

Except on heavy snow and ice, the tire provides reliable traction and grip in all conditions. The relatively short braking distance and good response are also the things I am most impressed with on this tire model.

Another commendable advantage of these best budget mud tires is their smoothness and quietness. Not only compared to its predecessor, but the Geolandar M/T G003 is also quieter than many competitors in its class.

In short, this Yokohama tire handles perfectly on various terrains, smooth and quiet. If the manufacturer overcomes the poor performance on snow and ice, the Geolandar M/T G003 will be roughly equivalent to many of the most advanced mud tire models.

Pros:

• Smooth and quiet ride
• Good traction on the mud
• Chip-resistant tire compound
• The steering response is quite good
• Reliable traction and grip on wet roads
• Excellent performance on the street

Cons:

• Not so great on snow and ice

2. General Grabber X3

Best for Off-roading

If the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 balances daily and off-road driving, the General Grabber X3 is incredibly dominant in conquering harsh terrain.

I had the opportunity to drive the Jeep Wrangler on this set of tires through a stream with lots of sharp rocks and sizable logs around. However, the car easily overcame it all with quite strong sidewall collisions, but there was no tear, puncture or damage to the tire.

This version is one of the few cheap mud models with maximum traction on all terrains. On dry roads, the Grabber X3 ranked well in my 50-0 mph dry brake test. Its horizontal traction is not inferior to the most advanced options.

On wet and loose roads, the General Grabber X3 continued not to disappoint me. Its wet traction leads the way in the category. The absolute grip is commendable, ensuring the trip is always safe.

The tire balances well between off-road performance and ride quality. So, even when traveling on rough roads, tire noise is still not too significant. I was also quite pleased with the small vibrations it transmitted to the cabin.

Excellent off-road performance and impressive ride quality are the things that impressed me most about the Grabber X3.

I would be even more pleased if its steering weren't too loose. Hopefully, in the following versions, General will bring a tire with a bit tighter handlebars for a more impressive high-speed tracking and turning experience.

Pros:

• Quiet and smooth ride
• Excellent off-road performance
• Handle well on wet, loose roads
• Impressive dry braking distance
• Excellent traction on all terrains
• Excellent durability

Cons:

• Loose steering wheel

3. Firestone Destination M/T2

Best for Snow Traction

Due to particular tread patterns, mud tires often have a good grip on the snow. And the Firestone Destination M/T2 is no exception.

The Destination M/T2 excelled in all my light snow challenges. It has decent vertical traction on snow and impressive acceleration on hard-packed snow.

I easily passed the passes with a depth of about 10 to 11 inches of snow. However, I haven't had a chance to test it in areas with deeper snow.

I used to test drive Firestone tires on ice to test braking distance and acceleration. The results surprised me quite a bit. This affordable mud tire model has a stopping distance of 10-0 mph in just 49.15 feet.

This number is much lower than many other high-end terrain products that I've tested before. In addition to harsh snow and ice, I regularly use the Firestone Destination M/T2 in warm weather conditions.

And its usual off-road and street behavior is pretty good. It maintained good feedback and solid steering feel throughout my long haul.

During the journey, I was also relatively satisfied with its smoothness. I only have problems with its loud growl when accelerating. On long journeys, it usually makes me quite uncomfortable.

Pros:

• Good response
• Solid driving feel
• Short stopping distances on snow and ice
• The traction on snow is quite good
• Impressive acceleration on hard surfaces

Cons:

• Quite loud noise at high speed

4. Cooper Discoverer STT Pro

Best for Daily Driving

If you spend a lot of time driving on the street, a suitable tire must be smooth and quiet. Meanwhile, you'll need a durable, chip-resistant model to satisfy your off-road passion.

And the Cooper Discoverer STT PRO is the definitive version if you want something in between.

The Discoverer STT PRO features a powerful chip-resistant tread compound and wide shoulder lugs for high traction as a mud tire model.

It easily conquers any soft, loosely textured terrain by pushing the mud out of the tire and enhancing maximum grip.

I often hunt on gravel trails, occasionally encountering muddy areas and they've never lost traction and grip on those terrains, and haven't gotten stuck in the mud.

When testing on the highway, I see that the Cooper tires provide a stable grip on dry highways for everyday driving.

What impressed me also was the ability to grip the road and the steering response on wet roads is very good. Along with that, the short braking distance has helped me feel much more secure when using it on rainy days. Also, it's waterproof in heavy rain to keep the ride safe and reliable.

In terms of road noise, it's much quieter than what I was expecting. Even so, the very little noise at high speeds didn't bother me much, which is perfectly acceptable for a low-cost model.

I often hunt on gravel trails, occasionally encountering muddy areas and they've never lost traction and grip on those terrains, and haven't gotten stuck in the mud.

Over 10 inches of snow and the ice in the process of melting making the road slippery did not make it difficult. The tires still provided excellent grip and traction throughout my journey.

It can be said that this is one of the wonderful mud tires at a great price that you should consider.

Pros:

• Ideal street handling
• Stable on dry highways
• Very good grip and handling on wet surfaces
• Anti-scratch tread compound
• Handles well on loose terrain
• Excellent performance on snow and ice

Cons:

• Low noise at high speed

5. Hankook Dynapro MT2

Best for Dry Traction

I tested its dry tarmac performance during my first test drive of the Hankook Dynapro MT2. On my first try, the Dynapro MT2 immediately surprised me.

Its grip and dry highway responsiveness are superior to most mud tires today. It is also safe enough to travel on dry tarmac at high speeds because of the short braking distance.

On the wet road, quite unexpectedly, it still maintains the above advantages. It connects well to the road surface for a safe and secure ride.

Honestly, I don't overestimate its wet cornering grip. However, the Dynapro MT2's overall performance in heavy rain is still commendable.

I also did some testing on snow-covered pavement. The results were not too different from my expectations.

This tire model easily cuts through unpacked snow and maintains grip and traction throughout the journey.

On packed snow, traction and handling are no longer so excellent. I wouldn't recommend replacing your specialized winter tires with this mud model.

Another disadvantage of the Hankook Dynapro MT2 is noise. It emits a growl even at low speeds. On the highway, this noise is even more noticeable. But I didn't get annoyed with that noise on the highway, since it's a mud tire anyway.

On the other hand, the ride quality is very smooth, which really surprised me.

Pros:

• Excellent hydroplaning resistance
• Short stopping distance
• Stay connected to the road surface
• Handle well on unpacked snow
• Exceptionally excellent on dry tarmac

Cons:

• Noise on the highway

6. Nitto Trail Grappler M/T

Best for Towing Large Trailers

The impressive traction on rough terrain makes the Nitto Trail Grappler M/T the best for towing large trailers and carrying heavy cargo.

It easily overcomes hard packing surfaces with steady traction. Its traction remains unaffected on looser terrain, such as sand or gravel.

I was impressed with how the Nitto Trail Grappler M/T handles mud and clay. Its tread blocks dig deep into loose terrain for stable grip and excellent traction.

The Nitto Trail Grappler M/T is not simply a mud tire that handles well on rough terrain. It is also the top choice for heavy cargo because of its impressive street performance.

Tires have a pretty good grip on paved roads. The characteristic stiff texture of mud tires makes the product more stable when towing large trailers.

However, I don't recommend trying to load on slippery roads with this mud tire. Despite being waterproof, the Trail Grappler M/T is not safe enough to travel in wet conditions.

It's not too stable when cornering. I didn't get the necessary vertical traction and reliable braking distance to get a safe ride.

Besides, you also don't worry about road noise. The noise was quiet enough and didn't bother me during the journey.

Pros:

• Stable for towing large trailers
• Handle well on mud and clay
• Work well on rocks and sand
• Impressive performance on the street
• Durable traction on a hard packing surface

Cons:

• The wet grip is not excellent

7. Milestar Patagonia M/T 

Best for Responsive

All-terrain responsiveness is my favorite feature of the Milestar Patagonia M/T.

The Patagonia M/T has a firm grip and stable traction on harsh terrains such as hard packing surfaces, sand, and deep mud.

On dry roads, the central spike block with the center vein helps it to be more stable and grip the road better. This type of design also dramatically enhances the overall responsiveness of the tire.

Even on my first test drive, I was amazed at how smooth it was to ride, which outweighed the bulkiness of many in-class off-road models.

I was barely bothered by annoying shaking at medium speed on the highway. This feeling will disappear when moving over rougher surfaces.

This is one of the quietest mud tires I've ever owned. Although the growl on the tread is still present, the Milestar Patagonia M/T is still relatively soft and smooth. So I've been impressed with these tires on the highway.

Besides, these tires work well on wet surfaces with very stable grip and traction. I have never slipped on wet roads during my journey.

Pros:

• Quiet and smooth ride
• Stable and good grip on dry roads
• Smooth when traveling on the highway
• Soft driving feeling, quick response
• Firm grip and durable traction on rough terrain

Cons:

• Uncomfortable on rough roads

8. Cooper Evolution M/T

Best for Handling

For good off-road grip, some manufacturers sacrifice flexible handling on the street. However, the Cooper Evolution M/T is an exception.

The Cooper Evolution M/T is a good mud tire. Large shoulder blocks on the tread help to handle dirt and mud well. Meanwhile, the durable, flexible rubber compound ensures the tire slides well on rocks and other harsh terrains.

In every off-road performance test, the Cooper Evolution M/T never let me down regarding traction and grip on hard-packed surfaces.

Not only is it a relatively stellar mud tire model, and Cooper's street handling is also excellent.

Its steady and firm handling gives me the confidence to drive on the highway. Even on unfavorable surfaces such as deep puddles or wet roads, the Evolution M/T operates quite safely.

The grooves on the tire surface help to handle liquid clinging to the surface, maintaining a connection with the road surface. Its grip is also quite reliable, giving me more peace of mind when moving in heavy rain.

I still expect the Evolution M/T to have a better-wet performance. Its long stopping distances and unstable cornering are its most significant downsides.

So far, I'm very satisfied with this tire's unpacked snow grip. However, when driving on the street or on the highway with packed snow, the grip is not as good as I expected.

However, this is a studded tire, so you can use studs to increase traction in snow and ice conditions. I haven't had a chance to use these studs on my tires yet so I can't rate much here.

As for noise, you can expect from this tire, because the ride is very smooth and quiet on the street. However, when I was driving on the highway at about 60 mph, the tires became noisier but certainly not enough to bother me during the journey.

Pros:

• Excellent hydroplaning resistance
• Stable and solid handling
• Drive confidently on the highway
• Stay connected to the road surface in all conditions
• Impressive performance on many different harsh terrains (such as deep mud and large rocks, gravel)
• Excellent performance on unpacked snow
• Very comfortable ride and quiet on the street

Cons:

• Need to improve wet performance
• A little noise on the highway

9. Atturo Trail Blade M/T

Best Cheap Mud Tires for the Trail

Atturo claims the Trail Blade M/T is an all-terrain tire that can cut through any obstacle you encounter on the trail.

Before that, I wasn't too confident in this statement. Because a cheap mud tire model is unlikely to deliver excellent performance on the trail.

However, after a period of testing, the Trail Blade M/T made me change my mind.

The staggered shoulder block and wide groove design effectively self-cleaning, pushing rocks, mud, and dirt from the tire surface. Outstanding traction also makes it easy for the tire to conquer any harsh surface, including trails.

In addition to being an ideal choice for traveling on the trail, the Atturo Trail Blade M/T is also a good suggestion for daily driving.

Although there are not too many special features to support dry grip, the Atturo still offers good braking performance and stable handling.

On wet terrain, the tire maintains decent traction. Hydroplaning resistance is also quite good, helping me confidently move through deep puddles.

On ice and snow, the grip of the tire is quite excellent. Hard packed snow will be a challenge with this tire model. However, the type of snow you most often encounter when driving off-road is the unpacked snow. The surface of the Atturo Trail Blade M/T handles quite well.

Overall, this tire model offers more incredible experiences than I thought. However, along with the advantages, it still has many disadvantages. And one of the tire's worst downsides is steering response.

This disadvantage is most evident when driving on a zigzag road. I barely got the quick and agile steering response I needed.

Of course, this is a mud-terrain tire, you shouldn't expect too much of its steering response on the road like an all-season touring tires.

One more thing that I might not like about these tires is that they have some noise on the highway. Of course, it's not too noisy, and does not affect my journey much, because when I turn on a song, I barely hear the noise of the tire anymore.

Pros:

• Good hydroplaning resistance
• Exceptional traction on the trail
• Handle well on unpacked snow
• Good brake and dry handling performance
• The tire tread design removes mud and stones on its own

Cons:

• The steering response is not so great
• Noise on the highway

Buying Guides: How to Choose the Best Cheap Mud Tires

Are you curious about how we selected the best cheap mud tires? Some guidelines below will help with your selection process.

• Tire size

An improperly sized tire model will not be able to handle the vehicle dynamics.

So, before considering the durability and grip factors, please refer to some information about tire size below.

The difference between P-metric tires and LT-metric tires

The main difference between P-metric and LT-metric tires is the load capacity.

LT tires will have high pressure and a hefty load capacity. This tire also has a reasonably deep tread, so it will be durable and handle harsh terrain well.

Meanwhile, P-metric tires have a lower pressure, which is suitable for passenger tires. This type of tire is ideal for traveling on the road rather than handling off-road situations.

Only a small number of P-metric tires can be available on pickup and light trucks. Most of these tire models need to meet the conditions of load and durability on rough terrain.

What is a flotation tire?

Flotation tires do not focus on tread properties to enhance traction like other conventional tires for trucks and SUVs, but these tires are much taller than normal tires and most of them are also wider, allowing you to easily glide on sandy and muddy surfaces.

• Tire durability

The spaced lugs on a mud tire will wear out quickly when driving on the street. The distance between the lugs needs to be changed to prolong tire wear.

This type of design significantly affects the sludge performance. Better yet, when considering durability, you must consider performance and handling issues.

• Tire traction

The grip of a mud tire comes from many factors. One of the important factors is the size of the spikes. The wider the grooves, the better the tire self-cleans for rocks and mud, providing optimal traction.

• The cost of mud tires

Tires in the lower segment have an average price of about $225 to $275 each.
So, it will cost about $900 to $1,100 for a set of four tires, and the higher-end suites even go as high as $1,300 to $1,400.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I have compiled some frequently asked questions regarding cheap mud tires. If you also have similar concerns, do not ignore the information below.

• What are the best tire sizes for mud?

Mud tires come in two main sizes: LT-Metric and Flotation tires.

LT-metric tire models will often appear on SUVs, some light trucks, for transportation, working on harsh roads.

This tire is also quite durable regarding reinforced sidewalls and treads. However, this design makes the tire not smooth and saves fuel.

A flotation tire is also an option worth considering. This type of tire has ample tread space for more flexible handling.

The best flotation tire models will meet a variety of uses. But mainly, floating tires often appear on heavy trucks and agricultural equipment.

• Are thin or wide tires better for mud?

Wide tires are the first choice if you want to move well on sand, mud, and gravel.

Meanwhile, narrow tires are ideal companions if you want to go through hard-packed terrains like rocks and dirt.

• Are mud-terrain tires good on the highway?

Mud terrain tires are not a great choice on the highway.

The biggest obstacle of mud tires on this surface is that the handling is quite cumbersome, not smooth, and comfortable.

• Are mud-terrain tires good for daily driving?

Mud terrain tires with low noise and good traction on the street can serve your daily driving needs. But these tire models often do not provide the most comfortable experience.

• How often should you rotate mud tires?

You should rotate your mud tires after about 3,000 miles.

Conclusion

The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 remains my most reliable model for multi-terrain, including deep mud, while providing me with the quietest and most comfortable ride.

Besides, the Atturo Trail Blade M/T is also a durable cheap mud model with high performance. It always accompanies me on many trail adventures.

I hope that the top 9 best cheap mud tires can help you choose a suitable tire.

Thanks for reading my post!