BEST DOT UTV TIRES FOR HARDPACK
DOT UTV Tires are needed in some states for your machine to be considered street legal
-The UTV market has been wide open for a few years, and the tire side of things is a prime example. Just 10 short years ago when it was all about Rhinos and Rangers, there were no UTV-specific tires on the market. Present day, we’re breaking tires down into subcategories, and we’ve got 32 great tires to talk about just in the hardpack-/DOT-legal-specific category. There is a tire out there for everyone, and hopefully this guide of the best DOT UTV tires can help you find the right one for you.
AMS RADIAL PRO
Construction: The Radial Pro is built with an extremely puncture-resistant rubber compound and a radial casing.
Reason for being a one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: A true all-terrain tire that’s DOT rated for the highway and uses a radial casing and unique tread pattern for a smooth, consistent ride.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 245/50R12; 23x10x14; 25x8x12; 25x10x12; 26x9x12; 26x11x12; 26x9x14; 26x11x14; 28x10x14; 30x10x14
Price(s):$95–$170
Worth knowing: The AMS Pro is available in affordable tire and wheel kits through any Parts Unlimited dealer.
BFGOODRICH BAJA T/A KR2 UTV TIRE
Construction: The non-DOT, UTV-specific KR2 tire features radial construction with the race-proven CoreGard technology.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: This tire is developed specifically for desert racing, as BFGoodrich is already producing the sought-after tire in classes like Trophy Truck, Class 1 and Class 10. It’s designed for superior performance and increased mobility in soft soil, enhanced traction in mud, and improves braking in loose or rocky soil.
Ply number: 3-ply
Sizes: 30×9.5×15
Price(s): $258
Worth knowing: The BFG KR2 is designed, tested and manufactured in the USA.
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ARISUN AFTERSHOCK XD
Construction: The Aftershock XD uses a specially formulated rubber compound that is both flexible for increased traction yet durable for the harshest conditions you can find. The K3D Armor is an Aramid-reinforced composite material that is found in the third cord and sandwiched between two layers of nylon on the shoulder and sidewall for added puncture protection.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: This tire is built for desert racing’s extreme conditions and uses closely spaced tread blocks for a smooth ride on hardpack surfaces. The siped knobs are compliant for increased traction in the rocks.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 28x10x14; 28x10x15; 30x10x14; 30x10x15; 32x10x14; 32x10x15
Price(s): $140–$210
Worth knowing: The Aftershock XD aims to be the go-to tire for desert racing in a UTV. With new 28-, 30- and 32-inch sizes, they will have a tire for just about every full-size UTV. Aftershock XDs are dynamically balanced just like a car tire.
FUEL GRIPPER UTV
Construction: Radial construction with Fuel’s Pro Grip tread technology.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: The Gripper uses deep-grooved tread lugs and a reinforced sidewall to create a UTV-specific tire that can handle the heavier payloads while still providing a comfortable and predictable ride.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 28x10x14; 30x10x14; 30x10x15; more to come!
Price(s):$165–$175
Worth knowing: There are many more sizes to come later this year, and they also have a great selection of wheels and beadlocks to choose from.
CST LOBO & LOBO RC
Construction: The DOT-rated CST Lobo features radial construction and has been engineered for durability, comfort and the ability to handle heavier loads.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: Built to be the true all-around UTV tire, the DOT street-legal Lobo features a fast-rolling center tread that is optimally paired with stepped, aggressive shoulder knobs for exceptional straight-line stability, predictable sliding and better cornering grip.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 27x10x12; 27x10x1428x10x14, 30x10x14, 29x9x15, 32x10x15, 32x10x16
Price(s): $180–$216
Worth knowing: The Lobo is rated for carrying heavier loads than most DOT-rated UTV tires on the market.
EFX MOTOVATOR
Construction: The DOT-rated Motovator features steel-belted radial construction.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: EFX uses light-truck engineering, with inner and outer steel belts to ensure what they claim is the smoothest, quietest ride quality on the market. Great puncture-resistance and high-speed performance on any hardpack surface. A unique center tread provides a massive contact patch, and the elongated shoulder tread improves cornering with reduced rolling resistance.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 28×9.5×14; 30×9.5×14; 30×9.5×15; 30×9.5×16
Price(s): $199–$216
Worth knowing: This is one of the only true steel-belted radial UTV tires we know of and can’t wait to try it out.
BRAVEN IRONSIDE DOT RADIAL
Construction: The Braven Ironside features advanced radial construction with Pit Bull’s proven chip- and tear-resistant rubber compound.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: The Ironside is all about traction, durability, handling and more traction. The tread design wraps down the sidewall for increased strength and traction to the shoulder and sidewall areas. Staggered lugs increase biting edges for extreme weather use while also reducing road noise. Strategic voids and stone-kicker bars provide easy clean-out and increase traction.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 27x9x14; 27x11x14; 28x10x14; 30x10x14; 30x10x15; 32x10x14; 32x10x15
Price(s): $149.34–$176.34
Worth knowing: These ultimate-traction tires are even siped for increased traction and meet DOT
regulations for on-road use where legal.
GBC KANATI MONGREL
Construction: The DOT-approved radial-construction Mongrel now features a lightweight 10-ply-rated carcass design.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: The ever-popular Mongrel gets a much-improved sidewall for greater puncture resistance and a smoother ride. The re-engineered carcass is more durable and allows for less sidewall flex and lower operating pressures than the previous 8-ply design.
Ply number: 10-ply
Sizes: 23x10R12; 25x8R12; 25x10R12; 26x10x12; 27x9x12; 27x11x12; 27x9x14; 27x11x14; 28x10x14; 30x10x14; 32x10x14; 28x10x15; 30x10x15
Price(s): $175–$227
Worth knowing: The Mongrel was already a proven favorite, and the new carcass improves the weak sidewall issues.
GMZ KAHUNA
Construction: Radial construction with a heavy-duty sidewall and a rubber compound that has been developed for multiple types of terrain.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: This tire is meant to perform on most any track surface you can throw at it with its special compound rubber and unique tread pattern.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 30x10x14; 30x10x15
Price(s): $199–$201
Worth knowing: GMZ claims the lightweight (32-pound) Kahuna is the strongest all-terrain UTV tire on the market.
AMS M1 EVIL
Construction: The M1 Evil is constructed with a radial casing and a special rubber compound that has been specifically developed for superior tread life.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: The M1 has been developed with a non-directional truck-tire-like tread for a smooth ride and incredible tread life. We’ve heard rumors in the 3000–4000-mile range. The M1 is built for the desert, mountains and anything in between with a strong shoulder and sidewall tread for added protection and traction in sand, dirt, rocks, etc.
Ply number: 6-ply for 26-inch sizes and 8-ply rating on larger sizes
Sizes: 26x9x12; 26x11x12; 26x9x14; 26x11x14; 27x9x14; 27x11x14; 28x10x14; 30x10x14; 32x10x14
Price(s): $149.95–$197.95
Worth knowing: The M1 has a healthy 1-inch tread depth and a DOT rating for on- and off-road use.
GOLDSPEED SERIES IV RUN-FLAT
Construction: Bias-ply construction with multi-directional tread.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: Military authorized and combat-proven, this run-flat tire is designed to go 50 miles at 40 mph with no air while retaining a 450-pound load per tire. These are the tires that will take you there and back, regardless of where “there” is.
Ply number: 8-ply, 12-ply
Sizes: 27x9x14; 27x11x14
Price(s): $202–$260
Worth knowing: The slightly heavy 12-ply options include the run-flat technology, while the 8-ply option offers the same tread and handling with less weight.
GOLDSPEED GRAVITY 845
Construction: The Gravity tire uses radial construction with Puncture Proof Material (PPM) added to the sidewalls for extreme survivability.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: The DOT-approved Gravity 845 is built for extreme off-road racing with precision steering capabilities and smooth, comfortable ride. A dual-formulated tread compound ensures a great combination of traction and life expectancy.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 30x10x14
Price(s): $199
Worth knowing: Nick Nelson tested these at the Baja 1000 with zero flats for over a thousand miles.
ITP BAJACROSS
Construction: Radial construction with extended-life rubber compound and stepped lugs for increased traction over a longer timespan.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: ITP designed the original Bajacross to be the most rugged tire yet with a predictable ride and slow wear. There are sizes for Aces all the way up to 1000s and Turbos.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 25x8x12; 25x10x12; 26x9x12; 26x11x12; 26x10x14; 26x11x14; 28x10x14; 30x10x14
Price(s): $191–$283
Worth knowing: Wrap-around lugs provide shoulder protection, and a super-deep rim guard protected your wheel investments.
ITP BAJACROSS SPORT
Construction: A radial-construction tire with extended-wear rubber compound.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: A reduced tread depth with lower tread-to-void ratio makes for a lighter-weight, more-comfortable, better-handling version of an already stellar tire.
Ply number: 6-ply
Sizes: 27x9x14; 27x11x14; 29x9x14; 29x11x14
Price(s): $195–$222
Worth knowing: The BajaCross tire’s unique design has inspired more than one manufacturer looking to share on its success. ITP has now improved on it, looking to take it from good to great on larger UTVs.
GMZ CUTTHROAT
Construction: Six-ply radial design with a heavy-duty sidewall.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: A great short-course race tire that’s equally as impressive on the trail, the Cutthroat features an off-road race-truck-inspired tread design with a tighter tread pattern that helps prevent punctures between the tread. The heavy-duty sidewall is paired with a 3/4-inch-tall tread and a very soft yet durable rubber compound.
Ply number: 6-ply
Sizes: 28×10-14
Price(s): $169
Worth knowing: The Cutthroat is DOT approved, and its single size is designed to run front and back, eliminating the need for a second spare.
ITP ULTRACROSS R-SPEC
Construction: Radial construction with a multi-surface,
non-directional tread.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: A great tire for open desert and slick-rock conditions, the Ultracross R-Spec offers great traction and versatility.
Ply number: 8-ply (23x10R12 6-ply)
Sizes: 23x10x12; 27x10x12; 27x10x14; 28x10x12; 28x10x14; 29x9x14; 29x11x14; 30x10x14; 30x10x15; 32x10x15
Price(s): $220–$283
Worth knowing: The R-Spec is offered in a multitude of
popular sizes to fit just about any UTV on the market.
MAXXIS LIBERTY
Construction: Radial carcass tire that exceeds DOT test standards.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: A true light-truck-inspired UTV tire, the Liberty is engineered to perform in a variety of terrain, including pavement. Built for superb wear characteristics and features a specialized rubber compound for excellent traction on rocks and desert terrain.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 28x10R14; 30x10R14; 32x10x15; 29×9.5×16
Price(s): $216–$244
Worth knowing: This tire was podium-proven at the 2015 Baja 500.
MAXXIS CORONADO
Construction: The Coronado uses a radial carcass for supreme performance and longevity.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: Looking for the ultimate in ride comfort and tread wear, the Coronado uses stepped lugs and a long-wearing compound for optimized performance in loose-over-hardpack desert terrain.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 26x11x12; 26x9x12; 25x10x12; 25x8x12; 26x11x14; 26x9x14; 30x10x14; 28x10x14; 2711×14; 27x9x14
Price(s): $190–$250
Worth knowing: They are performance matched front to rear for optimal steering control and confidence at higher speeds.
MOTORACE MRT RACE
Construction: Radial construction with triple Kevlar-belt layer sidewalls for puncture resistance.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: A lightweight tire that will support you with or without air through any terrain you can throw at it.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 28x10x14; 30x9x15
Price(s): $275–$295
Worth knowing: The Race tire is DOT rated with a smooth ride on hardpack or pavement.
MOOSE UTILITIES 8-BALL
Construction: Radial construction with DOT and E-marked to meet the highest standards.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: The 8-Ball’s unique tread design gives you traction in the mud combined with a good ride on hardpack.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 26x9x14; 26x11x14
Price(s): $143–$169
Worth knowing: Front and rear specific sizing, and it offers better resistance to punctures on smaller UTVs.
MAXXIS ROXXZILLA
Construction: Radial construction with a soft, rock-crawling tread compound.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: A true high-performance, rock-crawling tire with a high-void ratio in the center and two layers on the shoulder to improve grip and puncture resistance. The multi-layer sidewall design enhances sidewall traction for rock crawling.
Ply number: 8-ply rated
Sizes: 30x10x14
Price(s): TBD
Worth knowing: This looks like the tire to have if Moab or King of the Hammers is your thing. Jason Weller finished eighth in his Roxxzilla-shod YXZ.
MOTORACE X-ROX DD
Construction: Radial construction with three layers of Kevlar in the sidewall for extreme puncture resistance.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: This tire can run on any terrain, claiming operating pressures as low as 5 psi without issue on the roughest, nastiest courses.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 30x10x14; 32x10x14
Price(s): $310–$355
Worth knowing: The X-Rox also has an unheard of 1330-pound load rating and is DOT compliant.
PIT BULL GROWLER A/T EXTRA DOT
Construction: Steel-belted radial construction with chip- and wear-resistant rubber compound.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: A real-world, tough, all-terrain UTV tire that is a true 30-inch diameter. The AT Extra is ready for anything you can throw at it and more. An impressive 1440-pound load rating.
Ply number: 6-ply
Sizes: 30x10x14; 30x10x15
Price(s): $204–$209
Worth knowing: A true DOT-legal, steel-belted radial UTV tire that’s made in the USA!
PRO ARMOR HAMMER TIRE
Construction: Armor-belt construction.
Reason for beingone of the Best DOT UTV Tires : The Hammer features an aggressive tread pattern and a deep side bite for increased traction and performance in hard- or softpack trails, mud, rocks and sand. This lightweight, 30-inch tire is ready for race or recreation.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 30×9.5×15
Price(s): $210
Worth knowing: The 9.5-inch-wide, 30-inch tire size is becoming more and more popular with the desert crowd.
PRO ARMOR CRAWLER XG & XR
Construction: Armor-belt construction
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: This aggressive tread pattern tire is built for the rocks and highly puncture-resistant. Engineered for unmatched grip, it comes standard on
the Polaris RZR XP Gold Matte Edition (rock crawler).
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 28x10x14; 30x10x14; 32x10x14
Price(s): $190–$240
Worth knowing: The XR runs about 32 pounds, and the heavier XG models run 39 pounds apiece, while both are 8-ply rated.
QUADBOSS QB846 RADIAL
Construction: Radial casing for a smooth, consistent ride that meets DOT specifications
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: Designed for optimal performance on intermediate to hardpack terrain. The 846 has a built-in rim guard and a 3/4-inch tread depth.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 27x9R14; 27x11R14; 28x10R14; 30x10R14; 30x10R15; 32x10R15
Price(s): $144.95–$189.95
Worth knowing: The 846 features aggressive sidewall tread to grab traction in ruts and other sticky situations. We’re testing a set right now.
SEDONA ROCK-A-BILLY
Construction: A puncture-resistant tire with radial construction.
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: The Rock-a-Billy features an aggressive tread design with integrated side lugs to grip in extreme riding conditions. The new tread compound is designed to outlast, out-grip and outperform the competition.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 28x10x14; 30x10x14
Price(s): $214–$230
Worth knowing: The Rockabilly claims operating pressure to be only 8 psi on both 28- and 30-inch tire sizes.
STI CHICANE RX
Construction: DOT-legal, radial construction tire
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: The Chicane RX is STI’s desert-racing-developed tire. A unique split-knob non-directional tread design for high-mileage value with a mix of durability, light weight and smooth ride.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 26x10x12; 27x10x14; 28x10x14; 30x10x14; 31x10x14; 30x10x15; 32x10x15
Price(s): $145–$175
Worth knowing: STI just released a uniquely sized 31x10x14 that is going to be very popular with the higher-horsepower, 1000cc sport machines.
STI ROCTANE XD & XD-K
Construction: Extreme-duty radial construction, and now available in select sizes with dual Kevlar belts running shoulder to shoulder for added puncture resistance
Reason for being one of the Best DOT UTV Tires: Made for the confidence with today’s biggest and baddest UTVs. The non-directional tread offers a wide-profile footprint that is still smooth and quiet.
Ply number: 8-ply
Sizes: 25x8x12; 25x10x12; 26x9x12; 26x11x12; 26x9x14; 26x11x14; 27x9x14; 27x11x14; 28x10x14; 30x10x14; 32x10x14; 34x10x15
Price(s): $135–$295
Worth knowing: The massive 34-inch Roctane XD is the biggest all-terrain tire we’ve seen to date. o
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