5 Best Tires For Your Jeep Wrangler

As almost everyone knows, the military roots of the familiar Jeep Wrangler go back to WWII, when the lightweight, simple 4x4 Willys MB Jeep did jobs that included ammunition carrier, field ambulance, recon car and much, much more. Trivia: the original Jeep had a stamped metal grill with nine vertical bars, but that nine-slot design was patented by Ford, who also had the contract to build Jeeps. Today, every Jeep product has a seven-slot grill. 

Today’s Jeep may still have the same outlines as the WWII Willys Jeep, but they’re a lot more refined today (although with the same kind of offroad ability). We’re going to do a quick roundup of five great tires for your Jeep Wrangler that will give you tough offroad capabilities with decent handling and noise level on pavement. 

#1: Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar Radial

Goodyear introduced their first Wrangler light truck tires way back in 1977, and they were an immediate hit. Today, there are more than a dozen variations on the Wrangler tire for light trucks, from aggressive offroad tires to highway-oriented light truck tires with low noise and car-like ride quality. The Wrangler MT/R Kevlar Radial is an especially good pick for light trucks thanks to its toughness: 

• Sidewalls incorporate DuPont Kevlar(r) to protect against punctures, gouges, rips, scuffs
• Asymmetric tread pattern is designed for good road manners on the highway but unbeatable traction offroad
• Silica-infused rubber formulation enhances wet-weather traction
• Wraparound tread design helps you get through mud, sand and other soft surfaces with ease
• 50-65,000 mile treadwear warranty (depending on tire model) 

Of this top five listing, the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar Radial is our favorite. It’s a tough tire for any sort of offroad use, and can stand up to the worst you can throw its way. Rocks, sand, soft mud or gravel are no problem for the Wrangler MT/R Kevlar. 

The only drawback to this particular tire is that it’s designed as an all-terrain and may not offer the kind of ride quality and noise level you’re looking for if your Jeep is on hard pavement more often than not. 

#2: BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2

BFGoodrich has been making all-terrain tires since the 70s, and the All-Terrain T/A KO2 is a perfect choice not only for Jeeps, but for other pickups and SUVs that take the occasional foray off the pavement. 

• CoreGuard Technology uses a rubber formulation that’s derived from BFG’s Baja racing tires for protection from splits, punctures, gouges
• Rubber at shoulder is thicker, extending well up the sidewall
• Tire footprint is optimized for greater contact area, helping to even out wear and stress
• Interlocking tread design for stability and long wear
• Tread face features sipes for wet-weather traction, high void pattern to eject mud and stones and a wraparound shoulder area to help dig out of soft mud or gravel

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is a strong contender for second place in our rankings. This tire uses some real innovation in its design; the thick rubber at the shoulder that tapers in thickness up the sidewall is an example. We’d probably give this tire a few extra points for its siped tread, which adds thousands of hairs-width biting surfaces to help dig in on soft snow. 

If you’re living in a wintry climate, this BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 would be a great choice. Like the Goodyear Wrangler we discussed, though, its ride quality and noise might be a little intrusive if your Jeep is in the city more than the country. 

#3: Falken WildPeak A/T 

Falken might seem like a fairly new-ish name, but the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo. They’ve got a full selection of tires to choose from, including light truck tires, performance, touring and all-season tires. 

• Lower sidewall is designed to help dissipate heat, for a stronger and longer-lasting tire
• Interlocking tread design with dense sipe pattern and tread blocks designed for extra stability
• Offset shoulder blocks extend well up the sidewall for traction and cornering ability
• Suitable for aired-down use for rock crawling

Falken’s WildPeak is a bit more affordable, but that doesn’t mean it’s less tire. The WildPeak A/T is as tough and resilient of a tire as you could want for a Wrangler, with the kind of traction and performance that’s great for all kinds of weather. 

The Falken WildPeak A/T is a great all-around tire for Jeep Wranglers, with the kind of tread pattern and design that can get you in and out of tough offroad situations but good road manners and handling for everyday driving. 

#4: Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac

This member of the Goodyear Wrangler family uses the best of Goodyear’s all-terrain technology in a tire that’s an excellent compromise between highway and offroad use. 

• TractionGroove™ technology for grip in mud and snow
• Angled center blocks are tuned to keep road noise down
• LT-size tires are pre-drilled for studs 
• Rim protectors are built in 
• Severe Snow certified

If you often have to deal with deep snow, the Wrangler DuraTrac is the tire for you. The pre-drilled holes for studs mean you won’t have to spring for a separate set of studded winter tires, and the angled center blocks offer excellent traction with good road manners, ride quality and noise level. 

For all-around driving (especially in an area that sees harsh winters), you can’t go wrong with the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac for your Jeep. 

#5: Dick Cepek Extreme Country All-Terrain Radial

From one of the top makers of offroad tires anywhere, the Extreme Country is a great choice.

• High tensile body ply cord for enhanced sidewall strength without extra weight, rolling resistance and heat buildup
• Tighter inner void tread pattern for greater contact, quieter ride
• Wide-void outer tread and shoulder for mud ejection and offroad traction
• Proven rubber compound for toughness and long life

Dick Cepek has 40 years of experience with offroad tires for competition, and the Extreme Country is no exception. This tough tire is mud & snow rated, and can even be suitable for towing and other applications.

We’d put the Dick Cepek Extreme Country higher on the list, but it’s a tire that’s more at home off the pavement. For drivers who are often in the mud and snow, though, you can’t beat it. 

Wrapping Things Up

So what are you expecting out of a set of tires for your Wrangler? Whether you’re on pavement or whether you take the occasional jaunt to the beach or the mountains, these tires from Goodyear, Dick Cepek, Falken and BFGoodrich can offer the best of both worlds. Each has its strengths and each can offer a great compromise between mud-and-sand traction and the kind of performance you need for commutes or trips around town.