Thinking of taking your SUV or truck through the woods? You won’t get far without the right kind of tires. Off road tires were specifically designed for one thing and one thing only. That thing is off-road driving. Yes, they made a tire specifically for driving in the dirt.
But dirt isn’t the only thing you’ll encounter while driving off-road. There are many other things that are not so soft, for example rocks, larger rocks, jagged rocks, and sharp pointed sticks. These things can go through normal tires with ease, but off-road tires are thicker and tougher. They also have a deeper and wider tread configuration to provide the best traction and to roll over objects.
This is good because many times you will run into mud. Yes, mud, essentially dirt that is completely soaked in water. Depending on the depth of the mud field, your car or truck can get stuck even with off-road tires. Manufacturers try to make their tires go through anything, but if it’s too deep, it can’t be helped.
The need to take up off-road driving is easy to understand. Ever since the automobile was invented, we humans have had a particular bond with our vehicles. We want to take our giant steel and plastic helmets with us wherever we go. It is something we do because we can.
The main draw of off-road driving is that there are no stop signs and the terrain is uneven. Now most people in town would wonder why you would want to drive like that. The answer is simple; the terrain is rugged and untamed. Driving on paved surfaces can get boring after a while and some of us want something more challenging. Sure it’s dangerous, but that’s the fun part.
Even professional auto racing has embraced off-road driving. Many sports have sprung up around the idea of off-road driving, hosting weekly races on dirt tracks. Some sports even organize a marathon race through treacherous areas like the deserts of Mexico. These marathons are often even more dangerous than usual due to the distance and extreme heat. Typically during these off-road marathons, they have pit stops at regular intervals along the course so drivers can stop and get fresh water. They also have medical staff at the station at each stop in case the driver needs medical treatment.
One of the main differences between off-road racing and normal racing is that there are two in an off-road race car and one in a normal race car. The second person sits in the passenger seat and serves as a navigator. Since the off-road racer doesn’t drive in circles, he needs to focus more on driving with the navigator telling him where and how severe the turns are.
In conclusion, Off Road tires are necessary for off-road driving of any kind. The desire to get off the road is strong. Many drivers, both professional and amateur, feel the vocation to do so. It’s dangerous but exciting, just remember to be careful.