Best UTV Tires For Pavement – Buying Guides & Reviews 2024

So you just bought a UTV? That’s amazing, and I can assure you will enjoy driving it for your intended use and more because UTVs are very versatile. If you are planning to buy one or better still invest in new UTV tires, you are in the right place to guide your choice of the Best UTV tires for pavement especially if you won’t always drive on rough roads.

UTVs are common everywhere, and for every use, you find them on military zones, construction sites, farmlands or ranches, golf courses, and even for several other commercial purposes like driving a snow scraper on the road just outside your home. The wonder of it all is that you can as well have a UTV in your home. 

But because UTVs are basically designed for rough landscapes (which you can tell from the tires), it is not always common to find many UTVs in the neighborhood, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t meant to be driven on the streets, if only you attach the right tires other than the factory bought “off-the-road” tires the UTVs come with. 

These follow come tires are such that have firm traction on slippery/sloppy or rough roads but can’t offer as much grip on pavements or tarred roads. But not to worry, you can easily change the tires to pavement worthy tires.

Top 5 Best UTV Street Tires in 2023

1. SunF A021 TT Sport ATV UTV Dirt Track & Flat Track Tire
2. Quadboss QBT846 DOT Tire
3. Tusk TERRABITE Medium/Hard Terrain DOT UTV
4. GBC Kanati Mongrel (10ply) DOT
5. Carlisle All Trail II ATV Tire

UTV Tires For Pavement Reviews

The SunF A021 is the perfect tire for your quad ATV, UTV or Go Kart. It’s a street type, non-knobby tire with premium rubber construction and a medium compound that provides great traction on various surfaces. This even tread design gives you smooth performance when needed while providing excellent stability along uneven terrains like turf or paved roads as well as off road where it also adds extra traction in corners due to its low profile tread pattern. Rim(s) NOT included.

Why it’s important to get the right tire for pavement.

This brings us to answering the question of why you need to get the right tire for pavements. There are so many reasons, but a few will be described below:

1. The first major reason why getting the right tire is a big deal is that; UTV tires are built specifically for different terrains for extra safety. This is why it is very important that you buy the specific UTV tire that fits the purpose you intend it for. As discussed in the introduction, the factory bought UTV tires are designed in such a way that enables use on rough terrains, because that is what UTVs are actually meant for, to drive or take you places where regular vehicles or bigger trucks can’t go. So, if you intend to use the UTV for a different purpose, say recreational purpose, it is necessary that you consider a change of tire for your safety.
2. Your UTV tires can sometimes define your experience while riding the UTV. Whether you’d have a smooth, adventurous ride or one with several hitches and stressful navigations depends on your choice of tire. The best part is to ensure you have the right tires installed for the right purpose to avoid the case of fitting a round peg in a square hole. UTV tires for pavements should offer a good grip and traction on the smooth ground, which is why you can’t use trail or mud tires as they don’t have enough road contact.
3. Using the right tires for pavement makes driving easier and gives you a better grip especially when you accelerate, stronger traction especially if you are working a bend or corner which keeps you steady on the road, and will also offer steadier braking.
4. The right tires for pavement are best appreciated in rainy conditions and how best it works on wet grounds. With the right UTV tires, you are safe to ride even in the rain without worries.

Important things to consider when buying

Now that you have decided to buy UTV tires for pavement, here are some important things to look out for before purchase

• Tread pattern

The tread pattern on tires helps you to easily identify the road it is best used on and sometimes tells whether the tires can function well on any other road. The tread of pavement tires will offer enough traction on gravels and concrete, but only a few work well outside these terrains. The tread ensures a good steering response while driving and makes turning very easy, especially in corners.

• Single or all trail tire

Some UTV tires work only for one terrain while some are all-terrain and can function both on pavements, mud or trails. While single trail tires are best because they last longer and function very well until a change is necessary, because all-terrain tires are used on all roads, it wears out easily and is usually not durable. Since you wouldn’t want to keep changing tires every now and then, it is advisable to have specific tires for specific terrains and purposes.

• Durability

Give or take, most UTV tires if properly maintained do last more than a year before changing. So if you plan to drive your UTVs more often, durability is one factor you have to take into consideration. To confirm durability, you need to check the tread compound and tire material or texture to ensure it is not one that wears easily.

• Traction

A good pavement tire should offer a strong grip and traction on the surface, which makes them responsive when driving especially around corners. Most tires with aggressive tread designs offer much traction and grip, which makes driving more fun. Regardless of speed or the load you carry, good traction helps you to maintain track without the fear of going into a tailspin.

• DOT- approved

The DOT- approval of any tire indicates that it has been tested and certified legally for use and also that these tires are very safe for road drive. 

Mud terrain or sand UTV tires are not DOT- approved, so using them on the road is not safe. However, since there are only a few tire models specifically built for pavements and DOT-approved, intermediate, or hard-packed terrain tires can also be considered for use on pavements as they are also DOT-approved.

• Tire size

Using the proper tire size is very important to get the best of your UTV, especially when it comes to the torque, driving, handling, and pressure applied to driving. Wrong tire size will create different problems for your UTV ranging from unsteady balance, responsiveness, and transmission.

• Comfort

A good pavement tire should be comfortable to drive on, especially on bumpy roads.

• Radial or Bias-ply tires

The most common UTV tire type you will find in the market is the radial which is all good since radial tires work well on pavements. 

Unlike the bias-ply, radial tires are lighter and so perform better with more alertness, and most of all, radial tires have more durable treads and more comfortable.

Bias-ply, on the other hand, has stiffer casings and can bear more weight than the radial. But in all, a radial tire is the best option for UTVs and also for driving on pavements.

• Extra features

Other features of the best UTV tires for pavements may include; anti-puncture technology, ply rating and impact resistance.

How to maintain tires for pavement

Maintenance is the key to having a long-lasting UTV tire which is why I can’t end this article without sharing a few maintenance tips for your UTV tires for pavement.

1. Constantly check the tire pressure before driving. Ensure that the tire pressures are even and if not, gauge the tires before driving out. Driving a UTV on low-pressure tires can expose the tire to wear and also cause an imbalance with driving.
2. Clean the wheels and tires after every ride to rid brake dust that can expose the tires to rusts or damage.
3. If you cannot do it yourself, always seek the help of a professional whenever you need to install UTV tires. It can be tedious at times, and doing it the wrong way may cause bad alignment, which later leads to tire failure.
4. Always have your tire repair or puncture kit handy on any drive. Don’t be stranded on the road without these tools.
5. Ensure you use the right tire for the right purpose or terrain.
6. Use the right size of the tire all through.
7. Schedule a thorough routine check with professionals every once in a while.
8. Change the tires when you begin to see signs of damage or wear. There are some signs and indications you can use to tell if your tire is due for replacement. These include:

• Frequent flat tire
• Irregular tire wear and tear
• sounds or vibrations from the wheel
• tire cracks become more obvious as the tire ages
• tread splits

Above all, it is often recommended that you replace your UTV tires every six years if properly maintained, but if you begin to see any of the above-listed signs before then, you may need to consider getting a replacement.

Frequently asked questions

Should I replace all tires at the same time? 

Yes, it is most advisable to replace all four tires at the same time. Asides from the fact that it improves traction and balance, using a new tire with old ones may cause the new one to wear out faster than the others.

Do UTV for pavements only work on pavements?

NO, there are other tire types that work well on pavements especially all-terrain UTV tires, intermediate or hard-packed terrain tires also do well on pavements.

Are all UTV tires for pavements DOT-approved?

Yes, all UTV tires for pavements are DOT-approved. They have to be approved before driving on the street.

What tire size do I go for when changing my UTV tires?

It is advisable to go for the same size as the one being replaced or an inch bigger. When choosing sizes, you can never go wrong with choosing an inch more or less than the actual size if you can’t find the actual size.

Conclusion

Finding the best UTV tires for pavement doesn’t have to be difficult now that you have a few market tips to getting the best your money can buy. Whatever your choice is, don’t forget that a properly maintained tire gives you the result you want and more. Enjoy safe driving.