8 Best All Terrain Motorcycle Tires for Off Road Riding I Trust

I’ve spent more weekends than I can count covering fire roads, rocky two-tracks, and muddy forest trails, and one lesson keeps repeating itself: your tires matter more than almost any other upgrade. A fresh set of rubber can transform a sketchy, skittish bike into a confident trail machine.

The trouble is that “all terrain” means different things to different riders. Some of us ride 80 percent pavement to reach a trailhead, while others spend nearly every mile in dirt. This list covers the best all terrain motorcycle tires for off road riding across that whole spectrum, based on my own experience and what I’ve seen on the trail.

1. Metzeler Karoo 3 — Best Overall All-Terrain Tire

If someone asked me to pick one tire and be done, the Metzeler Karoo 3 would be it. It’s an adventure-focused tire designed for riders who want real off-road grip without surrendering civilized road manners.

Why I Like It

The Karoo 3 uses a distinctive tread pattern with widely spaced, chunky blocks that clear mud well and dig into loose gravel. I’ve found it predictable when it starts to slide, which is exactly what you want when you’re standing on the pegs in a loose corner.

On pavement, the Karoo 3 is surprisingly quiet and stable for a tire with this much tread. It’s available in common adventure sizes like 90/90-21 front and 150/70 R17 rear, which fits a huge range of mid-size and large ADV bikes.

Things to Consider

Expect to pay a premium, typically in the range of $130 to $200 per tire depending on size. It’s also a tire I’d call a true 50/50 compromise, so don’t expect it to match a dedicated knobby in deep mud.

2. Continental TKC 80 — Best for Aggressive Off-Road Riding

The Continental TKC 80 is a legend for a reason. With its aggressive twin-block tread, it’s been strapped to adventure bikes crossing continents for years, and I’ve personally trusted it in some seriously ugly conditions.

Real-World Performance

In sand, mud, and rocky climbs, the TKC 80 delivers traction that road-biased tires simply can’t match. The knobs are tall and widely spaced, so the tire self-cleans and keeps biting even when the trail turns greasy.

The tradeoff is on pavement. The TKC 80 is noisy, wears quickly on asphalt, and feels vague when leaned over hard. I treat it as a trail tire that happens to be street legal.

Who Should Buy It

I recommend it to riders who spend most of their time in dirt and only tolerate pavement for short connectors. Expect to pay roughly $100 to $170 per tire, depending on size.

3. Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR — Best Road-Friendly Adventure Tire

The Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR is a clever design that leans toward the street while still providing credible off-road traction. It’s built for large adventure bikes that cover long highway distances before the dirt starts.

What Stands Out

The STR’s center tread is designed to give better wet and dry road grip, while the shoulder blocks are open enough to dig in on gravel. I’ve ridden it on fire roads and washboard, and it handled both without drama.

If your bike spends time as a long-distance machine, you may also appreciate the thinking in guides like best motorcycle tires for touring bikes, since the Scorpion Rally STR splits the difference between those worlds nicely.

Downsides

It isn’t a mud specialist, so when conditions turn properly soupy, the Scorpion Rally STR will let you know its limits. Pricing typically sits in the mid-to-upper range at roughly $120 to $190 per tire.

4. Dunlop D605 — Best Classic Dual-Sport Tire

The Dunlop D605 has been a dual-sport staple for decades. You’ll find it on bikes like the Suzuki DR-Z400, Kawasaki KLX series, and Honda XR650L, and for good reason.

Strengths

The D605 is a DOT-approved knobby that offers dependable dirt traction in a familiar, easy-to-live-with package. It’s also available in classic sizes like 3.00-21 front and 4.10-18 rear, which many newer tires don’t cover.

For lightweight machines, it’s a fantastic match. If you ride something compact, my notes on the best tires for small motorcycle setups echo why a lighter, simpler tire like the D605 works so well.

Limitations

Longevity on asphalt is modest, and it can feel squirmy at higher speeds. At roughly $70 to $120 per tire, though, I think it’s excellent value for light trail work.

5. Mitas E-07+ — Best Value for Serious Dirt Capability

The Mitas E-07+ is the tire I point friends to when they want knobby-level traction without TKC 80 pricing. It’s an updated evolution of the original E-07, designed for big adventure bikes that still need to see the dirt.

My Experience

The E-07+ has a blocky, open tread that offers strong grip in loose soil and gravel, along with surprisingly good stability on pavement for its class. I’ve found it predictable and easy to read at the limit.

It’s often priced lower than comparable big-name rivals, typically around $90 to $150 per tire. That value is exactly why the Mitas E-07+ earns a spot on my shortlist.

Trade-Offs

Like most aggressive adventure tires, it wears faster on highway miles than a road-biased option. Wet-road confidence is decent but not class-leading.

6. Michelin Anakee Wild — Best Michelin for Muddy Trails

The Michelin Anakee Wild is Michelin’s more aggressive answer for adventure riders who regularly leave the pavement. It’s meant for big ADV bikes that need genuine dirt capability.

What I Notice on the Trail

The Anakee Wild’s large, widely spaced lugs cut through mud and loose terrain, and the carcass is designed to handle heavy bikes and luggage. In my experience, it’s a confidence-inspiring tire for loaded riding.

If your travels include rougher surfaces, you may find overlap with the advice in the best adventure motorcycle tires for gravel guide, as the Anakee Wild performs especially well on that kind of terrain.

Drawbacks

Road noise and wear are the cost of admission. Pricing generally lands around $140 to $220 per tire depending on size.

7. Shinko 705 — Best Budget All-Terrain Option

The Shinko 705 is the tire I recommend when someone has a tight budget but still wants real dual-sport capability. It’s an affordable, DOT-approved, dual-purpose tire with a 90/10 style bias on the road side.

Why It Works

Despite its low price, usually around $60 to $110 per tire, the Shinko 705 delivers respectable traction on gravel and light trails. It’s also available across a wide range of sizes, so it fits many different bikes.

I wouldn’t bring it into serious mud or technical rocky terrain, but for fire roads and mixed-surface riding, it’s more than adequate. It’s a perfect first set for someone testing the waters of adventure riding.

Where It Falls Short

Its wet-pavement grip and ultimate lifespan don’t match premium rivals. Still, the price-to-performance ratio is hard to argue with.

8. Michelin Anakee Adventure — Best for Mostly-Road Adventure Riders

The Michelin Anakee Adventure sits at the road-biased end of this list, and that’s exactly why it deserves inclusion. If your bike spends most of its life on tarmac but occasionally tackles gravel, this is a smart pick.

Real-World Use

The Anakee Adventure uses a dual-compound design and a tread pattern that favors long wear and wet-road security while still offering light off-road ability. I’ve seen riders get thousands of miles from a set, which is rare for any tire with off-road intent.

Heavier touring-style rigs benefit from this approach. If you ride something like a big sport-tourer and want occasional gravel access, compare it with the thinking behind the best tires for bmw r1200rt motorcycle picks, since long-mileage durability matters in both worlds.

Limitations

Don’t expect much from the Anakee Adventure in deep mud or sand. Pricing typically runs from about $120 to $190 per tire.

How I Choose the Right All-Terrain Tire

Before I buy, I ask myself one honest question: what percentage of my miles are really on dirt? Be truthful, because choosing too aggressive a tire for a mostly-road bike will cost you money and comfort.

Match Tread to Terrain

For a 90/10 road-to-dirt split, I lean toward the Anakee Adventure or Shinko 705. For a 50/50 split, the Karoo 3, Scorpion Rally STR, or Mitas E-07+ make the most sense. For mostly dirt, I’d reach for the TKC 80 or Anakee Wild.

Consider Your Bike’s Weight and Load

Heavier bikes need stronger carcasses and appropriate load ratings. Cruiser-style riders exploring unpaved roads face a different set of constraints entirely, so if that’s you, even the guidance in the best riding motorcycle tires for harley road king discussion can help you understand weight and load priorities.

Mind Your Pressures

Dropping pressure off-road improves traction and comfort, but it raises the risk of pinch flats and rim damage. I carry a compact gauge and a pump, and I always return to proper pressure before hitting the highway.

Final Thoughts

There’s no single perfect tire, but there is a perfect tire for you. My overall favorite remains the Metzeler Karoo 3 for its balance, while the Continental TKC 80 wins when the going gets properly rough.

If you’re on a budget, the Shinko 705 is a fantastic starting point. Whichever you choose, replace tires before they’re worn out, inspect sidewalls regularly, and ride within your limits. Happy trails.

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