All-terrain vs highway tyres: which do you actually need?

The 80/20 question

Ask yourself what percentage of your kilometres are off tarmac. If the answer is under 20%, a highway-terrain tyre is the better buy and it is not close.

All-terrains cost you roughly 3–7% in fuel, add noticeable road noise above 90km/h, and typically wear faster on tarmac than a good H/T.

When all-terrain is the right call

Regular murram, farm access roads, construction sites, rainy-season shortcuts and any route with sharp rock. The stronger sidewall alone justifies it if you cut tyres regularly.

Also worth it if you tow on unsealed surfaces or run the Northern Kenya routes where recovery is expensive and a cut tyre is a serious problem.

The middle option most people miss

Hybrid or rugged-terrain patterns like the Nitto Ridge Grappler sit between the two. You get most of the sidewall strength and the look, with far better tarmac manners than a mud-terrain.

For a Prado that does school runs Monday to Friday and Naivasha at the weekend, that middle ground is usually the smartest purchase.

If any of this raises a question about your own car, bring it in. The tyre safety check is free and takes ten minutes, and we will give you a written summary whether or not you buy anything.