A weekend in the dunes at Al Qudra or out towards Liwa is one of the best things about living here, right up until you’re the one dug in to the axles while everyone else waits. Off-road, tyres make a bigger difference than almost anything else you can change on a 4×4.
There are three main types. Here’s how they compare for the way people actually drive in the UAE.
01HT: highway terrain
Most Land Cruisers, Patrols and Prados leave the dealer on HT tyres. They’re quiet, comfortable and long-lasting on tarmac, and they use less fuel than chunkier tyres.
In the sand they cope better than you might expect, as long as you drop the pressure. If 90% of your driving is the commute and you head out to the desert a few times a year with friends, a good HT tyre is a sensible choice. Where they struggle is rocky ground: the sidewalls are thinner and easier to cut in a wadi.
02AT: all-terrain
This is where most regular desert drivers end up. An all-terrain tyre has a chunkier tread and tougher sidewalls that resist cuts from rocks in places like Hatta or the Fujairah mountains, but it’s still civil on the road.
The BFGoodrich KO2 is the classic, and there are plenty of good alternatives, such as the Yokohama Geolandar A/T, the Toyo Open Country A/T and the Falken Wildpeak. Expect a little more road noise and slightly higher fuel use than an HT tyre. For most people who go out most weekends, it’s a fair trade.
03MT: mud terrain
Mud-terrain tyres have big, open tread blocks designed to clear mud and climb rocks. To be honest, they’re rarely the best choice for UAE sand. The aggressive tread tends to dig in rather than float, they’re loud on the motorway, and they wear quickly on hot tarmac.
They make sense for serious rock crawling in the mountains or a dedicated off-road build. For a daily driver that does dunes at the weekend, they’re usually more tyre than you need.
04Pressure is half the job
Whatever tyre you run, let air out before you hit soft sand. Many drivers here go down to somewhere around 15 to 18 psi for the dunes. Lower pressure lengthens the footprint, so the tyre floats on top of the sand instead of digging into it.
A few habits keep you out of trouble:
- Deflate all four tyres to the same pressure, and check them with a gauge. Don’t guess by counting seconds.
- Avoid sharp, fast turns at low pressure. That’s how a tyre comes off the rim.
- Go easy on the throttle when you feel the car bogging down. Spinning the wheels just digs a hole.
- Pump back up to road pressure before you get back on tarmac. A decent 12V compressor belongs in the boot of every desert car.
Pressure matters in town too, especially in summer. Our summer tyre care guide explains why.
05Before you head out
Look at the tyres themselves before a desert trip. Sand hides sharp rocks and old fence posts, and a tyre with a cracked or tired sidewall is far more likely to fail at low pressure. Carry a tyre repair kit, a shovel and recovery boards, and never go out alone. If you’re new to it, a trip with an experienced group is the quickest way to learn how much air to let out for the sand on the day.
06Size and load rating
Popular 4×4 sizes here include 265/70 R17, 265/65 R17 and 285/60 R18. Heavy SUVs need a high load index, so don’t drop below what’s on the door sticker. If you’re thinking of going up a size for more ground clearance, remember that bigger tyres change your speedometer reading and gearing, and may rub at full lock. Our guide on how to read a tyre size explains what’s safe.
To see the factory sizes for your car, check the Toyota Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol pages, or any other model under tyres by car. Then send us a message on WhatsApp with how often you go out to the desert, and we’ll suggest the right balance between road and sand.