Highway Terrain (H/T) tyres are purpose-built for SUVs, utes, and 4x4s that primarily travel on sealed roads. Unlike All-Terrain tyres designed for dual-purpose use, H/T tyres optimise everything for on-road excellence: comfort, noise reduction, fuel efficiency, wet grip, and tread life.
The key difference is void ratio — H/T tyres have just 15-20% of their tread as grooves, compared to 25-35% for A/T tyres. More rubber on the road means better grip, quieter operation, and longer wear. Studies show 80-90% of SUV and ute owners never leave sealed roads, making H/T the optimal choice for most Kiwi drivers.
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Quietest Ride
65-68dB (half as loud as A/T)
🛑
Best Wet Braking
3-10m shorter than A/T
⛽
Fuel Economy
3-5% better than A/T
📏
Longest Life
80,000-130,000km
Most SUV and ute owners fit A/T tyres for capability they never use — paying a noise, fuel, and safety penalty in the process. Here's the honest comparison:
| Factor |
H/T |
A/T |
| Highway Noise |
65-68 dB |
70-74 dB |
| Wet Braking (100-0) |
38-42m |
43-50m |
| Fuel Economy |
Baseline |
-3% to -5% |
| Tread Life |
80-130K km |
50-100K km |
| Ride Comfort |
★★★★★ |
★★★★☆ |
| Off-Road |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★★★☆ |
Choose H/T if: 90%+ sealed roads, you value comfort and quiet, you tow on highways, your "off-road" is well-maintained gravel.
Choose A/T if: Regular rough gravel, farm tracks, muddy conditions. Read our
full H/T vs A/T comparison for detailed test data.
Find tyres for the most common SUVs and utes on New Zealand roads. Click any size to browse available H/T tyres:
Hilux, Ranger, Triton, D-Max
Ranger, Prado, Navara, Fortuner
RAV4, CX-5, X-Trail, Sportage
Land Cruiser, Pajero, Patrol
Triton, older Hilux, Pathfinder
RAV4, CX-5, Santa Fe (new)
Land Cruiser 300, Patrol Y62
Not sure of your size? Use our tyre size guide or request a quote with your rego.
H/T tyres are excellent for towing boats, caravans, horse floats, and trailers on highways. The harder compound generates less heat under sustained load, and stiffer sidewalls provide stability.
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LT-rated H/T tyres are specifically designed for load-carrying and towing
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Load Range D/E (8-10 ply) for heavy towing applications
- Ensure your tyre's load rating covers vehicle GVM + trailer weight
- Use our tyre calculator to check load specifications
P-Metric vs LT: Never replace factory LT tyres with P-Metric — they have 10% lower load capacity and can fail under heavy loads. Check your door placard or
ask us if unsure.