Best Can-Am Outlander Tires: The Ultimate Guide For All-Terrain

Let’s be honest. Your Can-Am Outlander is an absolute beast of a machine, engineered to tackle just about anything you throw at it. But if you’re still running those factory-installed tires, you’re leaving a massive amount of performance on the table. It’s like putting economy tires on a supercar.

You’ve probably felt it—a bit of slip in the mud, a lack of grip on a rocky climb, or a general feeling that your quad could do more. You’re not imagining it. The right set of rubber is the single most impactful upgrade you can make to your ATV.

We’re here to promise you a clear path through the confusing world of ATV tires. This comprehensive guide will help you find the best can am outlander tires for your specific needs. We’ll break down different tire types, review our top picks for every kind of terrain, and give you the pro tips you need for installation and care to dominate any trail.

Why Your Stock Outlander Tires Are Holding You Back

Think of the tires that came with your Outlander as a “one-size-fits-all” solution. Manufacturers have to choose a tire that performs okay in a wide variety of conditions for the average user. But “okay” is the enemy of “awesome.”

Stock tires are typically made with a harder rubber compound for longevity on easy trails and have a less aggressive, general-purpose tread pattern. This compromise means they excel at nothing. They’ll get you around, but they won’t inspire confidence when the going gets tough.

The benefits of best can am outlander tires are immediate and profound. A specialized set of aftermarket tires tailored to your riding style will provide:

Massively Improved Traction: Whether in deep mud, loose gravel, or slick rock, the right tread pattern bites down and pulls you through.
Enhanced Durability: Aftermarket tires often feature higher ply ratings and tougher sidewalls, drastically reducing the risk of punctures on the trail.
Better Handling and Control: A quality tire provides a more stable, predictable ride, allowing you to corner with confidence and maintain control at speed.
Increased Safety: Superior traction and puncture resistance mean you’re less likely to get stranded or lose control in a critical situation.

Decoding Tire Lingo: A No-Nonsense Guide for Outlander Owners

Before you can pick the perfect tire, you need to speak the language. It’s not complicated, but understanding these key terms is crucial. This is your essential best can am outlander tires guide to the specs that matter.

Ply Rating: Your Armor Against Punctures

The ply rating doesn’t literally mean the number of layers anymore, but it’s a standardized measure of a tire’s toughness and load capacity. For an Outlander, you’ll mainly see 6-ply and 8-ply rated tires.

6-Ply Rated: A great all-around choice. It offers a good balance of durability and flexibility, resulting in a smoother ride. Perfect for general trail riding.
8-Ply Rated (or higher): This is your heavy-duty option. It provides superior puncture resistance, making it ideal for sharp, rocky terrain or carrying heavy loads. The ride might be a bit stiffer.

Tread Patterns: Matching Your Grip to the Ground

The tread pattern is where the rubber literally meets the road (or trail). Choosing the right one is the most important decision you’ll make.

All-Terrain Tires: The jack-of-all-trades. They have moderately spaced lugs that work well on hardpack, gravel, and light mud. If you ride a bit of everything, this is a safe bet.
Mud Tires: These are the most aggressive. They feature deep, widely spaced lugs designed to paddle through the thickest slop and self-clean to prevent caking. They can be rough on hard surfaces.
Rock/Trail Tires: These often have a tighter tread pattern with lots of biting edges and siping. They are designed for maximum surface contact and grip on rocks, roots, and hard-packed trails.

Understanding Tire Sizing

You’ll see a set of numbers on the side of your tire, like 26×9-12. Here’s what they mean:

26: The tire’s overall height in inches.
9: The tire’s width in inches.
12: The diameter of the wheel (rim) it fits, in inches.

You can often go up an inch or two in tire size on your Outlander without needing a lift kit, giving you more ground clearance. Just be sure to check for clearance issues at full suspension compression and steering lock.

Our Top Picks: The Best Can-Am Outlander Tires for Every Terrain

We’ve spent countless hours on the trails, testing and abusing tires to find out what really works. Here are our top recommendations, broken down by what they do best.

Best All-Around Performer: Maxxis Bighorn 2.0

If you need one tire that can do it all and do it well, the Bighorn 2.0 is legendary for a reason. Its radial construction provides an exceptionally smooth ride, while the non-directional tread pattern grips predictably on dirt, rocks, and moderate mud.

Pros: Excellent all-around traction, very durable 6-ply rating, fantastic ride quality.
Cons: Not the best choice for extreme, deep mud.

The Ultimate Mud-Slinger: ITP Cryptid

When the trail turns into a bottomless pit of mud, you need a paddle. The ITP Cryptid is that paddle. With its massive, chevron-style lugs and grooved center, it’s designed to dig, churn, and propel you forward through the worst slop imaginable.

Pros: Unmatched forward bite in deep mud, impressive self-cleaning ability, surprisingly tough.
Cons: Rough and noisy ride on hardpack trails.

The Trail & Rock Crawling Champion: GBC Kanati Mongrel

For riders who spend their time on hard-packed desert trails, slick rock faces, and gravel roads, the Mongrel is king. Its 8-ply or 10-ply construction is nearly bulletproof, and its tread design is inspired by light truck tires, offering incredible grip and stability.

Pros: Phenomenal durability, excellent traction on hard surfaces, DOT-approved for street use (where permitted).
Cons: The tight tread pattern can pack up in sticky mud.

How to Choose the Right Tires for Your Riding Style

The “best” tire is subjective. The best tire for a mud bogger in Louisiana is terrible for a desert racer in Arizona. Here’s how to best can am outlander tires selection for your specific machine and environment.

Step 1: Honestly Assess Your Primary Terrain

Be real with yourself. Where do you spend 80% of your riding time? Don’t buy an extreme mud tire if you only see deep mud once a year. Choose a tire that excels where you ride most often. A good all-terrain tire is often the smartest choice for riders who face a true mix of conditions.

Step 2: Consider Your Outlander’s Power

A big, heavy mud tire can rob power from a smaller engine like the Outlander 450 or 570. Lighter-weight options like the Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 are a great match. For the big-bore Outlander 850 or 1000, you have the power to turn heavier, more aggressive tires without a significant performance loss.

Step 3: Balance Aggression with Comfort

Remember that the most aggressive-looking tire isn’t always the best. Extreme mud tires can cause significant vibration on hard trails, which gets old fast on a long ride. If you value a smooth ride, a radial all-terrain tire is your best friend.

Installation and Care: Your DIY Tire Longevity Guide

Once you’ve picked your tires, proper installation and maintenance are key to getting the most out of them. This is your best can am outlander tires care guide for maximum performance and lifespan.

The Right Tools for the Job

Changing ATV tires can be a workout, but it’s very doable. You’ll need a few key tools: a set of tire spoons or a manual tire changer, a bead breaker, a valve core tool, soapy water for lubrication, and a good air compressor.

Safety First: If you’re not confident, there’s no shame in taking your wheels and new tires to a local shop. It’s usually inexpensive and saves you a lot of sweat and potential frustration. Never exceed the maximum seating pressure listed on the tire’s sidewall when setting the bead.

The Importance of Correct Tire Pressure

This is one of the most overlooked best can am outlander tires tips. Your tire pressure has a huge impact on performance.

Lower Pressure (3-5 PSI): Increases the tire’s footprint for better grip in mud, sand, or on slick rocks.
Higher Pressure (6-8 PSI): Better for high-speed trail riding on hardpack. It provides a more stable feel and reduces sidewall flex.

Always check your pressure before every ride. It changes with temperature!

A Simple Tire Care Checklist

Follow these best can am outlander tires best practices to keep your investment in top shape:

Inspect Before You Ride: Give each tire a quick look for cuts, embedded rocks, or thorns.
Check Your Pressure: Use a quality low-pressure gauge before heading out.
Clean Them Up: Washing off mud and dirt after a ride can help you spot potential damage you might otherwise miss.
Watch for Uneven Wear: Uneven wear can be a sign of an alignment or suspension problem that needs addressing.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting Your New Tires

Even the best tires can have issues if not installed or maintained correctly. Here’s how to tackle some common problems with best can am outlander tires.

Handling Wobbles and Vibrations

A new wobble after installing tires is often due to an unbalanced tire or one that isn’t seated perfectly on the bead. You can try deflating, breaking the bead, re-lubricating, and re-inflating. If that doesn’t work, a professional tire shop can balance them for you.

Dealing with Slow Leaks at the Bead

If a tire slowly loses air, the leak is often at the bead where the tire meets the wheel. This can be caused by a small piece of dirt or a scratch on the rim. Cleaning the bead area thoroughly and using a product called bead sealer during installation can solve this common issue.

Frequently Asked Questions About Can-Am Outlander Tires

Do I need a lift kit for bigger tires?

It depends. Most Outlander models can fit tires 1-2 inches taller than stock without any modifications. If you want to go larger than that, you will likely need a 2-3 inch bracket lift and potentially clutch work to compensate for the larger diameter and heavier weight.

What’s the difference between radial and bias-ply tires?

Radial tires (like the Bighorn 2.0) have body plies that run perpendicular to the bead, with belts underneath the tread. This allows the sidewall and tread to function independently, resulting in a much smoother ride and better heat dissipation. Bias-ply tires have overlapping diagonal plies, making them stiffer and often tougher, but with a rougher ride.

Can I mix and match different tire types on my Outlander?

We strongly advise against this. Different tires have different handling characteristics, heights, and grip levels. Mixing them can make your ATV’s handling unpredictable and unsafe, especially in 4WD. Always replace tires in a full set of four.

How do I find sustainable or eco-friendly best can am outlander tires?

The powersports industry is still evolving in this area. The most impactful approach to finding sustainable best can am outlander tires right now is to focus on longevity. Investing in a high-quality, durable tire from a reputable brand means you’ll be replacing them less often, which reduces waste. Additionally, when your old tires are worn out, check with your local recycling center or tire shop about proper disposal, as many have programs to recycle them responsibly.

Choosing the right tires is about transforming your Can-Am Outlander from a capable machine into a purpose-built tool for adventure. By matching your rubber to your terrain and riding style, you unlock a new level of performance, confidence, and fun.

Now get those old tires off, mount up some fresh new grip, and hit the trails. Stay safe, get dirty, and ride with the confidence that your machine is ready for anything.

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Thomas Corle

Founder & Automobile expert at FatBoysOffroad

Automobile expert and off-road enthusiast, sharing in-depth knowledge of vehicles, gear, and adventures. Helping readers make smart decisions and enjoy the thrill of off-roading safely and confidently.