Do You Need a Mixed Service Drive Tire?
Product | 06/26/2025
Mixed Service tires are designed for commercial or vocational vehicles that operate on both paved terrain and off-road surfaces such as mud, gravel and snow. Since they need to maintain good handling and durability both on and off-road, they are specially designed to be durable and perform well in a wide variety of environments. Some vehicles that commonly utilize Mixed Service tires include mining and logging trucks, concrete mixers, and refuse trucks. Other types of vehicles that could benefit from Mixed Service tires include regional trailers, heavy-duty vocational trucks, and utility or maintenance vehicles that frequently operate on unpredictable terrain.
Benefits and Uses of Mixed Service Drive Tires
With their rugged design, aggressive tread with deep grooves, and protective properties, Mixed Service tires provide the extra traction and durability needed for heavy vehicles that may need to operate on unstable driving surfaces. Since the primary function of the Drive tire is to transmit power from the engine to turn the wheels and propel the vehicle into motion, a Mixed Service Drive tire must provide sufficient traction to grip the terrain and propel the vehicle. For vehicles that require good traction and handling on both paved and off-road surfaces, running a Mixed Service Drive tire can be a significant benefit.
Mixed Service Drive vs Regular Drive Tires
What is the difference between a Mixed Service Drive tire and other types of Drive tires? The main difference is that they are designed and constructed to operate on different types of surfaces. For example, a regular Drive tire is constructed to serve on regional or long haul routes over consistently paved surfaces. They are designed with a focus on mileage, wet traction, and tread wear, but are not necessarily built to withstand the potential damage from rocks and gravel, or to provide traction in mud or snow.
In contrast, a Mixed Service Drive tire is reinforced for durability, and the tread is designed for the extra traction needed in off-road environments. They also may have additional features to protect the tire against damage, such as specialized tread compounds that can resist cut/chip damage. Although the features that make Mixed Service tires so essential on challenging terrain can sometimes cause them to operate less optimally on paved roads, there are Mixed Service Drive tires available that are designed to handle well on both.
Drivers or fleet owners who are wondering how to choose the right type of Drive tire for their mixed-use fleet should consider the duty cycle of their vehicles. If they mostly drive on highways and paved roads, then a regular Drive tire is a good selection. If the vehicles will be operating on job sites or mixed/off-road terrain, then a Mixed Service Drive tire is the better choice.
Groundspeed’s GSVX01 Mixed-Service Drive Tire
Groundspeed’s GSVX01 Mixed-Service Drive tire offers the top features that fleet operators and truck owners look for in a mixed-service tire, with some additional benefits. The GSVX01 was designed to be durable and stable on both on and off-road surfaces, with large, rugged tread blocks that resist cut/chip, and tie bars in the intermediate tread blocks to reduce block deflection. Both the rugged tread blocks and the tie bars help to optimize operating stability and tire durability on various terrain types.
For the enhanced traction required from a Drive tire in mixed-service applications, the GSVX01 features an open-shoulder design that integrates with the intermediate rib pattern, and extra-deep, 27/32-inch tread grooves. This tire is constructed with Groundspeed’s proprietary tread compound, KTM4, which provides well-balanced performance with an emphasis on cut & chip resistance for on/off-road use.
See the GSVX01 Mixed-Service Drive tire for yourself in this quick video:
Read more about Groundspeed’s commercial tires in our previous blog:
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