Selecting a Tread Type

Passenger indicates a good all-round tread, suitable for normal driving.
Highway is a tread type developed for everyday driving on paved surfaces and provide a quieter ride for SUV and trucks. These tires can be driven off-road but are not ideally suited for the traction and durability demands of off-road use.
All-Terrain (for light trucks and SUV’s) these tread types provide better off-road traction and durability than standard highway truck tires. Their more aggressive tread tends to be less quiet on paved roads but remain suitable for everyday use.
Mud-Terrain treads are specifically designed with wider tread blocks and higher void ratios to gain traction in off-road conditions. Mud-Terrain tires can generate higher noise levels and tend to carry lower mileage warranties than other tread designs.

Consider these Tread Patterns as well:

Multi directional patterns provide the most convenient and flexible choice. They can be mounted on in any axle and installed without concern for which direction the tire will roll.
Asymmetric patterns fit most any wheel but must be mounted with the outer sidewall facing in the correct direction. Asymmetrics offer a good compromise between good wet and dry performance.
Directional tread patterns are used in performance and ultra high performance applications. They are excellent in moving water from under the contact patch for wet traction. One drawback is that in order to be rotated in all four positions on the vehicle they need to be dismounted, then removed and balanced on the wheel.
Cold weather treads can apply to any tread pattern. Their unique tread block design contains many small grooves, or “sipes”, to break up and disperse slush/snow/ water -- providing additional grip.