Last updated: October 18, 2026

This page explains how Off-Road Riders evaluates products and options related to off-road vehicles, off-road accessories, tires and suspension, driving technique and vehicle preparation, and what our guides are, and are not, based on.

What our guides are

Our guides are research-based. We compare options and published specifications, explain the trade-offs that matter in real situations and say plainly who an option suits and who should look elsewhere. Unless an article explicitly describes our own use of a product, it is not a hands-on product review.

Our evaluation criteria

  • Fit for the situation: whether an option matches the job, the place and the person using it.
  • Compatibility and sizing: dimensions, ratings, standards and connections that must work together.
  • Safety information: published limits, certifications documented by the manufacturer, recalls and relevant official guidance.
  • Ease of use and upkeep: setup, cleaning, storage and maintenance described in the manual.
  • Limitations: the drawbacks of each option and the situations where it is the wrong choice.

Our sources

We rely on vehicle and equipment manufacturers’ owner’s manuals and ratings, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ATV safety resources, Tread Lightly!, and land-management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. When a guide states a figure or a safety point, we link to where it comes from. If we cannot verify a figure, we leave it out or describe the point qualitatively.

Ratings and scores

We do not publish star ratings or numeric scores for products. If we ever introduce a scoring system, we will publish its criteria and weighting on this page first and apply it the same way to every product.

Independence

We may earn a commission from some links, as explained in our Affiliate Disclosure. Commissions do not affect which products or options we cover or what we say about them, and we never rank products by commission.

Updates and corrections

We revisit guides when specifications, product lines or official guidance change and show the date each guide was last updated. If you spot an error, please see our Corrections Policy.