Americus Tire is an economical tire brand coming from the house of the American Omni Trading Company (AOT). Established in 1990, AOT is a leading marketer and importer of affordable tires in the US. Built for American roads, Americus offers tires in different categories such as passenger cars, SUVs, CUVs, light trucks, commercial, specialty tires, and truck and bus radial tires. Among its off-road range of tires, the Americus Rugged MT is a decent option for adventure enthusiasts.

Mud terrain tires are designed to offer improved grip and traction on loose and soft surfaces. With a premium high-void mud pattern, the Americus Rugged MT features large shoulder blocks for optimum performance in mud and precise handling on paved and unpaved roads. The tire also has a reinforced construction that is further strengthened by the presence of 3-ply body plies to safeguard the sidewall. The Rugged MT is available in a wide range of 29 tire sizes. Let’s find out whether the tire delivers on the said promises in the Americus Rugged MT tire review.

Features and Benefits

Mud terrain tires feature strong shoulder blocks and wide and deep grooves for enhanced grip and superior performance on loose soil. Americus Rugged MT, too, features similar traits and returns adequate performance on muddy terrains.

• Deep traction – The challenge with muddy terrains is that the tires go down in the soil and need a strong grip and traction to move forward. The Rugged MT carries high-void blocks and large shoulder block pattern with deep grooves that ensure the tread has enough grip to sail through muddy patches. Additionally, circumferential zigzag grooves channel out water and mud quickly from the surface to resist hydroplaning and regain traction.
• Good handling and stability - Improved surface contact and deep grooves allow the driver to be in control all the time, as the steering response becomes precise and quick, which makes the driving experience better. The enhanced handling and better steering responsiveness ensure improved driving stability.
• Sturdy built – Making the sturdy mud pattern more reinforcing is the joint-less spiral nylon over-wraps that ensure consistent performance with reduced chances of any abnormal wear and tear. For extra toughness, the tire features 3-ply body plies that protect it against any sidewall impacts.
• Stone ejectors – The presence of thunderbolt stone ejectors within the grooves does not allow stones, debris, particles, etc., to house within the tread, and remove them as soon as they get trapped within the tread. With minimal stone drilling, there is increased resistance to any uneven wear, which, in turn, improves the longevity of the tire.

Pros and Cons

Before we head over to our final say over the Americus tire, let’s glance over the strengths and weaknesses of the tire to have a fair idea about its capability.

Pros

• Thunderbolt stone ejectors for resistance to any stone drilling
• 3-ply construction for extra durability
• Joint-less spiral nylon over-wraps reduce chances of sidewall damage
• Large shoulder blocks for improved traction in on-road and off-road conditions
• High-void mud pattern for enhanced traction on muddy surfaces
• Backed by a No questions asked, 25/365 free replacement limited protection policy
• Affordable tag

Cons

• Long-term reliability could be a concern
• It doesn’t come with a warranty
• A bit noisy on paved roads
• Not very fuel efficient

SimpleTire’s view on Americus Rugged MT tires

The Americus Rugged MT (starts around $137) offers decent performance as it features a high-void mud terrain pattern and zigzag circumferential grooves for improved traction in the mud. Moreover, large shoulder blocks for better handling and stability, stone ejectors for limiting carcass damage, and reinforced construction for longer tread life; all enhance its performance and value.

In the budget mud terrain segment, the Rugged MT takes on the likes of the Crosswind M/T (starts around $122), Thunderer Trac Grip M/T R408 (starts around $126), and Delinte DX-9 Bandit M/T (starts around $178).

Vehicles the Americus Rugged MT is a good replacement tire for

While the Americus tire isn’t an OE fitment for any vehicle, it’s a great alternative in the replacement tire market. The Rugged MT can be equipped on different light trucks and SUVs such as Nissan Pathfinder, Dodge RAM 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford Freestyle, and others.