It’s probably not that surprising to find out, but tires for SxS machines, quads, and ATVs are informed quite a bit by the designs of light truck tires. Along with being durable, SxS tires need to hit a lot of the same performance goals as off-road light truck tires: sharp and nimble handling, accurate braking, ease of control and, above all, dependable traction in all kinds of challenging terrain and environments. It just makes sense, then, that Yokohama has adapted their proven Geolandar M/T G003 mud-terrain light truck tire into a top-notch, competition-grade tire for SxS and ATV machines. With the Geolandar M/T G003 SxS, Yokohama has taken many of the same great materials and design elements of their light truck tire and scaled them down for off-road machines. Let’s get in there and get a closer look with this Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 SxS tire review.

Features and Benefits

Here are some of the great innovations and features that make the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 SxS a superb choice in a competition-grade tire for off-road machines:

• Yokohama’s full GEO-SHIELD design and technology package, with high-tensile steel belts, three-ply polyester casing, nylon cap ply layer with high-turnup at the sidewall, multiple sidewall plies to guard against impacts, cuts, punctures, and scuffs
• State-of-the-art rubber compound with triple-polymer additives, silica, and enhanced carbon black for durability and traction
• Aggressive mud-terrain tread with staggered, angled lugs, and a high void ratio to enable good self-cleaning of mud and debris
• Lugs at shoulder wrap around onto the sidewall for enhanced lateral traction, which is useful for cornering or for clawing out of deep ruts
• Shoulder blocks reinforced to resist tread squirm and deformation for sharp cornering ability
• Lightweight construction reduces rolling resistance and unsprung weight for better braking and handling performance
• Reinforced bead area with hexagonal bead wire helps to assure a more secure fit on the rim, and improved durability and stability at speed
• Contact patch redesigned to put more rubber in contact with the road (or trail) for improved braking, handling, traction, and control
• Network of sipes in tread blocks multiply the tread’s surface area and traction with hundreds of thin biting edges

Pros and Cons

Let’s take a look at at the strengths and weaknesses of the Geolandar M/T G003 SxS tire:

PROS:

• Motorsports-proven design
• Extremely durable and tough
• Yokohama’s GEO-SHIELD technology package
• Good self-cleaning of mud and debris

CONS:

• Designed as a competition-grade ATV/SxS tire, might not be good for hard surfaces

SimpleTire’s view on Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 SxS tires

Yokohama’s Geolandar product family of light truck tires has been around for a number of years, and includes a number of designs that have proven popular with customers for their quality, performance, and durability. Yokohama’s motorsports design team has racked up an impressive track record at rallies and desert racing events like the 4WP Desert Showdown in Pahrump, Nevada.

It just makes sense, then, that the design team at Yokohama would leverage some of that racing expertise and prowess with off-road light truck tires into the design of the Geolandar M/T G003 SxS. Putting it real simply, you can think of the Geolandar M/T G003 SxS as the kid brother of the popular mud-terrain tire for light trucks. It shares much of the same technology and design, including the Yokohama GEO-SHIELD suite of design features, just in a smaller package that’s scaled down for off-road machines.

Handling with the Geolandar M/T G003 SxS is predictable and precise, and braking distances are short thanks to its lighter weight. Unsprung weight refers to any vehicle weight that’s not actually supported by the suspension (meaning wheels, brakes and calipers, and tires), and a lighter unsprung weight means less rotating mass to slow down and bring to a halt, and the Geolandar M/T G003 SxS is designed to be mindful of that.

On the trail, the Geolandar M/T G003 SxS is easy to handle and near-impossible to get into trouble with, even in some of the nastiest mud and steepest rocks and boulders. Its aggressive tread design (yes, just like the light truck mud tire version of this tire) does a very efficient job of flinging mud, gravel, and debris from its grooves, which not only helps protect the tire and casing but also ensures there’s always a clear section of tread to dig in as the wheel turns. Its sidewall lugs give it an edge in grip for clawing out of ruts. Its Triple Polymer Blend tread compound is not only designed for excellent resistance to cuts, chips, and punctures, but also helps to boost the tire’s grip in mud, snow, sand, and slush. All in all, the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 SxS is a high-performance tire for off-road machines and is equally well-suited for utility applications such as ranching, industrial or security SxS’s as well as for fun or for racing. It’s important to bear in mind, though, that a tire like the Geolandar M/T G003 SxS that’s designed for off-road use might wear more quickly when used on pavement and hard surfaces.

Vehicles the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 SxS is a good replacement tire for

The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 SxS would make a great replacement tire for ATVs and SxS machines such as:

• Kawasaki Mule
• Maverick X3
• Can-Am Maverick 1000R
• Maverick Trail
• Honda Pioneer
• Polaris RZR XP
• Kawasaki Teryx
• ARctic Cat Prowler XTZ 1000
• Arctic Cat Wildcat
• Arctic Cat Wildcat X
• Bennche Bighorn 400
• Bobcat 3400
• Bush Hog Trail Hand
• Case IH Scout
• Husqvarna 4414
• John Deere Gator