Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 vs Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD

Roadian vs Geolandar: Which all-terrain tire is best for your work truck?

The South Korean tire manufacturer, Nexen, has been offering quality tires since 1942. With its global footprint, Nexen is admired by US enthusiasts for its balance of quality, performance, and value. The advanced engineering, innovative tread patterns, and use of high-quality rubber compounds make Nexen tires suitable for passenger cars, light trucks, and CUVs.

Yokohama, on the other hand, is a Japanese tire manufacturer with over a century of tire-making history. The tire manufacturer is widely acknowledged for its advanced material science and superior engineering. Most Yokohama light truck and SUV tires are known for their long-lasting ability, road control, quiet ride quality, and heavy-duty utility.

Coming from Nexen, the Roadian AT Pro RA8 is a capable all-terrain tire designed for use on SUVs, pickup trucks, and Jeeps. The tire offers smooth, comfortable highway rides, alongside providing dependable off-road service. It is a severe snow-rated tire for use in moderate to severe winter conditions and comes as a great option for all-weather-compatible all-terrain tires.

In contrast, the Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD is more of a rugged, commercial-grade all-terrain tire suitable for use on pickup trucks and commercial vans. The tire offers solid on- and off-road durability and has the ability to handle heavy payloads, harsh job sites, and extreme conditions. This tire features an all-weather rubber compound, suitable for use in moderate to severe winter weather.

If you need a reliable set of all-terrain tires, this Roadian AT Pro RA8 vs Geolandar A/T XD tires comparison will provide you with great details on traction, handling, and longevity abilities of these tires, along with their overall analysis using our proprietary tire rating system, SimpleScore. So, read on and get ready to make an informed decision.

Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 tires

The Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 is designed and engineered keeping in mind value-conscious drivers of CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, and Jeeps who want the versatility of driving both on paved roads and rugged terrains. On highways, it can reduce road noise and block vibrations for a pleasant experience and is also optimized for digging into dirt, loose gravel, rocks, mild mud, and snow. It is Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certified for use in severe snow and sports a footprint to resist irregular wear.

Overall, the Roadian AT Pro RA8 is rated an 8.2 SimpleScore, thanks to its great handling, solid traction, and decent tread life.

Get Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD tires

The Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD is, as we mentioned above, a heavy-duty, commercial-grade tire engineered for drivers who switch from on-road driving to higher off-road stress. It features patented GEO-SHIELD technology for enhanced durability and has the ability to resist punctures, cuts, and chips. Additionally, the A/T XD is fully 3PMSF certified, like the Nexen tire, and can withstand severe winters.

Overall, the Geolandar A/T XD earns a higher 8.6 overall SimpleScore because of its long-lasting tread life, great traction, and admirable handling performance.

Get Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 vs Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD tires on traction

First, we will commence the analysis of traction performance of both tires and try to understand which one remains more glued to the road or rugged surfaces and bites dirt, mud, and slush better.

The Roadian AT Pro RA8 is rated an 8.4 SimpleScore for its solid traction performance and is capable of switching on- to off-road in rain, shine, and even severe snow. The tire uses an interlocking center block pattern and deep grooves for better grip and increased traction on wet roads, muddy paths, and dirt trails. Likewise, for complete all-weather traction, there are plenty of sipes and the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake validation.

Contrarily, the Geolandar A/T XD is rated an impressive 8.7 SimpleScore for its great traction performance on roads and trails. The aggressive high-void layout, along with multiple wavy sipes, provides strong surface-biting ability and boosts traction performance on wet pavement, loose rocks, and deep mud. Additionally, the 3PMSF certification assures increased grip and better traction performance in winter conditions. There are also lateral block arrangements with wider gaps to clear mud and gravel for better traction performance.

In the traction race, it is the Geolandar A/T XD that leads with a better score and an array of advanced features.

ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD

Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 vs Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD tires on handling

Moving on to the handling comparison, let’s find out which of the two tires is better in ride control, steering response, braking, stability, and cornering.

Starting with the Roadian AT Pro RA8, the tire achieves a great 8.5 SimpleScore in handling, indicating that there is enough control and steering response. This is thanks to its wide and flat footprint for increased stability, and the reinforced shoulder blocks that provide sturdiness for quick lane changes. The overall structural stiffness also helps in a highly responsive, crisp steering response. Additionally, for better braking performance on highways across all weathers, the 3PMSF-certified rubber compound and optimized pattern are utilized.

On the other hand, the Geolandar A/T XD earns a competitive 8.4 SimpleScore in handling. The wide and flat profile of this Yokohama tire provides adequate balance and improves stability in rugged conditions while carrying heavy loads. The use of a 3-ply high-turn-up carcass provides the much-needed strength to this tire during heavy hauling and towing. This strong and reinforced casing also keeps the tire in shape to maintain smooth lane changes or provide adequate balance while cornering.

While the Geolandar A/T XD does a great job on the handling front, the battle is won here by the Roadian AT Pro RA8 by a small margin.

ADVANTAGE: Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8

Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 vs Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD tires on longevity

Long-lasting ability is of high importance while buying tires, as it gives you an idea if your tire is built and designed to cover more miles. So, let’s find out which of the two tires has a better wear-resisting ability in this section.

The Roadian AT Pro RA8 scores a 7.9 SimpleScore for its good, long-lasting ability. It is also covered by an up to 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. The advanced rubber compound controls the wear rate, and the reinforced casing keeps its shape to balance driving force and offer even and longer wear.

On the other hand, the Geolandar A/T XD comes with a better rating in longevity, scoring an 8.8 SimpleScore. This tire is a commercial-grade product and doesn’t come with any tread life warranty backing. However, it features robust GEO-SHIELD construction that guards the tread from structural tears and tread cutting on sharp debris. All thanks to the flat footprint, the tire promotes even, longer wear.

While the Nexen tire may delight buyers with its warranty, the true winner in the longevity race is the Geolandar A/T XD with a higher rating and more durable structure that assures great service life.

ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD

When to use each

Both the Roadian AT Pro RA8 and the Geolandar A/T XD are slightly different in terms of their utilities. The Roadian AT Pro RA8 is a light-to-moderate all-terrain choice for drivers of SUVs, Jeeps, and half-ton trucks who use them for daily commuting, road trips, and light weekend off-roading. It also reduces noise levels to a good extent and has better cushioning. On the contrary, the Geolandar A/T XD is more of a commercial tire and is designed for use on full-size heavy-duty pickups, work vans, and fleet commercial vehicles. It is typically used on construction sites, northern snowpacks under full loads, and gravel.

As far as rim sizes are concerned, the Roadian AT Pro RA8 is offered in 17- and 18-inch rim options, while the Geolandar A/T XD comes in 16- to 20-inch rim options.

Which one should you choose?

Looking at the overall SimpleScore, the Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD is a better option than the Roadian AT Pro RA8 (8.6 vs 8.2). However, your buying decision should be based on your needs: whether you want something that’s a perfect fit for daily street comfort and weekend off-roading adventures or need something that’s an absolute beast in the commercial-grade race with impressive abilities to withstand highways as well as trails.

Coming to the price part, the Roadian AT Pro RA8 is available at a starting price of at least $126 per tire, which means a full set of four starts around $504. The Geolandar A/T XD, on the other hand, is available at a starting price of at least $174 per tire, bringing a full set of four to at least $696.

Based on SimpleScore, you must pick the Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 if you:

• Drive a half-ton truck or mid-to-full size SUV like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, or Jeep Grand Cherokee.
• Need a tire that’s better in handling (8.5 vs 8.4).
• Need a tire that’s quieter on the road and is more adaptable to daily commuting.
• Need a tire that’s backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

On the other hand, you should choose the Yokohama Geolandar A/T XD if you:

• Drive a full-size heavy-duty truck or fleet van like a RAM 2500, Nissan Titan, or GMC Sierra 1500.
• Want a tire that’s better in traction (8.7 vs 8.4).
• Want a tire that’s better in longevity (8.8 vs 7.9).
• Want a tire that’s suitable for heavy hauling or trailer towing.

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.