7 New All-terrain Tires to Know

While most drivers spend the majority of their time on paved roads, some enjoy hitting trails in their free time. This means that they need a set of tires that are slightly different from a standard on-road focused tire, as uneven terrain and rough conditions provide challenges that can be difficult to handle. Fortunately, all-terrain tires are becoming increasingly popular and feature much of the latest and greatest technology to help drivers conquer mud, dirt, rocks, sand, and other tough terrains.

Don’t worry, all-terrain tires aren’t just meant for off-road driving; they still offer drivers consistent performance on paved roads, a tread life warranty, and even ride comfort that rivals a touring tire in some instances. Every year new products are coming to the market to solve consumer needs, and tires are no different. Here are 7 new all-terrain tires that we at SimpleTire think you absolutely need to know about.

Who is it for: Drivers of CUVs, smaller SUVs, and light trucks such as the Subaru Outback, Mazda CX-5, and Ford Ranger.

Warranty: 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Key Feature: Full-depth 3D sipes that bite into paved and unpaved roads for consistent traction. These sipes also lower noises on paved roads to improve ride comfort.

Other things to know: Driving off-road can be difficult, and tires that are built for off-roading need to be durable.

While all-terrain tires are meant to conquer anything, some struggle in ice, slush, and snow due to their rubber compound hardening in lower temperatures. That’s not the case with the Trail-Terrain T/A, as the tire is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in moderate to severe winter weather conditions.

All-terrain tires are commonly thought of as Jeep and light truck tires. If you drive a Subaru Outback or Mazda CX-5 and always wanted to hit the trails then the Trail-Terrain T/A is a tire you need to know.

Nitto Recon Grappler A/T

Founded in 1949, Nitto excels at creating best-in-class tires for enthusiasts who want to push the limits of their ride. Their Grappler family of tires is renowned for their ability to perform at a high-level on- and off-road, and the Recon Grappler A/T takes the best of the Grappler family and moves it a step further by giving drivers even better performance and great ride comfort.

Who is it for: Drivers of Jeeps, light trucks, and SUVs such as the Jeep Wrangler, GMC Sierra 1500 HD, or Toyota 4Runner.

Warranty: 55,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for LT and Flotation sizes

Key Feature: Wide and narrow grooves that boost traction while also reducing road noises and vibrations for a quiet, comfortable ride.

Other things to know: Traction is vital to off-road driving, and the Recon Grappler A/T utilizes large tread and shoulder blocks with extra sipes to provide strong traction on any terrain. Zigzag grooves in the center and shoulder further enhance traction by forcing mud, drit, rocks, stones, water, slush, and other debris out of the tread for consistent traction, and the Recon Grappler A/T’s reinforced tread blocks keep the tire rigid to boost grip and performance on dry roads.

Personality is also important in all-terrain driving, and the Recon Grappler A/T allows drivers to showcase theirs by providing a dual sidewall design.

Nitto tires are a common choice for drivers who want to hit trails, mud, and other off-road terrains in their free time, and the Recon Grappler A/T gives these drivers the excellent performance that they’ve come to expect from the Grappler family. In addition to a long tread life and stylish looks, the Recon Grappler A/T’s also boasts an incredibly quiet, comfortable ride so that drivers aren’t dealing with noisy tires on paved roads

Nokian Outpost AT

Finnish tire makers Nokian are the world’s northernmost tire manufacturer. While that might lead drivers to believe they’re winter tire specialists (they do make excellent winter tires!), Nokian also produces many great tires in the all-season, all-weather, and all-terrain segments.

New to the market is the Outpost AT, which built off of the success of the Rotiiva AT Plus to give drivers a tire that packs a serious punch on any terrain.

Who is it for: Drivers of Jeeps, light trucks, and SUVs such as the Jeep Renegade, Toyota Tundra, and Ford Bronco.

Warranty: 60,000 mile limited manufacture tread life warranty for non-fleet and non-commercial vehicles. Backed by Nokian’s Pothole Protection Program that replaces the tire at no cost if a road hazard damages the tire beyond repair.

Key Feature: Aramid Shield Technology that guards the tire against punctures, cuts, chips, and tears.

Other things to know: Durability when driving off-road is very important, and Nokian put Gravel Guards within the Outpost AT that remove rocks, stones, and other debris out of the tread to protect the casing from damage. The Outpost AT also utilizes a heavy-duty construction that increases load carrying capacity so that drivers can confidently haul and tow goods, materials, trailers, boats, and everything in between.

In addition to durability, traction is highly important in off-road driving. Knowing this, Nokian added Summit Sidewalls that provide grip in soft terrains, like mud, and Canyon Cuts that bite into uneven terrains like rocks for consistent traction. All of this technology works together to give drivers excellent grip, and the Outpost AT is even Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified thanks to its ability to perform in tough winter weather conditions.

Finally, Nokian made sure that drivers of the Outpost AT get as many miles as possible out of their purchase. In addition to a lengthy mileage warranty, the Outpost AT’s durable rubber compound, tread block bridges and support slopes, and triple pitch design reduce uneven wear for a longer tread life. Nokian even added their Driving Safety Indicator within the tread of the Outpost AT so that drivers can quickly see how much tread is left.

Durability and traction are two key factors in all-terrain tires, and Nokian packed the Outpost AT (and it’s smaller “cousin”), the Outpost APT with plenty of technology to give drivers the best of both worlds.

Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12)

Based in South Korea, Hankook is one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers. With tires for almost every vehicle fitment, Hankook has an extensive knowledge of what makes a great tire, and their Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) line applies that knowledge to an all-terrain tire.

Who is it for: Drivers of light trucks and SUVs such as the Dodge Ram 1500 and Nissan Armada.

Warranty: 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Key Feature: An aggressive shoulder and sidewall that bites into the road to increase traction off-road while also protecting the tire from cuts, chips, tears, and other damage.

Other things to know: Traction and grip are very important to tires in general, and all-terrain tires are no different. The Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) features multi-directional grooves and sipes for better traction in every direction. Biting block edges further increase grip, and the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified thanks to its ability to perform in tough ice, slush, and snow.

One common concern with all-terrain tires is that they sacrifice ride comfort for off-road performance. Luckily, that isn’t the case with the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12). Staggered block edges fend off road noises, and the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12)’s tie bars stabilize the tread blocks to further reduce road noises and vibrations. All of this is to say, the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) is quiet and performs well on- and off-road.

Hankook has spent years mastering their craft, and their Dynapro line of tires are well-known by light truck and SUV drivers who want outstanding performance and great value. Their latest offering, the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12), continues the Dynapro tradition by providing excellent performance and now offers drivers improved ride comfort on paved roads.

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T

Mickey Thompson tires are synonymous with enthusiasts, as their tires provide excellent performance on the track or trail. Their Baja line has a long history of conquering any terrain that stands in its way, and the Baja Boss A/T takes that a step further by now offering all-weather traction and low road noise.

Who is it for: Drivers of Jeeps, light trucks, and SUVs such as the Jeep Gladiator, Ford F-150, and Chevrolet Tahoe.

Warranty: 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty on LT sizes, and a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty on all other sizes.

Key Feature: Extreme Sidebiters that dig into the ground for consistent traction while also providing aggressive looks for your ride and guarding the tire from damage.

Other things to know: The Baja Boss A/T offers drivers strong performance on any surface and Mickey Thompson added plenty to the tire to achieve this goal.

First, let’s talk about rubber. The Baja Boss A/T has silica-reinforced rubber compound that protects the tire against cuts, chips, tears, and abrasions while also reducing uneven wear for a longer tread life and better grip on wet road for shorter braking distances and precise handling.

After deciding on the rubber compound, Mickey Thompson gave the Baja Boss A/T an asymmetrical tread pattern with angled blocks and grooves plus open shoulders. The result is improved traction on- and off-road thanks to the tire’s ability to force mud, dirt, rocks, stones, water, slush, and other debris out of the tread. The asymmetric tread pattern of the Baja Boss A/T is also computer optimized for a quiet, comfortable ride on paved roads.

For LT sizes, Mickey Thompson added Powerply XD technology to the Baja Boss A/T and this technology further guards the tire against punctures while also boosting stability and allowing for quick steering response.

Finally, Mickey Thompson didn’t forget about winter weather either, as the Baja Boss A/T is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in severe weather conditions thanks to its silica-reinforced rubber compound, asymmetrical tread pattern, and Extreme Sidebiters that allow for consistent traction and grip.

Mickey Thompson packed the Baja Boss A/T with so much technology to give drivers a tire that can truly conquer any terrain, and the tire received the Best New Tire award at the Speciality Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) show in 2020.

Kumho Road Venture AT52

Based in South Korea, Kumho is the official tire sponsor of the NBA and also sponsors Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League. Kumho is far more than just a brand who loves sports, as they make excellent tires in the all-season, all-weather, all-terrain, commercial, mud terrain, and ultra-high-performance segments.

New to the market is the Road Venture AT52, which builds upon the success of the Road Venture AT51 but now offers drivers a longer tread life and better wet performance.

Who is it for: Drivers of Jeeps, light trucks, and SUVs such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet Colorado, and Toyota Land Cruiser.

Warranty: 55,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for P-metric sizes, and a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for all other sizes.

Key Feature: Rugged shoulder blocks and sawtooth edges that bite into the ground to enhance traction off-road.

Other things to know: As an all-terrain tire, Kumho needed to make sure that the Road Venture AT52 was built to perform on- and off-road. To do that, Kumho added a balanced void ratio to the tread pattern of the Road Venture AT52 that forces mud, dirt, rocks, water, slush, and snow out for consistent traction.

The Road Venture AT52 also features multi-angle sipes and zigzag grooves that drain water from the tread to reduce the risk of hydroplaning on wet, slushy, and snow roads. The Road Venture AT52 is also Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in severe winter weather conditions.

Durability is also key to all-terrain tires, and Kumho made sure that the Road Venture AT52 can withstand tough off-road use by adding a rubber compound that resists cracking, chipping, and tearing. The thick sidewalls of the Road Venture AT52 guard the tire against punctures, and also provide aggressive looks for your ride.

All-terrain tires need to perform on- and off-road, which can make building a good one tricky. Fortunately, Kumho gave the Road Venture AT52 everything it needed to succeed on any terrain thanks to its aggressive tread pattern, tough rubber compound, and wide grooves.

Fury Country Hunter A/T

Hailing from Texas, Fury Tires is an up and coming tire manufacturer that specializes in off-road tires. Being an up and comer doesn’t mean they don’t make great products, and the Country Hunter A/T is proof that Fury is serious about creating great off-road tires.

Who is it for: Drivers of light trucks and SUVs such as the Nissan Titan and Toyota Sequoia.

Warranty: N/A

Key Feature: A wing-shaped tread pattern that boosts grip on- and off-the-road for consistent traction and shorter braking distances. The unique tread pattern of the Country Hunter A/T also provides sporty, aggressive looks for your ride.

Other things to know: Like we mentioned above, durability is critical to all-terrain tires. Fortunately, Fury added aggressive, reinforced sidewalls to the Country Hunter A/T that protect the tire from cuts, chips, punctures and tears. These aggressive sidewalls also increase grip in mud and other soft terrains.

For on-road performance, the Country Hunter A/T has angular grooves that force water out of the tread to reduce the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads. Some all-terrain tires are a bit noisier than their all-season and touring counterparts, but that’s not the case with the Country Hunter A/T thanks to a variable pitch tread pattern that reduces road noises and vibrations.

Fury might be a “younger kid” when it comes to tire manufacturers, but they’re serious about their craft and their Country Hunter A/T packs some serious punch on- and off-road.

All-terrain tires: getting better and better each year

Off-road driving continues to become more popular for drivers across the country. Fortunately, the tire industry is well equipped to give these drivers great all-terrain tires that fit every budget. Whether you want a Nitto, Nokian, Hankook, Mickey Thompson, Kumho, Fury, or another brand of all-terrain tire, SimpleTire has the right tire for you at a great price.