AT Tyre Suggestions
Discussion
I am looking for a set of AT tyres and use will be 90% road, 10% off-road.
So road performance is crucial, but they also need to be great in all tyres of snow and OK off-road, but it will never be that crazy. Wet fields and muddy forestry tracks mostly.
Also, since the tyre size is small I don't have much choice. They need to be 215/65/16.
Grabber AT's are available. Also Bridgestone Duelers and Yokohama Geolanders.
I don't think Cooper or BFG make any in this size.
So road performance is crucial, but they also need to be great in all tyres of snow and OK off-road, but it will never be that crazy. Wet fields and muddy forestry tracks mostly.
Also, since the tyre size is small I don't have much choice. They need to be 215/65/16.
Grabber AT's are available. Also Bridgestone Duelers and Yokohama Geolanders.
I don't think Cooper or BFG make any in this size.
What are they going on, could you squeeze 215/70x16s on? I went from 215/70x16s to 225/70x16s on my Mk1 RAV4, bigger is always better 
As for your original size, AT2s* are the best compromise, with the Geolander ATSs also very good and the best off-road but more compromised on road being BF Goodrich ATs, which you can also get in your size.
For snow you really need winter tyres, but the above should be acceptable, probably in the same order.
As for your original size, AT2s* are the best compromise, with the Geolander ATSs also very good and the best off-road but more compromised on road being BF Goodrich ATs, which you can also get in your size.
For snow you really need winter tyres, but the above should be acceptable, probably in the same order.
- Has to be the AT2s, the newer ATs are not as good, ruined by EU noise regulations.
Edited by SlimJim16v on Wednesday 18th November 18:42
I can't see why you can't potentially look at different sizes. A little bigger or smaller won't really matter much.
A 215/70R16 is only 3/4" taller.
As for tyres. I personally think AT's are the worst tyre for the most part. Compromised on road and usually pretty poor off road.
If the off road conditions are bad enough that a road tyre won't cut it, then chances are an AT won't either really.
Wet fields can also be very slippery and the kind of terrain AT's truly SUCK at.
If you are on sand, rocks, gravel. Then AT's are ok, so touring across certain parts of Europe, Africa, USA or Oz. They can be a good choice.
In Blighty, where almost all off road is mud of some kind. Then I think they don't really work very well.
As for snow. Well in fresh snow and deep snow, MT's will work very well. And of course snow often falls on top of grass and mud, so if you need to venture off the road, such as going up the verge to get around a stranded car, then an MT is a much better tyre.
On compacted snow and ice, AT's do generally work slightly better, but this is more down to the type of MT tread you are comparing it too. For these conditions and wet roads you want something with sipes in. Not all MT's have these, so I'd say avoid them for your use. But a mild MT with sipes is likely the best tyre for the job. Plus they always look better too.
The only downside is, all MT's due to the lugs will generally be a little nosier on road.
However this is only my opinion, so take it with a pinch of salt!
Another thing to consider, if you aren't likely to tear about with hard cornering, then you might want to consider some winter tyres instead. They'll be better than the AT's in the snow and ice and mostly as good off road and better on the road.
A 215/70R16 is only 3/4" taller.
As for tyres. I personally think AT's are the worst tyre for the most part. Compromised on road and usually pretty poor off road.
If the off road conditions are bad enough that a road tyre won't cut it, then chances are an AT won't either really.
Wet fields can also be very slippery and the kind of terrain AT's truly SUCK at.
If you are on sand, rocks, gravel. Then AT's are ok, so touring across certain parts of Europe, Africa, USA or Oz. They can be a good choice.
In Blighty, where almost all off road is mud of some kind. Then I think they don't really work very well.
As for snow. Well in fresh snow and deep snow, MT's will work very well. And of course snow often falls on top of grass and mud, so if you need to venture off the road, such as going up the verge to get around a stranded car, then an MT is a much better tyre.
On compacted snow and ice, AT's do generally work slightly better, but this is more down to the type of MT tread you are comparing it too. For these conditions and wet roads you want something with sipes in. Not all MT's have these, so I'd say avoid them for your use. But a mild MT with sipes is likely the best tyre for the job. Plus they always look better too.
The only downside is, all MT's due to the lugs will generally be a little nosier on road.
However this is only my opinion, so take it with a pinch of salt!
Another thing to consider, if you aren't likely to tear about with hard cornering, then you might want to consider some winter tyres instead. They'll be better than the AT's in the snow and ice and mostly as good off road and better on the road.
matt-ITR said:
Thanks for the reply and food for thought.
I had heard pretty good reviews for the newer AT.
I am surprised you say the Yoko is the better one off road too, it looks like the least aggressive.
With that size, I am guessing Nissan X-Trail? I had the newer Grabber ATs on mine and while they were fine in mud and snow, they were one of the worst tyres on greasy wet roads. They were OK in the wet. I drove with mine in Auto all the time as it understeered and spun up the front wheels terribly with them in 2WD.I had heard pretty good reviews for the newer AT.
I am surprised you say the Yoko is the better one off road too, it looks like the least aggressive.
I don't think The "older GG AT2" are great in wet grass either,
Next set of tyres for me will probably be full on be muds,
Am interested how the newer more style agressive AT's such Goodyear Wrangle duratrac or the Cooper ST maxx copes with wet grass fields.
Next set of tyres for me will probably be full on be muds,
Am interested how the newer more style agressive AT's such Goodyear Wrangle duratrac or the Cooper ST maxx copes with wet grass fields.
Edited by richs2891 on Friday 20th November 20:01
90% road use as I said, so a MT would be completely OTT.
Majority of the off-road use is forest tracks, but some mud/fields. I have a feeling I have said all this before?
I am looking into fitting wider tyres, but not sure how close the suspension is.
BFG and Grabbers seem to get all the best comments from people I know who work in forestry.
I will look into BFG a little more and see how they compare price wise.
Majority of the off-road use is forest tracks, but some mud/fields. I have a feeling I have said all this before?
I am looking into fitting wider tyres, but not sure how close the suspension is.
BFG and Grabbers seem to get all the best comments from people I know who work in forestry.
I will look into BFG a little more and see how they compare price wise.
Just to muddy things a little (see what i did there? 
)
I ran Yoko Geolanders on my old truck, they were fantastic on and off road. They struggled with deep squidgy mud as you would expect but really they excelled elsewhere! Snow manners were great as well. I will see if i can dig out some pics or vids when I last ran them if that helps..
) I ran Yoko Geolanders on my old truck, they were fantastic on and off road. They struggled with deep squidgy mud as you would expect but really they excelled elsewhere! Snow manners were great as well. I will see if i can dig out some pics or vids when I last ran them if that helps..
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