Rockin' the Road With All-Terrain Tires, But Paved Roads Ain't Their Playground
"No individual all-terrain tire can persuade effectively on its own"
ADAC, known for its thorough tire testing, recently put eight so-called off-road tires, categorized as all-terrain (AT), to the test. They took these chunky tires for a spin on various terrains—dry, wet, snow, and gravel.
The results for the AT tires on paved roads are downright disappointing: none of the tested off-road tires pass the "good" rating mark in terms of driving safety. And here's the kicker—most of these tires spend a majority of their lifetime on paved roads! dedicating that preference to road safety.
Let's break it down:
- The driving experience on paved roads is "not a good choice."
- The results on dry and wet pavement were underwhelming.
- The biggest flaws in the tested models are their wet-road braking behavior and handling struggles.
However, two tires come close to the non-rated reference tire, a passenger car all-season tire (rating 2.1) with a snowflake symbol, on snow-covered surfaces. But when it comes to gravel, a few models can outperform or match the passenger car tire's accomplishments.
The ADAC labels none of the test tires "recommended." Yet, four tires earn a "satisfactory" designation, and three are at least "adequate." The "Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015" (overall rating of 2.9) emerges as the winner, followed by the "Falken Wildpeak A/T3WA" (rating 3.1), the "General Tire Grabber AT3" (rating 3.2), and the "Matador MP72 Izzarda A/T2" (rating 3.2) also snag a "satisfactory" badge.
So, what's a sensible driver to do? ADAC recommends those who only occasionally drive off paved roads stick with high-quality all-season tires. All-terrain tires can benefit those who love off-roading with four-wheel drive, but it's crucial to choose wisely. Interested parties might find models with well-balanced strengths and weaknesses among the four "satisfactory" rated tires.
Sources: ntv.de, abe/dpa
- ADAC Testing
- Off-Road Tires
- Paved Roads Safety
Beneath the Tire Tread: The Nitty-Gritty Details
Here's what you need to know about tire testing, recommendations, and tire types for optimal performance on paved roads:
ADAC Testing: Though ADAC extensively tests tire categories, no recent ADAC tests specifically focus on all-terrain tires on paved roads. Most of their testing comprises all-season and winter tires.
As for all-terrain tires on paved roads, it's imperative to consider their handling and performance characteristics:
- Handling and Performance: All-terrain tires, such as the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, Bridgestone Dueler A/T 002, Falken Wildpeak AT3 W/A, and General Grabber AT3, may lack the comfort and efficiency offered by dedicated highway tires. These tires are created for both on-road and off-road use but might struggle on paved roads.
- Noise and Rolling Resistance: All-terrain tires tend to be noisier and have higher rolling resistance, which may impact fuel efficiency and ride comfort.
- The manufacturing of all-terrain tires, unlike passenger car all-season tires, is not suited for the majority of their lifespan on paved roads, as stated by ADAC test results.
- Although the "BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2," "Bridgestone Dueler A/T 002," "Falken Wildpeak AT3 W/A," and "General Grabber AT3" are designed for both on and off-road use, they may not deliver the same comfort and efficiency as dedicated highway tires on paved roads.
- The overall lifespan of all-terrain tires, like the 'tires' under test, might be affected by their increased noise and rolling resistance, which can impact fuel efficiency and ride comfort.
- Interestingly, lifespan considerations on paved roads are often overlooked in tire manufacturing from materials not designated for the product itself, as mentioned in the context of all-terrain tires.
