All-Terrain Tires Face Harsh Review in ADAC Test: No Clear Winner
No tire, designed for off-road use, can definitively sway or persuade.
In the latest ADAC tire test, eight all-terrain (AT) tires were put to the test on various terrains - dry, wet, snow, and gravel. Unfortunately, the results for the AT tires are underwhelming: none of them achieve a "good" rating.
Image your vehicle making its way through urban jungles, muddy paths, or rocky landscapes with the aid of all-terrain tires. These robust tires seem to be a hot trend for vehicles like campers, SUVs, and pick-ups these days. However, the question remains: how do these tires perform? The automotive club, ADAC, decided to find out.
They tested eight of these so-called all-terrain tires (AT) in size 225/65 R17 on diverse surfaces. But on paved roads, they are "not a good choice" according to the club, especially considering the fact that "most of these tires spend the largest part of their lifespan on paved roads". This could potentially compromise road safety.
- The ADAC does not find any of the test tires to be "recommended".
- Four tires receive a "satisfactory" rating.
- Three tires are at least "adequate", but one model fails as "deficient".
Disappointing Results on Paved Roads
The test revealed some disappointing results on dry and wet roads. To make matters worse, the biggest flaw of the models in the test is their braking behavior on wet roads. The tires also show deficiencies in handling and aquaplaning behavior.
On snow-covered tracks, only two tires can slightly match the reference tire—a car all-season tire (rated 2.1) with a snowflake symbol. This could be concerning as the off-road tires in the test also bear this symbol, meaning they might also be driven on winter road conditions. On gravel, however, some models can overtake or at least match the car tire.
Top Performers in the Test
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 comes out on top with an overall rating of 2.9. The Falken Wildpeak A/T3WA, General Tire Grabber AT3, and Matador MP72 Izzarda A/T2 also receive a "satisfactory" rating.
Alternative Options for Paved Road Focus
For those who only occasionally drive off-paved roads, it's safer to opt for high-quality all-season tires, according to ADAC. All-terrain tires can be useful for off-road enthusiasts with four-wheel drive, but should be chosen carefully, as "interested parties can find at least models with balanced strengths and weaknesses in the four tires with a satisfactory overall rating."
Looking for more options? Recent European tire test summaries highlight noteworthy all-terrain and all-season tires suitable for diverse applications. Some top contenders in the all-terrain category include the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, Bridgestone Dueler A/T 002, and Falken Wildpeak AT3 W/A. For paved road focus, all-season tires like the Michelin CrossClimate 2 and Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 may offer better comfort, fuel efficiency, and safety.
Sources: ntv.de, abe/dpa
Related:
- ADAC Winter Tires Tests
- ADAC Summer Tires Tests
- Car Tire Duel with Surprises: ADAC Tests Summer Tires - One Fails Completely in Braking
- The latest ADAC tire test for all-terrain tires, although showing deficiencies on paved roads, did not find any suitable tire from the materials of the 'tire' heading to be 'recommended'.
- In light of the disappointing results on dry and wet roads, four all-terrain tires in the test received a "satisfactory" rating, while three were at least 'adequate', and one model was found to be 'deficient'.
- Despite the poor performance on paved roads, alternatives such as high-quality all-season tires are suggested by ADAC for those who only occasionally drive off-paved roads for safety reasons.
- Top contenders in the all-terrain category for off-road enthusiasts include the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, Bridgestone Dueler A/T 002, and Falken Wildpeak AT3 W/A.
- For those focused on paved road usage, all-season tires like the Michelin CrossClimate 2 and Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 may offer better comfort, fuel efficiency, and safety compared to all-terrain tires.
