When searching out a new tire for our leveled Ford F-150, we ran across the new Nitto Exo Grappler AWT. Overall impressions of this tire remain very positive one year later and we look forward to many more years of service from them. Tire pressure was varied throughout the test for maximum comfort and traction and did not seem to have a negative impact on tread wear or handling capabilities. The Toyo Open Country R/Ts maintained their confident and quiet ride even when loaded down. These tires are load rated E, which proved to be ideal for a vehicle that often times found itself hitched up to a trailer. The sidewall armor has proven its worth in rocky conditions and saved us in many situations. With just under 8,000 miles and one tire rotation, we are pleased to say that tread wear is barely noticeable without any cupping or visual defects. The tires performed admirably when the pavement faded away and allowed for great traction and shedding capabilities in even the most demanding situations. Our initial impression of these tires was very positive with great street manners and a quiet ride, especially for a large tire with an aggressive tread pattern. Throughout the last year we’ve been running the Toyo Open Country R/T tires mounted to a set of Dick Cepek Gun Metal 7 wheels under our mildly customized ’09 Dodge Ram 2500. Overall, the Roadian MT is a great tire choice for the budget-minded off-road enthusiast looking to enhance their vehicle’s appearance and capabilities while maintaining pleasant on-road manners. After a quick repair from our friends at Discount Tire, we were back on the road with no further issues to report. We did manage to pick up a huge bolt that pierced a tread block on the freeway resulting in a flat, but it was determined no other tire would have fared better. With an E-rating for load range, the tires were great when towing as well and afforded a sense of confidence when road conditions deteriorated. Our test vehicle’s capabilities were vastly improved with the tires alone, despite the open rear differential. The Roadian MTs performed very well during our off-road testing and proved very adept in loose sand and rocky conditions. They are no louder a year later than when first installed and retain their aggressive appearance. The tread blocks remain stout and have lots of life left. This is not the ideal setting for any mud-terrain tire, so what do we think of them now? They have not shown any excessive wear or cupping beyond what can be expected with any lifted vehicle.
Over the course of a year we managed to log 8,000 miles of mostly in-town driving and towing. Initially, we were quite impressed with their cost, performance, and looks. Our family wagon Ford E-350 was in need of a new attitude, so we installed Nexen’s Roadian MT tires in place of the factory-sized street rubber. Despite the weight, we were impressed overall with the fit, quality, and capabilities of the tires. At 79 pounds each, acceleration, braking, and fuel economy degradation was both expected and noticeable. One concerning drawback with these tires is their weight. Over 10,000 miles later we haven’t noticed any excessive tread block wear, even with a Detroit locker in the rear axle. Road noise is surprisingly minimal thanks to a hybrid tread pattern that blends an aggressive mud terrain, all-terrain, and off-road racing tire design into one cohesive package. Traction has been plentiful throughout the year, as our testing has led us though mud, rain, snow, and ice conditions. On-road ride quality was noticeably stiffer than our outgoing tires, due in part to the Grabber’s 10-ply construction, but this was reassuring as a puncture deterrent in most off-road conditions. The first trip out with the red-letter General Grabbers left us very impressed. After a quick balance check at Discount Tire, we headed out to find some rough terrain to put the aggressive off-road tires through their paces. Looking to try out a new type of off-road tire, we mounted a set of General Grabber tires to Fuel Anza beadlock wheels.
0 kommentar(er)
