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I ran a new set of Wranglers for a season. I needed new tires, but needed something cheap while I rebuilt the front end, did some driveline work, and finished my modest lift. They were "ok" and the price was definitely right. They looked nice on the Jeep. But they were pretty soft in the turns (very flexible - squishy feeling). They were pretty miserable with any moisture on the roads. I could break traction at a stoplight, and I have a very moderate driving style. They would have been almost useless on snow and ice.
But they served their purpose, ran relatively smooth, and were pretty quiet. So for the price, I can see why they are popular (I see A LOT of them around). I sold all 4 of mine with about 5k on them for $50.
Ultimately, I went with Hankook Dynapro ATMs for my final choice. I don't know if I'm going to go with them again, but they have generally been a mighty fine all-year all-condition tire. They feel great, and the traction is excellent in a variety of conditions, but they run louder the longer you have them on (if I rotate them aggressively it helps a little, but they are about twice as loud now as when they first went on), and I wish they had a slightly more aggressive appearance (just a style preference). I don't mind the noise that much, but if I'm going to pay a noise cost, I might as well have the more aggressive appearance.
Last edited by jordan96xj; 11-27-2017 at 11:27 PM.
Interesting take on them seeming flexible and squishy Jordan. The overall compound in them is hard but they have a thin sidewall, similar to the issue on the duratracs. The flex and squishy in turns was probably the sidewall flexing with the body roll. I just put a set of duratracs on my truck and it has a similar feeling.
It was most certainly from the thin sidewalls. They had originally replaced an old set of BFG AT KOs, which were cupping, but felt great on turns (because they were so stiff). The first few times I took tight on-ramps with the Wranglers on a hot day took some getting used to.
Btw, I always appreciate your insight on these tire threads. I always pay particular attention to your posts.
Do you get any folks at the shop, like me, who say they love the performance/value of the Dynapros but wish it had a slightly better look for the Jeep? I have an 80/day daily driver with a long season of -serious- snow and ice, so perhaps the Dynapros are going to be as good as it gets for me. My tire guy was the one who turned me on to the Hankooks, and I think he did right by me. They really do fit the bill, but I keep wondering if there isn't something that is just slightly more aggressive looking but that doesn't come with big compromises.
And the award for the first actual historical fact of this thread goes to ..... Bugout4x4
I'm a history nut. But seriously... part of the reason folks are attracted to the name Goodyear is because of their long history in our culture. They are part of America as an identity. Baseball... Hotdogs... and Goodyear. lol
I ran a new set of Wranglers for a season. I needed new tires, but needed something cheap while I rebuilt the front end, did some driveline work, and finished my modest lift. They were "ok" and the price was definitely right. They looked nice on the Jeep. But they were pretty soft in the turns (very flexible - squishy feeling). They were pretty miserable with any moisture on the roads. I could break traction at a stoplight, and I have a very moderate driving style. They would have been almost useless on snow and ice.
But they served their purpose, ran relatively smooth, and were pretty quiet. So for the price, I can see why they are popular (I see A LOT of them around). I sold all 4 of mine with about 5k on them for $50.
Ultimately, I went with Hankook Dynapro ATMs for my final choice. I don't know if I'm going to go with them again, but they have generally been a mighty fine all-year all-condition tire. They feel great, and the traction is excellent in a variety of conditions, but they run louder the longer you have them on (if I rotate them aggressively it helps a little, but they are about twice as loud now as when they first went on), and I wish they had a slightly more aggressive appearance (just a style preference). I don't mind the noise that much, but if I'm going to pay a noise cost, I might as well have the more aggressive appearance.
The Dynapro is a fantastic tire. This is what I run on mine, and I am a tire dealer. What people need to be aware of is that EVERY tire gets louder as they wear down. it's just the nature of the beast that you will start to get more slapping and block noise as a tread wears thinner. They handle much more responsive also, this is why when you put on a new set they feel a bit squirrely compared to the old set until you get used to them.
Just to be sure we are talking about the same tire, it's this one right? Haha
So, just to pour fuel on the fire as to how subjective assessments can be, here's the Walmart.com site showing this tire with over 200 reviews and an average rating of 4.4 out of 5.
It was most certainly from the thin sidewalls. They had originally replaced an old set of BFG AT KOs, which were cupping, but felt great on turns (because they were so stiff). The first few times I took tight on-ramps with the Wranglers on a hot day took some getting used to.
Btw, I always appreciate your insight on these tire threads. I always pay particular attention to your posts.
Do you get any folks at the shop, like me, who say they love the performance/value of the Dynapros but wish it had a slightly better look for the Jeep? I have an 80/day daily driver with a long season of -serious- snow and ice, so perhaps the Dynapros are going to be as good as it gets for me. My tire guy was the one who turned me on to the Hankooks, and I think he did right by me. They really do fit the bill, but I keep wondering if there isn't something that is just slightly more aggressive looking but that doesn't come with big compromises.
like bugout said, those hankooks are pretty nice for their price. But like you said their only downfall is their looks. But not too many all terrains are all that aggressive looking. If you wanted something more aggressive, duratracs are made in the smaller sizes and are 3 peak mountain rated. Bfg ko2 has this rating has well. But both these tires are much higher priced. I think your guy got you settled in witg the perfect tire for you h honestly.
speaking of, discount tires had some great rebates on goodyears this past weekend- they still might.. set of duratracs for less than $700 with $150 in rebates..
like bugout said, those hankooks are pretty nice for their price. But like you said their only downfall is their looks. But not too many all terrains are all that aggressive looking. If you wanted something more aggressive, duratracs are made in the smaller sizes and are 3 peak mountain rated. Bfg ko2 has this rating has well. But both these tires are much higher priced. I think your guy got you settled in witg the perfect tire for you h honestly.
There is an important reality point in what you said here. Sometimes it is very hard to have your cake and eat it too. To gain in functionality and performance you have to sometimes give up some aesthetics and the very same in reverse, sometimes to gain in looks you have to give up some performance. Hoping for the best of both worlds in one product is sometimes a stretch due to the realities in manufacturing limitations and technology.
So, just to pour fuel on the fire as to how subjective assessments can be, here's the Walmart.com site showing this tire with over 200 reviews and an average rating of 4.4 out of 5.
i honestly don't put any stock into these types of reviews on websites. 90% of the time people really have no idea what they are talking about. I went through reading some and my thoughts are correct. "Needed tires for highway and o ffroad use. These tires are awesome o ffroad in the dirt roads i go too and last long!" Well yeah, dirt roads can be conquered with any tire haha.
im talking about reviews from forum type posts like here. People are generally more in depth, and have greater experience with different tires and can tell little subtle differences because vehicles are their hobby and tires are an important part. Also look at magazine (online type) reviews. Not the ones that look at just one tire. Those are more prone to bias, even though I talked to some guys from magazines at this year's SEMA Show about this and they all deny that so I don't know haha...im talking about thise "shootout" comparisons. You have to dig for the comparisons that involve the wrangler because people realized they weren't an o ffroad tire, but spoiler alert, they didnt fair well in all of them. Most they were involved with that i saw were with similar budget type tires.
but the reviews I like are when talking to people when they come in and I ask them about their experience with the tires they have. It's similar to those online reviews,BUT I am able to ask more specific questions to get a more detailed and legitimate answer than what's posted online.
example: i can ask the type of offroading they do if they said they do that in my initial questions. "We go up to trout lakes, they do great!" Well trout lakes is an easy dirt road about 10 miles long. Cars get up there lol...but then I can ask,"had it ever rained before you went? Or have you tried the trail up to the southern lake recently?" That trail is a little tougher, some sand, a little bumpy, and some ruts. Well this guy said he tried once but didn't get more then a mile with starting to slide, he then proceeded to tell me that is expected with every all terrain. Except no, tons of people get up there easily haha. He also said he had trouble in the sandy areas of the trail to the southern lake......this conversation happened about 3 weeks ago. He had a 2000 ford ranger 4wd. Has other trucks with better tires, but he loves his little truck.... You get a better review of tires when you can ask and assess exactly what they do and how the tires did.....from all this, the wrangler radial s are in tier (not a good place to be) in my shops homebrew rating system
Let me just give another explanation so you guys don't think I'm hating on the wrangler for no reason haha
ok, so your typical mud terrain usually has big,aggressive, jagged type tread blocks with large voids in between to reduce the chance of mud building up. Well all terrains are the opposite. They are smaller tread blocks, with smaller voids. The tread blocks usually have sipimg leading to these voids to lead water and some mud towards them.
look at the tread on the wrangler. The tread blocks are larger then most all terrain tread blocks. They are also tightly compacted, like an all terrain is supposed to be, but there aren't many breaks in the tread because of the large blocks. The distance for water to travel out of the sipes to the voids is longer and there aren't as many tread voids. This is why they don't do well in rain or snow. There is more surface area in the tread then other all terrains. The large tread blocks dont help with traction off-road because there is less breaks in the tread to grab and get traction. The edges of tread blocks is where a tire usually grabs, but the big blocks and tight compaction on the wrangler don't allow flood traction. What they do allow is a longer lasting tire because the big blocks dont wear down easily and the edges of the tread don't start to round off as fast....the wrangler also seems to have a concave, where the tread sits higher right in the center.
now look at the khumo all terrain. A middle tier tire, that has Vakue for its price. The tread is still tightly compacted, but the tread blocks are smaller allowing for more breaks in the tread for grip and more tralead voids to dispel water.
i honestly don't put any stock into these types of reviews on websites. 90% of the time people really have no idea what they are talking about. I went through reading some and my thoughts are correct. "Needed tires for highway and o ffroad use. These tires are awesome o ffroad in the dirt roads i go too and last long!" Well yeah, dirt roads can be conquered with any tire haha.
im talking about reviews from forum type posts like here. People are generally more in depth, and have greater experience with different tires and can tell little subtle differences because vehicles are their hobby and tires are an important part. Also look at magazine (online type) reviews. Not the ones that look at just one tire. Those are more prone to bias, even though I talked to some guys from magazines at this year's SEMA Show about this and they all deny that so I don't know haha...im talking about thise "shootout" comparisons. You have to dig for the comparisons that involve the wrangler because people realized they weren't an o ffroad tire, but spoiler alert, they didnt fair well in all of them. Most they were involved with that i saw were with similar budget type tires.
but the reviews I like are when talking to people when they come in and I ask them about their experience with the tires they have. It's similar to those online reviews,BUT I am able to ask more specific questions to get a more detailed and legitimate answer than what's posted online.
example: i can ask the type of offroading they do if they said they do that in my initial questions. "We go up to trout lakes, they do great!" Well trout lakes is an easy dirt road about 10 miles long. Cars get up there lol...but then I can ask,"had it ever rained before you went? Or have you tried the trail up to the southern lake recently?" That trail is a little tougher, some sand, a little bumpy, and some ruts. Well this guy said he tried once but didn't get more then a mile with starting to slide, he then proceeded to tell me that is expected with every all terrain. Except no, tons of people get up there easily haha. He also said he had trouble in the sandy areas of the trail to the southern lake......this conversation happened about 3 weeks ago. He had a 2000 ford ranger 4wd. Has other trucks with better tires, but he loves his little truck.... You get a better review of tires when you can ask and assess exactly what they do and how the tires did.....from all this, the wrangler radial s are in tier (not a good place to be) in my shops homebrew rating system
I was thinking the same thing. Anyone who doesn't think reviews and polls are manipulated needs to dig deeper. A good current example would be the reviews on Amazon for Hillary's book, and the fact that the Better Business Bureau maintains an A-1 accredited business rating for certain corporations even through the whole time they are being spanked by Congress.
11-27-2017, 11:23 PM
But seriously... part of the reason folks are attracted to the name Goodyear is because of their long history in our culture. They are part of America as an identity. Baseball... Hotdogs... and Goodyear. lol
