Off-Road Tires Tested by ADAC Fall Short on Paved Roads
No tire, specifically designed for off-road use, can definitively persuade in the absolute sense.
Ready to hit the trails with your trusty off-road vehicle? Think again, according to ADAC's latest review of all-terrain tires (AT). These trendy tires, commonly found on SUVs, pickups, and campers, didn't impress the automotive club when tested on dry, wet, snow, and gravel surfaces.
The disappointing verdict: none of these AT tires scored a "good" rating for paved road safety. With most vehicles spending a significant amount of time on asphalt, this could pose a risk to road safety.
Here's a quick rundown of ADAC's findings:
- Not a good choice for paved surfaces.
- Results on dry and wet roads are disappointing.
- Models showed braking issues on wet roads.
On snowy tracks, only two AT tires approached the performance of a reference tire—a car all-season tire (rating 2.1) with a snowflake symbol. However, all off-road tires under review also bear the same snowflake symbol, allowing them to be used in winter road conditions. On gravel, some models even surpassed or matched the car tire.
Although no test tire received a "recommended" rating from ADAC, four earned a "satisfactory" rating. Three tires were at least "adequate," and one model was labelled "defective." The top-rated tire was the "Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015" with an overall score of 2.9, followed by the "Falken Wildpeak A/T3WA" (3.1), the "General Tire Grabber AT3" (3.2), and the "Matador MP72 Izzarda A/T2" (3.2).
If you typically stick to paved roads, ADAC suggests opting for high-quality all-season tires over all-terrain tires. For off-road enthusiasts with four-wheel drive, it's essential to choose your AT tires wisely. Among the four satisfactory-rated models, you'll find options with well-balanced strengths and weaknesses.
[1] Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol:Symbol for tires designed to meet severe snow service requirements, providing superior traction and control in snowy and icy conditions.[2] All-Terrain Tires: Designed for a variety of surfaces, including dirt roads and snow-covered highways, offering a balance of on-road comfort and off-road capability, but non-optimal performance in extreme winter conditions compared to dedicated winter tires.[3] ADAC Test Results: Evaluates tires based on their performance in various conditions, including snow. Further details regarding all-terrain tires with the snowflake symbol were not provided in the article.
- In contrast to paved roads, some off-road tires excelled on snowy tracks, but none of the tested models were recommended for paved road safety due to deficiencies observed.
- Despite the disappointing performance on paved roads, the Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015, Falken Wildpeak A/T3WA, General Tire Grabber AT3, and Matador MP72 Izzarda A/T2 all received satisfactory ratings from ADAC, suggesting careful consideration is needed when choosing all-terrain tires.
- Bearing in mind that most vehicles spend a significant lifespan on asphalt, it's crucial to opt for high-quality all-season tires if you primarily stick to paved roads, rather than off-road tires.
- Technology, finance, and transportation industries have a vested interest in the performance and safety of automotive tires, as tire selection can significantly impact the lifespan and overall safety of a vehicle during transportation.
- If you're an off-road enthusiast with a four-wheel drive vehicle, it's essential to buy all-terrain tires carefully, as some models showed promising performance on gravel surfaces but fell short on paved roads.
