NEW: Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

265/70R16 XL. Surprisingly good ride. Just put them on yesterday mid weekend road trip so I’ll update any mileage change, but I don’t expect it to drop much if at all. Update: still at 21mpg highway

 

This video infers that the carcass is still 2 ply and the 3rd ply is more of a curtain ply only in the sidewall (not a full wrap around ply that goes from bead to bead under the tread) just to protect the sidewall, there is now Kevlar in the tread area too. Maybe that's why it's smoother riding than other "true" 3 ply tires?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svC9A0n2jMA

 

Purposely ambiguous is not good marketing imho. Mine are XL so I assumed going in a 2ply sidewall. They’re more than I need for the off-road parks here in the mitten.

 

Recently installed new Duratrac RT's in 265/70r17 XL. Previously ran new Nitto Ridge Grapplers 265/70r17 SL for approx 1500 miles. Here's my initial thoughts after the recent change...

Despite the higher load rating of the Goodyears, they are a nicer ride than the Nittos on my truck. Feels like a softer rubber compound in the RTs. Also, despite supposedly being a heavier tire, the RTs seem to have less rolling resistance, perhaps because of what appears to be slightly less tread width. The Nittos look really good, but so do the Goodyears. The RTs have a much more aggressive appearance in person than what I noticed in pics. The sidewall tread on the RT is twice as thick as I was expecting. The Nittos had a slightly beefier look overall. Road noise seemed non-existent on both at this stage.

Can't speak regarding offroad capabilities nor longevity, but the Goodyear RTs seem more refined on the road, while the Nittos kinda felt barbaric and old-school.

 

Initial impressions? What tire did you last have and how do the Duratracs compare? Any issues with balancing or vibration at highway speed?

 

They’re maybe as quiet and the ride doesn’t seem any stiffer than the OEM Wrangler Territory ATs they replaced…albeit the Duratracs are only XL load. The tech said it took only 3oz to balance and I have zero vibrations at any speed including highway where I may or may not have exceeded 75mph. They gave them to me at 37psi front, 35psi rear. I chalked them and aired down 2psi due to the shoulder only imprinted about 1/4 of the block. Cornering is good, but the OEMs I think felt a bit better. However the OEM rear would break loose if I gave it the beans from a dead stop and these Duratracs will not. Great in heavy rain and no hydroplane at 65mph. I haven’t been off roading yet other than well maintained dirt roads. I don’t plan on really pushing the limits in that regard for the near future unless required so 3ply LT not necessary for me yet. The side lugs are more aggressive in person and I like the look…it’s different than the typical. They pick up and fling rocks more than the OEM, but it wasn’t an alarming amount imho.

 

Good looking truck I like your color scheme.

 

I decided to get new tires today, w/o doing any research, called up to order my go to Duratrac's, and the guy said mine had been discontinued and replaced w/ a new offering. Woah hold up. I had little time so I hopped online and took a look and was told the new price. Nope. I liked them b/c they weren't a mud tire but were more aggressive than the KO2's and a good in between from an AT and a full on MT. I can tell you after 2 sets they were amazing in snow, water and mud. The new one's at first glance look like any ol' AT and a bit less aggressive (read mud capable).

So the wife has KO2's on her 4R and they have done pretty well and we've done snow and rain, I avoid mud but what little I've done they were ok and seem to be lasting very well so far. So I said KO2's, well now they are KO3's. Sheesh, so I made a call and did the KO3's solely on price. We'll see. I offroad my Taco more than the 4R and prefer a tire that will get me out of the occasional mud mishap, because getting stuck sucks, and getting stuck in mud BLOWS. Those older duratrac's did that a handful of times and you could feel them bite and pull me along, giving me confidence. They never packed full of mud.

I dunno about these being any different than the old one, but in photos seemed less aggressive and to be equal/similar to the KO2's and the KO3's were 50 less per tire and seemed similar enough to the KO2... and I lucked into an $80 rebate. So GoodYear lost me this go around. Solely on the appearance of being less aggressive than the prior version. (I did only look online at the tread and made a quick call but I'm sure the hair splitters will chime in and give me more context.) I'll pay less for what I see is an equal option in the KO2. I'd have paid more for the older style I had experience with. It was a great tire.

Disclaimer: I care zero about weight and gas mileage and always choose a load E for some psychological comfort. I run whatever pressure Toyota stuck on my door sticker 32? B/C I think I get 14 mpg regardless, that may be high. Someone once said the 3.4 has all the power of a 4 banger with the milage of a V8.

 

I wheeled the hell out of 2 sets and they did amazing. Sharp rocks in the rockies, Moab, AZ Desert. Snow. A bit of mud. Not one issue. Just my experience, and I'd air them down t0 12 PSI for miiiiles. They do achieve the aggressive look if that's your thing (I liked a bit more mud capability b/c I wheel w/ kids) but they were downright awesome for me. Didn't know they had a rep for weak sidewalls. I always got load range E. Was it the C or other ratings that had issues?

 

How are you liking these still? I am considering these in this size when its time to replace the current ones.

 

Just wow!! 21 mpg?? Wondering if your driving style and max speed produces this? I'm at 16 and I try to keep my RPM's at 2k or less when i excellerate. Highway I go usually 70 mph or so...

 

Just installed 285/75 r16

 

Looks like the ideal replacement for my factory Goodyears. Maybe they're also made in Canada.