Dunlop AT20

I swore off Dunflops in the early 90s when they were standard issue on 300ZXs (Z32's) as they have lousy everything characteristics in their 'performance' line.

My '13 base has them. They are OK for how I use the truck right now, and I'm too cheap to just toss them. Low annual mileage, mostly city, occasional highway, sissified driving. My loads (bikes, kayaks, etc) don't bother them. So I've decided to run them till they need replacement or start misbehaving (more) on wet roads.

Just a couple points to consider............

There really is no such thing as an all season tire. Well, maybe for all Florida seasons, but certainly not for northern/snow climes. There are 3 season tires that purport to be all season, and there are proper winter tires. And of course in the performance realm there are summer tires.

If I lived in snow/ice country, I'd have 2, maybe 3 sets of wheels tires. Winter, highway, off road. Changing them up for how the vehicle will be used for the upcoming time period is much easier than worrying about if what's on the ground will be adequate.

I regularly ran/swapped wheels/tires on my solo II car. One set was event oriented (but great fun on dry streets) and the other set was street/hwy oriented.

Last point, related to high mileage warranties and all that. The compound of course is what determines the wear. More wear = harder rubber = less total grip. Trucks don't need soft compound performance tires, but they don't need bricks either unless interstate rolling is all you do. Additionally, the compound and grip changes (worsens) with age/sunlight/heat cycling. Max compound based grip of any tire is pretty much gone in the 2-3 year range. IF you care about max grip (like sports car guys do) picking a tire that will be mileage worn out in that 2-3 year range makes perfect sense.

 

Not the same set. I'm on my 3rd set of Dunlops.. 65k on the 1st set, 65k on the 2nd set, I'm at 10k on the 3rd (current) set.
(as mentioned in post #27)

 

Ok that makes a ton more sense. The post I replied to made it sound like you put 140k on a set of AT20's because you didn't say otherwise.

 

I second that !!

 

I've been using the AT 20's for over 8 years now. Never had so much as a rim leak. I like them. To each his own.

 

Wow! And they have 19 million miles reported from users who rated them. My tires were number 1! And 17 million miles reported.

 

I don't really care about the reviews. I can only attest to my experience with the Dunlops.
I'm happy with them.
They work for me.

 

That's what matters most.

 

I have 60k on my original set, they have been fine for me too, even with the record snowfall we had up here in MA last year. They have seen their fair share of lake effect snow in NY too.

I will probably upgrade to Mich LTX MS2's in the spring but it's not because I am disappointed with the at20's.

 

I agree with jj.
I get no tire squeel.
I have 3.5 years and 60k with no rot.
I get plenty of traction.

jj lives in the snowiest part of our state too.

 

And that is fine. As far as recommending tires for someone else, a variety of sources for information is worthwhile. Tire rack does a survey too and these people's opinion are just as valuable.

 

LOL, ratings on tire rack:

$255+ Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 Tires

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Grandtrek+AT20#RatingsReviews vs. a "very good" tire

$325+ Michelin LTX M/S2 Tires

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=LTX+M/S2 and a "very good" A/T

$326+ BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 Tires

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=All-Terrain+T/A+KO2

700 people on tire rack don't lie about the AT20. If you don't have any issues, you must drive slower than a grandma.

 

I live in one of the most snowiest regions in the US. I'll say it again. I don't care what the '700 people' say.
I can buy any tire out there. I like the OEM Dunlops.

I'll take the high road on the grandma comment! Lol!

 

Sure, the reviews have merit. As do posts here.

 

"Most snowiest"
Worcester, Ma .......really ?

 

Tied for #2 last year with Syracuse NY.

Lowell MA was the snowiest city. (Pop 100,000+)

http://goldensnowglobe.com/tag/worcester/

 

Should it have read, "mostest snowiestest"?

To each their own but I wouldn't drive in the mostest snowiest place during winter with those Dunflops unless I was the only one who could drive someone to a hospital.

That being said driving on fresh powder is not the same as driving on a frozen piece of asphalt.

 

I didn't sat 'most snowiest', I said 'ONE of the most snowiest'...

I know all about powder vs frozen asphalt. I have many years of New England winter driving experience.

 

http://www.currentresults.com/Weath...nowfall-totals-snow-accumulation-averages.php

Don't kid a kidder my good neighbor and friend. It only applies to cities > 100000. Your average snowfall is 64 inches. My son lives next door to Lowell and we are down there all the time. This was one winter that was severe but with average highs are above freezing and the roads are all clear by noon. The roads do not freeze and there is little to no frost. Everyone drives around on all season tires. If you wait till noon, you can drive on bald tires. Several hundred miles north where we are, it's totally different, but still not quite like Canada and upstate NY. The snow stays where we are, in Syracuse and Canada forever it seems. AT20s would be deadly in our area till the roads are clear.....some time in June .

 

2014/2015... 119.7"
2013/2014... 85.2"
2012/2013... 108.9"
2011/2012... 39.7"
2010/2011... 92.6"

Average of 89.2" over the last 5 years.

I said pop 100,000 +.
We get ENOUGH where I can judge my tire performance in the snow.
Roads don't freeze? Yes they do my friend.
I driven in enough blizzard conditions with the Dunlops to say I've never had an issue.

We do have excellent snow removal crews in Massachusetts, so I will say the the roads are cleared up within a few hours after a storm ends.

I'm just saying the Dunlops are not as bad as people are making them out to be.