Class All-terrain Tires
Here is a typical representative of the AT-class and at the same time, perhaps the most popular of the AT-tires in Russia - BF Goodrich AT, aka BFG AT. Pay attention not to its protector. On the one hand, it is quite deeply aggressive (when compared with highway tires), there is even a hint of lugs in the shoulder area, but at the same time, the distance between the picture elements is very small - a classic “universal” tire. These best all-terrain tires have earned mass recognition due to their relatively low price, good abrasion resistance, the large number of sizes available and their pretty appearance. Actually, very often it is acquired precisely because of the appearance: after the plain “pill”, the SUV shod in the BFG AT looks a bit mature, especially if you put the tires wider.
BF Goodrich AT has a ton of classmate rivals among both budget and brand tires. Yokohama, Good Year, Dunlop, Fulda, ProComp, Mickey Thompson, etc., etc. - they all have AT-tires in their lineup. We do not aim to compare them, but try to describe the most common features of such tires.
BF Goodrich AT has a ton of classmate rivals among both budget and brand tires. Yokohama, Good Year, Dunlop, Fulda, ProComp, Mickey Thompson, etc., etc. - they all have AT-tires in their lineup. We do not aim to compare them, but try to describe the most common features of such tires.
AT Tires on the Road
behavior of AT tires on paved roads can be described as good. Of course, such tires are not suitable for ultra-fast driving on asphalt, but an SUV and a pickup are not cars for such a ride at all. We can say with confidence that up to 140 km / h on these tires you feel more than confident (and faster to drive on our roads is extremely uncomfortable and expensive), if you know their features. And the features are that:
• the braking distance on AT tires is longer than on “highway” tires,
• AT tires are more rigid,
• AT tires are often more prone to aquaplaning due to the characteristic pattern;
• AT tires are noisier compared to highway tires due to their pattern
• AT tires have increased rolling resistance, which slightly increases fuel consumption.
In urban conditions, when you have to stand a lot in traffic jams, you will not even notice most of these features. And on the track should be only a little more attentive.
behavior of AT tires on paved roads can be described as good. Of course, such tires are not suitable for ultra-fast driving on asphalt, but an SUV and a pickup are not cars for such a ride at all. We can say with confidence that up to 140 km / h on these tires you feel more than confident (and faster to drive on our roads is extremely uncomfortable and expensive), if you know their features. And the features are that:
• the braking distance on AT tires is longer than on “highway” tires,
• AT tires are more rigid,
• AT tires are often more prone to aquaplaning due to the characteristic pattern;
• AT tires are noisier compared to highway tires due to their pattern
• AT tires have increased rolling resistance, which slightly increases fuel consumption.
In urban conditions, when you have to stand a lot in traffic jams, you will not even notice most of these features. And on the track should be only a little more attentive.
AT-tires off-road
On-road AT-tires openly pass. Off-road tires, this is not what the sellers of the Porsche Cayenne mean, but what the developers of the UAZ and Land Rover Defender mean.
And this is just a bad primer in the forest (but after two to three days of rain it can become impassable for a car on AT tires):
The main cause of the problems is a quick “washing out” (the tread becomes clogged with dirt) and poor ability to independently clean the tread. Self-cleaning problems in difficult conditions are typical for all wheels, having a tread deep enough to warm more dirt or snow inside, but the distance between the picture elements is too small for the clogged tread to be quickly cleaned when driving at low speed. A clogged tread turns the AT tire into a smooth cylinder that lacks traction to continue controlled movement.
On stony and dry loose soils, AT-tires perform quite well, because under such conditions, soil particles do not linger between the tread elements, but it is worth climbing into clay, snow or sticky dirt, as “universal” tires lose all their fighting qualities
On-road AT-tires openly pass. Off-road tires, this is not what the sellers of the Porsche Cayenne mean, but what the developers of the UAZ and Land Rover Defender mean.
And this is just a bad primer in the forest (but after two to three days of rain it can become impassable for a car on AT tires):
The main cause of the problems is a quick “washing out” (the tread becomes clogged with dirt) and poor ability to independently clean the tread. Self-cleaning problems in difficult conditions are typical for all wheels, having a tread deep enough to warm more dirt or snow inside, but the distance between the picture elements is too small for the clogged tread to be quickly cleaned when driving at low speed. A clogged tread turns the AT tire into a smooth cylinder that lacks traction to continue controlled movement.
On stony and dry loose soils, AT-tires perform quite well, because under such conditions, soil particles do not linger between the tread elements, but it is worth climbing into clay, snow or sticky dirt, as “universal” tires lose all their fighting qualities