Chunky Tires in ADAC Test: None Ace the Pavement
No tire brand can guarantees off-road domination in all conditions.
Ready to conquer rough terrains and smooth roads? All-terrain tires are the go-to choice for vehicles like campers, SUVs, and pickup trucks, right? Well, the ADAC (German Automobile Club) thought so too. They put eight of these tires through their paces to find out just how they fare. The verdict? Not so great!
On dry and wet surfaces, these all-terrain tires flunked the test, earning a disappointing "not a good choice" on paved roads. This might come as a surprise since most of these tires spend most of their time on paved surfaces, posing a risk to road safety.
The Verdict: None Are Champions, but a Few Score Satisfactory
None of the tested tires win the ADAC's approval, but they do award a "satisfactory" rating to four models: Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015, Falken Wildpeak A/T3WA, General Tire Grabber AT3, and Matador MP72 Izzarda A/T2. The Yokohama stands out as the clear winner with an overall rating of 2.9.
But for those who drive off-paved roads occasionally, high-quality all-season tires are the way to go, according to the ADAC. All-terrain tires might have a place for off-road enthusiasts with four-wheel drive, but it's essential to choose carefully. You can find models with a balance of strengths and weaknesses in the four tires with a "satisfactory" overall rating.
Why All-Terrain Tires Struggle on Pavement
- Tread Design: The chunky tread patterns of all-terrain tires are designed for superior off-road traction but can create more noise and less contact with the pavement, reducing grip and increasing stopping distances on dry and wet asphalt.
- Braking and Handling: All-season tires offer better handling and shorter braking distances on dry asphalt due to their optimized rubber compounds and tread designs. All-terrain tires fall behind because their compound's harder intentionality to prolong durability compromises dry grip.
- Wet Performance: All-season tires excel on wet roads thanks to their water-evacuating compounds and tread designs. All-terrain tires, with their blocky treads, can trap water or channel it sluggishly, resulting in longer braking distances and less stable handling in wet conditions.
The Lowdown
ADAC recommends all-terrain tires primarily for their off-road prowess, but they often lag behind when it comes to paved road performance. If you're looking for tires optimized for paved roads, consider all-season tires to ensure a balanced grip for dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions.
- The manufacture of all-terrain tires may be from materials of any heading, except that of the product, but they struggle on paved roads, according to the ADAC test.
- In the ADAC test, not a single all-terrain tire was a champion on paved roads, but four models received a satisfactory rating: Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015, Falken Wildpeak A/T3WA, General Tire Grabber AT3, and Matador MP72 Izzarda A/T2.
- For those who occasionally drive off-paved roads, high-quality all-season tires are recommended over all-terrain tires by the ADAC, due to their superior performance on paved roads.
- The chunky tread patterns of all-terrain tires are designed for off-road traction, but they create more noise, reduce grip, and increase stopping distances on dry and wet asphalt.
- All-season tires offer better handling and shorter braking distances on dry asphalt due to their optimized rubber compounds and tread designs, whereas all-terrain tires fall behind because their compound's harder intentionality to prolong durability compromises dry grip.
- In wet conditions, all-season tires excel due to their water-evacuating compounds and tread designs, while all-terrain tires, with their blocky treads, can trap water or channel it sluggishly, resulting in longer braking distances and less stable handling.
- If you're looking for tires optimized for paved roads, consider all-season tires to ensure a balanced grip for dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions, as the ADAC recommends them over all-terrain tires for paved road performance.
