10,000km review of Wrangler Duratracs
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From: Calgary AB, Canada
10,000km review of Wrangler Duratracs
So 10,241km ago I mounted up a set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs size 265/75R16 on my 09 Dakota V8 4x4. Here is what I have discovered:
Initial Impressions:
Initially upon putting the tires on (6-ply) I found that the tires were a bit squirmy, they still are but definitely not as bad as they were fresh out of the box. Overall I found the tires had a nice aggressive look and a tread pattern that should clear mud decently well for an AT tire.
On Road Manners:
On the road they are a bit noisy, louder than the stock SR-A as well as my old BFG Ko's that I had on my Ford (interestingly enough, in the exact same size). This is not to say they are annoying but I definitely still notice them when the radio is off. I live in Calgary AB, Canada and the wild daily and seasonal temperature changes combined with extremely rapid city and infrastructure growth leaves us with roads that are barely navigable at times without a truck. The Duratracs are surprisingly plush over cracks and potholes considering the vehicle they are attached to and the size of the holes. However they do like to squirm and step sideways over orthogonal cracks, but they do not tram-line at all from what I can tell.
Cornering is not as precise as it was with either the BFGs or the OE SR-A's, there seems to be a lot of sidewall flex under lateral loading. While the wider overall cross section helps with overall grip it isn't as big an improvement as one would think, not that it matters on a truck but you have to remember I compete in Auto X and Solo 1 road racing and I am very critical of my tires. Braking performance is decent for such an open tread design and the tires lock up very progressively.
Off-Road Impressions:
I have only managed to get the tires off-road a couple of times before the cold set in, however I can say that they are much more capable than the BFGs. They clear mud surprisingly well for an AT (almost as good as my friend's Goodyear MT's) and the sidewall blocks provide decent levels of grip in ruts and ravines while also ensuring excellent rock/shale protection. On loose gravel hill climbs the tires bite quite well if not over-spun and allowed me to accomplish some trail sections in 2WD that required my Explorer to switch into 4WD even without weight in the back.
On gravel roads the tires offer excellent control, washboard at 100km/h is a comfortable experience relatively speaking. Pushing around bends, the tires gradually loose the considerable amount of traction they have resulting in easy four wheel drifts at speeds approaching 120km/h. However to get them to slide in lower speed tighter corners tends to cause a bit of a snap reaction. I don't have an explanation for this except I suspect that the road I tested it on may have been uniquely grabby.
Snow and Ice:
I snowshoe a lot, and by a lot I mean 2-3 times a week. The Smith-Dorian highway in Kananaskis has received about 5 feet of snow in places already so naturally I have been out playing in the snow. In whiteout conditions and 2 feet of fresh snow on top of hardpack these tires are excellent. They grab into the fresh and packed snow like a wolverine grabs onto the face of a grizzly bear. 2WD was able to get me through some pretty large snow drifts and 4WD literally made me feel invincible. However ice performance is a bit less than stellar. They hold decently well, certainly better than the SR-A's, however they fall short of the BFG Ko's and proper winter tires. Combined with chains these tires are really all you need in even the most intense winter conditions.
Towing/Hauling:
I have an ATV that weighs about 1000lbs with extra fuel, gear and tools. After a 4 hour highway trip my tire pyrometer recorded almost no increased carcass temperature than without the load. Temperatures were spread evenly across the tires (rear tires Outer, Inner, Middle were ~ 41*, 43*,43*). The sidewalls didn't seem to show any more flex than unloaded suggesting that increased pressure might be the ticket with these tires on the road. Overall, they performed as well as a truck tire should.
Tread Life:
Well, being that 10,000km is only about 6000 miles I haven't experienced considerable wear. Based on what I can calculate I will probably get close to 60,000km out of these tires before they wear to a point that I am uncomfortable with. This is about the same as my BFG's, albeit on a different truck so direct comparison is difficult. Will keep you posted.
Closing Comments:
Overall the tires have met or exceeded my expectations. I would like to see a bit better ice traction for a winter rated tire but it is not the end of the world. The road manners are decent enough for an off-road oriented tire, keeping in mind that I am spoiled by my Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec's and their endless grip and otherworldly feedback and on-center feel.
As a truck tire these will be my tire of choice for a good while unless some other tire comes out that offers the same truck-level performance with a bit better on road feel and ice traction.
Initial Impressions:
Initially upon putting the tires on (6-ply) I found that the tires were a bit squirmy, they still are but definitely not as bad as they were fresh out of the box. Overall I found the tires had a nice aggressive look and a tread pattern that should clear mud decently well for an AT tire.
On Road Manners:
On the road they are a bit noisy, louder than the stock SR-A as well as my old BFG Ko's that I had on my Ford (interestingly enough, in the exact same size). This is not to say they are annoying but I definitely still notice them when the radio is off. I live in Calgary AB, Canada and the wild daily and seasonal temperature changes combined with extremely rapid city and infrastructure growth leaves us with roads that are barely navigable at times without a truck. The Duratracs are surprisingly plush over cracks and potholes considering the vehicle they are attached to and the size of the holes. However they do like to squirm and step sideways over orthogonal cracks, but they do not tram-line at all from what I can tell.
Cornering is not as precise as it was with either the BFGs or the OE SR-A's, there seems to be a lot of sidewall flex under lateral loading. While the wider overall cross section helps with overall grip it isn't as big an improvement as one would think, not that it matters on a truck but you have to remember I compete in Auto X and Solo 1 road racing and I am very critical of my tires. Braking performance is decent for such an open tread design and the tires lock up very progressively.
Off-Road Impressions:
I have only managed to get the tires off-road a couple of times before the cold set in, however I can say that they are much more capable than the BFGs. They clear mud surprisingly well for an AT (almost as good as my friend's Goodyear MT's) and the sidewall blocks provide decent levels of grip in ruts and ravines while also ensuring excellent rock/shale protection. On loose gravel hill climbs the tires bite quite well if not over-spun and allowed me to accomplish some trail sections in 2WD that required my Explorer to switch into 4WD even without weight in the back.
On gravel roads the tires offer excellent control, washboard at 100km/h is a comfortable experience relatively speaking. Pushing around bends, the tires gradually loose the considerable amount of traction they have resulting in easy four wheel drifts at speeds approaching 120km/h. However to get them to slide in lower speed tighter corners tends to cause a bit of a snap reaction. I don't have an explanation for this except I suspect that the road I tested it on may have been uniquely grabby.
Snow and Ice:
I snowshoe a lot, and by a lot I mean 2-3 times a week. The Smith-Dorian highway in Kananaskis has received about 5 feet of snow in places already so naturally I have been out playing in the snow. In whiteout conditions and 2 feet of fresh snow on top of hardpack these tires are excellent. They grab into the fresh and packed snow like a wolverine grabs onto the face of a grizzly bear. 2WD was able to get me through some pretty large snow drifts and 4WD literally made me feel invincible. However ice performance is a bit less than stellar. They hold decently well, certainly better than the SR-A's, however they fall short of the BFG Ko's and proper winter tires. Combined with chains these tires are really all you need in even the most intense winter conditions.
Towing/Hauling:
I have an ATV that weighs about 1000lbs with extra fuel, gear and tools. After a 4 hour highway trip my tire pyrometer recorded almost no increased carcass temperature than without the load. Temperatures were spread evenly across the tires (rear tires Outer, Inner, Middle were ~ 41*, 43*,43*). The sidewalls didn't seem to show any more flex than unloaded suggesting that increased pressure might be the ticket with these tires on the road. Overall, they performed as well as a truck tire should.
Tread Life:
Well, being that 10,000km is only about 6000 miles I haven't experienced considerable wear. Based on what I can calculate I will probably get close to 60,000km out of these tires before they wear to a point that I am uncomfortable with. This is about the same as my BFG's, albeit on a different truck so direct comparison is difficult. Will keep you posted.
Closing Comments:
Overall the tires have met or exceeded my expectations. I would like to see a bit better ice traction for a winter rated tire but it is not the end of the world. The road manners are decent enough for an off-road oriented tire, keeping in mind that I am spoiled by my Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec's and their endless grip and otherworldly feedback and on-center feel.
As a truck tire these will be my tire of choice for a good while unless some other tire comes out that offers the same truck-level performance with a bit better on road feel and ice traction.
Last edited by Q-TIP; Nov 25, 2009 at 09:51 AM.
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Professional
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Calgary AB, Canada
It is the 6-ply like I stated so C. That is definitely part of the issue, however the sidewalls on the BFG with the exact same sidewall ratio were most certainly stiffer.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Palm Bay, FL
That was stellar info. I have the BFG KO and I'm not in anywhere in the conditions you live in being here in FL. We have this stuff called sugar sand and it will bog down some of the stoutest rides ever. The BFG KO for that is an amazing tire alone. Highway it is smooth as a baby’s *** but can be slightly noisy. Heavy blinding FL rain the BFGs hold amazing well. The only real down fall of the KO is my two plus MPG loss. Your review was down right a good read