Lets talk AT tires on Hybrids

[SeanBonham]

Yes I know they will hurt MPGs, I know most of us drive 99% on pavement, but I like AT tires. I'm talking very mild AT tires in stock or close to stock size. From my tirerack.com research looks like plenty available in stock size. All around 30lbs, so 6lbs heavier per corner. My thought would be maybe to do a lighter set of wheels with AT tires and try to land somewhere near stock specs. I know rolling resistance... but I bet you could get very close to the all season MPGs with the right combo.

Seems like a few people have done this experiment, curious as to what their MPGs are looking like and if they have any regrets.

Thoughts?

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[Mag Maverick]

I understand what you are asking about But for me it's all about safety. I love the A/T Falcons I have two sets on vehicles now Chevy Silverado Z71 and Jeep Cherokee and a third set in my garage for my Maverick when I get it. When you're sliding around in the Smokies in + 8 in of snow I'm glad I got add extra weight and extra traction just my opinion. Snowing here now everyone be safe.

 

[Hoagus]

If you bought a hybrid to save money, why buy new tires before you need them?

 

[8211badger]

Yes I know they will hurt MPGs, I know most of us drive 99% on pavement, but I like AT tires. I'm talking very mild AT tires in stock or close to stock size. From my tirerack.com research looks like plenty available in stock size. All around 30lbs, so 6lbs heavier per corner. My thought would be maybe to do a lighter set of wheels with AT tires and try to land somewhere near stock specs. I know rolling resistance... but I bet you could get very close to the all season MPGs with the right combo.

Seems like a few people have done this experiment, curious as to what their MPGs are looking like and if they have any regrets.

Thoughts?

The Falken A/T Trails are hard to beat for your needs. Not a full A/T tire but for the hybrid should be great. I need more snow/ice road performance so planning on CrossClimate2's for next winter. But if I needed some offroad capability in the summer I'd go with the trails

 

[Old Hickory Trojan]

Yes I know they will hurt MPGs, I know most of us drive 99% on pavement, but I like AT tires. I'm talking very mild AT tires in stock or close to stock size. From my tirerack.com research looks like plenty available in stock size. All around 30lbs, so 6lbs heavier per corner. My thought would be maybe to do a lighter set of wheels with AT tires and try to land somewhere near stock specs. I know rolling resistance... but I bet you could get very close to the all season MPGs with the right combo.

Seems like a few people have done this experiment, curious as to what their MPGs are looking like and if they have any regrets.

Thoughts?

I just bought Nokian Outpost APT's which are supposed to be low rolling resistance 60k mile tires which have AT capability , Aramid walls for puncture resistance, certified 3 Peak for $119 each as it is a new tire just being introduced.

 

[SeanBonham]

I just bought Nokian Outpost APT's which are supposed to be low rolling resistance 60k mile tires which have AT capability , Aramid walls for puncture resistance, certified 3 Peak for $119 each as it is a new tire just being introduced.

I have to check these out. Seems like a good option.

 

[SeanBonham]

If you bought a hybrid to save money, why buy new tires before you need them?

Discount tire will buy the new tires right off you. I can’t leave a vehicle alone, always tinkering. Just a thing I’m thinking about doing.

 

[SeanBonham]

The Falken A/T Trails are hard to beat for your needs. Not a full A/T tire but for the hybrid should be great. I need more snow/ice road performance so planning on CrossClimate2's for next winter. But if I needed some offroad capability in the summer I'd go with the trails

I had wildpeak AT3s on my Tacoma. They were great. No doubt these are as well.

 

[fbov]

Yes I know they will hurt MPGs... but I like AT tires.... I know rolling resistance... but I bet you could get very close to the all season MPGs....

Not recommending Generals, per se, but rather offer this as a look at performance tradeoffs moving from all-season to mild AT all the way to dedicated mud tires. Rolling resistance at the bottom.
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article...yre-for-your-SUV-or-Pickup-truck-HT-AT-MT.htm

Lots of folks like the Falken Wildpeaks, so here's a link to the Tire Rack review of 2021, with snow results. (Best AT in dry/wet, worst in snow)
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=281

I was curious what made the Wildpeak an "AT" tire. Carcass construction is "two-ply, polyester casing... Twin, high-strength steel belts,,, reinforced by a polyamide cap ply" so 5-ply tread, 2-ply sidewall.

So I looked at some other tires, and found one whose "Internal construction... consists of a two-ply polyester casing supporting two steel belts. A polyamide reinforcement is added..." Sounds like 5-ply tread, 2-ply sidewall, doesn't it. The kicker is that Tire Rack reviewed it on the same car, same month as the Wildpeaks, and while all were subjectively better than the ATs, one tire was good in dry, wet and snow.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=279

Note that both the Falken and Michelin CrossClimate 2 use high-silica tread compounds that retain grip at low temperatures. I'd love to see a comparison of these two in an all-terrain setting, as the subjective scores point to the AT group as the less capable of the two in paved and winter testing.

And I just put a set of CrossClimate 2 on my Escape Hybrid, and I do see a mileage reduction, but... I put them on in November, when cold weather is tanking mileage regardless the tire. I have no expectation they will match the rolling resistance of the OEM Ecopias, but there a lot of fun so far.

Love to see the AT comparison, though. Maybe rocks would tell a different story!

 

[Rob Daman]

I have those on my hybrid too. I don't see getting 600+ miles per tank but it's not bad


I did a driving video w those tires and they're not too loud either

The Falken A/T Trails are hard to beat for your needs. Not a full A/T tire but for the hybrid should be great. I need more snow/ice road performance so planning on CrossClimate2's for next winter. But if I needed some offroad capability in the summer I'd go with the trails

 

[aho13x]

I have those on my hybrid too. I don't see getting 600+ miles per tank but it's not bad


I did a driving video w those tires and they're not too loud either

What MPGs are you seeing with those tires?

I put on 245/65/17 BFGs on my hybrid which is probably one of the heaviest tires you can get. In LA I am getting around 37.5mpg on a good period of light city/traffic driving. I'll probably go with Falkens on my next tire change. I love the look of the aggressive tires but definitely get a little sad about the MPG loss.

Also, I just watched your video today on how to install reverse lights from Lasfit! Very helpful.

 

[SeanBonham]

I'm looking at stock size ATs. They all come out around 30lbs. I think Wildpeak Trails or Toyo ATs are what I will go with. Stock Hybrid wheel and tire package is 49lbs. So if you had slightly light wheels say 20lbs, and 30lbs AT tires, could be close to stock rotating mass. Hopefully maintain good MPGs that way. I won't have my truck until early June (fingers crossed) so I have time to pick my poison.

 

[SeanBonham]

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...022&autoModel=Maverick+Hybrid&autoModClar=XLT

These seems like a good compromise on the Hybrid. 25lbs mild AT tire.

 

[Darnon]

Only 10/32nds tread which is kind of mediocre for an AT. I'd prefer to see 12/32nds+

I'd sooner go with the Nokian Outpost APT 225/65R17 where that extra 1.5lbs is buying you 30% more tread.

 

[QuesoEnFuego]

Similar question: any recommendations for a on-road focused all season snow rated tire? I don't need off road capability but I do do a fair amount of snow driving

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