Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus
Introduced in 2018, Pirelli's newest all-terrain is built upon the company's Scorpion ATR. In addition to more aggressive sidewalls and improved aesthetics, the tire was rated for severe snow service and given the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake. Upon first inspection, we were impressed with the sipe density on the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus as it almost resembled that of dedicated snow or winter tires. Performance on highways with packed snow was impressive, and pulling from a stop, cornering, and braking were all comfortably predictable.
3PMSF: Yes
Studdable: No
Frosthand Adv-ice: If higher-speed performance and traction on wet grass are just as important as getting to the sled trails, this is your tire.
Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac
We've seen this tire everywhere from dedicated plow rigs to the OEM shoe of choice for half-ton trucks. We've also been impressed by how well it straddled the gap between mud- and all-terrain tires. Mud was a strength of the 18/32-inch-deep lugs, the shoulder blocks grabbed confidently onto rocks, and the siped tread pattern held its own well into the winter months.
3PMSF: Yes
Studdable: Yes
Frosthand Adv-ice: Winter service is a nonissue, but the sidewalls leave something to be desired.
Mickey Thompson Baja Pro XS
When we laid eyes on this wildly aggressive rubber from Mickey Thompson, it was difficult to dream of an off-pavement scenario where they wouldn't excel. After we thrashed our set of Baja Pro XS tires in mud, rocks, and gravel; we got ourselves into a winter storm. On snowy roadways, the 13.5-inch-wide patch of meaty tread blocks slapped against the slush and, despite the lack of abundant sipes, kept us generally pointed where we wanted to go. On the trails, the gaping voids and angry Sidebiters clawed through the snow, often down to the dirt and rocks beneath, even as the snow piled up toward our headlights.
3PMSF: No
Studdable: No
Frosthand Adv-ice: Mickey makes 'em tall and wide (35- to 58-inch sizes), so we recommend going big to churn through the deepest drifts.
Nexen Roadian MTX
Nexen's Roadian MTX (that's Mud-Terrain Xtreme) is two-faced. Each of its sidewalls features a different pattern (Machine and Beast). Flotation sizes boast three-ply sidewalls and are F load-rated for anyone towing and hauling. Ascending snowy highways at street pressure was no issue for the MTX, even when the slush piled deep. We aimed the tires into the frosty boulders where the sidewalls defended against harsh blows while the treads handily shoveled down through the snow, keeping us moving.
3PMSF: No
Studdable: No
Frosthand Adv-ice: This tire's minimal siping and widely spaced treads might not be the best combo for packed on-road snow, but its towing prowess and off-trail shoveling are worth your attention.
Dick Cepek Trail Country EXP
Positioned between the company's all-terrain Fun Country and the mud-terrain Extreme Country is the Trail Country EXP. Its silica-reinforced compound suggests improved performance on wet roads, the wider spacing between the lugs offers more digging capability in mud and snow, and wiggly sipes in the blocks allows for some flex as the tire rolls over the terrain. Snow performance is more consistent with mud-terrain tires in the deeper powder as well as on hard-packed and fresh-plowed snow surfaces.
3PMSF: No
Studdable: No
Frosthand Adv-ice: If like your snow fresh with more dirt under it than ice but you need the on-roadability of an A/T tire, look this way.
Kenda Klever R/T
This tire fits squarely between all- and mud-terrain tires with a tighter spacing of lugs, appreciable siping, and deep voids between tread blocks. After torture-testing the Kenda Klever R/T in wintry conditions we went on to punish them in rocks, mud, and gravel. Spoiler: no punctures, no complaints.
3PMSF: No
Studdable: Yes
Frosthand Adv-ice: Here's your triple-point between cost-effective, customizable snow-tolerance (studdable), and rugged-trail confidence.
Toyo Open Country A/T III
With a fresh redesign, we found the Open Country A/T III offered improvements over its predecessor. Snow performance and off-road capability were commendable on the sharp-looking all-terrain, and we held nothing back when it came to our assessment. We'll confidently say the tire earned its 3PMSF rating as it comported itself predictably in every winter situation from highways and trails piled with deep snow to slow-speed maneuvering on moderately packed slush.
3PMSF: Yes
Studdable: No
Frosthand Adv-ice: Just look past the non-aggressive sidewall treads, and you'll have a tire that's likely to impress from the rock gardens to snow squalls.
General Grabber X3
The red lettering on the sidewalls roped us in, and we proceeded to drag General's mud-terrain through ghastly rocks and snowdrifts alike. Before we got to the trails, we examined the X3s' in-town and off-camber handling on severely snowed-over streets. Despite the comparative lack of sipes, we didn't find ourselves sliding sideways any more than expected. When we turned toward the gnarly ruts littered with rocks and thoroughly coated in fluff, the open treads scooped down to the dirt while the aggressive sidewalls allowed us the confidence to throttle forward.
3PMSF: No
Studdable: No
Frosthand Adv-ice: Look this way if snow is the third most frequent condition you wheel in and you need an attention-grabbing sidewall.
Yokohama Geolandar X-AT
After a cursory glance, we were surprised
not to find a 3PMSF emblem on Yokohama's Geolandar X-AT. Regardless, the first place we ventured was headlong into a snowstorm. We dropped the pressure to around 15 psi under our '05 LJ Wrangler and were largely impressed with how far, even with open differentials front and back, we chugged through the fresh powder. Exiting the trails and traversing the slush-and-snow mix on the roadways was nothing short of uneventful.
3PMSF: No
Studdable: No
Frosthand Adv-ice: No complaints in the snow and remarkably quiet on the way to the trails.
General Grabber A/Tx
We found snow near the end of our 10,000-mile wild ride with the Grabber all-terrains, and we were floored. On-road handling in the snow was some of the most predictable we've experienced. Off-road traction in the white stuff was also commendable in both deep powder and slick, gooey mud tracks. Yes, the blocks are studdable, but we say winter performance was more than adequate without them!
3PMSF: Yes
Studdable: Yes
Frosthand Adv-ice: When all-terrain travel is just as important as wintertime confidence, give the Grabber A/Tx a look.
BFGoodrich T/A KM3
We made it a point to thoroughly abuse this tire in mud and rocks, and, as the T/A in its name implied, we found it worthy of "Terrain Attack." As we aimed the KM3 toward fresh snowfall, it quickly plowed its way to the dirt beneath the snow and generated traction when it could. We confidently spun its reinforced sidewalls against trailside logs, ruts, and rocks to find grip, but the tread pattern sometimes struggled to gather the snowpack needed to keep us pushing forward.
3PMSF: No
Studdable: No
Frosthand Adv-ice: If you consistently thrash the mud and rocks and they're seldom glazed in ice and snow, check out the KM3.
See which tire type works best in the cold stuff.
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