Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar Review

Best mud tire

 Pros

• Aggressive off-road traction
• Smooth street performance
• Puncture-resistant sidewalls

 Cons

• Lower speed rating
• No treadwear warranty

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Bottom line

Experts say Goodyear's design gives the Wrangler MT/R exceptional off-roading abilities without losing too much street performance. "If you want a mud tire that shines both on- and off-road, the MT/R with Kevlar is hard to beat," says Four Wheeler Network. At $220 for the LT245/70R17, this tire is the most expensive tire in our report and is best for users wanting serious traction on mud and rock along with a relatively smooth ride on the highway.

Performance

Meaty off-road tread. The Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar features ultimate off-road grip, according to reviews. "In the mud, the tread cleans well, and when aired down, the three-ply sidewall is flexible enough to envelope rocks the size of tennis balls," says Four Wheeler Network. They say the Goodyear excels on rock and mud -- with very good traction on pavement, sand and snow -- but is only average on ice. Editors of TireRack.com say these "felt at home on the off-road course, showing they could corner on dirt, steer out of ruts in the mud, ascend a moderate blue-sky climb and competently track across a bed of large rocks."

Comfort

Rougher ride than all-terrain tires. Unlike some knobby mud tires, experts say the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar is smooth enough for daily drivers. "The on-road manners are pleasant and relatively quiet, with none of the vibration or harshness we expect from tires with high void ratios," says Four Wheeler Network. In a separate road test, Robin Stover with Four Wheeler Network says, "The MT/R hooked up in every area of our test loop at Hollister Hills, yet returned one of the smoothest ride qualities of the group." Not all owners agree: On a TireRack.com survey, the Goodyear has the lowest ride comfort and tread noise scores out of the best maximum-traction tires.

Durability

Solid construction. Reviewers say the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar is a durable tire, capable of crawling through tough off-road courses without fail. "Goodyear included Kevlar fibers (in) the MT/R's sidewalls to add puncture resistance," says Four Wheeler Network. "An independent test showed that the Kevlar-reinforced version of the MT/R was 35 percent stronger than the previous version without Kevlar." This durability doesn't extend to treadwear, say owners. Many report getting 40,000 to 60,000 miles out of a set of Wrangler MT/Rs. Unlike General and Falken, Goodyear doesn't include a treadwear warranty for these mud tires: Their six-year warranty protects only against defects in the workmanship or materials.