The BEST All Terrain Tyre for 2025

In this test I've taken five of the most popular aggressive all terrain tyres for SUVs and trucks, and tested them offroad, in the dry, wet, and snow, and spent time assessing noise and comfort levels to help you pick the best all terrain tyre for your vehicle.

Test Publication:
Tyre Reviews
Test Size: 35x12.5R17
Tyres Tested: 5 tyres
Test Categories:
6 categories (16 tests)
Similar Tests

Test Category Best Performer Worst Performer Difference
Dry (4 tests)
Dry Braking Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 41.17 M BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2: 44.41 M3.2 M (7.3%)
Dry Handling Kumho Road Venture AT52: 47.72 s BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2: 48.48 s0.8 s (1.6%)
Subj. Dry Handling Kumho Road Venture AT52: 10 Points Nitto Recon Grappler AT: 9.5 Points0.5 Points (5.3%)
Subj. Road Route Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 10 Points Nitto Recon Grappler AT: 9 Points1.0 Points (11.1%)
Wet (4 tests)
Wet Braking Kumho Road Venture AT52: 65.95 M Toyo Open Country AT III: 73.47 M7.5 M (10.2%)
Wet Handling Kumho Road Venture AT52: 55.69 s Nitto Recon Grappler AT: 57.18 s1.5 s (2.6%)
Subj. Wet Handling Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 10 Points Toyo Open Country AT III: 9.25 Points0.8 Points (8.1%)
Straight Aqua Nitto Recon Grappler AT: 115.2 Km/H Kumho Road Venture AT52: 100.2 Km/H15.0 Km/H (15.0%)
Snow (3 tests)
Snow Braking BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2: 20.2 M Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 26.12 M5.9 M (22.7%)
Snow Handling Toyo Open Country AT III: 91.68 s Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 101.27 s9.6 s (9.5%)
Subj. Snow Handling Toyo Open Country AT III: 10 Points Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 8 Points2.0 Points (25.0%)
Off road (2 tests)
Dirt Handling BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2: 71.73 s Toyo Open Country AT III: 73.11 s1.4 s (1.9%)
Subj. Dirt Handling Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 10 Points Nitto Recon Grappler AT: 8.75 Points1.3 Points (14.3%)
Comfort (2 tests)
Subj. Comfort Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 10 Points Kumho Road Venture AT52: 8.5 Points1.5 Points (17.6%)
Subj. Noise Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 10 Points Nitto Recon Grappler AT: 8.5 Points1.5 Points (17.6%)
Value (1 tests)
Value Falken Wildpeak AT4W: 0.57 Price/1000 Toyo Open Country AT III: 0.82 Price/10000.3 Price/1000 (30.5%)

Off road

The test group included the BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2 (not the new KO3 as it wasn't available in this size), the new Falken Wildpeak AT4W, Kumho Roadventure AT52, Nitto Recon Grappler AT and Toyo Open Country AT. Testing took place on a rally cross course with packed dirt and muddy puddles, mostly in 3rd gear and RWD mode.

off-road

The Toyo and Nitto posted similar times - the Nitto had slightly more front-end bite, though this might have been down to surface conditions, so they scored equally. The Kumho finished just a second ahead, with good front grip but a firm feel even at 25 psi. This firmness made the rear less stable and hurt confidence when pushing hard, particularly during recovery. The Kumho also struggled more in the muddy sections.

The Falken and BFG were fastest in the dirt. The BFG set the quickest time with strong grip, especially during traction and braking, but its firm carcass made it hard work through bumps and undulations. The Falken might not have matched the BFG's front-end bite, but it was the most drivable of the group. It gave the most confidence to push hard and felt the most stable, making it the best overall package despite being slightly slower.

Dry

More important for these tyres is how they feel on the road, so we focused on steering predictability, stability, noise and comfort. Testing included two different layouts and various sized impacts for comfort assessment.

dry

The Toyo and Nitto again finished close on steering response and comfort, both feeling good to drive. The Toyo was much quieter - the Nitto produced notable noise at most speeds, both straight and turning. The Toyo stayed nearly silent at 50 mph but got noisier during high-speed runs.

The Kumho felt like a sports tyre, with sharp steering that seemed out of place on a truck tyre. It stayed quiet and offered good, if not great, comfort levels.

The BFGoodrich had the softest steering of the group and stayed quiet until higher speeds. Comfort was very good overall, with just some firmness over bigger bumps.

The Falken again did everything well. Pattern noise was minimal during fast runs, and while there was some tread noise in turns, it was among the best. Comfort levels were also good.

In dry braking, the Falken led, followed by the Kumho. The Toyo and Nitto posted similar times, while the BFGoodrich had the longest stopping distance.

Wet

The tyres split into two groups in wet testing. The Nitto, Toyo and BFGoodrich posted similar times, all showing lots of understeer with reduced corner-exit traction. While you can counter the understeer in a Raptor with throttle, that wasn't a realistic approach for the test track.

wet

The Falken and Kumho formed the second group. The Kumho had the best outright grip in the wet, but like in the dirt, didn't offer the perfect balance for the Raptor. The Falken was slightly slower but had the best overall balance, with good feedback and confidence.

For wet braking, the Kumho led, with the BFGoodrich close behind, followed by the Falken. The Nitto beat the Toyo, which finished 11% behind the best - a noticeable gap in a heavy Raptor.

The Nitto won the aquaplaning test, with strong performances from the BFGoodrich and Falken.

Snow

Snow testing proved difficult. Our usual test facility normally has deep snow, but we found just inches on arrival. After waiting several days, we got a small snowfall that quickly melted and refroze, leaving terrible test conditions. The Nitto wasn't included as it lacks a severe snow rating, and the limited running makes it hard to factor snow into the final results.

The BFGoodrich led snow braking, with the Toyo close behind, and the Kumho and Falken slightly further back. In handling, the Toyo edged the BFGoodrich, while the Kumho and Falken posted similar times. Falken told us they reduced snow performance slightly in the LT sizes of the AT4W to improve performance in other areas.

Value

While purchase price matters, without wear testing it's not the whole story. Using the tread wear warranties, we calculated cost per 1000 miles. Despite the Kumho and Nitto having lower initial prices, the Falken's better warranty made it the most cost-effective over its lifespan.

Results

1st: Falken Wildpeak AT4W

Falken Wildpeak AT4W
  • 35x12.5R17 125E
  • Weight: 35.8kgs
  • Tread: 14.6mm
  • 3PMSF: yes
  • Price: 342.00
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st41.17 M100%
Dry Handling3rd47.92 s47.72 s+0.2 s99.58%
Subj. Dry Handling2nd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Subj. Road Route1st10 Points
Wet Braking3rd69.4 M65.95 M+3.45 M95.03%
Wet Handling2nd56.39 s55.69 s+0.7 s98.76%
Subj. Wet Handling1st10 Points100%
Straight Aqua3rd108.9 Km/H115.2 Km/H-6.3 Km/H94.53%
Snow Braking4th26.12 M20.2 M+5.92 M77.34%
Snow Handling4th101.27 s91.68 s+9.59 s90.53%
Subj. Snow Handling4th8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Dirt Handling2nd71.8 s71.73 s+0.07 s99.9%
Subj. Dirt Handling1st10 Points100%
Subj. Comfort1st10 Points100%
Subj. Noise1st10 Points100%
Value1st0.57 Price/1000100%
The Falken AT4W delivered the best overall driving experience with excellent on-road comfort, minimal noise, and predictable handling. It had the shortest dry braking distance and offered the most compliant, confidence-inspiring handling both off-road and in wet conditions.
Snow performance was the AT4W's weak point, finishing last in both snow braking and handling tests. While it had good off-road grip, it couldn't quite match the BFGoodrich's absolute traction levels.
As the newest tyre in the test, the AT4W showcased modern all-terrain tyre development with class-leading refinement and strong all-round performance. Combined with the best value rating thanks to its 60,000-mile warranty, it earned the overall test win despite its snow performance shortcomings.
.

Read Reviews

2nd: BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2

BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2
  • 35x12.5R17 121E
  • Weight: 29.9kgs
  • Tread: 11.7mm
  • 3PMSF: yes
  • Price: 376.99
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th44.41 M41.17 M+3.24 M92.7%
Dry Handling5th48.48 s47.72 s+0.76 s98.43%
Subj. Dry Handling2nd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Subj. Road Route2nd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points
Wet Braking2nd68.28 M65.95 M+2.33 M96.59%
Wet Handling4th57.17 s55.69 s+1.48 s97.41%
Subj. Wet Handling3rd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Straight Aqua2nd111.2 Km/H115.2 Km/H-4 Km/H96.53%
Snow Braking1st20.2 M100%
Snow Handling2nd92.02 s91.68 s+0.34 s99.63%
Subj. Snow Handling2nd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Dirt Handling1st71.73 s100%
Subj. Dirt Handling2nd9.75 Points10 Points-0.25 Points97.5%
Subj. Comfort2nd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Subj. Noise2nd9.75 Points10 Points-0.25 Points97.5%
Value4th0.75 Price/10000.57 Price/1000+0.18 Price/100076%
The BFGoodrich KO2 showed excellent grip off-road, setting the fastest dirt handling time. It performed particularly well in snow conditions, leading the snow braking test and finishing second in snow handling. The tyre maintained good noise levels until higher speeds and offered strong aquaplaning resistance.
The KO2's firm carcass made it harder to control through bumps and undulations, both off-road and on-road. It had the longest dry braking distance of the group and showed significant understeer in wet handling.
Despite being one of the older designs in the test, the KO2 remains competitive, particularly excelling in off-road and snow performance. While its on-road manners weren't class-leading, it delivered a well-rounded package that balanced off-road capability with acceptable road behavior.
.

Read Reviews

3rd: Kumho Road Venture AT52

Kumho Road Venture AT52
  • 35x12.5R17 121E
  • Weight: 31.8kgs
  • Tread: 12mm
  • 3PMSF: yes
  • Price: 314.00
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd42.75 M41.17 M+1.58 M96.3%
Dry Handling1st47.72 s100%
Subj. Dry Handling1st10 Points100%
Subj. Road Route3rd9 Points10 Points-1 Points
Wet Braking1st65.95 M100%
Wet Handling1st55.69 s100%
Subj. Wet Handling2nd9.75 Points10 Points-0.25 Points97.5%
Straight Aqua5th100.2 Km/H115.2 Km/H-15 Km/H86.98%
Snow Braking3rd22.62 M20.2 M+2.42 M89.3%
Snow Handling3rd98.61 s91.68 s+6.93 s92.97%
Subj. Snow Handling3rd8.5 Points10 Points-1.5 Points85%
Dirt Handling3rd72.61 s71.73 s+0.88 s98.79%
Subj. Dirt Handling3rd9 Points10 Points-1 Points90%
Subj. Comfort5th8.5 Points10 Points-1.5 Points85%
Subj. Noise3rd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Value2nd0.63 Price/10000.57 Price/1000+0.06 Price/100090.48%
The Kumho excelled in wet conditions, achieving the best wet braking and handling times. It demonstrated a sharp steering response and maintained good noise levels. The tyre also offered strong grip in most conditions.
The firm carcass made the ride less compliant over bumps and reduced stability during recovery from slides. It had the lowest aquaplaning resistance and scored lowest for comfort among the test group.
The AT52 showed a clear bias toward on-road performance with its dynamic handling characteristics and excellent wet grip. While capable in off-road situations, its firm nature and comfort compromises make it better suited to vehicles spending most time on pavement.
.

Read Reviews

4th: Toyo Open Country AT III

Toyo Open Country AT III
  • 35x12.5R17 121E
  • Weight: 29.5kgs
  • Tread: 13.2mm
  • 3PMSF: yes
  • Price: 409.24
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd42.81 M41.17 M+1.64 M96.17%
Dry Handling2nd47.83 s47.72 s+0.11 s99.77%
Subj. Dry Handling2nd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Subj. Road Route3rd9 Points10 Points-1 Points
Wet Braking5th73.47 M65.95 M+7.52 M89.76%
Wet Handling3rd57.15 s55.69 s+1.46 s97.45%
Subj. Wet Handling5th9.25 Points10 Points-0.75 Points92.5%
Straight Aqua4th104.6 Km/H115.2 Km/H-10.6 Km/H90.8%
Snow Braking2nd22.08 M20.2 M+1.88 M91.49%
Snow Handling1st91.68 s100%
Subj. Snow Handling1st10 Points100%
Dirt Handling5th73.11 s71.73 s+1.38 s98.11%
Subj. Dirt Handling4th8.75 Points10 Points-1.25 Points87.5%
Subj. Comfort4th9 Points10 Points-1 Points90%
Subj. Noise4th9.25 Points10 Points-0.75 Points92.5%
Value5th0.82 Price/10000.57 Price/1000+0.25 Price/100069.51%
The Toyo showed strong snow performance, leading the snow handling test and finishing second in snow braking. It remained quiet at moderate speeds and offered good overall comfort levels.
The tyre had the longest wet braking distance, finishing 11% behind the best, and showed understeer in wet conditions. It was also the most expensive tyre in terms of cost per mile based on warranty.
The Open Country AT III delivered a mixed performance, excelling in snow conditions but falling short in wet performance. While comfortable and quiet in normal driving, its higher price and wet-weather compromises pushed it down the final rankings.

Read Reviews

5th: Nitto Recon Grappler AT

Nitto Recon Grappler AT
  • 35x12.5R17 125R
  • Weight: 29.9kgs
  • Tread: 13.3mm
  • 3PMSF: no
  • Price: 372.00
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking4th43.2 M41.17 M+2.03 M95.3%
Dry Handling4th48.19 s47.72 s+0.47 s99.02%
Subj. Dry Handling2nd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Subj. Road Route3rd9 Points10 Points-1 Points
Wet Braking4th71.72 M65.95 M+5.77 M91.95%
Wet Handling5th57.18 s55.69 s+1.49 s97.39%
Subj. Wet Handling3rd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Straight Aqua1st115.2 Km/H100%
Snow Braking1st0 M0%
Snow Handling1st0 s0%
Subj. Snow Handling1st0 Points0%
Dirt Handling4th73.01 s71.73 s+1.28 s98.25%
Subj. Dirt Handling4th8.75 Points10 Points-1.25 Points87.5%
Subj. Comfort2nd9.5 Points10 Points-0.5 Points95%
Subj. Noise5th8.5 Points10 Points-1.5 Points85%
Value3rd0.68 Price/10000.57 Price/1000+0.11 Price/100083.82%
The Nitto demonstrated the best aquaplaning resistance in the group and showed good front-end bite off-road. It offered decent comfort levels and balanced handling characteristics in most conditions.
Noise was a significant issue with the Recon Grappler, being noticeable at most speeds and particularly loud during high-speed runs. It is the only tyre of the group without a severe snow rating.
The Recon Grappler proved to be a capable all-terrain tyre with some strong performance characteristics, particularly in water evacuation. However, its notable road noise and lack of snow rating limited its overall appeal in the segment.

Read Reviews

comments powered by Disqus