Bridgestone Dueler AT Review: Are These Tires Worth the Price?

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The Bridgestone Dueler A/T is an all-terrain tire designed for rugged performance on and off the road. As an all-terrain or “AT” tire, the Dueler A/T aims to provide a balance of on-road comfort and off-road capability for trucks, SUVs, and crossovers.

Bridgestone bills the Dueler A/T as a “workhorse” tire that can handle both daily driving duties as well as off-road adventures.

It features an aggressive tread pattern with interlocking tread blocks, wide lateral grooves, and a rigid tread block design to provide traction on dirt, gravel, and other loose surfaces.

At the same time, the tire is engineered for stability, comfort, and quiet performance on paved roads.

The Dueler A/T sits in the middle of Bridgestone’s all-terrain tire lineup, between the more hardcore Dueler A/T Revo 3 and the highway-focused Dueler A/T RH-S.

It’s designed to balance several performance factors to be a well-rounded all-terrain tire suitable for most drivers’ needs.

List of Other Bridgestone Tire Reviews

If you’re interested in exploring other Bridgestone tire options, check out our comprehensive reviews of their various offerings. Bridgestone’s commitment to quality and performance shines through in their diverse range of tires.

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• Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 RFT Review
• Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 Review
• Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 Review
• Bridgestone WeatherPeak Review
• Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 Review
• Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 Review
• Bridgestone DriveGuard Plus Review
• Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack Review
• Bridgestone Insignia SE200 Tire Review
• Bridgestone Dueler HT Review
• Bridgestone Dueler AT Review

Tire Overview

The Bridgestone Dueler AT is an all-terrain tire designed for SUVs, pickup trucks, and crossovers. It comes in a wide range of popular sizes to fit most mid-size and full-size truck-based vehicles. As an all-terrain tire, the Dueler AT is made for on-road comfort and capable off-road performance.

It can handle both paved roads and rough terrain, from dirt and gravel to mud and snow. This makes it a versatile choice for drivers who go off-roading occasionally or live in areas with unpaved roads.

The Dueler AT provides a balance of on-road manners and off-road capability. It’s not an aggressively treaded mud-terrain tire made for rock crawling, but it does have an aggressive tread pattern compared to a highway tire.

The tread design and rubber compound give it traction and grip for light to moderate off-road duty. Bridgestone markets the Dueler AT as an ideal tire for pickups, SUVs, and crossovers that are used for activities like camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting.

It works well for drivers who like to go off the beaten path on weekends but still spend most of their miles on paved roads.

Tread and Traction

The Bridgestone Dueler AT tire features an aggressive and rugged tread pattern designed to provide excellent traction and off-road capability. The tire has large, interlocking tread blocks with multiple sipes to grip surfaces in a variety of conditions.

The tread depth of the Dueler AT measures 15/32 inches when new. This substantial tread depth allows the tire to better penetrate loose dirt, mud, gravel and sand. Even as the tread wears down over time, the Dueler AT maintains its traction advantages compared to all-terrain tires with shallower tread depths.

Independent testing has shown the open shoulder tread blocks bite aggressively when cornering on paved roads, reducing the chance of slippage. At the same time, the center rib enhances on-road stability.

The tread compound uses a specialized silica compounding process, which enhances wet surface adhesion and braking. Reviewers have praised the Dueler AT for providing excellent traction not just off-road, but on wet and slippery roads as well.

With its rugged tread blocks, ample tread depth, and sticky compound, the Bridgestone Dueler AT provides top-level traction and grip across a wide variety of terrains and driving conditions. This makes it one of the most capable all-terrain tires available today in terms of maximizing traction.

Ride Comfort of Bridgestone Dueler AT

The Bridgestone Dueler AT is known for providing a quiet, comfortable ride on pavement. The tire features an all-season tread design that helps reduce road noise and vibrations, even at highway speeds. Many drivers comment on how smooth the ride feels compared to other all-terrain tires they’ve used.

The Dueler AT effectively absorbs small bumps and imperfections in the road, without transmitting harsh feedback into the cabin. This is thanks to Bridgestone’s SerraMax technology that combines alternating layers of rubber for cushioning. On rough gravel or dirt roads, the Dueler AT continues to dampen vibrations and impacts.

The tire tread is designed to conform over uneven terrain, while the sturdy sidewalls absorb shocks. This results in a smooth and stable ride quality off-road without compromising responsiveness. Overall, the Bridgestone Dueler AT provides a quiet, comfortable driving experience on paved roads of all conditions.

The advanced technologies like SerraMax enhance ride quality over bumps and imperfections. Drivers can expect a smooth, vibration-free ride whether cruising on the highway or traversing dirt paths.

Handling of Bridgestone Dueler AT

The Bridgestone Dueler AT provides excellent handling and responsive steering for an all-terrain tire. The symmetrical tread pattern and continuous center rib help to minimize irregular wear, ensuring predictable handling throughout the tire’s life.

Test drivers praise the Dueler AT’s cornering grip and responsiveness. The stiff sidewalls and rugged tread blocks give the tire precise and nimble steering feel, with no squishy delay in directional changes. Drivers report the tire feels planted and stable when cornering at high speeds.

Stopping power is also a highlight of the Dueler AT’s performance. The high void tread pattern effectively channels water out from under the tire, maintaining strong braking grip even in wet conditions. The tread compound uses a high silica content for enhanced wet braking and short braking distances across various road surfaces.

Overall, the Dueler AT delivers responsive, connected handling along with strong braking capabilities. Drivers seeking a rugged all-terrain tire without compromising on-road dynamics will be pleased with the Dueler AT’s precise steering and grip when cornering and braking.

Durability of Bridgestone Dueler AT

The Bridgestone Dueler AT is an impressively durable all-terrain tire, offering a treadwear warranty of 65,000 miles. This ranks among the highest treadwear warranties in the all-terrain category, making the Dueler AT an excellent choice for drivers looking to get the most miles out of their tires.

Real world owner reports back up Bridgestone’s treadwear claims, with many users reporting getting 70,000 to 80,000 miles or even more out of a set before needing to replace them. The proprietary Duravis compound used in the Dueler AT’s tread rubber resists wear and tear, while the symmetric tread pattern promotes even treadwear across the width of the tire.

Multiple reviews mention that the Dueler AT tires still had usable tread depth remaining when replaced at very high mileages. This speaks to both the durability of the tread compound and the even wearing properties of the tread design.

Drivers doing a mix of highway mileage along with occasional off-road use get the most optimal treadlife out of the Dueler AT. Overall, the exceptional treadwear warranty and owner reviews confirm that the Bridgestone Dueler AT is one of the longest-lasting options in the all-terrain category.

Drivers in need of a tire that can hold up to high mileage will be well-served by the Dueler AT’s sturdy construction and durable tread compound.

Off-Road Performance of Bridgestone Dueler AT

The Bridgestone Dueler A/T is an excellent choice for off-road driving enthusiasts. Its rugged tread design and sturdy construction allow it to handle a variety of off-road terrain with ease.

When driving on mud, the Dueler A/T’s aggressive open shoulder tread pattern is designed to eject mud and prevent clogging. The circumferential grooves and aggressive tread blocks provide excellent traction and grip in muddy conditions.

Testers found the Dueler A/T to be one of the best in its category for muddy trails. The tire also performs well on rocks and gravel. The stone ejector ribs help prevent damage from rocks getting wedged in the tread.

The rigid tread blocks remain stable and stiff when driving over rocky surfaces, allowing for good traction. In sandy conditions, the open tread pattern and independent tread blocks help to bite through loose sand and avoid getting stuck.

Reviewers were impressed with the Dueler A/T’s excellent traction and mobility in deep sand. Overall, the Bridgestone Dueler A/T is an exceptionally capable off-road tire. It provides excellent grip and traction across mud, rocks, sand, gravel, and more. Drivers seeking a tire for off-road adventures will find the Dueler A/T to be a top choice in the category.

Wet Weather Performance of Bridgestone Dueler AT

The Bridgestone Dueler AT tire performs very well in wet weather conditions thanks to its aggressive tread pattern and sipe design. The tires have large, interlocking tread blocks that help channel water out from under the tire to prevent hydroplaning. Deep, zig-zagging grooves cut across the tread blocks to provide plenty of biting edges for traction on wet pavements.

These grooves are also designed to wipe water away as the tire rolls to maintain constant contact between the tread rubber and road surface. But where the Dueler AT really shines is on snow-covered roads. The tire has numerous sipes cut into the tread blocks that shoot all the way down to the base of the tread.

These sipes flex open when driving on snow, providing extra gripping edges to penetrate slippery snow and ice. The combination of an aggressive block tread design and high density of sipes gives the Dueler AT excellent traction and stability when driving in heavy rain, light snow, and slushy winter conditions.

Drivers report having confidence in the tire’s ability to stick to the road and track true around corners. While an all-season tire won’t perform as well in severe winter weather as a dedicated winter tire, the Bridgestone Dueler AT provides ample traction for most wet and snowy situations drivers will encounter throughout the year.

Its impressive wet weather capabilities make it a versatile choice for areas that regularly see rain, snow, and changing seasonal conditions.

Fuel Efficiency of Bridgestone Dueler AT

The Bridgestone Dueler AT is designed with decent fuel economy in mind, though it may not be the most fuel-efficient tire on the market. The Dueler AT has relatively low rolling resistance, which helps reduce energy loss and improve gas mileage. Its rolling resistance ratings rank it as a fuel-efficient all-terrain tire, though not exceptional.

Owner MPG reports for the Dueler AT are generally positive. Most drivers report 1-3 mpg fuel economy drops compared to highway tires, which is reasonable for an aggressive all-terrain. With that said, a small portion of owners report more significant 5+ mpg drops after installing the Duelers.

Overall, real-world fuel economy seems to average around 1-2 mpg less than comparable highway tires. For an all-terrain focused on off-road traction, that’s not bad fuel efficiency. The Dueler AT strikes a good balance between off-road capability and on-road MPG. Drivers needing to maximize fuel economy may want to look at highway-focused tires instead.

Pricing

The Bridgestone Dueler AT is competitively priced compared to similar all-terrain tires from other major brands. The price can vary depending on the size you need, but here are some example retail prices:

• 215/75R15 – Around $150 per tire
• 225/60R17 – Around $180 per tire
• 245/75R16 – Around $170 per tire
• 265/70R17 – Around $210 per tire

Sizes for pickup trucks and SUVs tend to be at the higher end, while sizes for crossover SUVs and lighter trucks are usually cheaper. The pricing is pretty consistent across retailers.

You can sometimes find rebates and promotions that help lower the price by $20-30 per tire. The tires are not the cheapest option, but they provide a good value considering their performance capabilities and long tread life.

Drivers looking for an aggressive all-terrain tire that excels on-road and off-road without breaking the bank will be happy with the Dueler AT.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bridgestone Dueler A/T is a robust and versatile all-terrain tire designed to cater to a diverse range of driving conditions.

It’s commended for providing excellent wet and off-road traction, smooth and quiet on-road performance, responsive handling, and significant tread longevity.

With the assurance of a high mileage treadwear warranty and competitive pricing, it offers a compelling balance between performance and value, making it an attractive choice for drivers seeking a well-rounded all-terrain tire solution.

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