Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 Review: The Ultimate All-Terrain Tire for Adventure Seekers

Don’t know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!

The Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 is an all-terrain tire designed for pickup trucks, SUVs, and other light trucks that need a balance of on-road comfort and off-road capability. As an all-terrain tire, it’s engineered to handle a variety of driving conditions, from paved highways to muddy trails and loose surfaces.

Dunlop positions the Grandtrek AT20 as a versatile tire for outdoor enthusiasts, off-road adventurers, and those who frequently encounter inclement weather or need added traction. Its aggressive tread pattern and rugged construction make it suitable for moderate off-road use, while its on-road performance aims to provide a comfortable and responsive driving experience on the street.

With the increasing popularity of adventure-ready vehicles and overlanding culture, the Grandtrek AT20 caters to drivers seeking a tire that can handle their outdoor pursuits without sacrificing too much on-road drivability. It’s a compelling option for those who want a single tire that can handle their daily commute as well as their weekend explorations.

Design and Construction

The Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 is engineered with a rugged and aggressive tread design, combining off-road prowess with on-road comfort. The tread pattern features deep, interlocking lugs and wide grooves, providing excellent traction on various terrains, including mud, gravel, and rocky surfaces. The lugs are designed with sipes and biting edges to enhance grip and handling, even in wet or snowy conditions.

Dunlop has utilized a specialized tread compound that balances durability and traction. The silica-based compound remains pliable in cold temperatures, ensuring reliable grip, while also providing extended treadlife and improved fuel efficiency on paved roads.

The tire’s casing is reinforced with two high-strength steel belts and a polyamide reinforcement layer, enhancing durability and resistance to punctures and impacts. This robust construction ensures the tire can withstand the rigors of off-road adventures while maintaining its structural integrity.

Additionally, the AT20 features reinforced sidewalls with high-ply turn-up construction, providing added protection against cuts, abrasions, and sidewall damage when traversing over rocks, logs, or other obstacles. This design element contributes to the tire’s overall toughness and longevity in demanding off-road environments.

On-Road Performance

The Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 delivers impressive on-road performance for an all-terrain tire. On dry pavement, it provides reliable traction and a confident grip during acceleration, braking, and cornering maneuvers. The symmetric tread pattern and advanced compound help maximize contact with the road surface, ensuring responsive handling and steering precision.

In wet conditions, the Grandtrek AT20 shines with its hydroplaning resistance and wet traction capabilities. The deep, variable-pitch tread grooves effectively evacuate water from the tire’s footprint, enhancing grip on slick surfaces. Even during heavy downpours, the tire maintains a reassuring level of control and stability.

Handling is another strong suit of the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20. The tire’s rigid tread blocks and optimized shoulder design contribute to predictable and responsive steering inputs, instilling confidence in the driver. Whether navigating winding roads or executing lane changes, the AT20 offers a planted and composed ride.

Regarding noise levels, the Grandtrek AT20 strikes a good balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability. While not the quietest tire in its class, it produces moderate noise levels that are acceptable for an all-terrain tire. The variable-pitch tread pattern helps reduce the drone typically associated with aggressive tread designs, making it a suitable choice for daily driving and highway cruising.

Off-Road Capability

The Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 is designed to excel in off-road conditions, offering impressive traction and performance on various terrains. Its aggressive tread pattern and specialized compound work together to tackle even the toughest challenges.

Mud Traction: The tire’s deep, widely spaced tread blocks and siped shoulders provide exceptional grip in muddy conditions. The self-cleaning properties of the tread design help prevent mud from packing, ensuring consistent traction and preventing slippage.

Rock Crawling: The reinforced tread compound and sturdy construction of the Grandtrek AT20 allow it to handle rocky terrain with ease. The tread blocks are designed to flex and conform to the surface, maximizing contact patch and providing a secure grip over jagged rocks and obstacles.

Sand Performance: The unique tread pattern features a combination of alternating shoulder blocks and lateral grooves, which work in tandem to provide excellent traction on loose, sandy surfaces. The tire’s ability to dig into the sand and maintain forward momentum makes it a reliable choice for dune driving or beach adventures.

Snow Traction: While primarily an all-terrain tire, the Grandtrek AT20 also performs admirably in snowy conditions. The deep, interlocking tread blocks and specialized sipes help channel snow and slush away from the contact patch, ensuring reliable grip and control on icy or snow-covered roads.

Overall, the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 is a versatile and capable off-road tire that delivers impressive performance across a wide range of challenging terrains. Whether tackling muddy trails, navigating rocky paths, conquering sandy dunes, or braving snowy conditions, this tire provides the traction and durability needed for your off-road adventures.

Durability and Treadlife

The Dunlop Grandtrek AT20’s durability and treadlife are among its standout features. This all-terrain tire is designed to withstand the rigors of both on-road and off-road driving, ensuring longevity and reliable performance over its lifespan.

One of the key factors contributing to the AT20’s impressive durability is its robust tread compound. Dunlop has formulated a specialized rubber compound that strikes an optimal balance between cut and chip resistance and tread wear resistance. The tread blocks are reinforced with high-strength polymers, enhancing their resistance to cuts, chips, and tears that can occur when traversing rocky or debris-strewn terrain.

The tread design itself also plays a crucial role in extending the tire’s lifespan. The AT20 features a symmetric tread pattern with a continuous center rib and deep, interlocking shoulder blocks. This design promotes even wear distribution across the tread surface, minimizing the formation of irregular wear patterns that can lead to premature tread degradation.

Furthermore, the tread depth of the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 is substantial, providing ample tread life for extended mileage. With a tread depth of 13/32 inches when new, these tires can withstand thousands of miles of use before reaching the wear indicators, ensuring a prolonged period of reliable performance.

Dunlop’s commitment to quality construction also contributes to the AT20’s durability. The tire’s casing is reinforced with high-tensile steel belts, enhancing its resistance to punctures and impacts while maintaining structural integrity under heavy loads or demanding off-road conditions.

Overall, the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20’s combination of a durable tread compound, reinforced tread blocks, optimized tread design, and robust construction make it a tire that can withstand the test of time, delivering reliable performance and extended treadlife for both on-road and off-road adventures.

Comfort and Ride Quality

The Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 delivers a remarkably comfortable and refined ride quality, both on and off the pavement. The tire’s advanced construction and optimized tread pattern work in harmony to provide excellent impact absorption, smoothing out even the roughest of surfaces.

On the highway, the Grandtrek AT20 exhibits impressive levels of smoothness, with minimal tread noise or vibration transferred into the cabin. This results in a serene driving experience, even at higher speeds. The tire’s computer-optimized pitch sequence effectively mitigates the typical drone associated with all-terrain tires, making long journeys a pleasure.

Off-road, the Grandtrek AT20’s robust carcass and reinforced sidewalls offer superior cushioning against impacts from rocks, ruts, and other obstacles. This not only enhances comfort but also helps protect your vehicle’s suspension components from excessive stress and wear. Additionally, the tire’s aggressive tread blocks and deep siping effectively dampen vibrations and minimize road noise, even on loose surfaces like gravel or dirt.

Overall, the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 strikes an impressive balance between off-road capability and on-road refinement, delivering a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride in a wide range of driving conditions.

Sizing and Fitment Options

The Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 is available in a wide range of sizes to accommodate various vehicles, from compact SUVs and crossovers to full-size trucks and SUVs. The tire is offered in wheel diameters ranging from 15 inches to 22 inches, with different section widths and aspect ratios to suit different vehicle specifications.

One of the advantages of the Grandtrek AT20 is its compatibility with plus-sizing. Plus-sizing refers to the practice of fitting a larger tire and wheel combination than the vehicle’s original equipment (OE) specifications. This can provide several benefits, including improved traction, better handling, and a more aggressive appearance. Dunlop offers the AT20 in sizes that allow for plus-sizing on many popular vehicles, enabling drivers to customize their ride and enhance performance.

When selecting the appropriate size for your vehicle, it’s crucial to consider factors such as load-carrying capacity, speed rating, and clearance. Dunlop provides detailed fitment guides and recommendations to ensure proper compatibility and safe installation. Additionally, it’s advisable to consult with a professional tire technician or refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific sizing guidelines.

Overall, the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20’s diverse size range and plus-sizing compatibility make it a versatile choice for drivers seeking a capable all-terrain tire that can be tailored to their specific vehicle and driving needs.

Pricing and Value

The Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 offers excellent value for its performance capabilities and durability. Compared to many of its competitors in the all-terrain tire segment, the AT20 is priced very competitively. For a set of four tires in a common size like 265/70R17, you can expect to pay around $800-$900 at most tire retailers.

While not the cheapest option on the market, the AT20’s pricing is justified by its impressive blend of on-road comfort, off-road traction, and long treadlife. Many drivers find that the AT20 provides a better overall value proposition than some of the more expensive premium all-terrain tires from brands like BFGoodrich or Goodyear.

Additionally, Dunlop backs the Grandtrek AT20 with a generous 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is among the best in its class. This warranty provides peace of mind and helps offset the upfront cost over the life of the tires.

Overall, while not the most budget-friendly option, the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 delivers excellent performance and durability at a fair price point, making it a compelling value choice for drivers seeking a capable all-terrain tire without breaking the bank.

Pros and Cons Summary

Pros:

• Excellent off-road traction and performance on various terrains, including mud, gravel, and rocky trails
• Impressive on-road handling and stability for an all-terrain tire
• Rugged and durable construction with reinforced sidewalls and cut-resistant tread compound
• Comfortable and quiet ride quality, even on rougher surfaces
• Aggressive and stylish tread pattern with good hydroplaning resistance

Cons:

• Shorter treadlife compared to some highway-terrain or all-season tires
• Reduced fuel efficiency due to increased rolling resistance
• Can produce more road noise on smooth pavement compared to highway tires
• Limited sizes available, may not fit all vehicle applications
• Higher price point than some competitors in the all-terrain category

Final Verdict

The Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 is an impressive all-terrain tire that delivers a well-rounded performance on and off the road. Its rugged construction and aggressive tread pattern provide excellent traction and handling on various surfaces, making it a reliable choice for adventurous drivers who frequently encounter challenging terrains.

While the Grandtrek AT20 excels in off-road situations, it also maintains a comfortable and quiet ride on paved surfaces, striking a great balance between capability and everyday drivability. The tire’s durability and treadlife are commendable, ensuring long-lasting performance and value for money.

Overall, if you’re in the market for a versatile and dependable all-terrain tire that can handle both highway and off-road adventures, the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 is an excellent option to consider. Its combination of ruggedness, performance, and comfort make it a standout choice in its class, and it’s definitely worth the investment for those who demand the best from their tires.