Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT Review: Go Anywhere, Anytime

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The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT is an all-terrain tire designed for pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. This tire combines rugged off-road traction with responsive on-road handling and a quiet, comfortable ride. Goodyear designed the DuraTrac RT as a replacement for the older Wrangler DuraTrac tire.

The “RT” stands for “rugged terrain” indicating this tire’s capability on rough surfaces. However, Goodyear also engineered it to provide a smooth ride on paved roads. The DuraTrac RT features an aggressive tread pattern with multiple sipes, grooves, and blocks.

This open design helps eject mud and gravel for better traction in dirt, sand, and snow. At the same time, the tread blocks have a rigid design to remain stable at highway speeds. Overall, the DuraTrac RT aims to deliver a versatile all-terrain tire suitable for off-road adventures as well as everyday driving. It provides a balance of off-road traction, on-road comfort, and long tread life.

Off-Road Performance of Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT excels when taken off-road. The aggressive tread pattern provides excellent traction on loose surfaces like mud, dirt, and gravel. The tire uses Goodyear’s Durawall technology, which features a tread compound reinforced with cut- and chip-resistant polymers.

This allows the tire to better withstand off-road abuse from rocks and debris. Many reviewers have noted that the DuraTrac RT seems to resist punctures and damage even on rugged trails. The tire’s shoulder lugs and sidewall protectors also contribute to its strong off-road performance.

The shoulder lugs provide extra grip and traction when cornering on uneven terrain, while the sidewall protectors shield the sidewalls from cuts, scrapes and punctures. Overall, with its sturdy construction and aggressive tread pattern, the DuraTrac RT delivers impressive traction and grip when driving on loose, uneven surfaces off-road. It’s a capable choice for those who want to confidently explore trails and backroads.

On-Road Manners of Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires perform surprisingly well on the pavement for an aggressive off-road tire. Drivers can expect a quiet, comfortable ride with responsive handling.

Noise

The DuraTrac RT tires are not completely silent on the highway, but noise levels are low for their category. The aggressive tread pattern does generate some road noise, especially on concrete or grooved pavement. However, the noise is not excessive or irritating over long drives. At city speeds, road noise is minimal. Overall, the DuraTrac RT tires offer a quiet ride for an off-road tire.

Ride Comfort

Thanks to their stiff sidewalls and even treadwear, the DuraTrac RT tires provide a very smooth, comfortable ride on the street. They absorb bumps and imperfections in the road while maintaining composure. The tires do not feel overly stiff or bouncy over rough pavement. Ride comfort is comparable to a highway all-season tire.

Handling

The DuraTrac RT tires deliver responsive, precise handling on dry pavement. The stiff sidewalls and aggressive tread pattern give the tires a very direct, connected feel through corners. The tires react immediately to steering inputs without feeling darty or unstable. Grip levels are high for quick acceleration and braking maneuvers. Overall, the DuraTrac RT tires inspire confidence with their responsive handling on pavement.

Treadwear

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires have excellent treadwear and durability, especially for an aggressive all-terrain tire. Goodyear designed the tire with an advanced tread compound called DuraWall Technology that helps resist cuts, chips and abrasions in off-road conditions.

This allows the tread to maintain its integrity longer before needing to be replaced. In normal on-road driving conditions, drivers can expect to get 50,000 to 60,000 miles out of a set before needing new tires. This is on the higher end for an all-terrain tire, making the DuraTrac RT a good value.

The aggressive tread blocks provide plenty of biting edges for traction off-road, but the siping and staggered shoulder blocks help promote even wear on the street. Overall, the advanced tread compound and smart tread design enable the DuraTrac RT to provide above-average treadlife for an all-terrain tire, while still offering rugged traction for off-road adventures. Drivers who split time between on-road and off-road will get their money’s worth from the long-lasting tread.

Traction

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT delivers impressive traction on wet and dry surfaces. The aggressive tread pattern with multiple sipes and biting edges provides excellent grip whether you’re navigating muddy trails or cruising down the highway in the rain.

Testers found the DuraTrac RT to brake with authority on both wet and dry pavement. The tires inspire confidence when coming to quick stops thanks to the stable feel and strong braking force. Even under heavy braking, the tires maintain composure and avoid skidding out.

The robust shoulder blocks and staggered tread blocks provide dependable traction off-road as well. The tires claw through loose dirt, sand, and mud to keep your truck moving ahead. The tread design resists packing up with mud or snow so you can keep trekking onward.

Overall, the exceptional traction of the DuraTrac RT makes it a smart choice for truck owners who drive in diverse conditions on and off the pavement. The tires stick reliably across various surfaces to deliver capable performance.

Ride Comfort of Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires provide a comfortable and quiet ride on the highway while still maintaining impressive off-road capability. The aggressive tread pattern may lead some to believe these tires will be noisy, but Goodyear has engineered them for a refined on-road experience.

The tire construction utilizes two polyester plies and two steel belts to provide a smooth ride. This helps absorb bumps and impacts from rough terrain. The tires do not transmit excessive road noise or vibration into the cabin either. Owners report the DuraTrac RT tires being quieter than expected on the open road.

Overall, the ride comfort is a standout feature for an off-road-focused tire. Drivers don’t have to sacrifice a plush on-road experience for traction in mud, dirt and sand. The DuraTrac RT manages to balance both with aplomb.

Snow Performance of Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT is an excellent performer in snowy winter conditions. The aggressive tread pattern with multiple sipes helps to provide superb traction and grip on snow-covered roads. The tire’s open shoulder tread blocks have numerous biting edges that dig into loose snow and channel it away from the tire.

This allows the tire to maintain constant contact with the road surface for stable handling. The zig-zag center tread blocks also provide plenty of edges to grip snow and prevent sliding. In testing, the DuraTrac RT has demonstrated excellent starting and stopping abilities on packed snow.

The sipes across the tread blocks remain open even in freezing temperatures, providing plenty of biting edges for acceleration, cornering, and braking traction. The tire treads resist packing snow into the grooves, further enhancing traction. The DuraTrac RT is well suited to daily winter commutes, as well as snowy backroad driving and moderate off-roading.

Drivers praise the tire’s ability to get through several inches of fresh snow without getting stuck. Overall, the deep tread pattern and siped blocks make the DuraTrac RT a dependable choice for winter driving traction and control.

Available Sizes

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT is available in a wide range of sizes to fit most trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. The tire comes in diameters ranging from 15 inches to 20 inches, with a variety of widths depending on the rim size. Some of the most common sizes include:

• LT245/75R16 – A 16-inch rim with a 245mm width and 75 aspect ratio sidewall. Fits many midsize trucks and SUVs.
• LT265/70R17 – A 17-inch rim with a 265mm width and 70 aspect ratio sidewall. Common on full-size trucks and SUVs.
• LT285/50R20 – A 20-inch rim with a 285mm width and 50 aspect ratio sidewall. For larger truck and SUV wheels.

The DuraTrac RT can accommodate both 5-lug and 6-lug bolt patterns, covering most domestic and import trucks. It’s worth consulting your owner’s manual or a tire retailer to find the exact size needed for your vehicle’s make, model, and trim. The wide range of options makes the DuraTrac RT a versatile tire for both on-road comfort and off-road capability.

Warranty

Goodyear provides a limited warranty on the Wrangler DuraTrac RT tire. This covers defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the original tread. If the tire wears evenly across the tread down to the treadwear indicators (2/32 inch of tread remaining), it is considered to have delivered its full lifespan and is not eligible for warranty.

The warranty does not cover damage from road hazards like cuts, snags, bruises, punctures, or impact breaks. It also does not cover damage from improper inflation pressure, overloading, tire/wheel imbalance, improper mounting/dismounting, improper repair, misuse, negligence, racing, underinflation, overinflation or other abuse.

Additionally, uneven or rapid wear from improper maintenance, wheel misalignment, tire chains, improper rotation practices, or operating on rough roads is not covered under the warranty. The warranty is also void if the tires are modified in any manner.

Normal tread life is considered the first 50% of the original usable tread. If the tire becomes unserviceable due to a defect during the first 50% of tread life, Goodyear will provide credit or refund based on pro-rated mileage. After the first 50%, no warranty applies.

The original purchaser must present proof of purchase and mileage to initiate the warranty claim process. Labor costs, taxes, disposal fees, loss of time/use, loss of vehicle use, inconvenience, or consequential damage costs are not covered under the warranty.

Conclusion

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT is one of the most capable off-road tires on the market while still maintaining decent on-road performance and comfort.

Pros:

• Excellent off-road traction and grip in mud, dirt, sand, and rocks
• Aggressive tread pattern provides self-cleaning abilities
• Reinforced sidewalls resist punctures
• Good hydroplaning resistance due to tread siping
• Quiet on-road ride with minimal road noise

Cons:

• Snow and ice traction could be better
• Somewhat squirrely on-road handling at high speeds
• Below average treadlife compared to all-season highway tires

Overall, the DuraTrac RT is an excellent choice for drivers who go off-roading frequently but still need their tires to perform well on pavement. The aggressive tread provides tons of grip off-road without being too noisy or compromising too much on-road manners.

Just don’t expect long treadlife or great performance in winter weather. If you need a tire that can confidently tackle off-road terrain as well as the daily commute, the DuraTrac RT is easily recommended.

List of Other Goodyear Tire Reviews

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• Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT Review
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