Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT Review: The Tough Tire That Sticks to the Road

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The Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT is an all-season light truck and SUV tire designed for on-road comfort and off-road capability. As part of Goodyear’s Wrangler lineup, the Steadfast HT provides a balance of everyday traction, long treadlife, and durability. This tire is engineered for full-size pickups, SUVs, and crossover vehicles used for both highway driving and light off-roading.

Key features of the Wrangler Steadfast HT include its all-season tread design to perform in dry, wet, and wintry conditions. The tire incorporates Goodyear’s Fuel Max Technology for improved fuel efficiency compared to past Wrangler models. And it’s backed by a 65,000 mile treadwear warranty. In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Steadfast HT’s capabilities for real world performance.

Tire Overview

The Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT is an all-season light truck and SUV tire designed for highway and off-road use. It’s available in a wide range of popular sizes to fit midsize trucks, full-size trucks, and SUVs including 15″, 16″, 17″, 18″, 20″ and 22″ wheel diameters.

This tire is meant for drivers who need a versatile tire that can handle both daily street driving as well as moderate off-road and winter conditions. It provides a balance of on-road comfort and quiet ride with capable traction in loose dirt, mud, gravel and light snow. The Wrangler Steadfast HT is not an extreme off-road tire, but it does have the traction and toughness to confidently handle light to moderate off-roading and unpaved roads.

Tread and Traction

The Wrangler Steadfast HT tire features an aggressive tread pattern designed to provide excellent traction in most driving conditions. The asymmetric tread features large outer shoulder blocks and intermediate zig-zag grooves to enhance grip on pavement. The tires also have interlocking tread blocks and multiple sipes to maintain traction off-road.

Test drivers praise the tire’s strong wet traction and hydroplaning resistance, even at highway speeds. The aggressive shoulder blocks clear water well, while the intermediate grooves channel water away from the tire contact patch. Owners in rain-soaked areas are impressed with how the Steadfast HT maintains control in heavy downpours.

The tire also provides plenty of bite on dry roads. The high-void tread pattern combines with a stiff casing to deliver responsive, precise handling when cornering or braking. The grooves flex to interlock the tread blocks, allowing the tire to grip pavement tenaciously. Drivers report minimal wandering or drift on straightaways thanks to the tread stiffness.

While optimized for on-road duty, the tread pattern provides suitable traction for mild off-roading, especially on gravel or packed dirt. The blocky shoulders and zig-zag grooves allow the tire to claw through loose surfaces effectively. The tires won’t match the performance of specialized off-road or mud-terrain rubber, but light weekend adventures pose no problem for the Steadfast HT. Overall, the tread design balances on and off-road traction in a versatile all-terrain highway tire.

Ride Comfort of Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT

The Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT provides a smooth, comfortable ride across various road surfaces. The tire’s symmetric tread design and continuous center rib help minimize vibrations and road noise.

Test drivers have praised the tire’s ability to soak up bumps and imperfections in the road without transferring harsh impacts into the cabin. The responsive sidewall absorbs shock effectively. Even at highway speeds, road noise remains muted.

On smooth highways, the tire cruises with minimal vibration or chatter. The wide tread blocks remain stable, reducing wandering on grooved concrete. Despite the aggressive tread pattern, noise levels stay lower than expected thanks to the sound-absorbing properties of the tire construction.

The Wrangler Steadfast HT performs just as well on rough, uneven city streets. Hitting potholes and bumps does not upset the tire or throw off its composure. The smooth ride persists without sharp impacts coming through the steering wheel or seat.

Drivers report no uneven wear issues leading to vibrations, even after putting 20,000+ miles on a set. The tire retains a smooth, balanced feel throughout its tread life.

Overall, the Wrangler Steadfast HT delivers class-leading ride comfort. It insulates drivers from nearly all road imperfections for a plush, relaxed driving experience. The smooth composure suits long highway journeys and urban commuting equally well.

Handling and Braking of Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT

The Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT delivers confident handling and braking performance on the road. The tires feature an all-season tread design optimized for handling in dry and wet conditions.

Cornering grip is very good, with the tread blocks providing progressive slip angles during turns. The tires feel planted through sweeping corners and tight turns alike. The silica-enhanced tread compound enhances wet traction for controlled cornering in rainy conditions.

Braking distances are short in both dry and wet conditions thanks to the biting edges of the tread blocks. The tires stop smoothly without pronounced squirming or slipping. Hard braking is met with linear deceleration and easy steering control.

Steering response is precise with appropriate levels of feedback through the wheel. The tires track true down straightaways without requiring minor corrections. Overall, the steering feel inspires confidence regardless of speed or conditions.

The stable handling manners and strong braking performance make the Wrangler Steadfast HT a great choice for drivers looking for responsive all-season performance. The tires deliver a composed, predictable driving experience.

Off-Road Performance of Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT

The Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT excels when taken off the pavement. The aggressive tread pattern provides excellent grip and traction in mud, dirt, gravel and other loose surfaces.

The tires are designed for light to moderate off-road use, making them a good choice for drivers who occasionally venture onto unpaved roads or go camping and need to handle some rugged terrain. The deep, open tread blocks help to clear mud and debris, maintaining traction even when conditions get messy.

Testers found the Wrangler Steadfast HT to be very capable on gravel and dirt roads. The stiff sidewalls and sturdy construction prevent tread squirm, allowing the tires to dig in and find grip even on uneven ground. The tires are rated for severe snow conditions, so they perform well on snow-covered dirt or gravel too.

Compared to more hardcore off-road tires, the Wrangler Steadfast HT does give up some traction in deep mud or over large rocks. But for drivers who only go off-road occasionally, these tires offer excellent overall grip and capabilities without compromising too much on-road comfort and noise. For light to moderate off-road duty, the Wrangler Steadfast HT is an ideal choice.

Wear and Treadlife of Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT

The Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT is rated for a 70,000 mile treadlife warranty by Goodyear, which is above average for this type of all-season crossover SUV tire. This means that under normal driving conditions, the tread should last for around 70,000 miles before needing to be replaced.

Real world testing by customers and third party reviewers supports Goodyear’s 70,000 mile rating. Many drivers report getting 60,000 to 70,000 miles on their Steadfast HT tires before the tread got down to the wear bars. This puts the tire on the higher end in terms of longevity.

The dual tread zones on the tire helps promote even wear from the center to the shoulder. The asymmetric tread pattern is also designed to deliver balanced wear as the tire rotates. This helps prevent uneven tire wear, though some wear on the outside shoulder areas is inevitable. Proper tire rotation every 5,000 to 8,000 miles will further help the Steadfast HT tires wear evenly.

The 70,000 mile treadlife warranty from Goodyear provides solid coverage for a tire in this category. As long as the tires are properly maintained and rotated, most drivers should expect to get at least 60,000 miles or more before needing new tires, making the Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT a high-mileage tire. The tread design and construction helps resist uneven wear, though some wear on the outer shoulders is expected over time.

Fuel Efficiency of Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT

The Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT tire is designed with fuel efficiency in mind. The tire features a tread pattern and rubber compound that help reduce rolling resistance. This decreases the amount of drag on the tire as it rolls down the pavement, allowing it to roll more freely and requiring less engine power and fuel to keep moving.

Independent testing shows the Wrangler Steadfast HT has significantly lower rolling resistance compared to other all-terrain and all-season tire models. In fact, its rolling resistance ranks among the lowest in its category. This translates into improved fuel economy and potential fuel savings over the life of the tires.

Real world driving tests and owner reviews consistently report 1-3 mpg fuel economy improvements after installing a set of Steadfast HT tires in place of worn all-season or all-terrain tires. For drivers that log a lot of yearly miles, the fuel savings can really add up. The minimal rolling resistance does not come at the expense of traction or longevity either, making the Steadfast HT a well-rounded choice for fuel conscious drivers who still need rugged all-terrain capability.

Pricing of Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT

The Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT tire offers an excellent value for the price. When compared to other tires in the same category from brands like BFGoodrich, Toyo, and Cooper, the Steadfast HT is very competitively priced.

The Steadfast HT starts at around $150 per tire for common passenger vehicle sizes like 215/60R16 and 215/65R17. That’s right in line with prices for comparable all-season highway tires from other manufacturers. For example, the BFGoodrich Advantage Control tire is priced similarly in the $140 to $160 range per tire.

For a tire with this level of performance, comfort, treadlife warranty (up to 65,000 miles), and durability the Steadfast HT is a great value. You’re getting features like the asymmetric tread design and rigid shoulder blocks found on more expensive tires, without paying a premium.

Goodyear often runs rebates and promotions that can make the Steadfast HT even more budget friendly. With a good sale you may be able to purchase a set for as low as $120 per tire. That makes it a very appealing choice for drivers who want a long-lasting highway tire on a budget.

Overall, the Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT provides an excellent combination of features, performance, and treadlife for the price. It’s competitively priced against the major brands and offers strong value for money as an all-season grand touring tire. For drivers who log high mileage on the highway annually, it’s a great choice that won’t break the bank.

Conclusion

The Goodyear Wrangler Steadfast HT is a great all-terrain tire that balances impressive off-road capability with composed on-road manners and comfort. It offers a smooth, quiet ride on the highway while providing rugged traction and durability off the beaten path.

Key pros of the Steadfast HT:

• Aggressive tread pattern with interlocking blocks excels in mud, sand, and light trails
• Self-cleaning design prevents buildup in tread
• Stable, composed handling at highway speeds
• Impressive wet and dry braking performance
• Comfortable ride quality on- and off-road

Potential downsides to consider:

• Noise levels increase on rougher pavement
• Snow and ice traction falls short of dedicated winter tires
• Not optimized for hardcore rock crawling or technical trails

Overall, the Wrangler Steadfast HT is a fantastic do-it-all tire ready to take on both daily commutes and weekend getaways. For drivers needing an all-terrain tire biasing more towards on-road refinement over extreme terrain performance, the Steadfast HT is easy to recommend. It offers a balanced blend of off-road capability and on-road comfort at an accessible price point. Drivers looking for their next set of go-anywhere tires will be well served by the Wrangler Steadfast HT.

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