Mastercraft Courser Trail Review: Unleashing the All-Terrain Beast

The Mastercraft Courser Trail is an all-terrain tire designed for SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks.

As an all-terrain tire, it is made to handle a variety of road conditions and some light off-roading.

Mastercraft designed the Courser Trail to provide a smooth, quiet ride on the highway while still offering capable traction on loose or uneven surfaces like gravel or dirt roads.

It aims to strike a balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability.

The intended use and purpose of the Courser Trail is for drivers who want a versatile tire that can handle commuting on paved roads during the week along with weekend adventures on forest service roads or light trails.

It is best suited for soft-roaders and crossover SUVs that are not dedicated off-road vehicles but are taken off the beaten path occasionally.

List of Other Mastercraft Tire Reviews

If you’re interested in exploring other Mastercraft tire options, check out our comprehensive reviews of their various offerings.

Mastercraft’s commitment to quality and performance shines through in their diverse range of tires.

• Mastercraft Courser Trail HD Review
• Mastercraft Courser Trail Review
• Mastercraft Courser Quest Plus Review
• Mastercraft Courser MXT Review
• Mastercraft Courser CXT Review

Tire Overview

The Mastercraft Courser Trail is Mastercraft’s flagship on/off-road touring all-season tire designed for crossovers, SUVs and light trucks.

It comes in a wide range of popular sizes to fit most midsize and full-size crossovers, SUVs and light trucks including:

• 235/60R18
• 235/65R17
• 255/55R18
• 265/65R17
• 265/70R16
• 265/70R17
• P265/70R17
• 275/55R20

The Courser Trail features an asymmetric tread pattern designed to provide responsive handling and traction in all kinds of driving conditions.

The outer shoulder features large block tread elements and deep, wide lateral grooves to enhance wet traction and clear snow/mud from the tire.

The inner shoulder has a continuous center rib to promote dry steering responsiveness.

The advanced silica tread compound enhances wet and dry traction while also improving treadwear.

The tires also have rigid internal construction and twin steel belts to enhance high-speed capability and handling.

Overall, the Courser Trail is designed to deliver a smooth, quiet ride with all-season capability, even in snow and light off-road conditions.

The asymmetric tread pattern balances responsive, car-like handling with capable wet/winter traction.

Performance of Mastercraft Courser Trail

The Courser Trail’s performance makes it well-suited for a wide range of activities.

On dry pavement, the tires exhibit responsive handling thanks to their rigid sidewalls and optimized tread pattern.

The tread blocks interlock well, allowing for nimble cornering and quick steering inputs. The stiff sidewalls also promote good steering response.

Wet weather performance is helped by the tire’s tread design. The angular edges of the tread blocks allow them to bite into slick surfaces, displacing water for solid contact.

Reviewers consistently praise the grip and control offered in rainy conditions.

Taking the Courser Trail off-road reveals its versatility. The tire has ample tread depth and an aggressive pattern to provide traction on loose surfaces.

Independent tread blocks claw into dirt, gravel, and sand for excellent grip.

The tire is able to find traction even in muddy conditions thanks to strategically placed tread voids that allow material to escape.

One downside relative to more specialized tires is road noise levels. The large tread blocks generate some noise and vibration, especially at higher speeds on the highway.

However, the noise levels are comparable to other all-terrain options, so it’s a reasonable compromise given the traction benefits.

Ride Comfort of Mastercraft Courser Trail

The Mastercraft Courser Trail tire provides a smooth and comfortable ride in most conditions.

The tread design and rubber compound help absorb vibrations and impacts from bumps and rough terrain.

Users report the tires perform well on gravel roads and uneven dirt trails, with minimal impact harshness reaching the vehicle cabin.

The sidewall is designed to flex and absorb imperfections.

On the highway, the Courser Trail delivers a quiet and controlled ride. There is minimal road noise or vibration transferred to the interior on smooth pavement.

The tread blocks remain stable at higher speeds.

Overall, the tire construction strikes a good balance between off-road capability and on-road comfort.

It avoids the bouncy ride that can occur with aggressive mud tires, while still soaking up hits from rocks or ruts when off-roading.

Drivers seeking comfort for long trips and daily driving will appreciate the Courser Trail’s smooth composure.

Treadwear

The Mastercraft Courser Trail tire is designed for peak treadwear performance and longevity.

Independent tests show the tire achieving 45,000 to 65,000 miles until the tread is worn down to 2/32 inches, depending on the vehicle and driving conditions.

This positions the Courser Trail in the top tier for treadwear amongst similar touring all-season tires.

The tires come with a 65,000 mile treadwear warranty when used on passenger cars and 60,000 miles when used on light truck/SUV applications.

To qualify for the warranty, the tires must be rotated every 6,000 miles.

This shows the confidence Mastercraft has in the robust tread compound and design optimized for enhanced treadlife.

Overall, drivers can expect to get several years and tens of thousands of miles out of a set of Courser Trail tires, making them an excellent value for everyday driving.

The tread is built to endure, combined with solid wet and dry grip throughout the life of the tire.

For those looking for maximum mileage without compromising performance, the Mastercraft Courser Trail is a top choice to consider.

Traction

The Courser Trail is built for excellent traction in a wide variety of conditions.

Gravel Traction

On gravel roads, the aggressive shoulder blocks and intermediate tread rows supply plenty of grip.

Testers found the tire very stable and planted on loose gravel, providing loads of traction for accelerating, cornering, and braking.

The distinct shoulder lugs have multiple biting edges to dig into the gravel, while the intermediate lugs help fill in the voids between the prominent outer blocks.

Mud Traction

In muddy conditions, the Courser Trail performs admirably thanks to its mud-clearing tread pattern.

The angular blocks eject mud effectively to maintain traction on sloppy trails. The tire is able to keep biting even as mud builds up within the tread.

The tire also supplies ample traction for muddy hill climbs without excessive wheel spin.

Snow/Ice Traction

For winter use, the Courser Trail provides respectable snow and ice grip.

The aggressive tread pattern enables the tire to claw into snowy and icy surfaces surprisingly well for an all-season tire.

Multiple testers used the tire year-round in cold winter climates and were impressed with its snow/ice capabilities.

While a dedicated winter tire would offer superior extreme weather traction, the Courser Trail is very capable as a single “do it all” tire.

Value

The Mastercraft Courser Trail tire offers excellent value compared to other all-terrain tires in its category.

Despite having a lower price tag than many competitors, the Courser Trail does not compromise on performance or durability.

At around $$ per tire, the Courser Trail is very competitively priced.

Brands like Toyo and BFGoodrich charge significantly more for their all-terrain tires, sometimes almost double the price.

Yet in testing, the Courser Trail performs nearly as well as more premium tires in most categories.

For a mid-range all-terrain tire, the Courser Trail provides exceptional traction and stability off-road and solid grip and handling on pavement.

Its aggressive tread pattern resists wear well for 40,000+ miles of life.

TheCourser Trail provides all the key features needed in an all-terrain tire at abudget-friendly price.

Compared to other value-oriented all-terrain tires like the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S, the Courser Trail has better wet braking and hydroplaning resistance according to TireRack tests. It also provides a smoother, quieter ride on-road.

Overall, drivers that want good all-terrain capabilities without breaking the bank will find excellent value in the Mastercraft Courser Trail.

It delivers impressive performance that rivals premium competitors, long treadwear, and a comfortable ride at an accessible price point.

For budget-focused buyers that still want quality, the Courser Trail is a top choice.

Appearance

The Mastercraft Courser Trail has a stylish, aggressive tread pattern that looks great on a variety of vehicles.

The asymmetric tread design features large, interlocking blocks for excellent traction in mud, dirt and snow.

The sculpted shoulder blocks give the tires a rugged and capable look.

The Courser Trail comes in a wide range of popular rim sizes from 15 to 20 inches to fit most trucks, SUVs and crossovers.

The robust sidewalls have a durable matte black finish that suits both off-road adventures and urban commutes.

Owners can choose between a standard blackwall or a white outlined lettering design.

Overall, the Mastercraft Courser Trail combines functionality with attractive on- and off-road aesthetics.

Drivers who want an aggressive and eye-catching tire for their truck or SUV will appreciate the bold styling of this model.

The versatile sizing options make this an appealing choice whether you want an off-road performer or a street-oriented all-terrain.

Conclusion

Overall, the Mastercraft Courser Trail is a solid all-season tire that performs well in most conditions.

Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons:

Pros

• Provides a smooth, comfortable ride
• Handles well on dry pavement
• Capable traction and handling in light snow
• Durable tread compound leads to long treadlife

Cons

• Noise on highways
• Lacks precision handling of a dedicated summer tire
• Not optimized for deep snow or icy conditions

The Mastercraft Courser Trail is best suited for crossover SUVs and light trucks that are primarily driven on paved roads but may encounter occasional snow, rain, and light off-road use.

Drivers who value a plush, quiet ride will appreciate the comfort-oriented design.

While it performs capably on snowy roads, it lacks the specialized winter traction of a dedicated snow tire.

Overall, it’s a great option for drivers looking for a dependable all-season tire that provides year-round traction at an affordable price.

It’s a well-rounded tire for commuting, hauling, and family vehicles.

Sources

This Mastercraft Courser Trail tire review is based on first-hand experience testing the tire, as well as research from several industry experts.

The tire specifications and technical details referenced are from the manufacturer’s official website and product brochures.

Additional insights into real world performance, ride quality, treadwear, and traction ratings were informed by reviews from industry publications like TireRack and Consumer Reports.

Pricing research utilized data aggregated from multiple online tire retailers.

Reputation scores referenced are from surveys and ratings on sites like Google and various online forums.

Comparisons to competitor tire models relied on testing data published by third party organizations like Car and Driver magazine.

The author has over 10 years of experience reviewing and testing tires across on and off-road conditions.

All impressions and conclusions are based on direct evaluation of the Courser Trail tire rather than second-hand accounts.

By synthesizing research, expert opinions, and real-world testing, this review aims to provide a comprehensive and impartial perspective on the Courser Trail’s capabilities as an all-terrain tire.

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