How do you like the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20

[sharp4runr]

I just got my 4Runner Sport about 2 weeks ago and they came with the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 tires all around. I was wondering what everyone's impressions on the tires were. Do you like them, hate them? What do you like and don't like about them.

I found this review over at Tirerack.com and let's say it's not a glowing review: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Grandtrek+AT20

So far I have no complaints on the tires. I've driven on dry, rainy and ice/sleet conditions and they seem to perform very well. I only have about 500 miles on them so I can't really give much on experience. The real test I guess is how they'll perform in the snow and a bit of offroading. I go offroading every once in a while, pretty much when I go play paintball. Please post your comments...

 

[Woodbert]

I had mine for about 7 months and they are nice enough road tires and provide a nice, quiet, smooth ride. They are however otherwise useless, particulary for any off-raod type activities.

I replaced mine with the Dueler A/T REVO and they are the BEST for both worlds.

 

[nathannookie]

I have them too. Guess it'll be nice when I get the Michelin's when these wear out......in less than 20K miles from what I've read.

I'm pretty happy with my Sport's handling, with these, so I guess it can only get even better.

 

[NoDak]

the at20 are ok for free tires. i will replace them when the time comes with some revo's. but if they last as long as my goodyear RTS, i may never get new tires for awhile.

btw the oem tires lasted till 57k miles on my 98 runners, but then again i hardly get on my vehicles like i use too in my younger days.

 

[toyo]

I have those on my 04 Sport. I have 15k miles on them. They are pretty smooth, but worthless in the mud. I am starting to get a roar at 73 mph, I think its the tires.

 

[Guest]

Dunlop Grandtrek AT20, my impression is that they are a good looking OEM street tire. The tread is thin, less noise but it seems like they will wear out fast.

My biggest problem with them, like Woodbert said, is they are useless offroad. Go over a few rocks and the sidewalls scuff pretty easily and I worry about the thin casing ripping. A few off road trips and the tires are done.

I guess it would be the same with any OEM tire.

 

[nathannookie]

Gas Milage lower with REVO's?

I had mine for about 7 months and they are nice enough road tires and provide a nice, quiet, smooth ride. They are however otherwise useless, particulary for any off-raod type activities.

I replaced mine with the Dueler A/T REVO and they are the BEST for both worlds.

I've read others complaints about gas milage reduction, when they switched to the A/T Revo.

Any truth to it?

They liked handling, wear, and traction off-road, but not the gas milage.

 

[jharris2]

Re: Gas Milage lower with REVO's?

I've read others complaints about gas milage reduction, when they switched to the A/T Revo.

Any truth to it?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2652

 

[darktiger]

The Dunlop seems to be okay, but I prob will switch when the time comes.

 

[sharp4runr]

Just wanted to say I had my first experience with them off road. I went paintballing this weekend and piled in a couple of my buds into the Runner. Along with all our gear the Runner didn't feel too sluggish. We hit mainley gravel sections with big puddles. There were some small elevation changes as well. All in all the tires performed pretty well and I had no problems pulling through the mud. The same couldn't have been said of a Landcruiser

I'll replace them with some better AT tires when the time comes, but for OEM tires they're pretty good...

 

[nathannookie]

Re: Re: Gas Milage lower with REVO's?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2652

Thanks. The thread gets into tire weight and circumference issues affecting gas mileage, but what about the more aggressive tread?

How much would you lose in gas mileage, with a more aggressive tread?

 

[Phil]

I dunno about tread pattern and gas mileage, but I will comment on the original post about the Dunlop AT20's.

I rode on the Dunlops for a little over 1 year, and recently picked up a set of Michelin Cross Terrains. Both sets of tires were/are P265/65R17 set at 32 lbs.

To my untrained senses, the Dunlops are definitely smoother on the road than the Michelins. It is a subtle difference, but noticeable. Maybe it is the somewhat more aggressive tread pattern on the Michelins, maybe something else, I dunno. Also, at the same tire pressure, the Michelins feel a little more firm and small bumps in the road are lightly more noticeable.

The Dunlops seem to "track towards the center" better than the Michelins. This is sort of a strange effect actually, but on a flat road with no crown, the Dunlops seem to naturally center the steering wheel better than the Michelins - even if the steering wheel is not perfectly centered when you take your hands off, it will work its way towards the center with the Dunlops. With the Michelins, if the steering wheel is ever so slightly off center when you take your hands off, then it will maintain that orientation indefinitely (taking you off of your intended path). It is a subtle difference for sure, but noticeable (at least I think it is). Otherwise both tires track true and straight.

Both tires are excellent on wet surfaces. I couldn't make the Dunlops slide on a wet surface even when I tried. Maybe it is actually the 2003 AWD that is responsible for the excellent wet traction, I dunno. Well, ok, once my rear end slid out a bit but it was during an intense downpour and I was turning while applying gas... The Michelins are equally good on wet surfaces.

The Michelins are more precise steering than the Dunlops. This effect is somewhere between subtle and noticeable in my opinion. It is especially noticeable on high speed cornering, not that you should do that in an SUV of course, but sometimes it just happens. I think that there is a bit of flex or something in the Dunlop sidewalls that causes the tire to roll a little on hard cornering.

The Dunlops did ok on snow covered roads. Not great but certainly acceptable. No snow since I got the Michelins, but I don't expect that they will do any better.

As far as off-road goes, well, come on kids, both of these tires are designed for the road not the trail, and I wouldn't expect too much.

In short, I think that the Dunlops are good smooth riding tires that don't inspire confidence during high speed cornering maneuvers, and the Michelins are precise steering tires with a ride quality that is ever so slightly more truck like.

Shorter yet, I'd say that IMO most people seem to underrate the Dunlops and overrate the Michelins.