The great debate! Duratracs VS. MTZ's
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Jim82
New member
I don't know much about the MTZ's, but, the Duratracs are not a quite tire. A great tire, but not quite, IMO.
Have you looked at the Goodyear Silent Armor or the Goodyear Adventurer? I belive the Adventurer is an updated replacement for the SA. I have the SA's and they are a lot more quite than my Cooper AT I had on my previous vehicle and the Duratracs I have on my work vehicles. Both the SA and Adventurer have Kevlar fiber. However, neither are as aggressiving looking as the Duratracs. But, should handle decently on rocks, just maybe not sharp rocks and not to the extent that a Duratrac can take on rocks.
dirtbike250x
New member
The Duratrac isn't a loud tire though either. With windows up or down and radio off you can hear a hum coming from the tires but nothing more. Nothing like a MT tire would.
Personal opinion, the Duratrac is the better choice here.
Personal opinion, the Duratrac is the better choice here.
aha2988
New member
I've ran both,
my opinions:
Duratracs:
pros: very aggressive all terrain tread
allows ice rivets/spikes (whatever you call them) studs to be installed
quiet on road for how aggressive they are
decent traction on ice (we dont get much snow in my area).
Good millage range 40k+
Cons: Lack of outer lugs for sidewall traction off road
inconsistent wear (I would find hairy spots in the rubber in random sections of tread) I might have had a bad batch
Thin sidewalls even in the 10ply option
They didnt get much traction on wet rocks off-roading
Mickey Thompson MTZ's:
Pros: Very quiet on the highway
good longevity (40k +) highway mileage
Even wear throughout the tire
great traction on wet rocks, mud, and dirt (and probably snow but I dont see much powder around here)
strong sidewalls and decent outer lugs for sidewall traction and support
carries the name mickey thompson lol
Cons: Pricey
poor traction on ice (we dont get much snow in my area)
lacks ability to install studs/rivets/spikes
I enjoyed both tires; however, when it came time to replace the mickey's I went back with a second set of mickeys over the duratracs. Off road I feel the MTZ's will win everytime. If I did more driving in snow and ice I'd likely step back into the duratracs.
Either way I dont think you'll regret the decision. they're both great tires.
my opinions:
Duratracs:
pros: very aggressive all terrain tread
allows ice rivets/spikes (whatever you call them) studs to be installed
quiet on road for how aggressive they are
decent traction on ice (we dont get much snow in my area).
Good millage range 40k+
Cons: Lack of outer lugs for sidewall traction off road
inconsistent wear (I would find hairy spots in the rubber in random sections of tread) I might have had a bad batch
Thin sidewalls even in the 10ply option
They didnt get much traction on wet rocks off-roading
Mickey Thompson MTZ's:
Pros: Very quiet on the highway
good longevity (40k +) highway mileage
Even wear throughout the tire
great traction on wet rocks, mud, and dirt (and probably snow but I dont see much powder around here)
strong sidewalls and decent outer lugs for sidewall traction and support
carries the name mickey thompson lol
Cons: Pricey
poor traction on ice (we dont get much snow in my area)
lacks ability to install studs/rivets/spikes
I enjoyed both tires; however, when it came time to replace the mickey's I went back with a second set of mickeys over the duratracs. Off road I feel the MTZ's will win everytime. If I did more driving in snow and ice I'd likely step back into the duratracs.
Either way I dont think you'll regret the decision. they're both great tires.
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TCMach
New member
I'd have to disagree with aha. Living in CO ive had my MTZ in all kinds of snow and they've never given me any issues. On the street they're excellent in the snow even with my lockright in the back. Snow wheeling I've ran them up against duratracs and came out better in some situations. Paging [MENTION=63060]rickashay[/MENTION] for a 2nd snow review of MTZs.....
Now I've never ran duratracs on my truck, I've only ridden in a truck with them so take my opinion of them as an observer.
MTZs
Pros:
-quiet, more quiet than any other mud terrain I've ridden in
-no adverse effects in snow or rain
-great sidewall, excellent stability on road and they mold really well offroad (20 psi yields an excellent tire mold)
-I've only got 10k on mine but they're holding up very well. I imagine I could get 40k easy
-superb traction on rocks, dirt, mud and everything else you'll run into
-badass looks
-makes your friends jealous (cough [MENTION=78892]FR4R[/MENTION])
Cons:
-somewhat heavy, not Toyo MT status but heavier than duratracs I'd imagine
-chunking, no more than KM2s and duratracs though (based on extensive scientific research with my eyes)
The big thing here is you are comparing a full mud tire to a more hybrid all terrain. Duratracs have more siping and blocks so they should handle snow better, I don't know for sure as I've never ran them. Also mud tires are generally softer so they wont last as long.
Now I've never ran duratracs on my truck, I've only ridden in a truck with them so take my opinion of them as an observer.
MTZs
Pros:
-quiet, more quiet than any other mud terrain I've ridden in
-no adverse effects in snow or rain
-great sidewall, excellent stability on road and they mold really well offroad (20 psi yields an excellent tire mold)
-I've only got 10k on mine but they're holding up very well. I imagine I could get 40k easy
-superb traction on rocks, dirt, mud and everything else you'll run into
-badass looks
-makes your friends jealous (cough [MENTION=78892]FR4R[/MENTION])
Cons:
-somewhat heavy, not Toyo MT status but heavier than duratracs I'd imagine
-chunking, no more than KM2s and duratracs though (based on extensive scientific research with my eyes)
The big thing here is you are comparing a full mud tire to a more hybrid all terrain. Duratracs have more siping and blocks so they should handle snow better, I don't know for sure as I've never ran them. Also mud tires are generally softer so they wont last as long.
downpour11
New member
x2 ^^^
I loved my MTZ's. Got a good 15+ snow runs in with them right after I moved to Norcal and had no problems and they air down very well at 5-6psi. If I ever got them again, I'd get them siped but they were awesome tires. Some chunking, but nothing crazy. I got 40k out of them. I'd take a set again but it's hard to compete with Irok's now lol.
I loved my MTZ's. Got a good 15+ snow runs in with them right after I moved to Norcal and had no problems and they air down very well at 5-6psi. If I ever got them again, I'd get them siped but they were awesome tires. Some chunking, but nothing crazy. I got 40k out of them. I'd take a set again but it's hard to compete with Irok's now lol.
aha2988
New member
lol okay when I speak of snow I really mean ICE because thats really all we get in the Charlotte area of NC.
Fishwerks
New member
:flipoff:
But the last couple sentences here are good points. I have had no issues with my duratracs on- or off-road, but I haven't ran any other tires to compare. From what I have seen wheeling with [MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION] we both seem to climb ledges and hook on rocks well, and both tires slide around on wet rocks. Our trucks are set up different so it isn't just tires making the difference, but I haven't seen a situation where he gets through and I don't due to the duratracs not hooking up where the MTZs do (or vice versa).
Both are good tires. Duratracs aren't popular with people who wheel super hard because of the 2-ply sidewalls where the MTZs have 3 (correct me if I'm wrong!). The MTZs are slightly more aggressive in tread design, the duratracs have more siping and maybe less noise, but all aggressive tires get loud as they wear.
I don't think either tire is "better" at face value. The duratracs are for someone who wants a bad ass tire to do everything well. The MTZ are for someone who wants a bad ass tire to do everything well that is tougher off-road due to sidewall strength and tread design. I don't think either tire will let you down, unless you don't want road noise. If you don't have budget constraints get the ones that you think look cooler (my vote - Mickeys….damnit). If you are on a budget get the cheaper tire (probably duratracs but I don't know). Mickey is probably the stronger off-road candidate, but I'm still a fan of duratracs. Although I may go to MTZs next to switch it up...
TCMach
New member
In that case yes. You might aswell have slicks on in packed/solid ice. In a mix of ice and snow my previous review stands.
Although in honesty I agree with what he said. They're both very good tires and we have followed each other all over colorado with no issues besides when one of us bites of more than we can chew.
The sidewalls on the MTZs are awesome in the rocks. I forgot about the ply difference. I've wheeled low psi on sharp granite back in Oklahoma and all I have to show for it is a tiny rock rash on the side. Didn't even go all the way through the first layer either.
Bandit Runner
Senior Member
I have MTZ's on my 4Runner, and my wife has Duratracs on her FJCruiser, so I have some experience with each. I agree with pretty much everything said so far in this thread. The MTZ's are obviously much more aggresive, and therefore louder on the street. We haven't noticed any noise with the Duratracs at all. The MTZ's are much better in the mud also.
Overall, they are both great tires. They are top of the line in each of their catagories. You can't go wrong with either tire. It just depends on if you want a mud terrain or an all terrain.
Overall, they are both great tires. They are top of the line in each of their catagories. You can't go wrong with either tire. It just depends on if you want a mud terrain or an all terrain.
N_bannerman
New member
I'm also going between both tires, how do the mtz's do on hard pack snow and gravel roads? Summer time, my rigs see lots of gravel to get to the mountain bike trail heads and winter time, I take the runner up for easy snow wheeling when the truck is pulled apart.
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