- Signs you need to change your off-road tires
- Things to consider when buying off-road tires
- Atturo Trail Blade XT Review
- Alternatives to Atturo Trail Blade XT tires
- Frequently Asked Questions about Atturo Trail Blade XT tires
- Conclusion - Atturo Trail Blade XT tires perform well across different conditions with some downsides
Our Atturo Trail Blade XT review will give you an in-depth look at these all-terrain tires.
Driving off-road will require tires that are suitably equipped to deal with difficult terrain. This includes dealing with excessive mud, as well as on rocky and uneven ground while maintaining comfort and durability.
The Atturo Trail Blade XT tires are designated as a ‘hybrid’ tire. This means that they should be able to handle off-road conditions while also providing a smooth and comfortable ride when driving on normal roads.
We’ll look at things you should look out for when buying off-road tires, a deep dive into the Trail Blade XT tires and their features as well as any alternatives that are out there.
First of all, let’s explore the signs that may be an indication you need to change your mud tires.
Table of Contents
Signs you need to change your off-road tires
Changing tires is one of the most important parts of vehicle maintenance. Not only is it vital from a safety point of view but it also helps with fuel efficiency and comfort.
If you aren’t sure when you should change your tires, these are the main things that you should look out for.
General wear
Tires, especially off-road tires, can suffer a significant amount of general wear and tear. This is down to the fact that you are driving on rough terrain.
Some things you should look for include:
- Uneven tread wear
- Shallow tread grooves
Some tires will have wear bars on the actual tread pattern so you can see how close the tire is to become worn out. Driving off-road with tires that have excessive wear will result in poor grip and traction and can be a big safety issue.
Excessive vibrations
Another sign that you may need to change your tires is that you are experiencing excessive vibrations when driving.
Vibrations themselves don’t necessarily mean that your tires need to be changed – they can be caused by lots of things including problems with your vehicle exhaust. That being said, a really uncomfortable and bumpy ride is a good indication that you need to check your tires.
If they have become damaged or are excessively worn, you’ll notice that each drive will get more uncomfortable even in off-road conditions.
Damage
Lastly, lookout for signs of obvious damage.
This goes beyond general wear and tear and is more about other forms of damage to your tires. This can be nails or screws stuck into the tire, damaged valve caps, or unusual damages to certain areas of the tire.
Due to the conditions that you will likely be driving in if you do go onto rough terrain, the chances of damage being caused to your tires can be quite high.
Things to consider when buying off-road tires
Durability
Perhaps the most important specification of an off-road tire (alongside traction) is how durable it is.
Driving on unkempt roads, rocky conditions and muddy terrain is going to cause some damage. You need to ensure that the tires you buy can stand up to this and that you aren’t going to need to replace them in the short term.
If you don’t do a lot of off-road driving, all-terrain tires could potentially be enough. These can be used both in normal road conditions and in back roads too. If you mainly do off-road driving, then dedicated tires to be used off the beaten track are advised.
Traction
Everyday roads are designed to create a consistent grip for your tires however, driving off-road and in less than ideal conditions means dealing with poor control.
This is why looking at the features of a tire that give you added traction is vital.
Off-road tires do have a focus on traction and you should look out for things such as the weight, how they are designed, and the amount of grip they provide on uneven and slippy terrain.
Warranty
Another thing to consider before diving in and making a purchase is the warranty period.
If something does go wrong not long after you have bought the tires, you want the peace of mind that you are covered.
Warranty does differ quite a lot between tire manufacturers. It is usually set out in terms of the number of miles that the tires will be covered for.
Vehicle compatibility
Lastly, you need to find out if the tires are compatible with your vehicle.
It sounds quite simple. However, many people rush into a purchase and buy a set of tires that aren’t even compatible with the vehicle that they own. This can cause a headache in having to return the tires and swap them for a model that actually fits your car, SUV, or truck.
Make sure that you check what tires can be used for your vehicle. This includes things such as the size, width, etc… and ensure that you purchase the right model.
Atturo Trail Blade XT Review
OK, so we have explored the signs you might need to change your off-road tires and also some things to consider before you do go and make a purchase.
Now it is time to get to the point of this review – to explore the Atturo Trail Blade XT features and how these tires perform.
Durability
The Atturo Trail Blade XT tires are a kind of hybrid – they are known as ‘all-terrain tires’ – however one key feature that makes them ideal for off-road driving is their durability.
They have a Knife Blade sidewall which provides a good level of protection and this is enhanced with a rim guard which helps shield them against all sorts of damage. They aren’t indestructible by any means however they do a pretty good job at handling rough terrain.
The LT version of the tires comes with a 3-ply sidewall which adds further durability and strength.
Overall they are as solidly built as you would expect to find from an all-terrain tire. Sure, there are better off-road tires out there, but these are designed for several purposes: hitting the rocky and uneven ground to driving on flat and paved surfaces.
Traction
As we mentioned above, traction is vital for a safe off-road experience where you have control over your vehicle.
The Atturo Trail Blade XT tire comes with a tread that has been optimized for both off-road and normal driving conditions. This is achieved with large shoulder blocks, sipes across the tread that help in snowy and icy weather while alternating horizontal and vertical sipes.
The traction on these tires is pretty good. With an aggressive tread design and the features above, they handle well in less than ideal conditions. This includes mud and rocky back roads.
One area where they don’t cope that well is with packed snow. The traction isn’t great and we didn’t really expect it to be so you should invest in some proper winter tires or tire chains.
Regular driving
One thing we have found with many off-road tires is that their performance with ordinary road surfaces can be quite poor.
Even many all-terrain tires can suffer on flat and smooth surfaces as the emphasis tends to shift towards poor terrain.
That being said, we have found the Atturo Trail Blade XT tires to perform admirably in normal driving conditions. They have good grip and traction on dry tarmac, and driving with these tires on is pretty smooth. There isn’t a lot to fault the Atturo Trail Blade XT tires with on normal road surfaces.
They might not be top of the range in wet and slippery conditions however as an option on both off-road and concrete surfaces, we really like their overall performance.
We also found that these tires did make a large amount of noise, especially over long journeys. It is a bit of a drawback with the Atturo Trail Blade XT tires as there is a constant humming sound. OK for short distances but over long periods it gets pretty annoying.
Vehicle Compatibility
These tires do have compatibility with a wide number of vehicles.
You can find them in sizes 17, 18, 20, 22, and 24 inches.
As we mentioned previously, make sure you check that these tires are definitely compatible with your vehicle before you go and make a purchase. However, they do fit on many major makes and models including Mazda, Land Rover, Dodge Ram, Cadillac Escalade, and many Nissan trucks.
Warranty
You get a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty with these tires.
This lies somewhere in the middle of having no warranty at all and having a really good warranty. It isn’t great but it is far from terrible either.
These tires are durable and well made though so the chances of you having to use this warranty are low. It is something to be aware of as you’ll no doubt see tires with a better warranty on the market.
Pros of Atturo Trail Blade XT tires
- Provide great traction and control in off-road conditions
- Also, perform well with good grip and comfort on normal roads
- Strong and durable with a great construction
- Compatible with a wide range of vehicles
Cons of Atturo Trail Blade XT tires
- Do make noise over long periods on normal road surfaces
- The warranty could be better
Alternatives to Atturo Trail Blade XT tires
BF GOODRICH Mud Terrain T/A KM3 All-Season Radial Tire
If you aren’t too fussed about the Atturo Trail Blade XT tires even after reading our review, the BF GOODRICH Mud Terrain T/A KM3 All-Season Radial tires are a good alternative.
They feature something called a Terrain-Attack Tread Design, specifically formulated to work in mud and other loose driving conditions. These tires handle very well and the advanced UTV-specific tread compounds provide control and grip in rocky terrain too.
These tires can also be used on a variety of different surfaces and perform pretty well on normal road conditions. There are a few reports of these tires not handling particularly well on wet surfaces especially after 20,000 miles.
This is a good all-terrain tire that performs well across various terrain and they are compatible with most major brands including Nissan, Toyota, Chevrolet, and Jeep Wrangler.
Dick Cepek Extreme Country All-Terrain Radial Tire
The second alternative to the Atturo Trail Blade XT is the Dick Cepek Extreme Country All-Terrain Radial Tire.
We actually had a look at these tires for F150 trucks however they are compatible with a wide range of different vehicles.
These tires are very durable as they come with an integrated two-ply high tensioning advanced generation body ply cord. You’ll also find superior traction with a wide outer void in addition to an angled shoulder. They perform very well in both off-road situations and normal driving conditions.
These tires are a good all-rounder that can be used in normal driving conditions as well as handling tricky back roads and trails.
Frequently Asked Questions about Atturo Trail Blade XT tires
Question: What are all-terrain tires?
Answer: All-terrain tires have been manufactured so that they work effectively across different driving conditions. Rather than having to change your tires when you go off-road, all-terrain tires can handle smooth surfaces and rocky, wet, and muddy conditions.
Question: How often should I change my tires?
Answer: It depends. Sometimes you may need to change your tires regularly if they become damaged through driving over poor surfaces. Most tires, especially all-terrain tires, are very durable so shouldn’t need to be changed very often but you need to check them regularly for wear, tear, and damage.
Question: Can I fit Atturo Trail Blade XT tires myself?
Answer: If you know how to do this, yes. Changing tires isn’t a particularly difficult maintenance job but it does require some mechanic knowledge to ensure that they are fitted properly. If you feel confident doing this then yes, you can fit them yourself. If you are in any doubt, it is best to get a qualified mechanic to do this for you.
Question: Do the Atturo Trail Blade XT tires come with a warranty?
Answer: Yes. These tires have a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty. They are well-made and durable tires so you hopefully shouldn’t run into any problems but the warranty is there if you need it.
Question: Can I use the Atturo Trail Blade XT tires in the snow?
Answer: Yes. They are all-terrain and can handle certain snowy conditions. They often don’t perform as well in packed snow. If you regularly experience really poor snowy conditions you might want to invest in proper winter tires. These tires will be designed to cope with ice and snow.
Conclusion – Atturo Trail Blade XT tires perform well across different conditions with some downsides
There are a lot of great things that we like with the Atturo Trail Blade XT tires.
We weren’t overly surprised that they perform really well across various driving conditions. They are all-terrain tires at the end of the day however some tires we review don’t cope well on certain back roads. That being said, Atturo Trail Blade XT tires are great on rocky roads, mud, sand, and in certain wintery conditions.
The durability of these tires is of a high standard too. They come with a Knife Blade sidewall and rim guard which strengthens them and helps protect against damage. Traction is good as well and we found that even in particularly challenging conditions, they provided good comfort and grip.
Even driving on paved and smooth roads, the Atturo Trail Blade XT tires maintained a high level of traction and you also have the feeling that you are in control.
Where these tires do let themselves down a bit is with the excessive noise over long distances. It isn’t something that you notice off-road but you will notice it driving on the highway for a few hours. It can get pretty annoying and we would have liked to have seen a better warranty as well.
However, do these drawbacks put us off from buying these tires?
No really, no. We like the overall performance they deliver and they come in at a fairly reasonable price.
If you want an all-round decent performer that’ll handle a range of different driving conditions, you can do a lot worse than consider the Atturo Trail Blade XT tires.
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