Hankook Dynapro AT2 vs Yokohama Geolandar G015

With innovative tread compounds, both the Hankook Dynapro AT2 and the Yokohama Geolandar G015 are designed to tackle any terrain with ease. Yet, the choice between them can be difficult. Let’s compare the technical specifications and performance data to determine the winner.

Being a tire engineer, from my perspective, the Dynapro AT2 although does great on dry roads, in terms of handling and steering response, its wet traction is not so appreciable. Though it does better in comparison, when it comes to off-road traction in rocks and mud and offers better tread life. The Yokohama G015 A/T on the other side is superb on wet roads, and gives you superior winter performance. Moreover, its one of the most comfortable tires out there in A/T category.

Sizes Specs

Starting with Hankook Dynapro AT2, this tire has following specs.

• Sizes: 15 to 22 inches
• Speed rating: S and T.
• Load Rating: SL, XL, C, D, E, and F.
• Weight: 29 to 80 lbs
• Tread depth: 12 to 16.4/32″
• Warranty: 60k miles for all

On the other hand, the Yokohama Geolandar AT provides 112 sizes (in 15 to 22 inches, rim diameters).

• Speed Ratings: R, S, T, and H.
• Load Ratings: SL, XL, C, D and E.
• Weight range: 25 to 70 lbs.
• Tread depth range, 12 to 18/32″ (most sizes have 17/32″).
• Warranty: 50k (LT sizes), 60k (non LT).
• Both 3PMSF and M+S Ratings Available.

Review this tire in more detail: https://tiredriver.com/yokohama-geolandar-g015-review/

Tread Features

The Yokohama Geolandar G015 although looks very aggressive, it’s overall structure is still very on-road oriented. Let me divide it’s tread pattern in to two parts.

Let’s start from the middle:

• It offers 3 longitudinal ribs here.
• The central one is narrower, and has lateral incisions in them (in the shape of thunderbolt lightning symbol) while the surrounding ones have the same ones placed longitudinally.
• Besides that all these blocks have sharp chamfered edges, and off-set sides, along with zigzag siping.

Towards the shoulders:

• Shoulder lugs are bigger in comparison, and are separated form the middle through wider longitudinal grooves.
• They have a combination of rectilinear and wave-like siping, have traction notches and form off-set sides.
• Towards outer edges although they don’t offer any mud scoops, they still give out ample bite with their stepped edges. Though the tire could use some sidewalls.

Moving towards the Hankook Dynapro AT2.

In the middle:

• Tire forms 3 main ribs, featuring 5 circumferential grooves.
• The middle most column is wider and has blocks with sideways facing notches, and stepped edges. Both of these basically provide enhanced off-road traction.
• The smaller surrounding ribs don’t have these biters, but they still have similar full depth sipes, which go all the way deep and provide chewing off-road.

On shoulders:

• Shoulder lugs are slightly bigger, or should I say elongated.
• Here, sipes are also less aggressive.
• And towards sides, they are missing with serrated edges (are smoother compared to Geolandar).
• The tire also does not make any sidewall lugs, just like its counterpart.
• Though with ridges placed in between lugs, you get ample lateral traction on highways.

Fuel And Tread Wear

As already mentioned in the (dry) handling department, the Yokohama G015 with it’s flexible tread, shows up with greater bending of the lugs, the tire gets to wasted more energy in to that, which could have consumed in the the maneuvering of the tire (as a whole).

That’s why with a firmer contact capability, seen on Dynarpo AT2, the tire gets to be more fuel efficient, even though it may seem odd, given its larger weight.

Moreover, with the tire’s harder rubber composition, you also get to face slower wear rate as well, that’s why it comes up with 60k miles warranty (where Geolandar gives you 50k).

• Do A/T tire give worse gas mileage? : https://tiredriver.com/do-all-terrain-tires-get-worse-gas-mileage/
• Do A/T tires wear faster? : https://tiredriver.com/do-all-terrain-tires-wear-faster/

Ride Quality

The comfort of a ride is impacted by two major elements – the tire tread noise and the tire’s effectiveness in mitigating road imperfections through its structure and tread design. And out of all A/T tires I’ve reviewed so far, let me tell you that it doesn’t come any better than the Geolandar G015 A/T.

In fact I couldn’t help it but rank the tire in my list of top all-terrain tires. Check it here.

The tire offers effective sound dampening capabilities with it’s superior pitch sequencing technology, and its softer compound yields better settling of the bumps in the tread, before it reached the drivers seat.

Moreover, its spirally wound nylon cap ply, and pliable polyester casing further add to that, resulting in smaller belt vibrations.

Hankook Dynapro AT2 on the other side features 3 ply polyester carcass and stiffer cap plies consisting of 2 layered polyamdie, so bumps aren’t settled well here.

Moreover, it’s stiffer outer skin isn’t helping to that either.

Though the tire does offer good enough capabilities when it comes to noise dampening, however still lacking than it’s counterpart.

Dry Performance

To properly evaluate the dry performance of these tires, I examined their lateral and directional gripping efficacy. Let’s examine each of these factors one by one.

Dry Grip

Dry grip is actually a directional component of a tire’s traction, meaning its a tire’s friction with the surface while rolling straight. That’s why it gets calculated with braking distances.

And out of both tires, the Hankook Dynapro AT2 is quicker to stop (during testing), which is credited to it’s central most continuous running rib with wider structure, making greater contact with the road.

Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 on the other side, although also features a consistent running rib over there, it’s too narrower in comparison, so naturally you see limited performance here.

Dry Handling

The weight of the tire during cornering is (almost) shifted towards shoulders, which then make the most stable contact with the ground. That’s why their structure along with tread flexibility are highly crucial components here.

And in both of them, the Dynapro AT2 is taking the lead. If you consider its tread, you’d note that the tire offers a more packed up outer ribs, so it’s connecting ability with the ground (during turns) is greater.

Moreover, the tire also features a stiffer rubber composition. This does not allow them to flex too much as the shoulder lugs bear all the pressure form the weight. This renders faster steering response and with it handling times.

Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 on the other side, is lacking in both key areas, comparatively, it’s lateral gaps between shoulder blocks is greater, and its pliable compound is more susceptible to bending as the tire corners, so you see slower steering feedback.

Though as the tire is lighter in comparison, the difference is very small, and is only seen on the paper.

Wet Traction

Wet roads are very different, and here instead of contact patch, you need sipes.

These, simply put, are slits on the tread, which literally soak up water particles while the rest of it move out through the help of grooves. And so this tells us that those sipes also need flexibility to create a suction for the left over water.

That’s why out of both tires, the Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 shows up with shorter braking distances and wet handling times with it’s malleable tread, and zigzag (interlocking) siping, offering better wiping abilities.

Hankook Dynapro AT2 on the other side, although features similar resistant to hydroplaning, its stiffer compound can’t wipe off the left over water in as much of a better way as its counterpart.

Durability

Durability in off-road tires mostly comes from internal construction, though on they also features a chip resistant rubber and a large tread depth on the outside.

And so out of both tire, it makes sense why the Hankook AT2 with it’s 3 ply polyester casing offers superior durability. The tire also features 2 cap plies on top of it’s stronger carcass as well.

The weaker Yokohama Geolandar G015 on the other side, only comes with 2 ply sides, and a single nylon ply, though it’s spirally wound, which adds to it’s stability.

Off Road Traction

The off-road realm can be rough, particularly with terrains such as mud, rocks and sand. Though some lighter ones aren’t that complicated such as gravel. Let’s investigate all of them.

On Sand

The tire’s air pressure, weight, and tread composition all impact its performance on sand, where you’d want to stay afloat as much as possible.

That’s why with softer compound and lighter weight the Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 gets to be better here.

Hankook Dynapro AT2 on the other side, is way heavier with it’s 3 ply sides, and its stiffer sides, make it more prone to dig on this soft terrain.

On Mud

All-terrain tires can struggle in mud as their narrower grooves don’t allow for efficient evacuation, that’s why its not wise to take any of these tires on deeper muddy terrains.

Though out of them, you would still find better results with Dynapro AT2. This tire although is very lug-crowded, is still slightly more spacious comparatively.

And with a more random placement of the blocks, it accounts for better mud scooping abilities.

The Yokohama G015 A/T on the other side has a very straight-forward longitudinal grooves, and so besides limiting sideways evacuation of the mud, the tire does not paddle on this terrain as well.

On Rocks

Rocky terrains require tires to have ample durability (as it’s the most puncturing terrain out there). Moreover, you also need a ton of biters all over the tread.

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 features 3 ply sidewalls, so durability is stronger here. And, although both tires get to offer decent biters all over the tread, the Geolandar A/T is missing with effective siping.

On Hankook AT2 these sipes are capable of splitting open the blocks, providing further chewing abilities.

Though both tires could really use some sidewall lugs.

Winter Performance

The assessment of a tire’s performance in snowy conditions is based on its ability to provide stability while stopping, handle turns with control, and effectively accelerate on different snow and ice surfaces.

Both tires show up similar acceleration capabilities, and so it makes sense why both of them get to have 3 peak mountain snowflake ratings (as it’s the acceleration test, on hard packed snow).

This rating basically tell you that the tire offers 10% better acceleration compared to average all season tires.

Though in the handling department, the Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 takes the lead, still.

This has to with its superior snow holding abilities. Let me explain.

Basically on snow, you have to make as much snow to snow contact as possible, this is because this type of contact generates better friction, compared to rubber to snow, as snowflakes like to stick on to each other.

Hankook Dynapro AT2 although presents a lot of biters on it’s tread as well, it’s snow grabbing abilities are still limited mostly because stiffer rubber, which is not that thermal adaptive.

Verdict

Both tires have their good and bad.

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 is great on dry roads, in terms of traction, tread life and off-road offers superior grip on mud and rocks, though lacks in sand to its counterpart.

The Geolandar A/T G015 on the flip side is great on wet performance, and offers amazing comfort values without compromising too much on fuel economy.