Both the Hankook Dynapro ATM and the Goodyear Wrangler Adventure are ideal selections for today’s full-sized pickup trucks such as the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-250, Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Titan, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tacoma. Though there are a few key differences that you need to know about them. Let’s check them out!
In my expert opinion as a tire engineer, the Hankook Dynapro ATM having more durability and an interlocking central section does better with off-road tracks, but that does not means it lacks overall on pavements, as it also delivers better winter and wet traction with it as well. In comparison, the Goodyear Wrangler Adventure yields better dry traction, and the tire is relatively better in the fuel economy, and tread life department, Moreover, you also get a generally better ride comfort with it too.
Table of Contents
Sizes Facts
Goodyear Wrangler Adventure Kevlar, comes in 15 to 20 inches, having following specs:
- Speed ratings: R, S, T and H.
- Load ratings: SL, XL, C and E.
- Weight range: 34 to 60 lbs.
- Tread depth: 12/32″ or 15/32″.
- Winter ratings: 3PMSF and M+S.
- Tread warranty: 60k for all sizes.
The Hankook Dynapro ATM, on the other hand, provides you with following.
- Sizes: 15 to 20″ (same as above).
- Speed ratings: R, S and T.
- Load ratings: SL to E.
- Weight range: 32 to 78 lbs.
- Tread depth: 12.5 to 16.5/32″.
- Winter ratings: 3PMSF and M+S rated.
- Treadwear warranty: 50K miles (for non LT sizes).
Tread Appearance
Starting from the Hankook Dynapro ATM, the tire features a 5 rib design.
Let me start things off on this tire form the middle.
The central most rib contains slightly wider blocks, and as they join up with each other, they render directional on-road grip with better rubber to surface connection.
The surrounding ribs have blocks running in pairs, so although they do not form any consistent running pattern, you do get every two block joined up with each other and that supplies ample stability.
Though still, out of all, the shoulder ribs are packed up the most.
All these shoulder blocks are basically sitting on a secondary (continuous running) rubber layer, so you get a very on-road oriented design here. Though these lugs are not staggered.
On the other side, the Goodyear Wrangler Adventure also features a 5 rib design, though it’s structure is slightly more open.
Starting form the middle, the tread features 3 ribs here of almost equal width.
The middle most rib is made more longitudinally aligned though, making straight lateral grooves/gaps in between.
The lugs there have interlocking sipes further dividing these lugs, and their sides have off-sets, promoting bite on all kinds of surfaces.
The surrounding ribs have lugs placed at an angle.
They all make 4 circumferential channels, though the outer two are made slightly wider and are equipped with multiple stone ejectors.
Moving on shoulders, here, blocks have both lateral and longitudinal grooves and siping slits, and at the same time they are made stable for lateral traction with lugs joining up on sidewalls.
Feel of Ride
The comfort level of a ride is dependent on two defining factors:
- How much a tire generates on-road noise?
- And how well it absorbs the imperfections of the surface, its on?
Let’s take a look at them both separately.
On-Road Noise
Noise gets produced with air particles coming in (thorough shoulder voids, mostly), and hitting the tread walls.
So it makes sense why with a balder overall structure, the Hankook Dynapro ATM comes out louder.
Whereas the Goodyear All-Terrain Adventure having compact shoulders, don’t allow as much air to get in, and the little that does is treated with it’s computer optimized shifting pattern, which dampens down the noise levels in a very unique way.
Basically the geometry of all its lugs vary form each other slightly, and air particles hitting them at different angles create more variations in frequencies of sound waves, which are canceled out with each other.
Impact Comfort
The Goodyear Adventure is also great at settling down the bumps on roads, as well.
With it’s tread having more pliability, the lugs mold and compress against the surface shocks, and dampen down the vibrations more effectively, before it reaches the drivers seat.
The Hankook Dynapro ATM on the other side, comes with a stiffer tread composition, and lacks providing the same degree of bumps soaking.
Off Road Performance
I evaluated both these tires in all rugged paths, well, at least famous ones. So let me discuss the performance of them both, below.
Muddy Tracks
Out of both tires, the Hankook Dynapro ATM shows up with better traction, due to it’s more voided tread structure.
With a balder design, it evacuates more mud out at a given time, which is also aided by its greater tread depth as well.
The Goodyear Adventure on the other hand, only allow mud to leave out longitudinally, and not laterally, because of continuous running vertical ribs (coming in the way). So it takes the back seat here naturally.
Rocks
The Hankook ATM is also taking the lead on rocky terrains. The tire is equipped with a lot more biting edges, and although it’s sidewall lugs are nothing to be proud off, they still provide you with some additional traction with lowered air pressure.
The Goodyear Adventure is missing with sidewall lugs completely, and it’s longitudinally aligned lugs don’t do much when it comes to rock climbing.
On Sand
Sand traction requires a lot of rubber footprint. That’s why balloon tires do so good on this terrain.
Although both tires have a very similar outer shoulder area, the Dynapro ATM, as mentioned above, features sidewall lugs. So how this helps?
Well, these lugs basically expand out and enhance the overall tread footprint (contacting the sand), allowing for better floating abilities.
Of course, thy do that when the tire is ran with reduced air pressure PSI.
Wet Traction
Two things are fairly important when it comes to wet performance, grip and resistance to hydroplaning.
Let’s check them out both.
Wet Grip
In this performance area, the Hankook Dynapro ATM has a better aid. Its equipped with longer full depth sipes, having a 3d interlocking pattern. And all these sipes are more flexible to contract/expand to create suction for the particles coming underneath the blocks.
In comparison, the Goodyear Adventure although may seem to have interlocking pattern of sipes as well, they are not 3D (meaning they aren’t like that all the way to the base), so with wear, it’s wet traction gets compromised, more, relatively.
Moreover, like already explained, it’s tread compound does not have a lot of silica in it’s composition, so they don’t deliver sipes with the needed pliability, to wipe off water particles as effectively, as its counterpart.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning happens when a tire floats on water (when it’s not cleared off in time). And it can be further used to explain why Goodyear All-Terrain Adventure is lacking in overall wet traction.
The tire although have 4 equally wide aqua channels, that allow water to leave out longitudinally, they are restricted to move out in the lateral direction.
Whereas the Hankook ATM with its interlocked central structure gives water multiple pathways to gush out of the tread, faster.
And so with less water getting out, the Goodyear Adventure has more accumulated in, for the sipes. And as we have already seen its sipes are less effective.
Highway Performance
When it comes to dry performance on highways, there are 3 important things to consider, dry grip, handling and steering feedback, let’s analyze them all one by one.
Dry Grip
Dry grip is the measurement of rolling friction with the ground, and it depends on the tire’s structure, weight and overall footprint.
Having said that, the Goodyear A/T Adventure shows up with better stopping distances (on directional grip testing), with it’s more closely arranged up tread blocks, forming smoother contact with the tar.
Furthermore, it’s ribs are also better streamlined in to rolling (straight) on highways, as all of them are longitudinally arranged. This account for better directional stability.
The Hankook Dynapro AT2 although also offers Z shaped lugs in the middle, which are attached to each other longitudinally, fulfilling the similar purpose, their irregular shape account for better off-road bite compared to pavements.
Cornering Efficacy
Cornering, is mostly connected with the tire’s outer edges and here the Goodyear All Terrain Adventure is again taking the lead.
This is because of two main things.
One, the tire, just like its middle section, also offers a full house here as well, with cramped up lugs, forming greater contact with the ground, resulting in superior grip.
And two, it’s overall tread has a stiffer composite, so blocks don’t flex as much, this is further aided by the tire’s shallower tread depth. So lugs stay more stable and provide better under and over steering balance, resulting in shorter handling times.
In case of Dynapro ATM, you face a little more understeering, in comparison.
Fuel Economy
Since fuel usage highly depends on the tire’s weight, it’s easier to explain why the Goodyear Adventure with a lighter structure gets to consume less overall energy to roll.
In comparison, the Hankook Dynapro AT-M not only comes with greater weight, but it’s softer compound with more number of biters, create larger rolling resistance values (as they don’t want to come off the surface that easy).
So the overall fuel economy is compromised on this tire.
Treadwear
Both tires go up to load ratings of E, yet, the heaviest sizes between both have a 18 lbs difference. That’s why the Goodyear Adventure’s lighter structure puts less pressure on to it’s lugs, as they rub off the road.
This accounts for slower burning, and hence a longer tread life. That’s why the tire offers 60k miles warranty on all its sizes, whereas the Dynapro ATM only offers 50k and that’s even for P metric sizes.
Winter Traction
Both of these tires have severe winter ratings, and so they are both very capable, no doubt. But after performing tests, I’d go with Hankook Dynapro ATM here.
This tire basically holds superior snow grabbing abilities. Its interlocked central section picks up snow particles more often and holds them in.
This generates effective grip, as snow sticks on snow better compared to rubber.
Moreover, the tire’s weight is also helping here, as it puts more pressure on the ground allowing for greater snow lodgement.
Durability
Durability of the tire depends on internal construction. Even though these off-road tires have a cut resistant rubber and thick enough lugs on top, how much a tire can endure on sidewalls, still depends on the internal polyester casing they make.
That’s why both tires with 2 ply sidewalls, and central sections with dual steel belts supply almost equal toughness.
And where the Dynapro ATM features a thicker rubber layer on top, the Goodyear Adventure features 30% more steel on it’s LT sizes.
Take Home Points
Hankook Dynapro ATM lacks to its counterpart in the on-road traction section, but only in dry conditions, as on wet, it’s grip and handling efficacy is superior.
Moreover, the tire is a better pick off the two, when it comes to rugged terrains, like sand, rocks, gravel and even a little bit of mud.
Goodyear Wrangler Adventure is generally a better on-road tire, as besides traction, it also gives out better fuel economy, tread life and comfort performance.
Though in terms of winter performance, it lacks to its counterpart, even though both tires have 3 peak mountain snowflake ratings.
