The Hankook Dynapro ATM and the Michelin LTX AT2 are two on-road oriented all-terrain tires that have caught my attention with their promising tread designs. But which one gets the nod for better on-road manners, and which one comes out on top off-road? Let’s find out!
In my expert opinion as a tire engineer, the Michelin LTX AT2 is a better tire to have off-road, as it render superior traction on rocks and mud. Whereas on highways, the tire offers better dry grip, tread life, and fuel efficiency. On the other side, the Hankook ATM comes out better on wet and snowy roads, showing shorter braking distances on both. Moreover, you also get a more comfortable ride with it as well.
The Michelin LTX AT2 comes in 15 to 20 inches, featuring total of (just) 20 sizes with following specs.
- Speed ratings: R, S and T only
- Load ratings: SL, XL, C to E
- Tread depth range: 14 to 17/32″
- Weight range: 32 to 60 lbs
- Winter ratings: Only M+S
- 60k miles warranty on all sizes.
Detailed review of this tire: https://tiredriver.com/michelin-ltx-at2-review/
The Hankook Dynapro ATM, on the other hand, provides you with similar 15 to 20 inches rims, but with following specs:
- Speed ratings: R, S and T
- Load ratings: SL, XL, C, D and E
- Weight range: 32 to 78 lbs
- Tread depth: 12.5 to 16.5/32″
- Ratings: 3PMSF and M+S rated
- Warranty: 50K miles (only for P metric)
Tread Pattern
Starting with Hankook Dynapro ATM, the tire gives you a 5 rib design.
The central most rib on this tire provides most of the highway grip on this tire (when running straight). That’s because here the lugs are the widest, and they have very smaller lateral gaps in between, providing consistent rubber to road contact at all times, when rolling on a smooth surface.
The outer ribs have blocks with slightly more open design, and they get to yield most of the off-road traction on this tire. That’s because in comparison, they carry more biters (in the form of off-sets and stepped edges, though similar sipes), and with wider grooves, they connect the two inner longitudinal tread voids with the outer ones more effectively.
(Connecting vertical channels basically allow for better mud and dirt removal off-road).
Though still with less aggressive overall shoulder lugs, missing staggered edges, and ridges in between the lateral gaps, the tread still remains more aligned towards highway performance, compared to off-road.
On the other side, the Michelin LTX A/T2 features a slightly more biting design.
Let me discuss middle section first, here as well, where 2 compacted up ribs are seen forming lugs of similar shapes.
These ribs are continuous, meaning, all these central lugs are pasted on a secondary rubber layer underneath, which act as reinforced foundational supports for these blocks.
So with this, basically, pavement grip is enhanced, despite these lugs having a lot of tread depth (reaching up to 17/32″).
Furthermore, these lugs have a single design, featuring notches attached to full depth sipes, off-set edges and wide enough tread voids in between to connect all vertical channels.
But they are still different from the shoulders, as those lugs are much more elongated, taking up a majority of tread’s space as well as extending down towards sidewalls (forming lugs there, barely).
These shoulder blocks have a mixture of notches and slits forming X shaped siping design. And each lug is staggered on itself.
Ride Quality
Out of both tires, its no wonder why Hankook Dynapro ATM gives you a more comfortable driving experience. The tire has a softer tread compound, which absorb the surface imperfections better.
And with closed up shoulder lugs, it does not allow (too much) air to get and hit around, which causes tread noise.
Michelin LTX AT2 on the other side, has a harder compound which renders a jittery ride, comparatively.
And with open shoulder lugs, the tire also get to be noisier.
I actually talked about both of these topics in these detailed articles.
All-terrain tires and noise: https://tiredriver.com/are-all-terrain-tires-noisy/
All-terrain tires and road vibrations: https://tiredriver.com/do-all-terrain-tires-cause-vibrations/
Winter Performance
Winter traction is influenced by numerous variables including grip, acceleration, lateral traction, stability, and how they are on various terrains, such as snow and icy roads.
Though things here are easier to identify, as only the Hankook Dynapro ATM is coming in with the 3 peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) rating.
Although the 3PMSF is basically an acceleration test, the tire also does great when it comes to handling and steering response.
Michelin LTX AT2 on the other side, although features a lot of biters, they aren’t that flexible to bend and chew on snowy surfaces. Moreover, with freezing temperatures, they even get more stiffen up, reducing biting efficacy further.
Dry Traction
When it comes to dry traction, there are two main things involved. Grip while moving straight, and grip on corners.
The straight or directional grip has to do with middle area of the tread (carrying the most weight pressure), so with a wider/continuous (Z shaped) rib over there, the Hankook Dynapro ATM takes the lead. This offers greater contact patch, which results in superior friction, and shorter braking distances (on tests).
Michelin LTX AT2 on the other side, although features a very on-road oriented design too, it’s notches and wider tread voids, eat up the rubber, that could have provided good enough contact footprint. So it’s lacking here slightly.
Though when it comes to cornering abilities, both tires show up with similar handling times.
The LTX AT2 although lacks with it’s limited contact patch offering, it makes up for it with it’s lighter structural weight, which renders faster steering response.
And in case of Dynapro ATM, where you get a heavier compound, you still get similar handling efficiency, thanks to it’s more closed up lugs (forming better rubber connection with the road).
Wet Traction
The key to biting grip on wet roads is to have great siping with flexibility. These two attributes work in concert to quickly clear water on a micro level. Let me explain.
Sipes basically work by squeezing and slurping water in their slits, so that the tire could hold on to the surface its on. That’s why sipes should have flexibility to move.
And with a softer tread compound (relatively), the Hankook Dynapro ATM gives it’s sipes more freedom to move easily.
Moreover, it’s siping structure is also interlocking (all the way down to the base). This ensures, sipes don’t get stiffen up with faster cornering and braking, and avoids slippage.
Michelin LTX AT2 on the other side, lacks in both areas. It’s tread is harder comparatively, and sipes are limited. Moreover, they also don’t have the interlocking structure, highly needed for wet grip.
Though the tire does show up with similar hydroplaning resistance in comparison, I can give you that.
Fuel and Tread
Both fuel and tread usage is analyzed with rolling resistance, which is dependent on the tire’s weight and tread pattern/composition.
Having said that, I can now explain why Michelin LTX AT2 is better in both these areas.
This tire is lighter in weight, so lugs don’t get to rub off the surface with as much force, comparatively. In other words, it’s lugs don’t want to stick to the surface for too long, and so you get superior fuel economy.
And since it’s tread compound is harder, its not that susceptible to faster burning.
Hankook Dynapro ATM on the other side, comes with softer compound and a greater weight. So doing the math, it can be easily seen, why it’s lacking in both areas.
Off Road Traction
Different terrains present different challenges on rugged paths, which is why I analyzed both tires in all of these following conditions.
Muddy Trails
To provide improved performance in mud, all-terrain tires must have self-cleaning capabilities. That’s why balder tires like (mud-terrains) do so much better.
Both of our boys here although feature the opposite, on-road oriented structures, you’d still find Michelin LTX AT2 better (speaking from experience).
This is because the tire still has a somewhat voided design in comparison, and it’s multiple notches help break down the mud particles in a better way so they can leave out of its grooves in an easier way.
Hankook Dynapro ATM on the other side, is too crowded with lugs every where, so it’s no wonder the tire gets packed up with mud so quickly, losing all traction.
Sandy Terrains
On sandy terrains you need a tire that can float. And both of these tires aren’t so great here. Though their performance are equal, or should I say, equally bad.
Michelin LTX AT2 has sharper out edges, as each of lug is staggered on itself, and this combined with its harder tread compound, the tire tends to dig in the soft sand.
Hankook Dynapro ATM on the other side, although has smoother outer edges, the tire has greater structural weight, so it also susceptible to sinking.
Though the tire does better on sizes with lower load ratings, as they get to be lighter.
Rocky Areas
On rocks you need biters in all directions and a very powerful tread from both inside and out.
The both of them are provided better on Michelin LTX AT2. With notches joined with full depth sipes, chew on the rocky surface from all directions, and the tire’s harder tread compound features slightly more durability in comparison.
Though both tires have the same inner construction of 2 ply polyester casings.
Hankook Dynapro ATM on the other side, lacks in providing ample biters, and it’s missing staggered edges don’t supply as much biting efficacy in comparison, especially with lowered air pressure (as seen on LTX A/T2).
Takeaway
So in the end it all comes down to this.
The Michelin LTX AT2 comes on top when it comes to dry traction on highways, fuel economy and tread life(of course relatively speaking here). And off-road the tire shines on rocks and mud, though its sand traction is on par with its competitor.
Hankook Dynapro ATM on the other side yields superior winter traction, yields better comfort and shows less overall slippage on wet roads.
