The Sumitomo Encounter A/T and Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 are both built for drivers who need an all-terrain tire that can live on pavement without giving up the ability to handle gravel roads, dirt trails, and occasional off-road use. On paper, the two look close. Both are designed for SUVs and trucks, both carry winter-oriented markings, and both try to balance on-road comfort with usable off-road traction.
But once you start looking more closely at the tread design and overall behavior, the differences become more obvious.
The Sumitomo Encounter A/T is the more traction-oriented tire overall. It tends to do better in wet grip, tread life, and a number of off-road conditions where self-cleaning and tread depth matter more.
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015, on the other hand, leans more toward day-to-day road comfort, lower tread noise, and a more polished highway feel. It is also the slightly better choice when winter-road confidence is the priority.
So if you are deciding between these two, the real question is not whether both are good. They are. The real question is what kind of all-terrain tire you want. Do you want the one with stronger overall traction and longer-lasting tread, or do you want the one that feels more relaxed and refined on-road?
Key Takeaways
- Best for wet traction: Sumitomo Encounter A/T
- Best for tread life: Sumitomo Encounter A/T
- Best for comfort and quieter driving: Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015
- Best for winter-road use: Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015
- Best for mud and sand traction: Sumitomo Encounter A/T
- Best for overall highway refinement: Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015
Available Sizes and Specs
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 comes in a wider overall size range, running from 15 to 22 inches. Depending on size, it is available in SL, XL, C, D, and E load ratings, while speed ratings include R, S, T, and H. Tread depth varies from 12/32″ to 18/32″, and warranty coverage is listed as 60,000 miles for P-metric sizes and 50,000 miles for LT sizes.
The Sumitomo Encounter A/T is available from 15 to 20 inches. It also covers SL, XL, C, D, and E load ratings, while speed ratings include Q, R, S, and T. Its tread depth ranges from 13/32″ to 20/32″, and the warranty is 60,000 miles across the line.
That tells you a lot already. The Yokohama gives you more fitment flexibility, particularly at the upper end, while the Sumitomo starts with more tread depth and a setup that is more clearly aimed at durability and traction.
If you need a very broad range of fitments, Yokohama has the advantage. If you care more about deeper starting tread and a wear-oriented design, the Sumitomo looks stronger.
Tread Pattern and Design Philosophy
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 uses a tread pattern with many biting edges and a relatively continuous rib-style layout.
Across the middle of the tire, the tread forms three main ribs, with the center rib slightly narrower and the adjacent ribs more substantial. Those ribs are packed with notches and siping, which helps explain why the tire feels so composed on-road and why it does well once temperatures drop.
The design also tells you something else: Yokohama wanted this tire to feel stable and civilized. The ribs stay connected enough to reduce wandering and keep the contact patch more consistent. Even though the tread still has enough void area for all-terrain use, it clearly does not aim to be the more aggressive-looking or more self-cleaning design.
The Sumitomo Encounter A/T also uses a five-rib style arrangement, but its shoulders look chunkier and more open, and the overall tread has a more rugged tone.
The shoulder sections are more assertive, the tread blocks have a stronger off-road flavor, and the siping setup is more aggressive in key areas. That matters because all-terrain tires live and die by trade-offs. More open tread usually helps traction and self-cleaning, but it can also raise noise and reduce the calmness you feel on-road.
That is exactly what separates these two. The Yokohama looks like a road-first all-terrain that still works off-road. The Sumitomo looks like a traction-first all-terrain that still behaves well on the street.
Dry Performance
Dry Traction
In straight-line dry grip, the Sumitomo Encounter A/T comes out ahead. Its tread layout puts more useful rubber to the ground through the middle while still keeping enough flexibility for grip.
The larger footprint and stronger shoulder presence help it feel more planted when accelerating or when load transfers forward and rearward under real-world driving.
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 still feels secure in dry conditions, but it is tuned more toward smoothness and consistency than outright bite.
So while it does not feel weak, it does not deliver the same kind of traction-first behavior as the Sumitomo. If your priority is which tire grips harder when you lean on it, the Encounter A/T is the better answer.
Dry Handling
Handling depends heavily on shoulder performance, sidewall support, and how much usable rubber remains in contact with the road once the tire is loaded in a turn. The Sumitomo again has the edge here because its larger shoulder elements and more substantial tread blocks create better lateral traction.
The Yokohama is predictable and composed, which many drivers will appreciate, but its shoulder design contains more biting edges and interruptions. Those details help in certain loose or cold conditions, but they also take away some of the uninterrupted rubber that helps cornering grip. So the Yokohama feels more polished, while the Sumitomo feels more eager when the road turns demanding.
Steering Feel
There is also a smaller but still noticeable difference in steering response. The Sumitomo transmits a firmer sense of connection because its tread does not break up the road contact as much through the center. Steering feels slightly more direct and a little more communicative.
The Yokohama is not unresponsive, but it filters the road a bit more.
That suits drivers who want a calmer, less busy feel through the steering wheel, but it also means it does not feel quite as sharp in feedback terms.
Wet Performance
Wet Grip
Wet traction is one of the clearest wins for the Sumitomo Encounter A/T.
This comes down to more than just the number of sipes. A tire also needs the right kind of sipe flexibility and tread elasticity, and the Sumitomo’s layout does a very good job of combining both.
ts shoulder siping is more aggressive, and the tread seems better able to keep those biting edges active under load.
The result is stronger grip on damp and soaked roads. The tire can create more usable bite when the surface film of water begins reducing friction, and that gives the Sumitomo a more confident feel in real wet driving.
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 still performs respectably in the wet, but its siping strategy appears more strongly biased toward winter-road flexibility than pure wet-pavement grip. That is why it does not match the Sumitomo here, even though it remains a competent all-terrain overall.
Hydroplaning Resistance
Hydroplaning resistance is another area where the Sumitomo Encounter A/T takes the lead. The reason is fairly straightforward: it offers a more direct combination of lateral and longitudinal evacuation paths. Water has more ways to leave the footprint quickly, which helps the tire stay connected to the road at higher speeds.
The Yokohama’s more continuous rib structure helps it feel stable, but it does not encourage sideward evacuation as effectively, especially in deeper standing water or when the vehicle is turning. That means it can be slightly more vulnerable to losing surface contact under heavy water load.
So if you drive frequently in rain, the Sumitomo’s wet advantage is not a minor detail. It is one of the strongest reasons to choose it over the Yokohama.
Off-Road Performance
Off-road traction is where all-terrain tires reveal what kind of compromise they truly are. No tire can excel everywhere equally, because gravel, dirt, mud, rocks, and sand all ask for something different. In this matchup, the results are mixed, but the Sumitomo generally comes out ahead in the more demanding loose-surface conditions.
Mud
Mud is hard on any all-terrain tire because it requires self-cleaning. Once mud packs into the tread, traction drops fast. That is why mud-terrain tires use more open voids and more aggressive evacuation paths.
Between these two, the Sumitomo Encounter A/T is better in mud. It is not a true mud specialist, but it cleans itself more effectively and benefits from a more open shoulder treatment.
That gives it a better chance of keeping the tread active instead of becoming packed and slick.
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 is simply not as well suited here. Its more connected rib-style layout works against it once the tread starts filling up.
Rock Traction
On rocks, the story becomes a little more balanced. You need grip, but you also need durability and a tread that can adapt once pressure is lowered.
The Sumitomo again feels like the tougher and slightly more capable option overall, especially because its tread elements and shoulder design give it a more durable, more planted personality.
The Yokohama still finds grip because it has plenty of biting edges, and in straight directional traction it can work very well. But it does not feel quite as supportive once the terrain gets rougher and the tire needs to balance durability with footprint shape.
Sand
Sand traction often depends on avoiding dig-in. You want flotation and a tread that does not cut downward too aggressively. Here, the Sumitomo again does better. Even though it is the heavier tire in some sizes, its tread arrangement and sidewall-related design features help it form a better footprint when aired down.
The Yokohama does not float as effectively and is more likely to lose ground by digging in. So for loose sand use, the Sumitomo is the more reassuring option.
Winter Performance
Both tires carry 3PMSF and M+S markings, so both are built to remain usable in real winter temperatures. Their compounds stay flexible in the cold, and their siping helps keep traction available on low-temperature surfaces.
Still, the Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 deserves the nod here.
Its tread is packed with biting edges, and that kind of pattern tends to work very well in light snow, slush, and cold-weather road conditions. While the Sumitomo is also winter-capable, the Yokohama’s design is more clearly optimized around that kind of use.
So if your version of all-terrain driving is mostly pavement, highways, rain, and winter weather rather than mud and sand, the Yokohama starts to look much more attractive.
Tread Life
Tread life is another major advantage for the Sumitomo Encounter A/T. Starting tread depth matters, and the Sumitomo can reach 20/32″, which is a serious number for an all-terrain tire.
More usable rubber means it naturally has a better shot at lasting longer, especially if the compound and tread design already lean toward durability.
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 still offers respectable life, but it begins with less maximum tread depth, topping out at 18/32″, and its softer feel suggests it will not wear as slowly when everything else is equal.
If long-term value matters and you want a tire that has a stronger case for higher mileage over time, the Sumitomo is the better fit.
Ride Comfort and Tread Noise
Ride Comfort
This is where the Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 shines. It is one of the more refined all-terrain tires in terms of everyday comfort. The tread pattern is calmer, the structure feels more road-oriented, and the overall ride has a smoother, more polished tone.
The Sumitomo is still reasonably comfortable, and its deeper tread can absorb some vibration well, but it does not feel as relaxed or as cleanly settled as the Yokohama on normal pavement.
Tread Noise
Tread noise follows a similar pattern. The Yokohama’s more packed-up design creates less air movement through the tread voids, which helps keep the cabin quieter. That makes it the better pick for people who spend long hours on the highway and notice road noise more than anything else.
The Sumitomo is not excessively loud for an all-terrain tire, but its deeper tread and more open layout naturally allow more groove resonance. So it does give up some quietness in exchange for the traction and longevity advantages it brings elsewhere.
Fuel Economy
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 also does a bit better in fuel economy.
Its lower structural weight in comparable sizes gives it an edge in rolling resistance, and that helps it consume slightly less energy as it rolls.
The Sumitomo Encounter A/T is heavier overall, and that works against it here.
The difference may not be huge in everyday use, but over time the Yokohama is still the slightly better choice if fuel efficiency matters to you.
Which Tire Should You Choose?
Choose the Sumitomo Encounter A/T if you want stronger overall traction, especially in wet conditions, better tread life, and more confidence in mud and sand. It is the more utility-focused tire of the two and the better option for drivers who want their all-terrain tire to lean a bit more toward capability.
Choose the Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 if you care more about road comfort, lower tread noise, slightly better fuel economy, and stronger winter-road behavior.
It is the more refined and road-mannered tire, and for many daily-driven trucks and SUVs that is a very compelling package.
Final Verdict
In the end, these two tires succeed in different ways. The Sumitomo Encounter A/T wins where traction, tread depth, and long-term durability matter most.
It is the better pick for drivers who want stronger wet grip, better self-cleaning in loose terrain, and a tire that starts with more rubber to work with.
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 wins where refinement matters more. It rides more smoothly, makes less noise, uses a bit less fuel, and offers a slightly better winter-road character.
So the better tire depends on what kind of all-terrain driver you are. If your priority is capability and longevity, go with the Sumitomo. If your priority is comfort and daily road manners, go with the Yokohama.
