Well, this might cause a few arguments. A German magazine just published it's (very) in depth all terrain tire test, and while this is a German magazine testing the A/T tires on a van, these tires are the same as available in the US market, and they're testing in the very all terrain 255/55 R18 size.
The test field consisted of five proper 3 peak (3PMSF winter rating) all terrain tires, the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, Bridgestone Dueler A/T 002, Falken Wildpeak AT3 W/A, General Grabber AT3, and the Loder AT1. The Loder AT1 is particularly notable as it's specifically developed for motorhomes with a high load rating of 1320kg per tire, making it suitable for vehicles up to approximately 4.5 tonnes.
The second group of tires includes two tires without winter rating: the new Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure as a summer AT tire, and the Continental Cross-Contact H/T as a more road-focused SUV tire included for comparison.
This test is possibly the best we've ever seen, as it has 6 different offroad tests, and dry testing, wet testing AND snow testing. Plus rolling resistance, noise, comfort. The only thing missing is wear.
So why might this test cause arguments. Well, the fan favourite BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2 finished last of the all terrain tires, largely thanks to a poor on road performance. It had poor dry and wet grip (something we've commented on before), and was loud and bumpy, but it did do well offroad and in snow. It's key rivals, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W and General Grabber AT3 both performed much better, with the magazine concluding that the Falken was the best all terrain tire overall, no matter what % of offroad driving you do, and regardless of how much snow you see (we're not sure we agree on the snow part as in other tests the Falken has been further behind.)
Sadly the two 'extra' tires were not tested in the snow, so you can't compare them overall, but you can in the individual tests. The Continental CrossContact HT lagged behind offroad, as expected from an all season tire, however it was by far the best on the road, and had the best rolling resistance and best comfort. The non-winter rated Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Adventure performed well on and off-road.
One final note, you might know that both the Falken and BFGoodrich have already been replaced, in fact we have a video comparing the two successors here. Sadly neither of them are available in Europe yet, hence the previous models.
As always, the data is the most important part for finding the best tire for you, so please check it out below.
Dry
The Bridgestone Dueler AT002 had the shortest dry braking distance at 42.3m, while the Loder AT1 required 45.5m to stop - a significant 3.2m difference. The road-focused Continental CrossContact HT performed well with 43.1m, beating most AT tires and showing its road-biased design. The non-winter rated Goodyear placed mid-pack at 44.6m. Among winter-rated AT tires, there was a clear split - the Bridgestone and Falken (43.9m) performed notably better than the BFGoodrich KO2 (44.7m) and Loder AT1.
In dry handling the Continental CrossContact HT led with an average speed of 90.2 km/h around the lap, while the BFGoodrich KO2 was slowest at 86.0 km/h - a 4.2 km/h difference highlighting the compromise between road and off-road performance. The non-winter rated Goodyear impressed with 89.0 km/h, nearly matching the Continental. Among winter-rated AT tires, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W (88.2 km/h) and General Grabber AT3 (87.8 km/h) offered the best balance of dry handling performance.
Wet
The differences in wet braking were dramatic. The road-focused Continental CrossContact HT demonstrated its wet weather advantage with a stopping distance of 32.5m, while the Loder AT1 needed 49.0m - an alarming 16.5m difference that could be crucial in emergency situations. The non-winter rated Goodyear placed mid-pack at 40.5m. Among winter-rated AT tires, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W performed best at 37.7m, while the BFGoodrich KO2 struggled with 45.9m, showing significant compromises in wet weather performance.
The Continental CrossContact HT again dominated wet handling with an average speed of 80.4 km/h, while the Loder AT1 was slowest at 69.6 km/h - a substantial 10.8 km/h difference. The General Grabber AT3 (76.8 km/h) and Falken Wildpeak AT3W (76.6 km/h) performed admirably for AT tires, showing less compromise in wet handling than might be expected. The non-winter rated Goodyear achieved 75.3 km/h, demonstrating competitive wet handling despite lacking winter certification.
The Continental CrossContact HT resisted aquaplaning up to 69.7 km/h, while the General Grabber AT3 began floating at 59.4 km/h - a significant 10.3 km/h difference. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W again led the AT tires at 68.0 km/h, showing remarkable resistance to aquaplaning. The non-winter rated Goodyear struggled more in deep water, floating at 60.7 km/h.
The Continental CrossContact HT maintained 10.32 m/s² of lateral acceleration in the wet curve, while the Loder AT1 managed only 8.62. m/s². The Falken Wildpeak AT3W nearly matched the Continental with 10.26 m/s², while the non-winter rated Goodyear achieved 6.41 m/s².
Snow
The BFGoodrich KO2 showed its strength with a stopping distance of 26.8m, while the Bridgestone Dueler AT002 required 36.0m - a substantial 9.2m difference that represents a complete reversal of their dry performance. The Loder AT1 (27.1m) and General Grabber AT3 (27.3m) also performed well, while the Falken Wildpeak AT3W was mid-pack at 30.1m.
The Loder AT1 provided the best traction at 3.75N of pulling force, while the Bridgestone Dueler AT002 generated only 3.22N - a 0.53N difference. The General Grabber AT3 performed strongly with 3.70N, followed by the BFGoodrich KO2 at 3.60N. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W was slightly behind at 3.51N, though still notably better than the Bridgestone.
During snow handling, the BFGoodrich KO2 achieved the highest average speed at 66.5 km/h, while the Bridgestone Dueler AT002 managed only 55.7 km/h - a significant 10.8 km/h difference. The Loder AT1 performed nearly as well as the BFGoodrich at 66.2 km/h, and the General Grabber AT3 was strong at 64.7 km/h. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W showed more compromise here at 58.8 km/h.
A clear pattern emerged in snow testing - the Bridgestone Dueler AT002, despite its winter rating, consistently underperformed compared to other winter-rated AT tires. The BFGoodrich KO2 and Loder AT1 showed particular strength in snow conditions, while the General Grabber AT3 maintained consistent performance across all snow tests.
Off road
The Falken Wildpeak AT3W led the gravel handling lap with an average speed of 66.0 km/h, while the Continental CrossContact HT was slowest at 62.2 km/h - a 3.8 km/h difference showing how specialized tread patterns benefit loose surface performance. The BFGoodrich KO2 performed strongly at 65.4 km/h, followed by the Bridgestone Dueler AT002 at 65.0 km/h. The non-winter rated Goodyear matched the Loder AT1 at 64.2 km/h, showing competitive off-road capability despite its summer focus.
Interestingly, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W had the shortest stopping distance at 11.2m, while the Bridgestone Dueler AT002 required 12.1m - a 0.9m difference. The Continental CrossContact HT performed surprisingly well at 11.7m, matching the General Grabber AT3. The BFGoodrich KO2 was strong at 11.3m, while the non-winter rated Goodyear needed 11.8m to stop.
Gravel traction was measured in m/s2, not newtons as listed. The Bridgestone Dueler AT002 generated the most traction at 4.23 m/s², while the Continental CrossContact HT produced 4.09 m/s² - a relatively small 0.14 m/s² difference. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W (4.22 m/s²) and BFGoodrich KO2 (4.20 m/s²) performed strongly, while the non-winter rated Goodyear matched the General Grabber AT3 at 4.15 m/s².
The General Grabber AT3 led with 1.90N of uphill dirt road traction, while the Continental CrossContact HT produced 1.78N - a 0.12N difference. The BFGoodrich KO2 and Loder AT1 tied at 1.88N, showing strong loose surface capability. The non-winter rated Goodyear impressed at 1.87N, nearly matching the best AT tires. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W and Bridgestone Dueler AT002 tied at 1.85N.
The non-winter rated Goodyear Wrangler surprisingly led the mud traction test with 1.01N of traction, while the Continental CrossContact HT struggled with only 0.58N - a substantial 0.43N difference that clearly shows the limitations of road-focused tires in challenging off-road conditions. Among winter-rated AT tires, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W performed best at 0.97N, followed by the BFGoodrich KO2 at 0.95N. The General Grabber AT3 (0.94N), Loder AT1 (0.93N), and Bridgestone Dueler AT002 (0.92N) all performed similarly.
Comfort
The Continental CrossContact HT was quietest at 70.5 dB, while the BFGoodrich KO2 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W were loudest at 73.4 dB - a 2.9 dB difference that would be noticeable in daily driving. The non-winter rated Goodyear impressed with 70.7 dB, nearly matching the road-focused Continental. Among winter-rated AT tires, the General Grabber AT3 was notably quiet at 70.9 dB, while the Bridgestone Dueler AT002 generated 72.9 dB.
Value
The Continental CrossContact HT was most efficient at 8.0 kg/t, while the BFGoodrich KO2 required significantly more energy at 10.7 kg/t - a 2.7 kg/t difference that would notably impact fuel consumption. The Loder AT1 showed surprising efficiency at 8.9 kg/t, followed by the Falken Wildpeak AT3W and Bridgestone Dueler AT002 both at 9.0 kg/t. The non-winter rated Goodyear was relatively inefficient at 9.8 kg/t, while the General Grabber AT3 sat in the middle at 9.3 kg/t.
Results
Key Patterns Across All Tests
- The Continental CrossContact HT dominated on-road tests but struggled off-road, particularly in mud, demonstrating the clear compromises between road and off-road performance.
- The Falken Wildpeak AT3W proved to be the most well-rounded AT tire, showing strong performance across all conditions without major weaknesses, particularly impressing in wet conditions.
- The BFGoodrich KO2 showed a clear split personality - struggling in wet and dry road conditions but excelling in snow and off-road tests.
- The non-winter rated Goodyear Wrangler Adventure surprised with strong off-road capability and good road manners, though its lack of winter rating limits its all-season usability.
- The General Grabber AT3 maintained consistent performance across all tests without any major weaknesses, though also without dominating any particular area.
- The Bridgestone Dueler AT002 favored on-road performance but showed unexpected weaknesses in snow despite its winter rating.
- The Loder AT1 demonstrated particular strength in snow conditions and reasonable efficiency, though its wet performance was concerning.
- In wet conditions, the differences between road-focused and AT tires were most dramatic, particularly in aquaplaning resistance and braking distances.
- Rolling resistance and noise levels generally correlated with the tires' off-road capability, with more aggressive tread patterns typically resulting in higher rolling resistance and noise.
1st: Falken Wildpeak AT3W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Falken Wildpeak A/T AT3 WA was one of the most well-rounded tires in the test. Dry road performance showed good handling characteristics and steering response, though braking distances were slightly longer than the best. Where it really impressed was in wet conditions - it proved to be the safest AT tire in the wet with good braking, strong aquaplaning resistance and predictable handling. Snow performance was good across the board with strong grip levels in all disciplines. Offroad capability was excellent, particularly standing out in mud and on gravel surfaces where it showed class-leading grip. Rolling resistance was reasonable for an AT tire at 9.0 kg/t. While noise levels were on the higher side at 73.4 dB, comfort levels were good with effective bump absorption. This tire ultimately won the offroad category and proved to be one of the most versatile options tested. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st: Continental CrossContact HT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Continental Cross-Contact H/T stands apart as the road-focused option. It demonstrated the best dry road performance with excellent handling, precise steering and strong braking. Wet performance was outstanding across all tests including class-leading aquaplaning resistance. Snow performance wasn't tested as this isn't a winter-rated tire. Offroad performance was limited compared to the AT tires, particularly struggling in mud and on loose surfaces. Rolling resistance was very good at 8.0 kg/t. It was the quietest tire tested at 70.5 dB with excellent comfort and minimal road noise. The clear choice for those who rarely venture offroad and prioritize on-road safety and comfort. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd: General Grabber AT3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General Grabber AT3 proved to be a strong all-round performer and the overall winner for year-round use. Dry performance was decent with average braking distances and stable handling. Wet road behavior was notably good, with safe, predictable handling characteristics and good braking performance despite some weakness in aquaplaning resistance. Snow performance was excellent, nearly matching the best in all test categories. Offroad performance showed some variation - very strong in mud and on dirt tracks, though less impressive on gravel surfaces. Rolling resistance was slightly high at 9.3 kg/t. One of its standout features was refinement - notably quiet at 70.9 dB with very good comfort levels and minimal vibration. This combination of good performance across all conditions with refined road manners made it a compelling overall package. Read Reviews Buy from £155.46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd: Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Adventure | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure struck an interesting balance as a summer-specific AT tire. Dry road performance was good with predictable handling and responsive steering. Wet performance was good overall despite some weakness in aquaplaning resistance. Snow performance wasn't tested as this isn't a winter-rated tire. Offroad capability was impressive, particularly in mud where its harder compound showed excellent grip - often better than the winter-rated AT tires. Rolling resistance was relatively high at 9.8 kg/t. The tire proved remarkably refined with low noise levels at 70.7 dB and very good comfort. A strong choice for summer-only use where occasional offroad capability is needed. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd: Bridgestone Dueler All Terrain AT002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bridgestone Dueler A/T 002 proved to be one of the more road-focused AT tires. On dry roads it delivered the best braking performance in the test along with good handling stability and steering response. Wet performance was commendably good with reasonable braking distances and safe, predictable handling characteristics. Its main weakness showed in snow conditions where it fell behind other winter-rated tires in the test across all metrics. Offroad performance was decent overall though it wasn't class-leading, showing particular weakness in muddy conditions. The tire's strengths lie in its efficiency - rolling resistance was very good at 7.8 kg/t. While relatively loud at 72.9 dB, it offered average comfort levels and good bump absorption. A solid choice for those who spend most time on roads but want occasional offroad capability. Read Reviews Buy from £145.42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th: Loder Loder AT1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Loder AT1 showed some significant contrasts in performance. Dry road behavior was compromised with longer braking distances, sluggish steering response and less stable handling during emergency maneuvers. Wet performance was concerning with long braking distances and unpredictable handling that alternated between understeer and oversteer. However, it delivered the best snow performance in the test with excellent grip across all metrics. Its high load rating of 1320kg per tire makes it suitable for heavier motorhomes. Offroad capability was good, particularly in mud where its softer compound helped generate grip. Rolling resistance was reasonable at 8.9 kg/t. Noise levels were moderate at 71.9 dB, though comfort was slightly firm with some impact harshness over bumps. Best suited for winter use and heavier vehicles. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th: BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 produces some concerning results on paved roads. Its dry performance showed significant weaknesses with long braking distances, sluggish steering response and unstable behavior during emergency maneuvers. Wet performance was particularly problematic, with the longest braking distances in the test and poor cornering grip, making it one of the least safe tires on wet roads. However, it redeemed itself with excellent snow performance, providing strong traction, good braking and stable handling. Offroad capabilities were impressive, especially in mud and on gravel where it showed good bite and predictable behavior. The downsides were significant though - it had the highest rolling resistance in the test at 10.7 kg/t which will impact fuel economy, and was also the loudest tire tested at 73.4 dB. Comfort was notably poor with noticeable vibrations transmitted through the steering wheel. Read Reviews Buy from £219.99 |