Toyo Open Country R/T vs Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires

Toyo is a Japanese tire brand that has been in the US since 1966. The tire manufacturer caters to the needs of passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, CUVs, EVs, and ATVs/UTVs. It offers all-season, all-terrain, all-weather, rugged-terrain, UHP all-season, UHP summer, mud-terrain, highway, and various other types of tires.

Goodyear doesn’t need a formal introduction with its legacy being over a century in the tire industry. An array of tires that includes all-season tires, all-terrains, rugged-terrains, mud-terrains, and more make Goodyear a significant contributor to the US tire industry.

Here, we have picked two strong rugged-terrain tires from both of these manufacturers, namely the Open Country R/T and the Wrangler DuraTrac RT. These tires are a great blend of all-terrain and mud-terrain tires, allowing you to confidently go off-road and tackle the rugged conditions better than the all-terrain tires.

In the Open Country R/T vs Wrangler DuraTrac RT comparison, we will analyze the overall performance and features of these tires and also go over their traction, handling, and longevity attributes and SimpleScore metrics. Scoring on a scale of 0-10, the metrics will help you understand the tires’ performance in the respective performance areas. So, read on this comparison and find out the rugged-terrain tire that gives you a better adventure off-road and a commanding drive on-road!

Toyo Open Country R/T tires

Launched in October 2022, Toyo Open Country R/T is an on- and off-road capable tire that falls in the rugged-terrain tire category and provides strong off-road traction, quieter rides, and can let you drive confidently in dirt, sand, and rocks. The tire comes with features to offer raised on-road comfort and is suitable for use on full-size pickup trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs. The Open Country R/T is backed by an admirable tread life warranty and stands tough when it comes to durability.

The tire scores an 8.3 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its dependable handling, long-lasting tread life, and strong traction.

Get Toyo Open Country R/T tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT was introduced in September 2023 and comes out as great choice for drivers looking for a dependable set of rugged terrain tires that offer strong on- and off-road traction, year-round performance, and an additional ability to perform in moderate to severe winter weather conditions. The tire’s awesomeness extends beyond the aforementioned with the use of advanced technology to boost damage resistance, features to prevent punctures, and a generous tread life warranty.

Thanks to the great traction, responsive handling, and longer service life, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT scores an ideal overall SimpleScore rating of 8.9.

Get Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Toyo Open Country R/T vs Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires on traction

Traction in the case of rugged-terrain tires is one of the most important things to consider. It is related to the tire’s ability to drive in conditions like mud, dirt, sand, gravel, rocks, and even paved roads. There was a slight gap in the scores of both tires in the traction area. Here are more details to help you prioritize the one that’s better in traction:

Starting with the Open Country R/T, the tire scores an 8.2 SimpleScore, which is great and confirms that the tire can offer dependable on- and off-road performance. For increased traction in off-road conditions, the tire features stone and mud ejectors. Off-road grip and traction, especially in muddy, sandy, and snowy conditions are improved by the open, scalloped shoulder blocks. The open channels eject mud and snow for increased grip in challenging off-road environments.

On the other hand, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT surprises with an outstanding 9.0 SimpleScore rating because of its immense ability to crush the toughest of terrains. The tire can provide additional grip in off-road conditions because of its aggressive, extended, over-the-shoulder tread pattern that firmly bites the surface in varied terrains. The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification comes as an advantage when you need grip and traction in severe winter conditions on snow and ice. The sipes across the tread blocks also improve the gripping ability in snowy conditions.

While the Open Country R/T is great in traction, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT is much better and scores higher.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

Toyo Open Country R/T vs Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires on handling

You definitely need that extra control when you are going off the road, and you do not want to lose that steering response when back on the paved roads. That’s why handling performance is important in the case of rugged-terrain tires.

The Open Country R/T scores an 8.6 SimpleScore rating in handling and comes with a high turn-up tough polyester construction that provides solid durability to keep the tire in shape and offer solid handling performance. The reinforced inner construction and the robust rubber compound both ensure that the steering response on paved roads is not compromised and the optimized tread pattern arrangement keeps the tread noise levels low to improve ride comfort.

The Wrangler DuraTrac RT, on the other hand, scores a slightly higher 8.9 SimpleScore. The credit for this also goes to its severe snow rating, which is good in the sense that the tire can maintain control on snow and ice in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The reinforced structure of the tire and wide footprint provide stability, while the sturdy shoulders ensure that the tire can corner well, whether driving on rough terrains or paved surfaces. The detailed sipes offer extra control and gripping ability and contribute to the braking performance.

The Open Country R/T could be a great choice on the handling front, but the Wrangler DuraTrac RT again strikes with its better controllability.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

Toyo Open Country R/T vs Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires on longevity

As the rugged terrain tires like the Open Country R/T and the Wrangler DuraTrac are used on the roughest of the terrains and crushed to perform well on the highways too, they must have the ability to serve longer. So, which out of the two tires is long-lasting, let’s find this out.

The Open Country R/T scores a higher 8.3 SimpleScore in longevity, confirming that it gets a durable construction that controls tread wear. The tire is also covered by 45,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty that underlines its long-lasting ability. The reinforced 3-ply construction seen in LT-metric and Flotation sizes, and the 2-ply construction seen in the P-/Euro-Metric sizes provide solid durability for longer wear. The aggressive sidewall with sturdy sidewall compound provides damage protection for a longer service.

On the other hand, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT scores an 8.8 rating in longevity and provides solid resistance to wear. The major credit goes to the patented DuPont Kevlar construction, Goodyear’s very own proprietary that ensures damage resistance for longer use. The tough, three-ply sidewall construction that utilizes the Durawall compound also resists abrasions, punctures, and cuts in rough, off-road environments. This Goodyear tire is covered by a better 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Again, it is the Wrangler DuraTrac RT that surpasses the competitor Open Country R/T. It is indeed a clean sweep for the Goodyear tire with a 3-0 lead.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

When to use each

Both, the Open Country R/T and the Wrangler DuraTrac RT offer solid on- and off-road performance and assure dependable performance in conditions like mud, dirt, loose sand, gravel, and rocks. It is to be noted that the Open Country rugged-terrain tires are only suitable for use in dry, wet, and light snow conditions, while the Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires can also be used in moderate to severe snow conditions as they are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. These tires are not the best choice if you need something to drive only on paved roads.

Coming to the rim size options, you can choose the Open Country R/T in any of the rim size options available between 15- to 24-inch rims and consider Wrangler DuraTrac for any of the sizes available in 16- to 22-inch.

Which one should you choose?

On the basis of overall SimpleScore, our first pick is the Wrangler DuraTrac RT which scores an overall 8.9 rating compared to the Open Country R/T’s 8.3 rating. However, you must consider both of their merits and choose the one that better aligns with your needs.

Coming to price, the Open Country R/T is available at a starting price of $230, while the Wrangler Duratrac is offered at an initial price of at least $249 per tire. This means, a set of four Open Country tires will cost you $920, while a set of four DuraTrac RT tires will cost you at least $996. Here, you can see that price is not the biggest differentiator as a set of four DuraTrac RT is expensive by only some extra bucks. But, there are other reasons to make a final decision, which we have discussed below.

Based on SimpleScore, you should select the Open Country R/T if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the GMC Yukon XL or a heavy-duty light truck like the Ford F-350
• Want a tire that sports a stylish design
• Want a tire that’s suitable for use on more vehicles on the market

Contrarily, you should pick the Wrangler DuraTrac RT if you:

• Drive a pickup truck like the GMC Sierra 1500 or an off-roader like the Jeep Wrangler
• Want a tire that’s Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in moderate to severe winter weather
• Want a tire that’s better on the traction front (9.0 vs 8.2)
• Want a tire that’s better in handling (8.9 vs 8.6)
• Want a tire that’s long-lasting (8.8 vs 8.3)

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.