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It's time to buy tires... Duratracs vs. MT ATZP3s

9K views 36 replies 23 participants last post by  silvertt 
#1 ·
Seeking advice and experience from our esteemed and wise membership:

I'm purchasing tires in the next couple of days. 315/70/17 on black MT Classic III's. I've really been leaning toward Duratracs, but lately I've been heavily considering MT Baja ATZP3s also. I can get the Duratracs for $130 less (installed) than an MT ATZ combo (put on at a friend's house) but I won't let $130 and a trip to my friend's shop stop me from making the best choice.

Most of my driving will be on the highway, so Duratracs seemed like a good compromise. But the more I read about the ATZP3, the more they appeal to me. According to the Quadratec info sheet in my latest catalog, the ATZP3 is 4lbs lighter than the Duratrac, has 3ply sidewall instead of 2ply (think I read that correctly), with other dimensions being very similar. Is that small amount of weight per tire something I should consider regarding gas mileage? I didn't buy my Jeep with mileage as a consideration, but is any increased mileage enough to make the higher price of the MT's a wash?

As with most of us, most of my driving will be on pavement, although I do not drive my Jeep to work. It's driven around town, short trips, and a couple of long trips each year. All my off-roading will be pastures, trails, occasional mud, low hills, and lots of time at the beach. No rocks or steep climbs in my part of the world.


How do these two stack up against each other?

Anything I should consider outside what I have mentioned?

Any questions I should have asked, but didn't?

Thanks!
 
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#2 ·
Seeking advice and experience from our esteemed and wise membership:

I'm purchasing tires in the next couple of days. 315/70/17 on black MT Classic III's. I've really been leaning toward Duratracs, but lately I've been heavily considering MT Baja ATZP3s also. I can get the Duratracs for $130 less (installed) than an MT ATZ combo (put on at a friend's house) but I won't let $130 and a trip to my friend's shop stop me from making the best choice.

Most of my driving will be on the highway, so Duratracs seemed like a good compromise. But the more I read about the ATZP3, the more they appeal to me. According to the Quadratec info sheet in my latest catalog, the ATZP3 is 4lbs lighter than the Duratrac, has 3ply sidewall instead of 2ply (think I read that correctly), with other dimensions being very similar. Is that small amount of weight per tire something I should consider regarding gas mileage? I didn't buy
my Jeep with mileage as a consideration, but is any increased mileage enough to make the higher price of the MT's a wash?

As with most of us, most of my driving will be on pavement, although I do not drive my Jeep to work. It's driven around town, short trips, and a couple of long trips each year. All my off-roading will be pastures, trails, occasional mud, low hills, and lots of time at the beach. No rocks or steep climbs in my part of the world.

How do these two stack up against each other?

Anything I should consider outside what I have mentioned?

Any questions I should have asked, but didn't?

Thanks!
Well I think you already know what my answer is, ATZ P3. Duratracs are pretty much for following the crowd (that statement will get some blood boiling and get some traction to this thread). It is not to say they are anything but top tier. That being said the ATZ P3 is by far an all around tougher tire with it's 3ply sidewalls and better side biter coverage. Duratracs have a slight edge in "looks" as they appear more M/T than A/T in nature thus providing a more "aggressive" look. Really you can't go wrong either way both have great performance as a hybrid design and will serve you well for the light off roading you describe. It really comes down to which look you like, more M/T or more A/T.
 
#6 ·
The ATZ P3 at FRWY speeds 55+ driving in a hardtop at ~30psi there is far less road noise than an M/T but not as quite as say a BFG A/T. I find the ATZ P3s to have a bit less road noise than did my Kelly TSRs which are a "kissing" cousin to the Duratracs. I can only gather from this that the road noise would still be less with the ATZs.
 
#4 ·
TOYO's. Been a major supporter of them. Overall strength and quality, longevity and road noise are there. I'm talking AT II Extreme of course. Things will last and last, at least for me and those I've sold them to. They have some sidewall lug, wide tread pattern, blocks are close so lower noise, they come 10ply, can't exactly remember side poly but I believe 3, beading is high tensil and strong as hell and has a Lil bit of a rim protector for seating of wheel. They have rock and stone ejector built in, which like all tires with them do and don't work ha. The compond of rubber stays pliable in winter or extreme cold conditions. Both NITTO and TOYO being sister companies make outstanding products. It we all have preferences I guess. Duratracts last long, but when they wear eventually after a long time, the noise is ridiculous. Like riding with a generator riding shotgun running hard in the seat next to you.
 
#5 · (Edited)
If you work as hard for your money as I do I would not waste my hard earned money on Duratracs. I run Mickey Thompson's MTZ the sidewall is bombproof! Don't let the Duratrac Flock lead you astray buy a real tire that can take some abuse if you decide to truly go off road!
 
#7 ·
I think the ATZ P3 is an excellent tire.

I will just add that there are a few hybrids out there in that size worth considering. The Cooper S/T Maxx, the Kelly TSR and the Dick Cepek Fun Country's come to mind.
 
#8 ·
For Texas I would go with the ATZ's if your stuck between the two. I'm running duratracs and like them a lot but a lot of the reason I got them was because of how well they work in winter weather. One of the reasons they do so well in the winter is because they have a little bit of a softer compound than most AT tires. The tradoffs were worth the benefits for me however, in texas where there is not as much snow but way more hot asphalt I would go with the harder compound of the ATZ's but thats me.
 
#9 ·
As with most of us, most of my driving will be on pavement, although I do not drive my Jeep to work. It's driven around town, short trips, and a couple of long trips each year. All my off-roading will be pastures, trails, occasional mud, low hills, and lots of time at the beach. No rocks or steep climbs in my part of the world.
For this type of driving, I would seriously consider the Duratracs and I'm really not a Duratracs groupie, promise. I don't even own a set (although I just ordered a set of 5 for $1392 out the door today including mount/balance for the wife's JKUR). A few of my buddies have them and they've been proven to be a great all around tire with very little road noise, great in the snow, and a solid off road tire. The sidewalks are known to be a little on the weak side but I purchased the damage warranty with them so I could care less about that.

I don't have any experience with the MT's so I'm afraid I wouldn't be much help with that. Good luck with your decision!
 
#16 ·
The ATZ P3 is Mickey Thompson's hybrid AT/MT like the Duratrac but there are differences. The ATZ has always been a great AT off road but the P3 is even better but it is not as quiet or ride as well as the Duratrac. The old ATZ would not dig so they were great for pure floatation on deep sand, the more aggressive edges tend to dig more which better for light mud and snow.

Both tires are good choices but as usual it depends on your preferences. For another similar tire also look at the Cooper ST Maxx.
 
#20 ·
Don't overlook the S/T Maxx. :cool:
 
#24 ·
The DuraTracs are quite decent in the packed snow- better than KMs and better than MTRs anyway. You do not need that for Texas though. The ATZs should serve you well and should last longer.

I prefer the MTR Kevlars off road but I like the DuraTracs for Colorado all season use. ..especially snow, though they are also very grippy on rocks. I am not sure how confident about how tough the 2-ply rated sidewall is though the 3-ply rated (E rated tire) sidewall on the DuraTrac seems to be quite good.
 
#25 ·
I have both and use the duratracts in the winter. Don't listen to anyone who trashes Duratracs, they are the best snow tires I've ever had. This winter has been brutal and I've been able to get through 3 feet of snow and ice with no problem. In the summer I'll definitely go back to the ATZ P3s but you'll have a hard time finding a better winter tire than a duratrac.
 
#27 ·
After 40k miles and thousands of offroad miles I have found that there is no truth to the weak sidewalls. There is some rubber missing from the sidewalls from rocks but all of them have held air and based on the tread wear there is another 30-40k miles left on the tires.
 
#29 ·
I think the 2-ply rated DTs are the ones some tear while offroading. The 3-ply rated ones (rim size 18") are certainly tougher. I run the 2-ply rated one on my 4Runner but since I have 17" rims on the JKU, I can't run the 3-ply DuraTracs. If all else fails, I'll just get the MTRs again when these wear out next year. The S/T Maxx looks interesting even if I have to go down a half inch in diameter and take a D rated tire. The weight is not listed though. Will have to call and find out.
 
#30 ·
Update from Cooper- 315/70/17 (10" width) is ~68 lbs.

While it is a 34.5" tire, it is only 10" wide. They don't make a 35x12.5x17. They do make a 37x12.5x17.
 
#31 ·
Don't get confused on the specs. That tire has a section width of 12.8 which makes it wider than many 35's and 34.57 is right at the size of a 35" tire. Plus, most 35's measure 34.6 to 34.8 and some are less... The Cooper 315/70-17 is virtually identical to most 35's.
 
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