Dextero Tires Review: Only if You Must
Whenever we talk about tire manufacturers, we associate the older ones with quality and statistically that is true. Most of the brands we praise for making excellent performing tires are the ones that have been on the market for many decades, some even over a century.
Some people think that the time for new tire manufacturers is over, but they are wrong. Even in the 21st century, an era where there are plenty of established companies, we still see new brands appearing on the market. One such manufacturer is Dextero.
In this industry, a company like Dextero doesn’t ring any bells with most people. The main reason for that is because the name has been around since 2017 and it isn’t as widespread as the rest of its rivals.
Dextero is another budget-friendly option brand that falls under the Giti Tire umbrella. The mother company celebrated its first US-based manufacturing plant with a new name on the market. Even though Dextero is part of Giti, the company operates as an individual one.
Initially, the company only worked with Walmart and that was the only official retailer. With that said, we have begun to see them pop up on other websites as well.
Affordable tires mean that you’ll need to make some sacrifices in terms of performance. The main question here is how big of a sacrifice will you need to make with Dextero.
Dextero Tires Review
Here are the best Dextero tires currently on the market:
#1. Touring DTR1
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On the passenger car side of things, Dextero offers the Touring DTR1. Based on the name you can probably guess that we’re looking at a touring tire. It’s an all-season model and comes in a wide range of tire sizes.
To deliver performance in multiple conditions, the Touring DTR1 features an all-season rubber compound that should remain pliable even in winter. The pattern features sipes and grooves that should help it with traction on snow or damp roads. There are 4 circumferential grooves that work with the lateral ones to help the tire evacuate water and provide excellent aquaplaning resistance and stability.
In daily driving scenarios, the Touring DTR1 is a tire with decent performance. On dry roads, the grip and traction levels are sufficient, and combined with the decent braking distances it’s not a poor option. On damp roads, the traction is good enough, but at times it feels like it’s struggling just a bit more, even at lower speeds. The aquaplaning resistance is pretty good and the tire’s stability is great even on the highway. As an all-season tire, the snow performance is as you’d expect. The tire will be fine on unpacked snow but will struggle on packed one.
The biggest surprise is in the refinement department. Dextero made the Touring DTR1 to be a comfortable tire. It rides well over bumps, absorbs them, and minimizes the vibration. In this regard, it’s comparable to the more expensive models. The noise levels on the other hand aren’t magnificent. Yes, the tire isn’t particularly loud, but I wouldn’t put it as extremely quiet. Overall, I’d say average noise levels in this class.
In everyday driving scenarios, the Touring DTR1 may seem decent, but it’s not particularly dynamic. The softer ride means that you’re sacrificing responsiveness and feedback. Dextero offers the tire with a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty. It’s not a leader in this category, but considering the price, I wouldn’t complain.
Pros
- Solid overall performance
- Very comfortable
- Excellent aquaplaning resistance
Cons
- The noise levels are average
- Traction on damp roads is behind the mid-range options
#2. Touring DHT2
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Dextero covers the SUV and light truck segment with the Touring DHT2. This is an all-season highway tire, designed for safe and well-refined performance. It’s a similar tire to the previous one but for the larger vehicles.
Similar to the previous tire, the Touring DHT2 features an all-season rubber compound which should help with performance throughout the year. The tread pattern offers more sipes than the previous tire, so the performance on damp roads or snow should be a bit better. There are 4 circumferential grooves that work with the lateral ones to provide excellent aquaplaning resistance.
As a budget tire, you have to be mindful of the limitations. The Touring DHT2 is a decent performer in dry conditions, offering acceptable levels of grip and traction. It’s stable enough and you shouldn’t have massive issues with it. Despite the sipes, the traction on damp surfaces still doesn’t feel good enough. It’s fine, but not to a point where you can relax. The aquaplaning resistance is pretty good and the tire should be fine even at highway speeds. Snow performance is more or less similar to the previous tire. It deals with unpacked snow decently well but struggles a bit on packed one.
The refinement is the best part of the Touring DHT2. You’ll get excellent comfort as the tire will soften up most of the imperfections and bumps on the road. It will also minimize a good amount of vibrations. The noise levels are decently low for a tire from this budget class. It’s relatively quiet around town and the roar on the highway isn’t overly intrusive.
In the handling department, the Touring DHT2 suffers from the same weaknesses as the previous one. The softer ride means that you’re getting reduced responsiveness and not a lot of feedback. You’re also getting a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is pretty good in this category.
Pros
- Well refined
- 50,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Acceptable dry performance
Cons
- The handling isn’t dynamic
- Traction on wet roads is a bit behind similarly priced models
#3. All Terrain DAT1
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SUV and light truck owners that do a bit of off-roading will want an all-terrain tire and Dextero has a model for that. The All Terrain DAT1 is designed to offer a combination of on and off-road performance without massively compromising refinement.
For road performance, the All Terrain DAT1 features a central rib, aimed at improving stability and handling characteristics. In wet conditions, the tire has wide grooves designed to channel water and offer excellent aquaplaning resistance. The tread design with the lugs on the sidewall should help in off-road conditions like sand or mud, as well as snow.
On dry paved roads, the performance from the All Terrain DAT1 is solid. The tire’s grip and traction levels are fine for daily driving scenarios, as long as you’re not pushing it. On the highway, it’s stable enough, but I wouldn’t test a top speed in them. The damp performance seems to be the worst as the tire doesn’t feel as planted as I’d like. It’s fine around town, but every time you go into a corner at a slightly higher speed, you’ll feel it struggling to grip. The aggressive pattern does a decent job on unpacked snow and even if it’s deeper it won’t struggle. With that said, on packed snow you will notice slightly more issues.
In off-roading scenarios, the All Terrain DAT1 does a good job. On dirt or gravel roads, the traction levels are pretty good and you won’t have too many issues. Driving in mud also isn’t a problem, as this tire can deliver. Even though Dextero doesn’t mention anything about the pattern being self-cleaning, I didn’t notice a lot of mud buildup. Despite the cut and chip-resistant rubber compound, I wouldn’t rely on this tire too much for rock crawling. It may be fine with a few PSIs less, but I’m not sure if the internal construction will handle that.
In terms of refinement, I have mixed feelings about the All Terrain DAT1. The comfort levels are decent enough considering it’s an all-terrain tire. It deals with bumps decently well and you won’t too many vibrations in the cabin. The noise levels, on the other hand, aren’t as impressive. I know that all-terrain tires aren’t designed for a quiet ride, but some rivals do better, especially on the highway.
Considering the category, I didn’t expect much in terms of handling. The responsiveness is okay if you’re not into that kind of thing and you won’t get a lot of feedback. Surprisingly, this tire comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is almost as good as the premium models. With that said, the warranty only applies to the P-metric models.
Pros
- Good off-road performance
- Usable in the snow
- Decently comfortable
Cons
- Doesn’t feel as planted as I’d like on damp roads
- The noise levels are slightly higher than some of its rivals
Dextero Tires Buying Guide
What is there to like about Dextero tires? What is it that distinguishes these tires from the chasing pack? Are there areas where Dextero tires could or should have done better? Any shortcomings that could potentially be deal-breakers? This section has all the answers.
Why Should You Buy Dextero Tires?
Here’s why Dextero tires should be on your short list of tire brands to buy next:
1. Affordable
Whenever I talk about these budget-friendly options, the first advantage is the price. Being able to get a set of tires that cost half as much as the premium options is an attractive offer for some people. Keep in mind that whenever you’re paying less than the premium, you are making some sacrifices in terms of the performance and it’s no different with Dextero.
2. Decent refinement levels
If we exclude the all-terrain model from this section, then the two touring options from Dextero are far from the worst tires in terms of refinement. The noise is acceptably low even at higher speeds and the comfort levels will provide a smooth ride. Again, this isn’t comparable with the premium models, but it’s good enough in this category.
Why Should You NOT Buy Dextero Tires?
Here’s why Dextero tires may not be a good choice for you:
1. Lack of options
I know that Dextero has been around for less than a decade, but the company has only 3 models on sale. Sure, they cover a wider range of vehicles and applications, but with no dedicated summer or winter tires, you’re stuck with all-season ones.
2. Traction on damp roads
If you’ve followed the mini-reviews, you may have noticed a trend and that’s the traction on damp roads. I wouldn’t classify these tires as poor, but there are a bit behind some of their rivals. In many cases, you’ll notice the tires struggling for grip giving you an unplanted feel on the road.
3. Quality
Before I begin, a quick disclaimer. I wrote this section based on other people’s reviews, something we didn’t experience. There are situations where Dextero tires didn’t hold up as well as they should. In most cases, we’re talking about some kind of manufacturing defect you won’t find with most mid-range or premium tires. To be fair, these are cheaper than both, so it’s a risk if you’re willing to take it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the common queries people have about Dextero tires:
Who makes Dextero tires?
Dextero is backed by Giti and the company exists because the Singaporean manufacturer opened up a facility in Chester County, South Carolina. Even though Dextero exists as a separate brand, the tires are still under the Giti umbrella.
Where are Dextero tires made?
Considering that the manufacturing plant is in the US, the tires are domestic, right? Yes, but not for all of them. With all 3 models, there are specific sizes that don’t get manufactured domestically. In these cases, you’re looking at tires made in Indonesia.
How long do Dextero tires last?
Looking at the warranty should give us an idea of how long-lasting Dextero tires are. In all 3 cases, the treadwear warranty is solid and comparable with some of the mid-range or premium models. With that said, things aren’t as great. As I mentioned in the previous sections, there are situations where owners report manufacturing defects that drastically reduce the longevity of the tires.
Is Dextero a good brand?
In my opinion, a good brand will have as few drawbacks as possible. With Dextero, I can say that it’s acceptably good, but only if we compare it with manufacturers from its class. It makes tires with acceptably decent performance at an affordable price. This is what makes it a good bargain, as long as you’re prepared to live with the drawbacks.
Are Dextero tires noisy?
It depends on which model we’re looking at. The touring options are solid performers in terms of noise. They aren’t as quiet as the premium tires we’ve looked at in the past, but considering the price I’d have to say that the noise levels are decent.
In the all-terrain department, things aren’t as impressive. The All Terrain DAT1 is not a particularly quiet tire. Even though Dextero made some claims, I wouldn’t put it near the top of its class.
Are Dextero tires good for snow?
The snow performance is as good as you can expect from all-season tires. You can get decent traction on unpaced know from the touring models, but the all-terrain one will deliver a bit more. On packed snow, all 3 struggle a bit, but remain acceptably usable.
Ideally, I would like to see a dedicated winter tire for better traction on snow and ice.
Conclusion
There are manufacturers that I can recommend, there are ones that I would avoid and then there’s Dextero.
The performance is acceptable when you’re looking at the entire tire industry. Within its class, the performance isn’t terrible, but you’ll need to be aware that you’re getting what you pay for. There are situations where I’d say that it’s a good option, like my 92 Corolla.
Whenever we talk about these affordable manufacturers it’s important to note that it’s your decision. We know which manufacturers make the best tires, so if they are not within your budget, you’ll need to look at the lower tiers. With Dextero, you are paying less, but you’re also getting less performance. If that’s something that works for you, then you should consider these tires.
