Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT Tire Review and Rating

In terms of noise, the Wrangler TrailRunner AT is designed with a computer-optimized tread pattern. The goal is to help reduce the noise when driving on paved roads. 

Another area the thread design should help is with durability. Goodyear’s idea was to make the tread blocks interlocking, which should provide longer life.

Wet roads can be tricky, which is another area where the Wrangler TrailRunner AT should perform well. The edges of the blocks have a saw-tooth design, which along with the sipes with various angles, should increase traction. Despite not having the standard circumferential grooves, the tire has plenty of lateral grooves and sipes. As with most tires, the goal is to keep the water away from the blocks and provide consistent traction.

The same set of saw-tooth edges that are designed for wet traction should also bring of the performance in other conditions. Snow, ice, and off-roading on hard-packed surfaces shouldn’t pose a problem, as the tire can utilize the edges for traction and grip. 

In addition to that, Goodyear made stepped shoulders on the side of the Wrangler TrailRunner AT. Their goal is to help improve grip and traction when driving in deeper snow, mud, or slush.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

When it comes to dry road performance, the Wrangler TrailRunner AT is good enough. I wouldn’t classify it as bad, but there are better-performing all-terrain tires. 

To be honest, I wasn’t too impressed with the grip and traction, but then again, Goodyear never made any bold claims about it. The Wrangler TrailRunner AT drives decently well and will provide more than enough for normal driving. You can push it a bit, and it will comply, but not a point where an enthusiast would be happy about it.

Despite having a decent cornering grip, it’s not a tire that should be pushed hard. The first issue is that the responsiveness is average-ish, and the steering feel is quite numb. 

With decent traction, you are getting decent braking distances. The Wrangler TrailRunner AT won’t win in this category but is still better than some competitors.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

Wet performance is better, an area where I feel like Goodyear paid attention to.

On the grip and traction side of things, the Wrangler TrailRunner AT is a good performer. The edges around the blocks are doing their job and provide plenty of performance.

Acceleration will not be an issue even in more spirited situations. The same can be said about the lateral grip, and you can go into a corner at a higher speed. I wouldn’t recommend that, as the tire is prone to understeer, and your truck or SUV won’t be of much help either.

The Aquaplaning resistance is also excellent, providing plenty of stability through water patches. Yes, there are better performing all-terrain tires, but not by much. 

How is it over snow?

Once it starts snowing, the Wrangler TrailRunner AT feels very good and performs admirably. 

Thanks to the rubber compound, the tire is pliable as soon as the temperatures start to drop. Light snow conditions also won’t be a problem, regardless if it’s fresh snow or packed. The tire will provide plenty of traction thanks to the tread design and the biting edges. It will also have no problem with slush, even if it gets a bit deeper.

Speaking of deeper, harsher snow conditions are not a situation where you want to be in with the Wrangler TrailRunner AT. It’s not horrible in these conditions, but you will notice a significant drop in performance. It can find traction after a bit of a struggle.

The snow performance is good for an all-season tire, but it won’t be as good as a winter tire.

Is it comfortable and refined?

The comfort and refinement are a mixed bag, as the Wrangler TrailRunner AT performs well in one area and not so good in another.

On the comfort side of things, the tire is pretty enjoyable. You’ll get a plush ride with most of the bumps eliminated. The bigger potholes will be felt in the cabin, but it won’t be as harsh as some of the other all-terrain tires. The same goes for the vibrations, which are there but are very muted.

The noise is the area where the Wrangler TrailRunner AT falls short. It’s not the loudest all-terrain tire I’ve driven, but it’s far from the quietest. Even at lower speeds, you will experience a bit of noise, which will go up on the highway.

Is it good for off-roading?

The Wrangler TrailRunner AT is part of Goodyear’s off-road lineup and performs just as you’d expect it to.

Harder surfaces like dirt roads are not a problem for the tire, which offers a lot of traction. Even though smaller rocks can get stuck in the grooves, Goodyear made the tread so that they can be ejected, ensuring consistent performance. The same feature allows the Wrangler TrailRunner AT to be good in muddy conditions. Mud buildup is almost nonexistent, meaning that it can always dig in and find traction. You will notice it struggle, but only in very deep mud.

Extremer situations, like rock crawling, are not ideal, and I would advise you to avoid them. It’s not that the tire won’t handle them, but it doesn’t have the ruggedness of a hard-core off-road tire, so you may end up damaging it.

Is the Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT ideal for sporty driving?

Like with most all-terrain tires, I would classify the Wrangler TrailRunner AT as a tire not suited for sporty driving.

Despite having decent levels of traction and grip, the sporty feel isn’t there. In reality, this kind of performance shouldn’t be expected from this kind of tire. 

Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT Warranty

Warranty-wise, the Goodyear offered a bump compared with some of its previous models. The Wrangler TrailRunner AT comes with a 55,000-mile treadwear warranty. The ArmorTrac, for example, had a 50-000-mile warranty, priced similarly.

Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT Pricing: Is it worth the money?

Speaking of price, the Wrangler TrailRunner AT is worth it when you consider what you get. The prices start at $119, the same as the older ArmorTrac. Comparing both, some subtle but noticeable differences put the Wrangler TrailRunner AT ahead, so an upgrade would be worth it.

Should I buy the Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT?