Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 Tire Review and Rating

The Roadian AT Pro RA8 has a uniquely designed tread pattern that improves performance in various conditions. One of the several distinctive features is the dual blocks. They are positioned on both sides of the center rib and are tasked with ensuring that the grooves remain clear of mud and gravel. This means that the tire should have maximum performance at all times.

While I’m on the subject of the center rib, it also is designed to make some improvements in the performance department. Thanks to the staggered design, the rib should help increase the traction in on and off-road conditions. To aid in that, the Roadian AT Pro RA8 also features microgrooves, which have their own biting task and should help additionally improve grip and traction.

On the sides, the Roadian AT Pro RA8 has wider shoulder blocks, meaning that the tire’s handling characteristics should be improved as well.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

Driving with the Roadian AT Pro RA8 on a dry road is generally a good experience. Even though the tire won’t win any awards, it’s still an acceptable contender.

As far as all-terrain tires go, the Roadian AT Pro RA8 delivers the right amount of grip and traction for everyday driving. The limit is a bit higher than that, and you won’t have any issues if you get a bit carried away, as long as you don’t push it too much.

The Roadian AT Pro RA8 is safe, something that can be clearly seen from the braking distances. Despite being longer than the premium models, they are still quite short.

Handling is, as you’d expect, good but not comparable touring or performance tires. The responsiveness is decent, which is thanks to the wider blocks at the shoulders.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

The performance on wet roads is good and should pose no problems regardless of the conditions. 

Thanks to the sipes and biting edges around the blocks, you will get a very good grip and traction from the Roadian AT Pro RA8. They help the tire hook up and eliminate slip as much as possible. Like with dry performance, avoid getting too aggressive. Even though the tire will give you plenty of confidence, its performance is not as good as the premium tires.

Aquaplaning resistance is excellent, and the Roadian AT Pro RA8 will have no problem “cutting” through the water. Braking distances are also quite good and are very similar to the Hankook Dynapro AT-M.

How is it over snow?

Winter performance with the Roadian AT Pro RA8 is excellent, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Unlike some of its competitors, this tire has the 3PMSF rating, meaning that it can perform better than M+S rated tires.

The Roadian AT Pro RA8 has excellent traction on snow-covered roads, regardless if it’s packed or unpacked. You’ll get predictable handling, and combined with the decently short braking distances, you are looking at a safe tire that can be driven in the winter.

At a certain point, the tire will start to struggle with deeper snow, which is to be expected. With that said, if you are driving in those conditions, you probably already have proper winter tires, so you shouldn’t have any issues.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Even though Nexen made no big promises in terms of refinement, the Roadian AT Pro RA8 is a tire that performs well in this department.

Naturally, the comfort levels aren’t as good as touring tires but are quite good and can be compared with some premium contenders. It can absorb bumps and shocks quite well and offer an acceptably comfortable riding experience. 

Noise is often a problem with off-road capable tires, which isn’t the case here. The Roadian AT Pro RA8 is a quiet tire, but not the quietest. The noise does increase a bit over rougher terrain and at higher speeds, which is to be expected.

Is it good for off-roading?

The off-road performance with the Roadian AT Pro RA8 is pretty good and should be more than enough for the casual off-roader.

Traction on gravel is excellent, and the tire will have no problem in these conditions. You can push it more, and it would deliver on the performance that Nexen delivered. With that said, the braking distances are not as impressive and are a bit longer than the best in this class.

Mud performance is also excellent, and you should expect plenty of traction in these conditions. It will struggle in deeper mud, but it’s not designed to be good at it, so it’s not a negative side.

Sand is the area where the Roadian AT Pro RA8 seems to struggle the most. Even though the traction isn’t the worse and the tire is usable, there are better performing tires in the mid-range section.

Is the Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 ideal for sporty driving?

Nor really, which shouldn’t be a surprise. Any off-road capable tire won’t be good for sporty driving, and the same goes for the Roadian AT Pro RA8.

The tire doesn’t have enough grip and traction to be pushed hard, meaning that you won’t have a lot to play with. Plus, the handling isn’t as dynamic as an enthusiast would want, so overall, the tire will disappoint you in this regard.

Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 Warranty

The warranty that Nexen offers is quite long, meaning that you should expect the Roadian AT Pro RA8 to last. You have a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty which is just as much as the Dynapro AT-M has. It does fall behind the Kumho Road Venture AT51, but only by 5,000 miles.

Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 Pricing: Is it worth the money?

This is the area where the Roadian AT Pro RA8 excels the most. The prices for this tire start at around $130, which is quite affordable for an all-terrain tire. Even when you look at tires from the mid-range segment, you will see a significant price difference that favors the Nexen tire.

Should I buy the Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8?