Thunderer Trac Grip MT Tire Review and Rating

To begin with – the tread of the Thunderer Trac Grip MT tire comes with an aggressive design that starts from the sidewall. Yes, you read that right. The sharp and aggressive sidewall not only makes it look like it’s made to be driven on Planet Mars but, it also protects the sidewall from sharp rocks and offers the extra grip required in deep sand or mud. 

The open tread lugs on the tire’s tread are flexible enough to help the tire conform to irregularities on the surface. The width between the lugs is quite wide and that adds to the overall muscular appeal of the tire. 

Apart from the cosmetic upside, this tread design comes with two functional benefits as well – the lugs help channel sand, mud, and rocks quite smoothly so there are hardly any chances of the particles getting stuck between them. Secondly, the tread design of the tire enhances the maneuverability of the vehicle as the lugs adapt to the surface they are being driven upon. They offer smooth transitions over terrain irregularities that help the driver get a better feel of the surface. 

Another evident feature of the Thunderer Trac Grip MT we noticed is its durability and toughness. While many off-road tires boast of grip and tread design, one serious aspect that holds them back from being the best is their inability to resist sharp objects like rocks that get stuck on the sipes, channels, or gaps on the tread and prevent the tread from doing its job. 

The Thunderer’s chip resistance ability is great, given the fact that it can keep at bay gravel, rocks, or other objects that find their way into the tread design. As a result, the tread can be at its optimum level all the time. 

Speaking of the Thunderer Trac Grip MT’s strength, the tire can haul a decent amount of load. In fact, the tire is offered with two load ratings- a 6- ply rating that can hold weight of up to 1 ton. The second load rating is a 10- ply rating that can hold weight of up to 1.7 tons. Pretty impressive eh! 

How does the Thunderer Trac Grip MT behave on dry tarmac?

Speaking of the tire’s road-going ability, we were quite surprised with its dry tarmac performance. As it turns out, the wide lugs on the tread that help channel away all the particles also help increase the tire’s footprint on tarmac. Consequently, the driver gets a better feel of the road and is able to maneuver the vehicle quite effectively. 

 As a result of the tread’s increased contact with the road, the Thunderer Trac Grip MT can offer enhanced traction on tarmac. The tire comes with a Q speed rating which means that it can support speeds of up to 99 mph. 

How does the Thunderer Trac Grip MT behave on wet and slippery roads? 

Thanks to the smart tread design- the Trac Grip MT tire aces the wet driving performance criteria. The lugs and grooves on the tread help the tire to effectively drive away all the water through the channels. This improves wet traction by quite a large margin. 

A larger footprint and wide gaps on the tread prevent the vehicle from hydroplaning. In addition, it also makes it easy for the tire to tread over water-logged surfaces more effectively. 

How is the Thunderer Trac Grip MT over snow? 

While the tire performs well in most situations, this is one area where the Trac Grip MT lags. Primarily, this isn’t a winter tire and hence it just doesn’t offer the required traction to tread over snow. The aggressive tread design is made to slice through mud and sand. But when driven on snow, the aggressive design proves to be sharper than required because the tire cuts through the snow without gaining traction. If you think snow chains would do the trick then you might be wrong. There simply isn’t enough gap on the tread to add a snow chain using the correct method.

Is the Thunderer Trac Grip MT comfortable and refined? 

For a Mud Terrain tire, we’d say that the Thunderer Trac Grip MT is surprisingly comfortable. Despite the chip-resistant tread and a flexible sidewall, the tire eliminates bumps and road vibrations effectively. For the price, we’d say that the Trac Grip MT provides a good load of comfort for a mud terrain tire. 

However, the tire isn’t the best when it comes to dampening road noise. One can hear a good amount of road noise as the speed climbs. This shouldn’t be a bother if you’re mostly driving off-road or are within the highway speed limit. 

Is the Thunderer Trac Grip MT good for off-roading? 

Of course! The Thunderer Trac Grip MT is meant for off-roading! As mentioned earlier, the tire is equipped with all the features and muscle that makes it one of the best off-roading tires for the price it is being offered at. Be it mud, gravel, sand, or water crossings through the forest. This tire with its aggressive tread design and durability can take it all in its stride

Is the Thunderer Trac Grip MT ideal for sporty driving? 

We’d say no to this. The Trac Grip MT is strictly a mud terrain tire. From its design to its construction, materials to the dimensions- all proportions are selected and applied by Thunderer to the tire for the sole purpose of being a great mud tire. While it can be driven on the road, the limits can be pushed to a certain degree only.

Sporty driving involves aggressive acceleration and braking- an act that demands a low-profile tire, a road-friendly, sporty tread design, and soft compound rubber to ensure that the tire sticks to the road and aids in high-speed cornering. The Thunderer Trac Grip MT has none of the above features. We’d recommend not being too sporty with the tire. Going overboard could also lead to a crash. 

Thunderer Trac Grip MT warranty

The Tire comes with a Free Limited Protection Policy where the user can have their Thunderer Trac Grip MT tire replaced for no charge within 60 months of purchase in the case of a manufacturing defect. Unlike many other brands, the tire does not come with a mileage guarantee which we think is quite a bummer. 

Pricing: Is the Thunderer Trac Grip MT worth the money? 

Depending on the size, the price of the Thunderer Trac Grip MT hovers between $220 and $260. We think that is an excellent deal for a mud tire that can play multiple roles and most importantly- play them all well. This is one of the best mud-terrain tires for the price tag that offer a lot of bang for the buck. 

Should I buy the Thunderer Trac Grip MT tire?