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Last updated 3/31/2025 - Originally published 3/31/2025
Written by SimpleTire, Expertly reviewed by Brett Antosh
Mickey Thompson and Yokohama Tires are well-known manufacturers offering a wide selection of tires that balance affordability with high performance. Both brands cater to diverse driving needs, including off-road adventures and everyday commuting. Mickey Thompson excels in the light truck tire segment, providing robust and durable tires. On the other hand, Yokohama is known for its affordable and performance-oriented tires. Both manufacturers offer a full spectrum of tire types, including all-season, all-terrain, winter, mud-terrain, and summer tires.
Mud-terrain tires are essential for Jeeps, light trucks, and SUVs and help navigate demanding terrains like mud, dirt, sand, gravel, and rocks. Yokohama and Mickey Thompson both produce high-quality mud-terrain tires, and their two close competitors in this segment are the Baja Legend MTZ and the M/T G003.
We will explore the similarities and differences between these two popular mud-terrain tires in this Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ vs Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires comparison to help you make an informed decision.
Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires
The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ is a mud-terrain tire designed for SUVs, light trucks, and Jeeps, offering impressive off-road performance and durability. Engineered to tackle tough terrains with ease, it features a rugged construction and an aggressive tread pattern. The Baja Legend MTZ is built to deliver a reliable balance between off-road capability and on-road comfort, making it an excellent option for drivers who love adventure.
Backed by these features, the Baja Legend MTZ earned an average SimpleScore of 8.3.
Get Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires at the best price for your vehicle here
Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires
The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 is a mud-terrain tire built for extreme off-road adventures, offering outstanding traction and durability in the most demanding conditions. Its aggressive tread design features large, high-void blocks and reinforced sidewalls, delivering superior grip on mud, rocks, and rough terrains.
Equipped with Yokohama's Geo-Shield technology, the Geolandar M/T G003 boasts enhanced puncture resistance and long-lasting durability. Deep grooves and biting edges in the tread pattern provide reliable traction, even in challenging off-road environments. While off-road performance is the focus, this tire is also designed to maintain stability at highway speeds.
Earning an impressive 9.2 SimpleScore, the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 offers exceptional traction, durability, and longer tread life, making it a strong choice for serious off-road enthusiasts.
Get Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here.
Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ vs Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires on traction
Traction is crucial for all tire categories, especially mud-terrain tires that navigate rough conditions. For off-road landscapes, tires need reliable and consistent traction to ensure optimal performance, both for the vehicle and the tires themselves. Key factors that influence traction include the tread pattern, tire construction, and the composition of the rubber compound.
The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ earns a solid 8.2 out of 10 for traction, thanks to its well-engineered design. Four-pitch Sidebiters enhance grip by biting into the terrain, while their aggressive tread pattern delivers consistent traction. Angled tread blocks with stone ejectors help keep the tread clear of debris, maintaining optimal performance on challenging surfaces.
On the other hand, the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 boasts an impressive 9.6 traction rating. Its aggressive tread design features deep grooves and a high void ratio, maximizing traction in mud, rocks, and other demanding terrains. Large tread blocks combined with open shoulder patterns promote rapid evacuation of water, slush, and mud, ensuring superior grip and stability even in harsh driving conditions.
The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 leaves the Baja Legend MTZ in the dust with an impressive SimpleScore, becoming the clear winner here.
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003
Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ vs Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires on durability
Durability is a key factor when choosing mud-terrain tires, as they are frequently exposed to harsh and rugged environments. A tire's ability to resist punctures, cuts, and abrasions directly impacts its longevity and performance in off-road conditions. Critical elements that influence durability include the sidewall construction, tread compound, and reinforcement technologies designed to handle tough terrains.
The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ earns an impressive SimpleScore of 8.2 out of 10 for durability. Its strong 3-ply sidewall construction enhances resistance to punctures and cuts, while its robust design ensures reliable performance and extended tread life in demanding off-road situations.
On the other hand, the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 stands out with an exceptional durability SimpleScore of 9.4. This high rating is due to Yokohama’s advanced Geo-Shield technology, which reinforces the tire’s structure for superior puncture resistance. Additionally, its tough tread compound and reinforced sidewalls offer excellent protection against cuts, chips, and abrasions from rocks and debris, making it a top choice for serious off-roaders seeking maximum durability.
In durability, the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 again takes the lead with a considerably better SimpleScore.
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003
Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ vs Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires on longevity
Longevity plays a vital role when choosing tires as it impacts how well they resist wear over time and maintain consistent performance. Uneven tread wear can compromise traction and safety, making durability an essential consideration. Factors such as rubber compounds, tread patterns, and overall tire construction directly influence a tire's lifespan.
The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ earns a solid SimpleScore of 8.6 out of 10 for longevity. Its specially engineered tread design and durable rubber compound are crafted to promote even wear, helping extend tread life. While mud-terrain tires typically wear faster than highway tires, the Baja Legend MTZ is built with robust materials and construction to maximize durability and extend its service life.
Similarly, the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 also receives an impressive 8.6 longevity score. Thanks to its advanced Geo-Shield construction, this tire offers excellent resistance to punctures, chips, snags, abrasions, and cuts. Its tough tread compound and reinforced sidewalls enhance durability in extreme conditions, while the optimized tread pattern ensures even pressure distribution for uniform wear and longer tread life.
Both tires deliver reliable longevity, making them strong contenders for drivers who need dependable performance in tough off-road environments.
ADVANTAGE: Tie
When to use each
The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ and the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 are both robust mud-terrain tires tailored for SUVs, light trucks, and Jeeps. Designed to conquer challenging off-road terrains and withstand extreme conditions, these tires prioritize durability and exceptional traction. This combination empowers drivers to confidently venture into uncharted territories.
While both tires demonstrate the ability to handle light winter weather conditions, they are not designed for moderate or severe winter environments as they lack the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification.
Which one should you choose?
So, which mud-terrain tire is the right choice for you? Well, the answer depends on your personal preference, as both tires deliver great performance, with the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 scoring better in traction and durability. Another important factor to consider before making a choice is the price of both tires.
While the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ costs $403.39 per tire and $1,613.56 for a set of four, the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 costs $395.99 per tire and $1,583.96 for a set of four. This considerable price difference of over $200 on the set of four justifies the performance difference between the two tires.
(Note - We have picked the LT275/65R20 tire size for price comparison, and prices can vary depending on the tire size.)
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ if you:
- Drive a pickup truck like the GMC Sierra 3500 HD or the Jeep Gladiator
- Want a more rugged tire with a 3-ply construction
- Want a tire that offers solid longevity
You can go for the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 if you:
- Drive vehicles like the Toyota Tacoma, Ford F-250, and Chevrolet Colorado.
- Want an extremely durable tire (9.4 vs 8.2)
- Prefer superior traction in a mud-terrain tire (9.6 vs 8.2)
- Want a more affordable tire that also offers great performance
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.