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Last updated 5/13/2024 - Originally published 5/13/2024
Written by SimpleTire
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All-terrain tires and mud-terrain tires are the only things to really get the most performance out of any 4WD-equipped light truck, Jeep, or SUV. The best mud-terrain tires have many of the same attributes – a damage-resistant tread formulation, an aggressive lug tread with a wide void ratio and good self-cleaning of mud and debris as the wheel turns, and a reinforced casing that’s up to the job and can handle rough terrain with ease. They should deliver dependable traction in deep mud, sand, snow, loose dirt, or over rocky terrain, and should be able to operate “aired-down” with low inflation pressure so they can easily conform around rocks, stumps, and other obstacles for dependable off-road performance.
That’s where we come to the Pirelli Scorpion MTR and Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003. They’re both premium tires from top brands, they’re both designed to perform, they’re both durable, and offer traction on or off the road that’s consistent and confident. In this head-to-head matchup, you’ll see us refer to SimpleScore fairly often. If you’re not familiar with SimpleScore, it’s the SimpleTire team’s system for giving you an at-a-glance idea of what a tire is all about. We compile data points from customer reviews and product descriptions, then calculate them as numerical values for the categories of traction, handling, and longevity as well as assigning an overall average SimpleScore number for each. These are how the SimpleScore numbers shake out for these two tires:
As you can see, these tires are pretty closely matched in those three categories, making it a pretty tough call to say which tire comes out on top in these matchups. So without further delay, let’s get in for a deeper dive into each of these tires with this product comparison:
Pirelli is one of the world’s most respected tire manufacturers, and they brought all their experience and expertise to bear on the Scorpion MTR. The Pirelli Scorpion MTR features a cut-and-chip-resistant tread compound and an extra layer of rubber around the tire’s bead for safety and stability. Reinforced sidewalls help enhance stability as well as reducing the chances of a cut or puncture that could leave you stranded. The tread blocks feature large transversal grooves and an aggressive design with stone ejectors built into the tread groove base to easily remove rocks and debris that could cause damage. The high-void tread pattern also quickly ejects accumulated mud and dirt so there’s always a clear section of tire to dig in as the wheel turns. An intricate network of sipes multiplies the tire’s surface area and traction with hundreds of thin biting edges to chew their way through mud, sand, snow, and dirt.
The Yokohama Geolandar line has been part of the Yokohama family of tires for a long time, and the Geolandar M/T G003 is a fantastic mud-terrain addition to the Geolandar legacy. The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 is ready for the roughest treatment with Yokohama’s GEO-SHIELD design package that includes a high-turnup carcass, multiple sidewall plies to guard against lateral impacts, and a full nylon cap layer. The Geolandar M/T G003 also features a next-generation tread compound that incorporates triple polymer blends for long wear and durability. The Geolandar M/T G003’s contact patch is redesigned to be wider and flatter, putting more rubber in contact with the road for improved handling and braking as well as long, even wear. Off-road grip is outstanding with an aggressive tread pattern designed with an optimized block/void ratio and wraparound lugs at the shoulder for great lateral traction. The Geolandar M/T G003 is designed for a quiet ride on the highway too, with a tread pitch that’s randomized and computer-tuned to keep road noise to a minimum.
With a SimpleScore of 9.7 for the Yokohama and 9.6 for the Pirelli in the traction department, you can see there’s not a lot of daylight between these two tires when it comes to grip on or off the pavement. Both tires have big meaty lugs and tread blocks to dig into snow, sand, mud or loose dirt. Both tires are designed to deliver good control and a secure feel for off-road adventures, with the kind of traction that’s dependable and consistent regardless of what kind of terrain you take on. Both tires perform well aired-down for rock crawling, with tread patterns and lug designs that conform well to rocks, stumps, logs, and other irregular surfaces. We should also note here that neither tire has the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for severe winter service, although reviews show that both are capable performers in winter weather. It’s a tough call alright, but the Yokohama is designed as a mud-terrain tire and not all-terrain like the Pirelli, so we give this one to:
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003
With the Pirelli and the Yokohama, both tires are built to be extremely tough and resilient for some of the most severe usage a tire can endure. Both tires feature advanced cut-and-puncture-resistant tread compounds and reinforced casing designs with multi-ply sidewalls, and both get identical SimpleScores of 9.2 for durability. However, the mud-terrain design of the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 means a deeper tread depth that can also enhance its damage resistance. It’s a tough call, but:
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003
We should note right off the top that neither the Pirelli Scorpion MTR nor the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 is covered from the factory with a treadwear or mileage warranty. That’s not uncommon – many mud-terrain and all-terrain tires don’t have a mileage warranty. When it comes to SimpleScore rankings, the Yokohama gets a very solid 8.5 and the Pirelli a 7.6 for longevity. Both tires have extremely robust designs and materials, but again – the Yokohama is designed as a mud-terrain tire and has different performance targets for longevity than an all-terrain design like the Pirelli. This one is a bit of an easier decision:
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003
It depends on what you need from a tire. If you’re the kind of driver who uses a 4x4-equipped truck mostly on the pavement with the occasional off-road jaunt, an all-terrain tire like the Pirelli Scorpion MTR will serve you well. If you’re more serious about off-roading and like to maybe play in the deep mud from time to time, the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 is a tire that won’t let you down and leave you stranded. The flip side of that is that the noise levels, ride quality, and handling properties of the Pirelli are likely to be a little more composed and civilized for daily driver duties, so you’d need to keep that in mind as well.
The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 and the Pirelli Scorpion MTR are both first-rate tires from premium manufacturers. Even though they don’t have the 3PMSF rating, both tires are confident and stable in snow, and both tires are very capable off-road or on the pavement. Our recommendation here, though, would be for the Pirelli if you rely on your truck more for daily driver duty and spend more time on the pavement than in the mud. If you need a truck that can safely get you to backwoods destinations or rough job sites, or if you just like to have a little more fun in deep mud and sand, then the Yokohama might be a better choice.
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.
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