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Last updated 2/20/2025 - Originally published 2/20/2025
Written by SimpleTire, Expertly reviewed by Brett Antosh
The ideal tire for your truck or SUV should be a good balance of capability, comfort, and cost. In the budget all-terrain tire category, the Radar and Starfire have prominent tires that perform up to the mark and do not cost a bomb. The two options worth considering are the Renegade A/T5 from Radar and the Solarus AP from Starfire. The Radar Renegade A/T5 aims to provide a robust off-road experience with an aggressive tread pattern designed for tackling various terrains, from rocky trails to muddy roads. It often appeals to drivers prioritizing a rugged look and confident off-road performance.
The Starfire Solarus AP, on the other hand, positions itself as a more versatile all-terrain tire, seeking to blend on-road comfort and quietness with capable off-road traction. It is a suitable choice for drivers who spend a significant amount of time on paved roads but still want the option to explore off-road terrains. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each tire is important in making the right choice. This comparison will delve into the specifics of the Radar Renegade A/T5 and the Starfire Solarus AP, analyzing their traction, handling, and longevity traits based on our proprietary SimpleScore on a scale of 0-10.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the Radar Renegade A/T5 vs. Starfire Solarus AP tires comparison. Read on.
Radar Renegade A/T5 tires
The Radar Renegade A/T5 is an all-terrain tire designed for trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps, emphasizing aggressive off-road performance. Its robust tread pattern features large blocks and a high void ratio for enhanced traction in mud, dirt, and gravel. Stone ejectors within the grooves help prevent damage from rocks and debris, further boosting its durability. While its rugged construction and cut-resistant compound improve wearability in challenging terrains, the optimized tread pattern of the Renegade A/T5 returns decent on-road manners, though it's primarily geared towards off-road enthusiasts.
The Radar tire is a great option for someone wanting a classic, rugged look combined with enhanced off-road traction. With the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, the Radar Renegade A/T5 is backed by a great 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
With a 7.8 average SimpleScore, the Radar Renegade A/T5 returns adequate traction, grip, handling, and durability.
Get Radar Renegade A/T5 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here.
Starfire Solarus AP tires
Designed for pickup trucks, SUVs, and CUVs, the Starfire Solarus AP provides a smooth and quiet ride on paved roads while still offering confident traction when venturing off the beaten path. The Starfire Solarus AP is an all-terrain tire designed to provide year-round versatility and dependability. The Solarus AP features a tread pattern that balances open shoulder blocks for off-road grip with smaller tread elements and sipes for enhanced on-road handling and wet traction.
Beyond its all-weather traction, the Solarus AP offers a comfortable ride and comes with a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, making it a practical choice for drivers who value long-lasting performance and confident handling in various conditions. This blend of features makes it an appealing option for those seeking a balance of capability, comfort, and value.
The Starfire Solarus AP scores 7.7 SimpleScore thanks to its adequate traction, grip, handling, and durability.
Get Starfire Solarus AP tires at the best deals for your vehicle here.
Radar Renegade A/T5 vs Starfire Solarus AP tires on traction
All-terrain tires are meant to offer balanced grip and traction on paved and unpaved roads. The Renegade A/T5 and the Solarus AP promise adequate grip and traction in different driving conditions. Let’s see how well they stick to the surface.
Scoring a decent 7.6 in traction, the Radar all-terrain tire confirms its adequate grip on and off the road. Delivering enhanced traction on dry, wet, light snow, and rough roads, the Renegade A/T5 features an optimized tread pattern with different block sizes and shapes along with multiple lateral grooves and angled sipes. It’s 3PMSF certified for increased snow and ice traction.
On the other hand, the Starfire tire scores nearly the same, 7.5, score assuring decent grip and traction on different terrains. Thanks to the sharp, large, angled tread blocks, the Solarus AP returns solid traction on dirt, paved roads, and farmland. The wide grooves evacuate water quickly from the tread to resist hydroplaning and boost wet traction.
The traction scores are almost leveled; if we have to choose one, it has to be the Radar Renegade A/T5, which wins by a whisker (0.1)!
ADVANTAGE: Radar Renegade A/T5
Radar Renegade A/T5 vs Starfire Solarus AP tires on durability
Whether driving on paved roads or rough roads, you need tires that offer great stability, handling, and cornering performance to ensure a safe and sound journey. Both tires promise dynamic steering response but one of the two again wins by a small margin. Handling scores? Check it out.
In terms of handling, the Radar Renegade A/T5 scores 7.8, meaning it offers decent steering response and stability when driven on smooth or rough roads. Thanks to the wide center tread blocks that help distribute the driving pressure evenly across the tire for effective steering response and increased stability even while taking turns.
Similarly, the Starfire Solarus AP boasts a 7.7 in handling thanks to its full-depth sipes that provide extra biting edges and grip the surface for solid handling and cornering. The strong sidewall design with robust construction ensures the tire shape remains intact even under heavy loads.
Despite putting on a decent show, the Starfire Solarus AP loses out to Radar Renegade A/T5 in yet another close contest.
ADVANTAGE: Radar Renegade A/T5
Radar Renegade A/T5 vs Starfire Solarus AP tires on longevity
Ultimately, longevity is the deciding factor in most tire purchases. The same holds true for all-terrain tires as well. Let’s see whether it’s a Radar or Starfire tire that outlasts the other in the tread life battle.
Boasting an 8 out of 10 longevity score, the Radar all-terrain tire features a robust 3-ply construction for increased resistance to punctures and tears. While the innovative stone ejector technology removes stones, rocks, and debris from the tread to safeguard it from any damage, the wide tread blocks in the inner tread area promote uniform wear throughout the lifecycle of the tire.
With an 8.2 score, the Starfire Solarus AP assures adequate wearability and even wear on and off the road. The large, angled tread blocks and multiple sipes resist irregular wear and return even wear throughout the tire’s lifespan. The reinforced carcass and solid construction allow increased durability and assure a longer service life.
While both tires are backed by a 50,000 miles mileage warranty, the Starfire Solarus AP finally sees a ‘silver lining’ in longevity as it nudges ahead of the Radar Renegade A/T5 by scoring a better score.
ADVANTAGE: Starfire Solarus AP
When to use each
All-terrain tires are versatile tires designed to handle both on- and off-road driving. They offer a balance of tread patterns, providing good traction on various surfaces like gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement. They are a popular choice for SUVs, trucks, and crossovers, offering a blend of comfort, durability, and off-road capability.
While the Radar Renegade A/T5 is fantastic in traction and handling, the Starfire Solarus AP is for someone wanting a longer tread life. If you mostly travel off-road, mud-terrain tires should be the ideal tires to go for as they feature large blocks and a high void ratio to combat dirt, mud, and rocks.
Which one should you choose?
In a nutshell, the Radar Renegade A/T5 wins the comparison with 2-1 beating the Starfire Solarus AP in traction and handling. Similarly, the Starfire all-terrain tire has an edge in the longevity department. So, which one offers better value? Let’s check their prices to know.
For the LT225/75R16 115/112R E size, the Radar costs $124 per tire, while four tires cost $496. Similarly, the Starfire costs $133 per tire, while four tires come for $532 (a difference of $36 on four tires).
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Radar Renegade A/T5 if you:
- Drive vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ram 1500, and Land Range Rover Sport
- Want a set of tires that are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in moderate to extreme winter conditions
- Want improved grip and traction (7.6 vs 7.5)
- Need better handling (7.8 vs 7.7)
- Want a more affordable set of tires
You should go for the Starfire Solarus AP if you:
- Drive vehicles like the GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and the Dodge Ram 2500
- Prefer a long-lasting tire (8.2 vs 8)
- Are willing to pay more for a set of tires that might last you longer
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.