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Last updated 10/30/2024 - Originally published 10/30/2024
Written by SimpleTire
If you’ve got a light truck, Jeep, or SUV that’s fully kitted out with 4WD and has the whole off-road package of extra ground clearance, ruggedized suspension, skid plate, tow hooks, dampers, and beefed-up hardware all the way around, all-terrain tires will generally get the job done for you just fine. All-terrain tires are designed to offer consistent grip and control in some pretty dicey terrains and rough situations, but if you want to go splash around in the deep mud or do some aired-down rock crawling over boulders and obstacles, even the best all-terrain tires might still fall short of delivering you what you really need in terms of performance and grip. That’s where a set of premium mud-terrain tires might be a better choice.
Premium mud-terrain tires like the RBP Repulsor M/T 3 and the Atturo Trail Blade MTS are designed specifically for off-roading and extreme duty. That means they feature a durable custom-blended tread compound, reinforced construction (including the sidewall and bead area), large and aggressive tread blocks with wide, deep grooves, and shoulder designs that boost lateral traction for clawing out of ruts and for improved cornering and control. In this head-to-head matchup, we’re going to see how these two premium mud-terrain tires really compare against each other.
Are you familiar with SimpleScore? SimpleScore is a proprietary ratings system for tires that was devised by our team here at SimpleTire. We take into account the tire’s technical details, manufacturer info, spec sheet, customer reviews and other data points, then calculate all that using a formula to arrive at 1-10 numerical values for the categories of traction, handling and durability, along with an overall composite SimpleScore number for all categories. For the RBP Repulsor M/T3 and Atturo Trail Blade MTS, the SimpleScore numbers break down this way:
RBP Repulsor M/T 3:
- Traction: 7.2
- Handling: 8.0
- Longevity: 8.7
- Overall average SimpleScore: 7.9
Atturo Trail Blade MTS:
- Traction: 7.6
- Handling: 7.8
- Longevity: 8.9
- Overall average SimpleScore: 7.9
As you can see, the RBP Repulsor M/T3 and Atturo Trail Blade MTS are both pretty well matched with each other and both bring their unique sets of strengths and weaknesses to the game. SimpleScore is a handy resource to refer to, but it’s also a 30,000-foot view that doesn’t really take you in for a close look at what a tire has to offer. Let’s get into the details and zero in on these two tires with this RBP Repulsor M/T 3 vs Atturo Trail Blade MTS tires comparison review:
RBP Repulsor M/T 3 tires
With the Repulsor M/T 3, Rolling Big Power set out to design a mud-terrain tire that’s capable of delivering outstanding traction and control in heavy mud, loose dirt, snow, sleet and everything in between without sacrificing too much in the way of drivability and road manners on the street.
Its aggressive tread blocks feature a semi-directional design with deep grooves to enable easy self-cleaning of mud and debris, thereby ensuring that there’s always a clear section of tread to dig in as the wheel turns. Its self-cleaning properties come from innovative stepped edges in tread lugs and blocks, protecting the casing while ridding the tread of stones and debris, protecting the casing.
An open shoulder design helps to ensure constant road contact for better steering response, and large staggered tread blocks and wide grooves round out the package for off-road performance. Lugs at the shoulder wrap around down onto the sidewall for improved lateral traction, which makes a big difference not only with cornering ability but for clawing out of deep, muddy ruts. The tread pitch is randomized and computer-tuned to cancel certain frequencies and overtones, keeping road noise to a minimum, and the damage-resistant tread compound is designed for rough treatment. The Repulsor M/T 3 is available in 33” and 35” sizes for extra ground clearance on lifted trucks at present, and gets either 8-ply or 10-ply ratings as per tire size.
Atturo Trail Blade MTS tires
Now we come to the Trail Blade MTS from Atturo (with the MTS standing for “Mud Terrain Sport), another premium mud-terrain tire designed for durability and performance in some really difficult and challenging circumstances. Atturo notes that their unique four-lug center tread block design is modeled after a karambit knife, with additional biting edges toward the outboard sides of the tire and extending onto the shoulder and sidewall for excellent lateral grip. Segmented arches in the tread grooves serve as stone ejectors, quickly ridding the tread of rocks and mud to protect the casing and ensure there’s always a clear section of tread to dig in as the wheel turns. Atturo’s noise/vibration/harshness team designed the Trail Blade MTS with a variable tread pitch that’s computer tuned for a fairly muted ride on pavement by canceling certain frequencies and overtones. The internal design and tough next-gen tread formulation of the Atturo Trail Blade MTS give it outstanding durability and damage resistance in off-road conditions. This tire is a good candidate for aired-down performance and rock crawling over boulders, obstacles and steep terrain.
RBP Repulsor M/T 3 vs Atturo Trail Blade MTS on traction
With SimpleScores of 7.6 for the Atturo and 7.2 for the RBP in the traction category, things are pretty close. FIrst off, let’s note that neither the Atturo nor the RBP have the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for severe winter service, so neither one is really designed for performance in deep snow. The RBP has some great traction features like its open shoulder design, staggered tread elements, stone ejectors and extra biting edges (along with a 19/32” initial tread depth), and it’s certainly a very capable tire in deep mud or loose dirt. The Atturo, however, with its innovative tread block arrangement,, sipes, serrated groove edges and wraparound lugs from the shoulder onto the sidewall, is uniquely set up to grab and claw through tough terrain as well as being able to conform around irregular surfaces and get a handhold for aired-down rock crawling. Granted, when the SimpleScore ratings are that close it’s also input from customer reviews that moves the needle somewhat. Still, comparing the two tires, our call is:
ADVANTAGE: Atturo Trail Blade MTS
RBP Repulsor M/T 3 vs Atturo Trail Blade MTS on handling
When it comes to the handling category, things are a little different, with a SimpleScore of 8.0 for the RBP vs 7.8 for the Atturo. Granted, mud-terrain tires aren’t really designed for crisp cornering ability and nimble steering response, so don’t expect either of these tires to have the handling properties of performance tires. One of the biggest factors with any tire’s handling ability is its rigidity; as you enter a curve, the weight and momentum of the vehicle make it want to keep moving in a straight line. As the tires attempt to negotiate a turn, the momentum puts a lot of stress on the tire’s shoulder and sidewall, leading to deformation of the tread and “tread squirm” in a more-mushy tire. The reinforced shoulder and sidewall of the RBP Repulsor M/T 3 give it the rigidity it needs to resist tread squirm for handling that’s consistent and predictable, although the Atturo Trail Blade MTS has some of the same design features and is also a very capable tire when it comes to handling and control on or off the pavement. Again, the customer reviews play a part in skewing the SimpleScore by a point or two; we listened to the customers, and our call is:
ADVANTAGE: RBP Repulsor M/T 3
RBP Repulsor M/T 3 vs Atturo Trail Blade MTS on longevity
When it comes to longevity, let’s note right out of the gate that neither the RBP Repulsor M/T3 nor the Atturo Trail Blade MTS are covered by a traditional limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty. That’s not uncommon since many all-terrain and mud-terrain tires don’t come from the factory with a mileage warranty. The Atturo edges out the RBP with a SimpleScore of 8.9 vs 8.7, both of which are very strong rankings in this important category. It would just make sense that if a tire’s designed to be durable in tough circumstances and rough use, then its longevity is going to be a strong point as well (even without a mileage warranty). Again, with a gap of SimpleScores that amounts to a couple of tenths of a point, the customers had the last say in this one. We listened to the customers, and our call is:
ADVANTAGE: RBP Repulsor M/T 3
When to use each
This is a question that always comes down to what your expectations are from a tire and what you really need from your truck. If you live way out in the country somewhere and you regularly have to negotiate rough ranch roads, logging access roads or oilfield lease roads, or if you love taking your truck way back off the pavement and getting in to splash around in deep, sticky mud, then mud-terrain tires like the RBP or Atturo could either one be great choices. These are also both very good tires for rock-crawling, with air pressure lowered to about 10 psi so that your tire can conform around obstacles and irregular surfaces, and your tread blocks can grapple and grasp for good purchase on rough terrain, boulders and steep grades. If, on the other hand, you want mud-terrain tires because you love how they look and you’re drawn to their undeniable cool-factor (even if you spend most of your time on city streets), then that might not be the best criteria for a set of mud-terrain tires.
Yes, in the last couple of decades, mud-terrain tires have evolved a lot. There’s no question that tire manufacturers have come around and handled many of the longstanding concerns about noise, ride quality, vibration, harshness, handling, and wheel balance with mud-terrain tires. Still, they’re specialized tires designed for a specific job. For daily driver duties, just carefully think out your options, draw up a list of pluses and minuses and consider if you’d be better off with all-terrain tires rather than mud-terrain on your vehicle – unless you have a real need for that added off-road traction.
Which one should you choose?
The “which one should you choose” question is actually a little challenging here, since both the RBP and the Atturo are outstanding mud-terrain tires that compare pretty well against each other. You’ll note that they even have identical average SimpleScores of 7.9, which is a very strong rating indeed. Both tires offer outstanding traction and control with good braking and handling properties. Both tires are extremely heavy-duty with reinforced construction and damage-resistant tread compounds for some harsh conditions. So let’s talk about price, then: SimpleTire’s price on the Atturo Trail Blade MTS starts at $235.97 per tire ($943.88 for 4), vs $199.96 per tire ($799.84 for 4) for the RBP Repulsor M/T 3. That $36 per tire adds up, so we’d just break it down this way: if you can afford the Atturo Trail Blade MTS, it would make a good choice in a tough mud-terrain tire for your truck. If you need to save a bit on the purchase of a set of mud-terrain tires, then the RBP Repulsor M/T 3 is a tire that won’t let you down. Either way, it’s our sincere take here at the SimpleTire team that you won’t be making a bad call on either of them.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.