Recently we changed out the tires from Toyo AT2 to Toyo CT. What follows is a bit of a comparison/review and a few things I learned about the CT from Toyo tech for those interested ... or skip below to the "bottom line" in post #2.
We were on our second set of AT2s on this truck. Liked the tire, loved the 285/75R18 size, but, both sets did suffer from rock chipping, which I attribute to all the gravel we drove, compounded by vehicle weight. The old set had some life left in them but not enough to last the duration of the big, long distance trip we had coming.
At ~25K miles (?), time of replacement. The first set btw were much worse when replaced.
I didn't mind a slightly more aggressive tread - you never know whats around the corner. Considered the RT but what I really wanted was a snow flake worthy, "all weather" tire. Don't drive a lot of snow but the truck is our snow fall vehicle and since more and more ATs are available with the rating, why not.
Enter the CT.
Construction: can't say it's the same carcass as the famously tough MTs but was told the same construction method is used and that this is different from the AT2s. These are not really a commercial tire but do appear similar to the venerable M55.
Tread: is definitely more aggressive. Left noticeable tracks on anything but hard surfaces. A few times I found myself sheepishly pressing down damaged lawn after driving where perhaps I shouldn't have ...
Highway driving: has been great. Stable and tracks well and with less effort. Tires kept their balance (as they should).
Noise: not appreciably louder than the AT2s.
Wet weather handling: inspires confidence. Noticeably more stable and responsive when driving through troughs in the asphalt formed by heavy trucks. I thought the AT2s were fine but my wife was never completely happy driving with them, even with new tread. The CTs feel better (a lot better says she, and who am I to argue).
Off highway gravel and dirt roads: haven't done a ton but no complaints so far. First impression the drive seemed "softer" than the AT2s but might have been my imagination. No rock chipping as of yet but need more gravel to tell. The CTs have a higher natural rubber content, which is supposed to reduce rock chipping.
Rock throwing: had read a complaint so in anticipation I installed larger front mud flaps (see post #3). First gravel was a bit disheartening, with lots of pinging underneath but that was not repeated. May have been the gravel type (prairie glacial till) vs the usual crushed rock encountered later.
We were on our second set of AT2s on this truck. Liked the tire, loved the 285/75R18 size, but, both sets did suffer from rock chipping, which I attribute to all the gravel we drove, compounded by vehicle weight. The old set had some life left in them but not enough to last the duration of the big, long distance trip we had coming.
At ~25K miles (?), time of replacement. The first set btw were much worse when replaced.
I didn't mind a slightly more aggressive tread - you never know whats around the corner. Considered the RT but what I really wanted was a snow flake worthy, "all weather" tire. Don't drive a lot of snow but the truck is our snow fall vehicle and since more and more ATs are available with the rating, why not.
Enter the CT.
Construction: can't say it's the same carcass as the famously tough MTs but was told the same construction method is used and that this is different from the AT2s. These are not really a commercial tire but do appear similar to the venerable M55.
Tread: is definitely more aggressive. Left noticeable tracks on anything but hard surfaces. A few times I found myself sheepishly pressing down damaged lawn after driving where perhaps I shouldn't have ...
Highway driving: has been great. Stable and tracks well and with less effort. Tires kept their balance (as they should).
Noise: not appreciably louder than the AT2s.
Wet weather handling: inspires confidence. Noticeably more stable and responsive when driving through troughs in the asphalt formed by heavy trucks. I thought the AT2s were fine but my wife was never completely happy driving with them, even with new tread. The CTs feel better (a lot better says she, and who am I to argue).
Off highway gravel and dirt roads: haven't done a ton but no complaints so far. First impression the drive seemed "softer" than the AT2s but might have been my imagination. No rock chipping as of yet but need more gravel to tell. The CTs have a higher natural rubber content, which is supposed to reduce rock chipping.
Rock throwing: had read a complaint so in anticipation I installed larger front mud flaps (see post #3). First gravel was a bit disheartening, with lots of pinging underneath but that was not repeated. May have been the gravel type (prairie glacial till) vs the usual crushed rock encountered later.