BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A Tire Review & Rating

The BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A is engineered to deliver increased off-road capability to go with a lower rolling resistance and all-season performance for on-road driving. Built for drivers of pickups, SUV’s and jeeps, the Rugged Trail is used as original equipment on a variety of light trucks as well.

A tougher all-season tread compound is matched to an optimized symmetric tread pattern that is built to provide longer wear and increased ride quality. The lower rolling resistant tread also adds to fuel efficiency, something that many drivers look for in a tire today.

Independent tread blocks enhance dry traction, which is very good on this tire. The tire provides good stability throughout the speed zone and the steering is responsive and offers good feedback.

Wet traction is also helped by the tire’s biting edges, which give it added grip on snow and ice, although we feel it could be much better. More on that below in our thoughts on this model.

Ride comfort is increased due in part to the two-ply polyester carcass. It not only creates a smoother and more comfortable ride, but also provides better durability when driving off-road.

Two steel belts that utilize BFGoodrich’s Equal Tension Containment System provide added strength and durability. The tire comes in 16-18 sizes and you can find an E load rating on select 17 inch sizes. There is also a limited tread warranty on this tire.

Pros

• Dry traction is very good  
• Cornering grip and stability are above average  
• Decent off-road performance  
• Tire rides comfortably and without all the road noise  

Cons

• Wet and winter handling could be better 
• Treadlife issues
  

Overall Thoughts

The Rugged Trail is another tire that typically sees a love/hate relationship among drivers. While some absolutely love this tire for its handling and performance, some hate it for the very same reasons. We find it to be a good performer on dry road surfaces. The tire offers good stability and cornering grip as well.

Where we have serious issues with this tire is its wet traction on the street. If you are not paying attention and drive too fast you may get some hydroplaning. Winter driving needs to be taken with caution, which is really a no-brainer to begin with, but on this tire it is especially true. For whatever reason it struggles on snow and ice.

Driving off-road is fine for those who enjoy weekend camping or want to get to out of the way fishing holes, etc. Though it is not a true off road tire by any stretch, it does provide decent performance. The other area of disappointment for us is with its poor treadlife. We’ve heard from other drivers time and again about getting nowhere near the mileage out of the tread that they should have gotten, regardless of rotations or driving habits.

Overall, we would suggest skipping on the Rugged Trail T/A and going with the Rugged Terrain T/A instead. Or you could go with a milder AT tire like the Pathfinder Sport S A/T and get much better all-around performance.

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What Vehicles Will The Rugged Trail T/A Fit?

(This is not a complete list of ALL vehicles this tire will fit)

• Chevrolet Trailblazer, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe  
• Dodge Ram, Dakota, Durango  
• Ford F150, Escape, Explorer, Excursion, Expedition, Ranger  
• GMC Sierra, Envoy  
• Honda Pilot  
• Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler  
• Lincoln Navigator, Aviator  
• Mercury Mountaineer  
• Nissan Frontier, Titan, Xterra, Pathfinder  
• Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner  

Tire Sizes

16″

P265/70R16 111T RWL
P265/75R16 114T ORWL

17″

P245/65R17 105H BSW
LT245/70R17 E 119R BSW
LT265/70R17 E 121R ORWL
LT245/75R17 E 121R BSW
LT245/75R17 E 121R ORWL

18″

P275/65R18 114T ORWL
P275/65R18 114T ORWL
P275/70R18 116T ORWL

Price Range

BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A prices range from approximately $128 and up. You may also find occasional rebates, discount prices, coupons and special offers on this tire.

Click Here To Find Current Prices On All BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A Tire Sizes

Warranty

BFGoodrich provides a limited tread warranty on the Rugged Trail. Tire uniformity is guaranteed for the first year or first 2/32 inch of wear. Materials and workmanship are warranted for 6-years and include free replacement during the first year or first 2/32 inch of wear. A prorated amount is given for the remaining time period or down to the final 2/32 inch of tread depth.