Nankang FT-7 Tire Review & Rating

The Nankang FT-7 is designed as an all-season all-terrain tire for drivers of SUV’s and pickups. It’s engineered to provide increased traction and handling around town, on the highway and in light off-road terrain.

The all-season tread compound and more aggressive tread pattern are specially designed by Nankang to promote a more rigid and stable tire. The tread footprint has been widened, and grooves around the shoulders enhance dry pavement handling and steering response.

Wet pavement traction and handling are improved through the tire’s slanted treadblocks which sport larger water-channeling voids that are made to increase hydroplane resistance and evacuate more water from under the tread. It also helps eliminate light mud from the grooves for better performance under a variety of light off-road conditions. The main groove around the center of the tire is zig-zagged for better handling in rougher road conditions.

Nankang uses their unique widening sub-groove pattern around the tread to help in clearing out gravel from the tread grooves, while reducing stone retention. It’s a pattern that works well for the most part.

Road noise on this tire is minimal due to variable pitch tread blocks and Nankang’s noise prevention bar that combine to reduce road harmonies. It does its job at lower speeds, but not as much at highway speeds. This technology also enhances overall treadlife by creating a more even tread wear, which is something that other drivers have mentioned in various reviews.

Nankang offers 15-18 inch sizes in the FT7 in both LT and non-LT models. A 50K mile tread warranty is also included.

Pros

• Dry traction and cornering grip are very good
• Traction and handling on wet, snow and light off-road terrain is above average
• Tire is comfortable riding
• Value priced

Cons

• Would like to see a little longer treadlife
• Lower the noise at highway speeds

Overall Thoughts

The FT-7 has some nice performance to it on both dry or wet road surfaces, as well as in the snow, grass, light mud and gravel. We like the steering response and feel this tire provides. Ride comfort is really quite good, whether around town, on the highway or even off the beaten path.

While this is an all-terrain tire, it is not on the same level as tougher tires like the BFG T/A KO2 or Cooper AT3 among many others. Don’t expect to find great performance in deeper mud or on the rocks. That said, it does handle itself well in light terrain. Treadlife has shown itself to be so-so and we feel it could be a bit longer. We have heard more than a few drivers complain of a shorter than expected lifespan, while others have not had any issues with tread wear. Nankang does provide a 50K mile warranty.

Overall, this FT-7 is a not a bad model if you do most of your driving on the street or highway and only need to go off-road occasionally. The price is much lower than many comparable models, making it a pretty good value for the money if budget is a major concern.

What Vehicles Will The FT7 Fit?

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

• Acura MDX
• Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Trailblazer, Suburban
• Dodge Durango, Ram, Dakota
• Ford F Series, Escape, Expedition, Ranger, Edge
• GMC Jimmy, Sierra, Envoy
• Honda Pilot, Ridgeline
• Mercedes-Benz ML500
• Mercury Mountaineer
• Nissan Titan, Frontier, Pathfinder
• Toyota 4 Runner, RAV4, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Tundra

Tire Sizes

15″

30X9.50R15LT 104S OWL
31X10.50R15LT 109S OWL
LT235/75R15 104/101S OWL

16″

265/70R16 112S OWL
275/70R16 114S OWL
LT235/85R16 120/116R OWL
LT245/75R16 120/116R OWL
LT265/75R16 123/120R OWL

18″

275/65R18 116T BSW

Price Range

Prices on the FT-7 range from approximately $92 and up. You may also find occasional rebates, discounts, coupons and special offers on this tire.

Click Here To Find The Current Prices On All Nankang FT-7 Sizes

Warranty

Nankang provides a 50,000 mile tread warranty on the FT-7. Tire uniformity is guaranteed for the first 10% of treadwear. Materials and workmanship are warranted for a prorated amount down to the final 2/32 inch of tread depth.

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