Stock Hankooks on rocky roads

[RobRobRob]

Hello everyone

I’ve been lurking here for a while and am trying to find a very old thread about how the Hankooks handle rough jagged rocky roads but no luck.

How have they held up for you? Are these really all terrains or just better looking highway tires? I saw in the old thread someone took them on a rocky trail and they chipped the sidewalls a bit but they did hold up.

I have a bone stock FX4 with the P metric Dynapros 265/65-17 and will be hitting some trails (not fire roads). SoCal Mojave area and Coyote Flats near Bishop are planned.

These Dynapros have quite a bulge at stock 30psi and am concerned about the sidewall when going lower. I’m considering getting some 16” steel take-offs and running 255/70-16 proper all terrains but I’d really like to just run with the stock wheels and tires.

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[AzScorpion]

I recall someone blowing theirs out on a semi rocky trail a few years ago. One of the first things I did when I got my Ranger was put on new tires because I didn't trust the stock ones. I sold the stock tires so that helped ease the pain of changing out perfectly good tires. I've been through some pretty rocky trails up in Sedona and through the desert with my Nittos and so far they've been great.

 

[halligan1201]

I don't think any OEM tire on any truck is really appropriate for rocky trails. I wouldn't take a P-Rated AT tire out myself anyway. I'm heading southwest next summer and it'll be dedicated off road tires for sure. Either the KOs or the Nittos but definitely not the Grapplers that came with the truck and they're more butch than the Dynapros.

 

[Frenchy]

I will agree that the Hankook Dynopro ATM is a squishy tire.

One thing you can do to help yourself out before hitting the OffRoad is to get a compressor and a deflator of sorts(can be the simple one from the auto parts store with gauge). After that simply lower your tire pressure as that will help prevent your tires from getring punctured OffRoad.

Most of us have found 18-20 PSI to be sufficient for the Ranger.

Hete are some videos to help with OffRaod tire stuff.

Also the particular guy doing these videos has a lot of good information to help those gerting into OffRoad

 

[bentroia]

Run em til they fail. Then get a set you like. You've got a locker and a spare!!

 

[Nopalito]

I tore a chunk out of my sidewall off-roading on super rocky trails & shelf roads in Colorado.
I had to put on my spare while on the trail because we were worried about tire blowing out.
the stock tires would be fine for gravel roads or light off-roading but nothing major

 

[9zero1790]

this is a very loose statement but in general, a rock that would damage one tire would likely damage the next one also. i would want a tougher tire for what you plan on doing but that is by no means saying you cant make it. go easy and pick good lines avoiding stuff that looks like tire killers. take pictures for us!

 

[Joeiconic]

You can compare AT tires on Tirerack or DT and see that the ATM is about the lightest AT tire you can buy. It’s great on the road and maximizes MPG’s, but it is a light duty tire for off-roading.

 

[9zero1790]

oh @Discount Tire is around here somewhere, i bet they would have some good input. plus, they make may get you set up with tougher rubbers for a good price...

 

[RobRobRob]

Thank you all for your input. I’m just going to send it (carefully) and if they don’t hold up, I‘ll go with something a little more durable.

I‘ll take plenty of pics and post them next month.

 

[Jon Olivier]

Robert

I live in Bishop and have been on many service roads and trails in the area. Haven't gone up to Coyote Flats yet, though. My Hankook's are the 265/60r18, and they have held up so far, since December 2019. Probably the rockiest trail I've traveled on is up Buttermilk road, past the boulders.

 

[Aonarch]

I don't think any OEM tire on any truck is really appropriate for rocky trails. I wouldn't take a P-Rated AT tire out myself anyway. I'm heading southwest next summer and it'll be dedicated off road tires for sure. Either the KOs or the Nittos but definitely not the Grapplers that came with the truck and they're more butch than the Dynapros.

The Grabbers are fine. Not my favorite tire, but they will handle off-roading with no issues.

OP: I'd worry about the side walls on those stock tires. Make sure you spare is aired up and that you have all of the tools necessary to change it, even on a trail. Maybe a bottle jack, piece of wood, breaker bar with a 19mm.

 

[RobRobRob]

Thank all of you for your input. I decided to just send it. 100% stock fx4 with the factory P-metric “all terrains”.

Everything held up fine. I was concerned about the sidewalls on these so I only aired down to 25psi from the factory 30psi. Just drove very carefully. There are absolutely no chunks or chips in these tires. And I did almost the full Mojave Road from the Avi Casino to Soda Lake, exiting in Razor Off Road Park. I held off on Afton canyon due to short time and not wanting to back track if the water was too deep.

And that truck made it down Watson Wash with only a slight brush on the fuel tank skid plate.

 

[Frenchy]

To help not scratch the fuel tank skid plate I suggest getting the Old Man EMU Lift. The basic kit will do what you need and you can get up to 33 inch tires with it too. Just something to consider

 

[lazynorse]

@RobRobRob thanks for the update, very good to hear. I started a similar post recently. From posts here and in exhaustive research, I've found no trend lines of real world failures for the P rated Hankook ATMs.

I'm not discounting anyone's feedback, but I've found only a couple anecdotes on this forum reporting tire puncture. Most feedback has been along the lines of 'don't trust them, changed them right away' reports. Those reports do not speak to suitability of the tire, just the preemptive basis for someone's new tire purchase.

Whenever I get my FX4 (ordered in March.. so probably Christmas time, lol!) I'll run the stock ATMs until I get a failure I can reasonably blame on weak construction. I've abused all seasons off road on my Subaru before swapping to Falken Wildpeak AT Trails.. never a puncture on dirt, only on highways. At least with a Ranger I'll have a full size spare. That said, I've done roadside tire plug repairs - fast and simple with a kit and a compressor. I'd do that first, then resort to spare. Between those two options, I should be able to withstand and get out of most pickles. I hate the idea of replacing brand new components, especially ones that cost well over $1000 to do!

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