If there’s one market that has become saturated with an abundance of options to choose from in the off-road world, one can say there’s never a shortage when it comes to tires. Between all-terrains, mud-terrains and other variants, the choices are near endless. Indeed, a tire company has to have some far-reaching ideas to distinguish itself in today’s marketplace.
Atturo Tires, based out of Lake Villa, Illinois, has stepped up its game in the off-road market. Its current lineup has six designs to choose from, and three of those designs constitute off-road applications–the Trail Blade series. Included in the series are the A/T, X/T, and M/T, and all have their own unique traits and distinctions.
We spoke with both Atturo Tires and off-road racers to get the full scope on Atturo’s offerings, from intended usage to mud-churning toughness. In doing so, we got a better sense of what these tires can do once the pavement ends.
Trail Blade A/T: Live Long And Off-Road
First up is the Trail Blade A/T. All-terrains, as you know, have the distinction of having to live up to their name and work in multiple scenarios. As such, they often comprise a thick sidewall, mean tread pattern, and ability to perform well on or off the street.
“The Trail Blade A/T is designed for mixed use both on and off-road,” said Atturo’s Michael Mathis. “It would be best suited for light trail use, construction sites, mud, and snow. Customers who use these tires typically see up to 50,000 miles in mixed use.”
Fitments stretch from a consumer-grade 235/75R15 all the way to a large-and-in-charge 275/75R20. Depending on the size chosen, the A/T comes with 6 to 10-ply construction, as well as arched and segmented stone throwers, four channel circumference grooves for dispelling water, center tread siping to aid traction, and large shoulder blocks for better handling on the asphalt.
Trail Blade X/T: The Cutting Edge
At first glance, it would be easy to take the Trail Blade A/T and X/T and think of them both as all-terrains and have that be the end of it. But the reality is that the two are quite different, both in terms of development and intended usage.
“The Trail Blade X/T sits between the A/T and M/T in the off-road performance spectrum,” said Mathis. “It features larger shoulder blocks with a higher void ratio than the A/T, but the center tread is tighter than the M/T. The combination gives the appearance of an M/T, with all-surface traction and quieter highway characteristics of all-terrains.”
The Trail Blade M/Ts model the sidewall
Helping to give the tire a different spin than its competitors was a leading edge in the form of Quartermaster Knives. With headquarters in Dripping Springs, Texas, the company has been around since 2012 and prides itself on its 100-percent American-made manufacturing process.
“Jared West of Quartermaster worked with us on the design of the Trail Blade M/T, so it was only natural to work with them again for the X/T,” explained Mathis. “This tire features both the blade and handle of the QTR-3 knife.”
If you’re getting a tinge of fear from looking at the X/T’s tread and sidewall pattern, that’s a good sign–it’s what Atturo was going for with this design. As it is still a new product, there are currently only five sizes offered. More are on the way, however.
“As a new product, we are certainly working to expand the product range,” said Mathis. “Our next group of sizes are intended for the SUV and non-lifted truck owner. They include 275/45R22, 305/45R22 and 285/40R24. We will have another 10 sizes released in 2016.”
Trail Blade M/T: Race-Inspired, Street-Worthy
First introduced in 2012 at the SEMA Show, the Trail Blade M/T occupies the sole mud-terrain offering from Atturo, but it’s a strong one. Evidence of this comes in the form of its current usage in short-course off-road competition, where drivers like Cole Mamer, Travis Dinsmore, and Andrew Carlson put the rubber to the ruts in series like The Off Road Championship (TORC) and Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS).
One aspect of the M/T’s design is its multi-ply sidewall construction. Dinsmore, who races in the Pro-Lite class in the TORC series, can attest that such a design element makes a big difference out on the track. “One of the main deciding factors behind why I like their product is the sidewall on the tires,” he said. “Offering an eight-ply sidewall is extremely beneficial to the short-course durability of the tire. It carries over to street use as well, because if you plan to pull a trailer, the sidewall is important for stability.”
Other aspects of the M/T include the beveled center tread blocks, stone throwers, and a contoured center channel. The tread blocks make for a great biting edge while diffusing sound. The stone throwers go in between the shoulder treads to prevent rocks from getting lodged in rubber. As Mathis explained, “The entire focus of the tire design was for off-road performance.”
Travis Dinsmore (left), Cole Mamer (middle), and Andrew Carlson (right) all run on Trail Blade M/Ts to succeed in short-course racing.
Youngster Cole Mamer is a fan of the M/Ts after using them on his Pro Lite truck in the Lucas Oil series. He has yet to get a driver’s license to run around the streets of California, but he’s more than qualified to barrel through the tight tracks of Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, Glen Helen Raceway, and others.
“I have been running the M/Ts for more than six months and I love them,” he told us. “The M/Ts work perfectly for the short-course circuit and provide great traction. They’re tough enough that I can put them through anything, and they allow me to run with the top drivers.”
Andrew Carlson, another up-and-comer like Mamer, has made the most of his inaugural season racing in TORC Pro Light class. “I like the aggressive tread pattern and how durable the tires are,” he tells us. “I am amazed at the level of abuse these tires can take on the track. They’re soft enough to get grip when the track gets dry-slick, but they last the whole race and hold a good edge.”
Pick And Choose
Now that we’re up to speed on the off-road tires from Atturo, we leave it to you to make the best decision for your application: A/Ts will let you go the distance with their long tread life and multi-ply construction; X/Ts take the bar for all-terrains and raise it several notches, thanks to traits like the tight center tread and large shoulder blocks; and M/Ts will guide you whether on or off the track, with a soft compound that can adapt well to slippery situations.
No matter which set you choose, you can be sure the tires will stand up to their expected performance levels. All of them go through independent testing for consistent quality standards, and all come with a three-year warranty backed by Atturo.
To see what these and other offerings from Atturo hold in store for your rig, head on over the company’s website. And don’t forget to Like them on Facebook for all the latest in photos, sponsorships, promotions, and more.