Our 2005 Dodge Power Wagon needed tires. Our budget, on the other hand, was uninterested in a big cash outlay. So, we hit the interwebs to find some affordable all-terrain tires in our rig’s LT285/70R17 size. In the end, we spent $681.09 of our own money on four brand-new Vantage A/T tires from Discount Tire. If you’ve looked at new tires recently, you know this figure is very appealing. Our budget was happy, but would we be happy with the tires’ performance?
New Versus Used
Before we dig into our impressions of the Vantage A/Ts, here’s how they ended up on our Power Wagon.
We scoured used tire shops and Facebook Marketplace for pre-owned tires. After several weeks of searching, we found that prices in our area were hovering between $750 and $1,000-plus for a set of big-name all-terrains with 75 percent or less tread remaining. Additionally, some had date stamps indicating they were several years old. We nearly pulled the trigger on a used set anyway, but then we stumbled onto Discount Tire’s website. That changed everything for us.
A Good Deal?
Once on the Discount Tire website, we entered our vehicle information and were presented with a list of available tires. Naturally, the online-only “Entry Level All-Terrain” option caught our eye, especially its $127.00-per-tire price tag. That was at least half the price of most other new tires in our Power Wagon’s size, and in some cases, considerably less. There was a catch, though. The website noted that “entry level tire brands may vary based on availability.” Translation: We had no idea what brand of tires we’d get, only that they’d have an all-terrain tread pattern. Sounded like an adventure to us. We placed the order online and scheduled an appointment to have the tires mounted and balanced on our Power Wagon’s factory Alcoa forged aluminum wheels.
Installation day brought our first look at the Vantage A/Ts. We weren’t familiar with the brand or the tire, but our initial impression was positive. Of course, looks only tell part of the story. We were itchin’ to put these bargain-priced all-terrains to the test and find out whether we scored a deal or not.
About Vantage Tires
Vantage Tires was founded in 2014. The company’s website emphasizes the value, affordability, and competitive pricing of its tires, along with dependable traction, responsive handling, and long-lasting tread life. In addition to the A/T, its tire lineup includes the Vantage SUV, work-truck-oriented Vantage HD, Vantage M/T, and Vantage R/T.
On-Road
After a few thousand miles, we’re happy with the Vantage A/Ts’ on-road performance. Ride quality and handling are very good. The tires feature variable-pitch-sequence tread blocks designed to minimize road noise and vibration, and we can confirm they work. From our Power Wagon’s cab, tire noise is almost nonexistent until we hit 40 to 45 mph, depending on the road surface. Even then, it’s minimal. In fact, these bargain-priced Vantage A/Ts are quieter than some of the more expensive all-terrains we’ve tested. Better yet, we haven’t experienced any vibrations or other unpleasant tire behavior.
The Vantage A/Ts pack plenty of tread and shoulder sipes, which work with the tread pattern to deliver impressive wet-weather performance. We’ve experienced no tire-related surprises driving in the rain, and they do a fine job of channeling standing water away from the tread at speed to maintain contact with the pavement.
Vantage A/T speed ratings vary by size, and our LT285/70R17s carry a Q rating, good for 99 mph. Each tire also has a load index of 121, meaning it can support up to 3,195 pounds in our single-wheel application at the specified inflation pressure. It’s also worth noting that the A/T has a 50,000-mile limited tread warranty. Additionally, because we bought them from Discount Tire, we get free tire rotation and balancing.
Off-Road
Vantage says the A/Ts carry a 10-ply rating. Each tire has two-ply sidewalls and a load range E rating. The sidewalls look relatively tame compared to some all-terrains, lacking the pronounced serrations and shoulder features found on other tires. But that hasn’t stopped us from dropping them into ruts and bouncing them off rut walls on Midwest pasture trails without issue. Time will tell how they stand up to the occasional sharp stick or rock.
Our northern Illinois-based Power Wagon lives in farm country, where it regularly ventures into pastures and down muddy lanes to retrieve equipment and check fences. Gravel roads are part of the routine, too. So far, the Vantage A/Ts have resisted chipping and chunking, although they tend to hang onto stones between the tread blocks longer than some all-terrains we’ve tested. On gravel roads, where washboard surfaces and potholes are commonplace, the tires deliver solid traction and predictable handling, even at speed.
Around here, mud is typically a slick, greasy mess about 2 to 3 inches deep, often sitting atop hard soil. It can turn an otherwise easy climb or descent into a challenge and make steering downright interesting. We’ve put the Vantage A/Ts through their paces in muddy pastures and farm lanes, and they’ve gotten our Power Wagon where it needed to go without drama. With a little wheelspin, they even self-cleaned better than expected. No, they’re not mud-terrains, but for our needs, they get the job done.
So Far So Good
We’ve driven a few thousand miles on the Vantage A/Ts, and so far, initial impressions are good. Time will tell how the tires perform and wear in the long run, but for now our wallet is happy and we’re happy too.
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