Great For Daily Driving, Overlanding & Moderate Off-Roading
After hitting 7,500 miles on the Tamarock all-terrains from Arroyo, I can safely say that these a great option for those looking for a tire that provides a comfortable ride on the road but can also handle more moderate off-roading. Before these tires, I had experience with a few different tire setups, which was great because I was able to compare these all-terrains with a lot of more-known name brands.
If you’re in the market for a great tire that can handle both daily driving and provide enough traction off-road, all without breaking the bank (they’re much cheaper than big brands), the Tamarock A/T is a great one to consider. Let’s dive into everything I’ve experienced with these tires over the past few months.
Daily Driving Performance & Ride Quality
The Tamarock is a mildly aggressive all-terrain tire which makes it great for daily driving as it has good on-road handling, makes barely any noise and is very comfortable. After a couple of road trips and driving my truck every day, I can safely say that these are great for those looking for a quiet ride and no vibrations and noise like you might get from mud terrains. They also far exceed the performance of a traditional highway tire.
Arroyo states that these tires have special siping in order to quickly expel water and increase traction in wet conditions. I have noticed in heavy rain or with slick roads, these tires do sometimes seem to loose a bit of traction if you are a bit “heavy footed”. With that being said, I have still felt very safe still while driving in even very wet conditions with them as long I exercise a little caution.
I opted to get these tires in a 285/75/R16 which is technically a 33″ tire and was the same size I had with my previous mud terrains. What really surprised me was how good the gas mileage is. On the highway, I see an average of 17 miles per gallon compared to my previous setup which gave me an average of 15 mpg. If you want to go with a larger tire size, but don’t want to hurt your mpg, the Tamarocks are a solid choice.
Off-Road Performance
One of my biggest concerns when going to the Tamarock A/T versus my mud-terrains was traction in off-road terrain. In the Ozarks, there’s often a lot of muddy situations which is why I originally opted for mud tires.
Since putting them on a few months ago, I have been on a handful of off-road trails and to my surprise these tires were able to perform pretty great. In almost all situations I found myself in, I was able to get through the obstacles without too much of a hassle. One of the few situations I did notice traction and performance in was in a deep mud hole. Even then, I was still able to get my vehicle unstuck without having to get out or use any recovery gear.
Tread Wear & Durability
Another upside of these is that even after thousands of miles, I don’t really notice a lot of wear on them. Due to the tread pattern and material the tire is constructed from, I’m confident that I will get many more miles and adventures out of them.
One of the downsides that I have noticed though (compared to an MT) is that the lack of treads on the tires can make the tires a little less durable. After hitting a really sharp rock, I did actually puncture a tire. Now, no tire is immune to sharp obstacles, but if you’re really going to push your truck off-road a mud terrain might be better for you. Luckily though, I did have a spare and haven’t had another issue since.
New ATs Vs. Old MTs
After driving on mud-terrain tires for about a year and then switching to the A/T tires from Arroyo, it was easy to compare the two against each other both on and off-road.
For most people that daily drive their vehicles and hit the trails every now and then I would recommend the Arroyo Tamarock A/T more than a mud tire. Don’t get me wrong, mud tires look awesome and perform, but in terms of practicality, functionality, and comfort – for the majority of owners an all terrain would be a great option that leaves you happy long term and doesn’t put too much stress on your truck.
The only category that I would place the mud-terrains over the Tamarock’s in the location I live in would be obvious, off-road performance. There is no beating a mud-terrain tire in off-road situations. If you’re interested in a mud terrain, Arroyo has you covered. Check out the MT review that Chris put together.
Final Thoughts
After 7,500 miles, the Arroyo Tamarock A/T tires are a great option for the Tacoma (or any truck or SUV) owner looking for a tire that provides excellent on-road feel and comfort while also being able to handle a majority of off-road situations. You also can’t deny the killer price point. Considering that you can potentially save hundreds compared to bigger brands, these seem to be a no brainer.
Coming from someone with experience with both mud-terrain and all-terrain, these tires are great for the majority of people especially if you see yourself occasionally hitting the off-road trails. With a good balance of off-road performance and on-road manners, these tires will last you a long time and get you just about anywhere you want to go.
