When it comes to all-terrain tires for 4x4-equipped light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps, there can be a huge amount of variance in performance and quality. Terra Raider might not be a familiar name to a lot of American drivers, but the Terra Raider A/T-X KU-257 is a modern all-terrain tire that’s loaded with innovations and packed with value and performance. From its advanced damage-resistant rubber formulation to its Three Peak Mountain Snowflake-rated tread design, this is a versatile all-terrain tire that can far exceed expectations. It’s a perfect union of design and technology that plays out in real-world performance.

But hey, don’t just take us at our word on this tire – let’s go in for a closer look with this Terra Raider A/T-X KU-257 view:

Features and Benefits

The Terra Raider A/T-X KU-257 is a tire that boasts so many performance-boosting features:

• 3-ply carcass with cut–and-chip resistant tread compound to stand up to all kinds of hazards on or off the road
• Patented unique MountainGrip wraparound lugs at the sidewall for lateral grip while cornering or clawing out of ruts
• Round shoulders work well while aired down for paddle traction and flotation through mud, snow, ice, rocks
• Variable Inflation Technology design
• Xtreme A/T Contact Center puts the most traction elements at the tread’s center
• Pre-drilled for easy installation of studs for extreme winter conditions
• Wide, deep grooves and open shoulder notches easily shed mud, stones, and debris so there’s always a clear section of tire to dig in as the wheel turns
• A dense and intricate network of sipes helps the lugs and tread blocks “open up” and conform to obstacles and irregularities when being used aired-down
• 3-ply polyester casing with 3-ply reinforced sidewalls, two-ply steel belt package, two-ply nylon cap layer
• Computer tuned to keep road noise low

Pros and Cons

So, is this Terra Raider tire the right choice for your ride and budget? Before you decide, let’s take a look at the tire’s pros and cons:

PROS:

• Three Peak Snowflake rated for use in moderate to severe winter weather
• Surprisingly composed and quiet ride quality on pavement
• Dependable grip in a variety of off-road conditions, including aired-down use

CONS:

• The tire is not backed by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty

SimpleTire’s view on Terra Raider A/T-X KU-257 tires

When it comes to all-terrain tires, there are a lot of options on the market. If you go off-road often and find yourself occasionally dealing with rough terrain, challenging hills, sand, deep mud, or rocks, there’s no substitute for a durable and well-designed all-terrain tire. The Terra Raider A/T-X KU-257 is a surprisingly good value and a strong performer in this category.

With a lot of all-terrain tires that have an aggressive tread pattern, you can practically hear each tread block slapping on the pavement while you make your way down the road, building to a roar as you pick up speed. That’s not the case with the Terra Raider – it’s not exactly quiet, but noise levels are surprisingly low on most pavement surfaces. It’s also a tire that’s pretty drama-free while cornering; it’s not exactly nimble, but it stays composed and planted to the road with minimal tread squirm or understeer. We suspect that’s probably due in part to Terra Raider’s specialized tread compound that delivers good adhesion on wet or dry pavement along with damage resistance and reduced wear.

Off the pavement, we appreciate the fact that the tread blocks of the Terra Raider have facets that face several different angles (including the Mountain Grip wraparound lugs at the sidewall). That comes into play during aired-down rock crawling as the tread blocks conform around rocks, stumps, and obstacles for tenacious grip. Fully-siped tread blocks toward the center and partly-siped blocks at the shoulder give this tire a great balance of traction and easy maneuverability and handling.

Aired-down performance in sand is also exceptional, with the flotation design of the Terra Raider dispersing vehicle weight and allowing it to just sit on top of sandy surfaces and claw the vehicle forward. In mud, the self-cleaning design of the Terra Raider’s lugs and grooves easily fling mud and debris out of the tread for dependable performance in everything but the wettest, deepest, sloppiest mud where a mud-terrain tire might be a better choice. And of course, it’s pre-drilled to make it easy for a tire shop to install studs for severe winter conditions (remember to check state laws for legality and calendar restrictions of studded tires where you live).

Vehicles the Terra Raider A/T-X KU-257 is a good replacement tire for

• Chevrolet Tahoe
• Ford F-150
• GMC Yukon
• Honda Ridgeline
• Jeep Gladiator
• Nissan Titan
• RAM 2500
• Toyota Tundra