Toyo Open Country RT Trail vs. AT3: Which Is Better?

Are you trying to determine which tire is best for your needs between the Toyo RT Trail and Toyo AT3?

This article will help you by providing a detailed comparison of these two tires based on different factors so that you can make the right tire choice for your vehicle.

Toyo Open Country RT Trail vs. AT3: Comparison Overview

Toyo Open Country RT trail is the upgraded version of Toyo RT with many significant improvements. 

But how does this new release from Toyo compare with the Toyo AT3?

Before diving into the in-depth analysis of the comparison, let’s take a quick look at how the performance of these tires differs in the table below:

Toyo Open Country RT Trail vs. AT3: Detailed Comparison

Off-road Performance

The Toyo RT Trail is more aggressive than the Toyo AT3, perfect for those who want nice-looking, off-road capable tires. 

Here are some of my experiences when doing off-roading with these Toyo AT3 tires:

First, they hold up to mesquite thorns without getting punctured thanks to their reinforced sidewalls,. Second, they traverse the gravel roads quickly and stably without compromising MPG and comfort. 

Third, these tires won’t let you get stuck in mud terrains because they clear the mud fast and maintain the grip. However, due to their larger blocks and aggressive sidewalls, they tend to fling mud everywhere. Last, the Toyo RT Trail handles well on sand. We can’t confidently say that these tires are ideal for extreme desert conditions like dunes since we have yet to have the opportunity to test them in such environments.

So, how about the Toyo Open Country AT3? 

While not as rugged as the Toyo RT Trail, the Toyo AT3 still provides a satisfying off-roading experience. These tires perform admirably on rocks and dirt and can easily extricate your vehicle from mud. However, due to the greater number of sipes in the tread blocks of the Toyo AT3, it may result in tire chunking or tire wear, particularly if you engage in frequent and demanding off-road activities. 

On-road Performance

When driving on dry roads, you won’t notice a big difference in how well these two tires perform. They’re great for everyday highway journeys with excellent traction, handling, and grip.

However, the Toyo AT3 truly stands out when the conditions turn wet. The Toyo AT3 outperforms the Toyo RT Trail regarding wet traction and braking.

The key differentiator lies in the design of the tread patterns. As mentioned above, while the Toyo RT only uses a single line of siping per tread block, numerous smaller sipes are found throughout the blocks of the Toyo AT3.

This difference in siping is significant, as the Toyo RT Trail has fewer sipes than the AT3. Consequently, this shortage of siping compromises their wet road performance, making the Toyo RT Trail less than ideal for wet roads.

Snow Performance

The Toyo AT3 tires come with a 3-peak Mountain Snowflake rating, while the Toyo RTs lack this crucial designation.

As you may guess, the Toyo RT Trail tires may not provide firm traction and grip required on hard-packed, deep snow. However, these tires still offer decent performance if you live in regions where light snowfall occasionally occurs.

In contrast, the Toyo AT3s work better under severe winter conditions. Thanks to the 3D multi-wave sipes and increased lateral grooves, the snow traction of these tires is greatly enhanced, enabling you to navigate these challenging conditions with ease.

Noise & Comfort 

The Toyo RT Trail is much quieter on the road than its predecessor, the Toyo Open Country RT. While there is still some road noise, it’s relatively subdued, especially considering their aggressive nature, and can easily be masked by turning up the radio a bit.

In terms of ride comfort, the Toyo RT Trails offer a reasonably smooth drive. They handle large potholes and bumps admirably. However, they tend to wander a bit, especially on wet surfaces, which we kinda expected when driving on this more aggressive tread pattern.

Conversely, the Toyo Open Country AT3 offers a quieter and more comfortable driving experience when compared to the Toyo Trail. These tires provide well-rounded performance on various terrains, including snow and wet conditions.

Treadwear Warranty

The Open Country A/T III provides a more extended treadwear warranty with 65,000 miles for P/Euro-Metric sizes and 50,000 miles for LT and Flotation Sizes. 

Meanwhile, the Open Country R/T Trail offers a shorter warranty of 45,000 miles. This indicates that the Open Country A/T III offers superior durability in most size categories.

Price

The Toyo AT3 is a more budget-friendly option, starting at around $163 per tire. In contrast, the Toyo RT begins at a higher price point of roughly $276 per tire.

Prices for both models may differ depending on your chosen tire size, and they tend to increase as you opt for larger sizes.

Final Recommendation

In making your final decision, it’s important to consider your specific driving conditions, budget, and preferences:

• If you’re an off-road enthusiast and don’t mind paying extra, we recommend you opt for the Toyo Open Country RT Trail.

• If your focus is primarily on highway driving with occasional off-road adventures, the Toyo Open Country AT3 is the superior option. It’s also ideal if you prioritize excellent wet and snow performance, as well as value comfort and affordability in your tire choice.

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