GT Radial Adventuro AT3 vs Thunderer Ranger A/T R404 tires

The Singapore-based tire manufacturer GT Radial is a member of Giti Tire and has been catering to American drivers for over 25 years. It makes tires for use on passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, CUVs, trailers, and commercial vehicles, and some of its popular tire lines include Maxtour, Adventuro, and Champiro.

Coming from the manufacturer, the Adventuro AT3 tire is a solid all-terrain tire picked as the first tire for comparison. This tire is suitable for on- and off-road driving and can be used on pickup trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs. The tire is made keeping in mind those drivers who don’t want to miss out on the comfort of driving on the highways and are ready for those occasional off-road adventures.

Thunderer Tire is a part of the Deestone family, and its range of tires is optimized for solid performance in North American conditions. Whether you are looking for tires for use on light trucks, passenger cars, commercial vehicles, or trailers, Thunder has high-quality tires that meet your needs at the best price. The offered types of tires by Thunderer include all-season, all-terrain, highway, mud-terrain, and UHP.

The Ranger A/T R404 is Thunderer’s reliable all-terrain tire that we have picked as the second tire for the comparison and is suitable for use on light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. The tire is tuned to offer reliable handling and traction on- and off-road and gets advanced features that boost the overall driving experience year-round.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly all-terrain tire, then check this Adventuro AT3 vs Ranger A/T R404 tires comparison, where we highlight the overall performance of these tires and also compare their traction, handling, and longevity attributes using our tire rating system SimpleScore.

GT Radial Adventuro AT3 tires

First, let’s talk about the GT Radial Adventuro AT3, the tire that made its debut in August 2013 and offers strong on- and off-road traction, confident handling, solid grip, and comfy rides. The tire is good for use on most pickup trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps on the market and is also covered by a higher tread life warranty. It has got design that boosts self-cleaning, and the rugged, muscular appearance that enhances the cosmetic appeal of the vehicle.

Overall, the Adventuro AT3 is rated a good 7.9 SimpleScore because of its longer tread life, responsive handling, and strong traction.

Get GT Radial Adventuro AT3 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Thunderer Ranger A/T R404 tires

Thunderer Ranger A/T R404 was first available for sale in 2023 and is suitable for use on light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. It is engineered for those drivers who want to enjoy sharper handling on the highways and want to keep the steering response in control on rough roads as well. There’s a generous tread life warranty to offer maximized peace to the owners, and the greater details on the tread ensure increased traction and grip year-round.

Overall, the Ranger A/T R404 scores an impressive 8.0 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its extended service life, better handling, and great traction.

Get Thunderer Ranger A/T R404 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

GT Radial Adventuro AT3 vs Thunderer Ranger A/T R404 tires on traction

To get into the details of these tires, let’s start with traction analysis and find out which of the two all-terrain tires is better when it comes to maintaining surefootedness or grip – the Radial Adventuro AT3 or the Ranger A/T R404?

Let’s talk about the Adventuro AT3 first, which scores an 8.0 SimpleScore in traction and assures reliable grip and year-round traction in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. The tread design of the tire is optimized to offer confident driving on rough terrains and achieve solid grip on rocks, roads, muddy conditions, light snow, sand, gravel, and dirt. The advanced rubber compound and interlocked center rib boost wet and dry grip, while the 3D Chamfered Edge Grooves optimize self-cleaning for enhanced off-road traction.

On the other hand, the Ranger A/T R404 scores an equally good 8.0 SimpleScore for its solid traction performance on- and off-road throughout the year. This means, in dry, wet, and light winter conditions, this Thunderer all-terrain tire will also provide solid traction performance. The unique tread pattern of this tire features traction edges that boost the tire’s surface biting ability on- and off-road, while the grooves disperse water from the footprint during highway drives for hydroplaning resistance and keep the tread clean in off-road conditions for enhanced traction performance.

In traction, both tires stand equally good with a similar rating, assuring drivers that either of them is built and designed to offer strong year-round traction and grip.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

GT Radial Adventuro AT3 vs Thunderer Ranger A/T R404 tires on handling

Handling is another important aspect of tire buying as it relates to the tire’s controllability on the highways, its steering command in off-road conditions, lane-changing ability, cornering performance, stability, and braking efficiency. In our analysis, we found that one of the tires was marginally better than the other. Here are the details:

Commencing with the Adventuro AT3, the tire is rated an 8.1 SimpleScore for great handling performance. This means with a tire like the Adventuro AT3, you will enjoy confident handling, cornering, and lane-changing ability. Additionally, stability and braking response are also on the positive side. The use of an interlocked center rib ensures more stable rides and better handling on both loose and soft surfaces, while the five-pitch technology keeps the tread noise levels low for more pleasant rides. The wider contact area of the tire provides better stability on- and off-road, while the solid shoulders and stiffer sidewalls make cornering performance better.

On the contrary, the Ranger A/T R404 is also nowhere behind in the handling race and earns a good 8.0 SimpleScore. Its unique tread pattern with sharper edges keeps the tire glued to the surface to offer reliable handling on- and off-road, while the closed shoulder ensures a better steering response in all conditions. The footprint of this tire is also wider and flat that allows more rubber to come in contact with the surface for a hassle-free handling performance. Additionally, the solid shoulders and stronger sidewalls are there to boost the cornering and lane-changing performance.

While the Thunderer tire is great and has many great features to offer strong handling performance, it is the Adventuro AT3 that steals the show with a slightly better SimpleScore and assures enhanced controllability.

ADVANTAGE: GT Radial Adventuro AT3

GT Radial Adventuro AT3 vs Thunderer Ranger A/T R404 tires on longevity

Which of the two tires has the ability to cover more miles, last longer, and resist wear rate? This is something that we will try to understand in our longevity analysis.

First, let’s talk about the Adventuro AT3, which scores a great 8.1 SimpleScore for its long-lasting service. The tire’s score hints at its extended service life, and the 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty is another factor correlating to longevity. The footprint is optimized to evenly distribute driving pressures and offer a longer service, while the solid rubber compound, along with reinforced inner construction, boosts its service life, especially when it is used in rough conditions.

Contrarily, the Ranger A/T R404 scores a similar 8.1 rating in longevity and indicates that this tire is also well equipped with features to cover a good number of miles. On the warranty part, it is slightly better than its rivals and is backed by a 55,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. The Thunderer tire features an enhanced compound that protects the tread from wear and offers a longer tread life. The flat profile and closed shoulders optimally distribute the driving pressures for even wear, while the deeper tread assures an extended service life.

Both all-terrain tires are equally good in longevity, which results in a tie, while you may or may not credit the Thunderer tire for its slightly better tread life warranty (totally depends on your inclination towards tread life warranty).

ADVANTAGE: Tie

When to use each

Both the Adventuro AT3 and Ranger A/T R404 are suitable for driving on paved roads and can also be taken for occasional off-roading. They are good for year-round use in dry, wet, and light snow conditions, but don’t consider them for driving in extreme winter conditions as they are not Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. If you prefer driving in deep mud and want tires that can combat extreme off-road conditions better, then mud-terrain tires could be a great choice.

As far as the rim sizes are concerned, both the Adventuro AT3 and the Ranger A/T R404 tires are good for pickup trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps that have rim sizes in the range of 15- to 20-inch.

Which one should you choose?

Based on the overall SimpleScore, we think the Ranger A/T R404 tires are a better choice than the Adventuro AT3 tires (8.0 vs 7.9). However, they both are good in one or the other area, and their strengths should be considered before you make a purchase.

Talking about price, another important purchase consideration, the Adventuro AT3 is available at a starting price of at least $98, while the Ranger A/T R404 is available at a starting price of at least $97 per tire. This means a set of four Adventuro tires will cost you $392, while a set of four Ranger tires will cost you at least $388.

Looking at the overall SimpleScore, you should consider the GT Radial if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the RAM 1500, the Ford F-250, or Nissan Frontier.
• Need a tire that’s better in handling (8.1 vs 8.0).
• Want a tire that’s equally good in traction (8.0 vs 8.0) and longevity (8.1 vs 8.1).

Comparatively, you should pick the Ranger A/T R404 if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Dodge RAM 3500, GMC Savana 3500, or Ford F-250.
• Want a tire that’s equally good in traction (8.0 vs 8.0) and longevity (8.1 vs 8.1).
• Need a tire that’s backed by a better mileage warranty (55,000 miles vs 50,000 miles).

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.