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.
Table Of Contents
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 –Â 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.
