For the past several years, I’ve had the opportunity to run two very different tire setups on my 3rd Gen Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road. My previous setup consisted of 33-inch Arroyo Tamarock MT tires, while my current setup is 35-inch American Roadstar RT tires. Now that I’ve run both, it’s time to share my thoughts on choosing between an MT and an RT tire for your off-road setup.
This comparison less about brand versus brand and more about the evolution of tire design and what happens when you move between a traditional Mud-Terrain (MT) to a Rugged-Terrain (RT) tire. But I will talk about in the context of what I’ve ran and are currently running.
After thousands of miles on pavement, dirt, rocky trails, and long road trips, I wanted to compare the two side by side and answer one simple question…
Which tire would I choose if I had to do it all over again?
Table Of Contents
Previous Tire Setup
- Arroyo Tamarock MT
- Size: 33×12.50R17
- Mud Terrain (MT)
- Approximately 25,000 miles driven
Find Them Online
Current Tire Setup
- American Roadstar RT
- Size: 35×12.50R17
- Rugged Terrain (RT)
- Current tire setup (~2,000 miles driven)
Find Them Online
Design Philosophy: MT Vs. RT
The biggest difference between these tires is their intended use.
Mud Terrain tires are designed to maximize traction in difficult off-road conditions.
Features include…
- Large tread voids
- Aggressive shoulder blocks
- Deep sidewall lugs
- Excellent self-cleaning characteristics
- Designed primarily for mud, rocks, and technical trails
The large spaces between tread blocks allow the tire to eject mud and debris efficiently, which gives the MT excellent off-road performance but can come at the expense of on-road comfort and road noise.
Rugged Terrain tires, which are also often referred to as a hybrid tire.
Its design attempts to blend..
- The aggressive appearance of a Mud Terrain
- The road manners of an All Terrain
- Improved wet-weather performance
- Reduced road noise
- Better daily drivability
The tread blocks are more tightly spaced than a traditional MT, while still providing enough traction for dirt, rocks, sand, and moderate mud.
Side-By-Side Comparison
| Feature | Arroyo Tamarock MT | American Roadstar RT |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Category | Mud Terrain | Rugged Terrain |
| Size Tested | 33×12.50R17 | 35×12.50R17 |
| Road Noise | Moderate | Low |
| Daily Driving | Good | Excellent |
| Wet Weather Grip | Good | Very Good |
| Mud Performance | Excellent | Good |
| Off-Road Capability | Excellent | Very Good |
| Appearance | Aggressive | Aggressive |
| Fuel Economy | ~12.5 MPG | ~11.5 MPG |
On-Road Driving Impressions
One of the biggest surprises I had with the Arroyo Tamarock MT was just how quiet it was. When I first installed the tires, I expected the aggressive tread pattern to create a significant amount of road noise. Instead, they were surprisingly civilized for a Mud Terrain tire. Which is hard to say for many options. In general, they’re just louder.
Over time, as the tread wore down, the road noise slowly increased. However, even after approximately 25,000 miles, they never became obnoxious or loud enough to make me dread driving the truck. I could comfortably have conversations or listen to music without being overwhelmed by tire noise.
The American Roadstar RT has been even more impressive. The best comparison I can make is that they remind me of the road noise I experienced when I previously ran Falken All-Terrain tires on this truck. For such an aggressively looking tire, the RT remains remarkably quiet on pavement.
For a Tacoma that spends most of its life commuting, road-tripping, or running errands, with occasional off-road adventures mixed in, the RT strikes an excellent balance between aggressive looks and everyday comfort.
Fuel Economy
One downside of moving to a larger tire is the inevitable hit to fuel economy. When I was running the 33-inch Arroyo Tamarock MTs, I averaged around 12.5 MPG. After moving up to the 35-inch American Roadstar RTs, my average dropped to around 11.5 MPG. That’s roughly a 1-MPG decrease, which honestly wasn’t surprising, given the increase in tire size and weight. Similarly sized tire should see less of difference. But in general, mud terrain tend to be heavier and tougher to turn.
For me, the tradeoff has been worth it. The truck looks better, has more ground clearance, and the larger tires fit the overall vision I have for the build. But if fuel economy is a major concern, it’s worth keeping in mind that jumping from a 33 to a 35-inch tire will almost always come with a penalty, regardless of the brand you choose.
Fitment: 33s Vs 35s
Keeping on the same page of going up in tire size comes with penalties; we have to talk about fitment. Moving from a 33-inch tire to a 35-inch tire wasn’t simply a bolt-on upgrade.
My 33-inch Arroyo Tamarock MTs fit my truck without requiring any major modifications. The 35-inch American Roadstar RTs, however, required significantly more work.
So far, I’ve had to…
- Trim portions of the front fenders
- Modify plastic inner fender liners
- Plan for a cab mount relocation
- Prepare for additional metal inner fender trimming
I still experience some rubbing with the 35s, and I expect additional trimming will be necessary to eliminate it. This isn’t a criticism of the RT itself, it’s simply the reality of fitting 35-inch tires on a third-generation Tacoma. If you’re considering making the jump to 35s, be prepared for some cutting and trimming.
Off-Road Performance
If your primary goal is maximum traction in mud or loose terrain, the Tamarock MT still has the advantage. The aggressive tread voids do an excellent job of clearing mud and maintaining traction in difficult conditions.
The American Roadstar RT remains very capable off-road and performs well in…
- Dirt
- Rocky trails
- Sand
- Forest roads
- Light to moderate mud
However, once conditions become extremely muddy, the tighter tread pattern simply can’t clear debris as effectively as a dedicated Mud Terrain. If you’re going to be getting into deep mud and off-road water conditions often, then you might need to go with the MT. If you’re doing more on-road and mixed-trail use, putting an RT on your truck might be the right choice for you.
Tire Wear
One area where the Arroyo Tamarock MT exceeded my expectations was tread life. I put approximately 25,000 miles on the tires and would estimate that I only used around 25-30% of the available tread during that time. For a Mud Terrain tire, I was extremely happy with that wear rate.
The American Roadstar RT is still relatively new to me, so I don’t have enough miles to make any long-term wear claims yet. However, my early impressions have been very positive, and I’m excited to see how they hold up over the coming years. But in general, RTs usually have longer tread life.
Appearance
This category is subjective, but for me, the move to 35s transformed the truck. The Tamarock MT has the classic Mud Terrain look with aggressive tread blocks and chunky sidewall lugs.
The American Roadstar RT retains its aggressive appearance, but the larger 35-inch size changes the Tacoma’s entire stance. The added height fills out the wheel wells better and gives the truck a more planted, trophy truck-inspired look. For me, the jump from 33s to 35s made a bigger visual difference than switching tire brands.
If I had to choose a winner for tread pattern, I would be picking the RT, it has a more unique, aggressive tread pattern that I enjoy more compared to the MT.
Choosing The Right Tire For You
Choose the MT if…
- Your truck spends a significant amount of time off-road
- You frequently drive in mud or loose terrain
- You want maximum traction
- You prefer a dedicated off-road tire
Choose the RT if…
- Your Tacoma is primarily a daily driver
- Most of your miles are on pavement
- You still want an aggressive appearance
- You enjoy occasional trails, camping, or overlanding
- You want a balance between comfort and off-road capability
Konrad wrote a great post on RT tires, if you wanted to read into them more….
Final Thoughts
After running All-Terrain, Mud-Terrain, and now Rugged-Terrain tires on my Tacoma, I’ve found that RT tires are the sweet spot for how most Tacoma owners actually use their trucks. My Tacoma spends far more time on pavement than on dirt, and I suspect that’s true for most owners. If I drove exclusively off-road, I’d probably still choose a Mud Terrain.
But the American Roadstar RT gives me the best parts of both worlds. It has the aggressive styling and off-road capability I want from an MT, while delivering road manners and comfort that feel much closer to those of an AT. For the way I use my Tacoma today, it’s become my preferred tire category.
And if I had to choose again, I’d choose the 35-inch American Roadstar RT, not for the size, but for the RT’s overall capability and style.
Let me know what your thoughts are and whether you have had a chance to run both an MT and an RT. Do you agree with my thoughts, or do you disagree?
