Kumho Road Venture RT51 vs Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires

Kumho vs Goodyear: Which rugged-terrain tire is right for you?

Kumho is a South Korean tire manufacturer that’s known for its advanced compounding and tire technology offered at an accessible price point. Thanks to consistent R&D efforts and computer-optimized patterns, Kumho makes high-quality light truck and SUV tires for year-round use, enhanced ride comfort, and lasting use.

Goodyear, on the other hand, is an iconic tire giant headquartered in Akron, Ohio. With over a century of expertise in making excellent tires, Goodyear is counted among the most reputable brands in the US and worldwide. Its Wrangler family is admired by light truck and SUV drivers for heavy-duty Kevlar reinforcements, superior technologies like TractiveGroove, and outstanding off-road durability in severe weather and commercial-grade conditions.

Coming from both manufacturers, the Kumho Road Venture RT51 and the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT are the two reliable rugged-terrain tires we will be comparing here. The Road Venture RT51 from Kumho bridges the gap between all-terrain on-road manners and the off-road performance of mud-terrain tires. It also comes with all-season driving ability, highway and off-road stability, and a high tread life mileage warranty.

On the contrary, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT from Goodyear is a heavy-duty, commercial-grade rugged-terrain tire offered with proprietary DuPont Kevlar reinforcement. It is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certified and is optimized for self-cleaning, extreme off-road grip, and seamless towing.

For tire buyers, what matters most is considering tires that better align with driving needs and preferences. So, to understand which of the two rugged-terrain tires is better suited for your drive, let’s go through this detailed Road Venture RT51 vs Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires comparison using our proprietary SimpleScore, and see which tire excels overall in traction, handling, and longevity on a 0–10 scale. Read on!

Kumho Road Venture RT51 tires

The Kumho Road Venture RT51 is made for use on light trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs and offers driving ability on trails along with everyday highway comfort. It is optimized for cut-and-chip resistance, enhanced off-road clawing ability, consistent self-cleaning, and seamless water, slush, and dirt evacuation. It also comes with a generous tread life warranty, while year-round usability makes it a worthy option for buyers.

Overall, the Road Venture RT51 is rated a great 8.4 SimpleScore, thanks to its great service life, responsive handling, and solid traction on- and off-road.

Get Kumho Road Venture RT51 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT is made for use on light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. The tire’s core capability comes in the form of performing in demanding work sites, rocky trails, and severe winter weather conditions. It is tuned for enhanced durability, cut, and sidewall puncture resistance, and comes with innovative DuPont Kevlar to achieve the same. Likewise, there’s TractiveGroove Technology, another proprietary highlight for better traction performance in muddy and snowy conditions. This tire is also optimized for consistent self-cleaning, severe winter use, and stable highway tracking.

Overall, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT is rated a great 8.9 SimpleScore because of its excellent traction, superior handling, and long-lasting tread life.

Get Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Kumho Road Venture RT51 vs Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires on traction

Now let's compare how each tire performs when it comes to traction and grip on highways, trails, and across seasons.

Starting with the Kumho Road Venture RT51, the tire earns an 8.2 SimpleScore in traction. Thanks to its innovative pattern featuring multi-directional tread blocks, saw-tooth edges, and zigzag grooves, the Kumho tire’s water and slush evacuation is seamless for confident driving in rain, mud, and loose trails. On pavement, these grooves also contribute to reduced risk of hydroplaning. The all-season rubber compound ensures solid grip in dry, wet, and light winter conditions, assuring great year-round performance.

On the other hand, the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT achieves an outstanding 9.2 SimpleScore in traction. Goodyear’s patented TractiveGroove Technology, along with deep, stepped shoulder blocks, improves surface-biting ability, especially when you are driving in deep mud, loose gravel, and ruts. Additionally, the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification contributes to a solid winter grip and performance in moderate to severe winter weather, i.e., in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Clearly, the Goodyear rugged-terrain tire has an edge over the Road Venture RT51 in traction because of its exceptional traits and severe weather compatibility.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

Kumho Road Venture RT51 vs Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires on handling

Next, we will analyze handling performance to understand which tire excels in areas like steering response, cornering stability, lane changes, braking efficiency, and load-carrying capacity.

The Road Venture RT51 earns an 8.5 SimpleScore in handling on a scale of 0-10, assuring a great steering response and controllability overall. The rock-tie bars are linked to shoulder tread blocks for reduced chances of block squirm under lateral pressures. Likewise, the wider footprint, along with multiple sharper edges and grooves and solid blocks, contributes to better steering response, reduced braking distance, and high-speed stability.

On the other hand, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT excels with a higher 9.1 SimpleScore in handling. Kudos to the proprietary DuPont Kevlar construction that utilizes heavy-duty casing and reinforced steel belts for increased strength under heavy payloads and towing pressures. The strong construction reduces sidewall flex, especially during lane changes, for confident highway control and stability.

In handling, it is the Wrangler DuraTrac RT that again excels with a higher score to claim a 2-0 lead.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

Kumho Road Venture RT51 vs Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT tires on longevity

A long-lasting tire is always preferred by tire buyers, especially when you are buying something that will tackle rough terrains as well as highway driving pressures. So, let’s find out which tire resists wear better to lead in the longevity section.

Beginning with the Kumho tire, the SimpleScore stands at a great 8.6 SimpleScore in longevity. This tire is also covered by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty that underlines its admirable lasting ability. With the use of a cut-and-chip-resistant rubber compound and flat footprint, the Road Venture RT51 evenly distributes driving pressures to control the wear rate for lasting highway use. Then, there’s a robust tread block design to combat off-road impact, and higher durability is achieved with enhanced rib protectors. The wave-like main and sub-lateral grooves also offer lasting utility.

On the contrary, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT marginally leads with an 8.8 SimpleScore in longevity. This tire is also backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. The use of cut-and-chip resistant construction along with a DuPont Kevlar carcass and Durawall sidewall compound promotes longevity by resisting punctures, abrasions, and cuts in rough off-road conditions. Likewise, the wide and flat contact patch also ensures lasting use by resisting wear during highway use.

In longevity, we see a tough competition between both tires, but again it is the Wrangler DuraTrac RT that bags the title.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT

When to use each

Both the Road Venture and the Wrangler DuraTrac RT are rugged-terrain tires that can be used on- and off-road. They both offer better off-road performance than all-terrain tires and come with the ability to serve year-round in dry, wet, and mild winter weather. However, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT is 3PMSF certified and comes with extra ability to perform in moderate to severe winter weather.

Typically, drivers consider the Road Venture RT51 for their daily-driven half-ton pickup trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs to balance drives on highways and during weekend expeditions. For people looking for an aggressive-looking rugged-terrain tire with less noisy drives, admirable highway handling, and a backing of 50,000 mile tread life warranty, the Road Venture RT51 is indeed a great option at an affordable price.

On the flip side, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT is primarily considered by drivers for commercial fleets, heavy-duty hauling, and serious off-roading in rocky terrains, deep mud, and thick layers of snow. The Kevlar-reinforced sidewalls stand out from the crowd, and if you want to use something that is extremely strong and durable, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT comes as a perfect match. This tire is also covered by an identical warranty and offers the additional ability to perform in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

As far as rim sizes are concerned, both tires are available in 16- to 22-inch rim options.

Which one should you choose?

Looking at overall SimpleScores, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT is a better tire than the Road Venture RT51 (8.9 vs 8.4). However, your decision to buy a set of tires would also depend on your budget, inclination towards highway refinement vs. a commercial-grade utility tire with superior toughness and severe winter performance.

Talking about prices, the Road Venture RT51 is available at a starting price of at least $207 per tire, which means a set of four will cost you at least $828. On the other hand, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT is also offered at a starting price of at least $240 per tire, which means a set of four of this commercial-grade RT tire is available at a price of at least $960.

Based on SimpleScore, you must choose the Road Venture RT51 if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Toyota Tacoma, GMC Sierra 1500, or Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
• Want a tire that’s aggressive-looking and more affordable.
• Want a tire that prioritizes better highway performance for daily commuting.
• Want a tire that comes with an identical 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

On the other hand, you should consider the Wrangler DuraTrac RT if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the RAM 2500, Ford F-250, or Jeep Wrangler.
• Need a tire that’s better in longevity (9.2 vs 8.2).
• Need a tire that’s better in handling (9.1 vs 8.5).
• Need a tire that’s better in traction (9.2 vs 8.2).
• Need a tire that’s Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in severe winter weather.
• Need a tire that sports the proprietary DuPont Kevlar casing for extra protection against sidewall punctures and rock tears.

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.