Both Goodyear Wrangler SR A vs Trailrunner AT are highly praised tires that many people use on their trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. However, despite the fact that both tires come from the Goodyear Wrangler series, they are not really the same. Goodyear Wrangler SR A is more of a highway tire, whereas Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT is a light off-road tire with highway capabilities.
Below, we will compare everything about Goodyear Wrangler SR A vs Trailrunner AT, including:
- The design and build quality of each tire
- The available sizes of Goodyear Wrangler SR A and Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT
- The warranty support that comes with each tire
- Their performance on dry roads and wet roads
- Whether you can actually use these tires for off-road trips or not
- Which Goodyear Wrangler tire that is generally more recommended
Goodyear Wrangler SR A vs Trailrunner AT: Design & Features
Goodyear Wrangler SR A is marketed as an all-season highway tire. It is often fitted as an OEM tire on new trucks. It seems to have pretty good performance, as it has also become a popular replacement tire for various vehicles. It is available from 15-inch to 20-inch sizes. Read also: Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max vs Comfortred Touring.
This all-season tire is made from a specially formulated tread compound that Goodyear calls WetTrac. According to the company, the tread compound is designed to provide better wet traction. It is combined with a symmetrical tread pattern with wide circumferential grooves and zig-zag sipes to create biting edges and evacuate water.
The Wrangler SR A is backed by a 6-year or 50K-mile tread life warranty, which is good. In addition, there is also a warranty with free tire replacement for the first year or the first 2/32 inches of tread. Meanwhile, in the last 2/32 inches of tread, you can get tire replacement with a prorated price.
Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT, on the other hand, is an all-terrain tire. It is standing in the company’s mid-tier line-up, just under the top-tier all-terrain Goodyear Wrangler Adventure. Hence, it is designed to provide tough, reliable off-road performance while still having on-road drivability. It is available for trucks, jeeps, SUVs, and crossovers in at least 41 different sizes ranging from 16-inch to 20-inch with LT and non-LT variants.
The tread compound has been formulated to be more rugged to provide solid performance in all seasons and all terrains. The tread pattern features solid staggered blocks that have been acoustically optimized to reduce noise during a highway ride. The company’s engineers have focused a lot on the on-road performance even though this is categorized as an all-terrain tire due to the fact that most drivers will still spend most of their time on the road.
The Wrangler Trailrunner AT has a slightly stronger warranty that goes for 6 years or 55K miles for the tread life. Similarly, though, the tire uniformity is backed for the first year or the first 2/32 inches, and you can get a prorated price for tire replacement in the last 2/32 inches.
Goodyear Wrangler SR A vs Trailrunner AT: Dry Performance
The main reason Goodyear Wrangler SR A has become so popular is the dry road performance. It provides very good drip and traction. This is because the tire has plenty of independent tread blocks, which create a wide contact path. Cornering performance s great, and it also has decent steering responsive.
The tread design is also optimized to resist vibration and reduce noise. As a result, Goodyear Wrangler SR A can provide excellent ride comfort. The tires roll smoothly without any noticeable vibration, and they are quiet on the highway.
Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT is surprisingly good on dry roads, too, although the ride comfort still can’t beat Goodyear Wrangler SR A. The point is, although Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT is an all-terrain tire (tires designed for off-road rides are often really noisy), it rides quite nicely on the highway.
There is plenty of grip and traction. Cornering always feels confident, and braking distances are short. Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT has pretty low rolling resistance, which enables the tire to roll smoothly. It still produces some noise on the highway, but the noise is actually low enough to be ignored.
Goodyear Wrangler SR A vs Trailrunner AT: Wet Performance
Goodyear Wrangler SR A, however, is not a perfect all-season tire. Despite being this type of tire, the performance on wet roads is somewhat poor. There is still enough traction to allow you to drive safely, but handling becomes noticeably more difficult. Thus, if the road is really wet, it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The performance only becomes worse on snow and ice. Goodyear Wrangler SR A is still usable in early winter when the road is cold but there isn’t snow yet. But, if you often drive on roads that get wet or snowy often, this is not the best tire for you.
Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT offers excellent wet road performance. Thanks to the stepped shoulder design, this tire can have plenty of traction when turning or cornering on a wet road. The steering remains precise and responsive even under heavy rain. It will allow you to drive more confidently.
It also works surprisingly well on snow. Perhaps because the wide grooves are designed to evacuate mud effectively, and snow is somewhat similar to mud in some conditions. Nevertheless, Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT can run on snow just fine, with enough traction and good handling.
Goodyear Wrangler SR A vs Trailrunner AT: Off-Road Performance
Goodyear Wrangler SR A is not meant for off-road rides. Inside the tire, there are only two steel belts to provide strength and keep the tire’s structural integrity. They are strong enough for most road conditions, but not for unpaved paths. The tread design is also not optimized to provide traction on sand, dirt, or mud.
Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT, on the other hand, is suitable for off-road rides that are not too extreme. This is more of a light-duty off-road tire, meaning that it can handle terrains with dirt, grass, light mud, and smooth gravels just fine without any problem. But it is not rugged enough for extreme off-road places with harsh bumps or sharp rocks. This tire is meant for drivers looking for all-terrain tires that are not too aggressive and are comfy enough for regular highway rides.
| Goodyear Wrangler SR A | Trailrunner AT |
|---|---|
| - Designed as an all-season highway tire | - Designed as a mid-tier all-terrain tire |
| - Great performance on dry roads, very good handling and very comfortable | - Good performance on dry roads, plenty of traction with just slight noise |
| - Handling is not really good on wet roads | - Great traction and handling on wet roads |
| - Not suitable for snow or off-road | - Very usable for snow and light off-road |
| - 50K-mile tread life warranty | - 55K-mile tread life warranty |
Conclusion
Goodyear Wrangler SR A is great if you drive only on dry roads with just occasional rain. However, if you want a set of tires with reliable performance in any weather and terrain condition, go get Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT! It is a great all-terrain, all-season tire that is still quite comfortable on the highway.
