Toyo’s Open Country R/T Trail proves it’s a great tire that earns our seal of approval

Tires aren’t the most exciting equipment on an overland rig, but they are one of the most important. Quality tires offer peace of mind in the backcountry, where having traction and durability can mean the difference between an adventurous outing…and a disastrous one. Over the years I’ve used a variety of tires on a variety of rigs, almost all from well-known manufacturers. I’ve always had good luck with Toyo tires. The Open Country R/T’s I had on my F250 were due for replacement when I was offered the opportunity to test and review Toyo’s Open Country R/T Trail. The R/T and R/T Trail have completely different tread patterns, but both are designed to be a hybrid between a mud and all-terrain tire. The R/T Trail tread is less aggressive, and the tire is designed to perform better on-road while maintaining the same off-road capability. Is it marketing jargon, or do these tires live up to the hype?

I’m running 37×12.50×17 Open Country R/T Trail on Method 704 wheels bolted to a 2021 F250 with a Norweld flatbed tray and a Four Wheel Campers Hawk UTE. Getting a good balance on large tires on a heavy vehicle can be tough but the local shop had no issues balancing my Toyo tires. And, over the last 15,000+ miles, they’ve remained perfectly balanced with regular rotation.

The R/T Trails are claimed to be quieter on-road than the original R/T tire. I can confirm that this is true. They provide a comfortable ride despite thick sidewalls, and don’t transmit small bumps to vehicle occupants. I’ve also found that they track better and don’t tend to wander as much, especially at higher speeds on the interstate. Traction on- and off-road has been fantastic, even on wet or snowy roads. Despite a less aggressive tread pattern than the R/T, I haven’t detected any difference in off-road traction, except in mud. Packed dirt, sand, granite, sandstone, Pacific Northwest loam…this tire’s seen it all and has been an exceptional performer. Mud tends to cake on the R/T Trail whereas the R/T does a better job of shedding it, thus improving traction.

The R/T Trails have a 45,000 mile warranty and I’m confident we’ll need to replace them long before that. This isn’t a fault of the tire, it’s just a fact of life with heavy rigs. At 15,000 miles our R/T Trails have at least another 10,000 miles of tread left. And, when the time comes, I’ll replace them with another set of Toyo Open Country R/T Trails. If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it!

At the time of this review, pricing starts at $277+. Check your local tires carrier or learn more by visiting Toyo Tires at www.toyotires.com.

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