Nowadays, the 35×12.5R20 tire size has gained immense popularity among truck owners, primarily for its off-road capabilities and aggressive appearance. While transitioning from LT (Light Truck) tires to flotation tires may have some impact on gas mileage and ride comfort, the trade-offs are well justified by the durability and striking appearance these tires offer. With the right tire selection, you can maximize the advantages of this tire size. Drawing from my experience as a former Bridgestone engineer, I’m here to share my top recommendations for this specific tire size and help you find the best tires to suit your needs. Let’s get started!
- BF Goodrich KO2 – Best Overall
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT – Best for Towing
- Firestone Destination XT – Lightest of Its Segment
- Nitto Ridge Grappler – Best Appearance & Comfort (Warm regions)
- Toyo Open Country R/T Trail – Best Appearance & Comfort (Cold regions)
- Kenda Klever R/T – Best Affordable
35x12.50R20 Tires Market Overview
Falken Wildpeak AT3W | Toyo Open Country AT3 | Toyo Open Country AT3 | BF Goodrich KO2 | Sumitomo Encounter AT | General Grabber ATX | Firestone Destination XT | Nitto Recon Grappler AT | Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT | Yokohama Geolander AT G015 | Hankook Dynapro AT2 Extreme | Hankook Dynapro AT2 Extreme | Kumho Road Venture AT52 | Cooper Discoverer Rugged Trek | Nitto Ridge Grappler | Yokohama Geolander X-AT | Yokohama Geolander X-AT | Toyo Open Country R/T Trail | Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT | Mickey Thompson Baja Legend Exp | Kenda Klever RT | |
Category | Off-Road AT Tire | Off-Road AT Tire | Off-Road AT Tire | Off-Road AT Tire | Off-Road AT Tire | Off-Road AT Tire | Off-Road AT Tire | Off-Road AT Tire | On-Road AT Tire | On-Road AT Tire | On-Road AT Tire | On-Road AT Tire | On-Road AT Tire | On-Road AT Tire | Rugged Terrain Tire | Rugged Terrain Tire | Rugged Terrain Tire | Rugged Terrain Tire | Rugged-Terrain Tire | Rugged-Terrain Tire | Rugged-Terrain Tire |
Load Range | F | F | E | E | E | E | E | F | F | E | F | E | E | F | F | E | F | F | F | F | F |
Weight | 77 lbs | 67 lbs | 67 lbs | 67 lbs | 75 lbs | 70 lbs | 59 lbs | 68 lbs | 67 lbs | 59 lbs | 65 lbs | 73 lbs | 66 lbs | 69 lbs | 68 lbs | 71 lbs | 70 lbs | 69 lbs | 72 lbs | 62 lbs | 68 lbs |
Tread Depth | 19/32″ | 16.9/32″ | 16.9/32″ | 15/32″ | 19/32″ | 16/32″ | 17/32″ | 16.9/32″ | 16.5/32″ | 16/32″ | 15.5/32″ | 14.5/32″ | 16/32″ | 18.5/32″ | 18.3/32″ | 19/32″ | – | 16.9 | 18.5/32″ | Add New | 18.8/32” |
Tread Width | 10.9″ | 10.5″ | 10.3″ | 11.1″ | 11″ | 10.6″ | 10.8″ | 10.5″ | 10.8″ | 9.8″ | – | 10.1″ | 10.2″ | 11″ | 10.2″ | 10″ | – | – | 10.3″ | 10.2 | 10” |
Made In | Thailand | United States | United States | United States | Thailand | United States | Canada | United States | United States | Phillippines | Korea | Korea | Vietnam | United States | United States | Japan | Japan | United States | United States | United States | Taiwan |
Before we dive into the specifics, I’d like to share a table that I believe will be immensely helpful for most readers. This table provides an overview of the specifications of all-terrain and rugged-terrain tires currently available in the market.
According to this table:
- The lightest tire is the Firestone Destination XT in the E Load Range category.
- The tallest tires are the Falken Wildpeak AT3W and the Yokohama Geolander X-AT.
- The broadest tires are the BF Goodrich KO2 and the Cooper Discoverer Rugged Trek.
It’s worth noting that I’ve excluded mud terrain tires from this article because they differ significantly from all-terrain tires. Instead, I’ve focused on rugged-terrain tires, which strike a more balanced approach for on-road performance.
Firestone Destination X/T - Lightest of Its Segment
The Firestone Destination X/T is indeed an all-terrain tire that’s specifically designed for 3/4-ton or above pickup trucks. Being the lightest in its segment, it brings both advantages and disadvantages worth considering.
| Firestone Destination XT |
|---|
| Off Road AT Tire |
| E |
| 59 lbs |
| 17/32″ |
| 10.8″ |
| Canada |
The Firestone Destination X/T is an excellent choice if you’re seeking value for your money. It boasts a nearly $30 cost advantage over its competitors, making it a budget-friendly option. Additionally, thanks to its lightweight design, it stands out as a solid choice for those who prioritize fuel efficiency. However, it’s essential to be aware of some trade-offs. The center lugs of this tire feature full-depth sipes, which can increase rolling resistance and impact traction on wet and light snow-covered surfaces. As a result, it may provide a somewhat rougher ride, particularly due to its deep tread design. Yet, this feature also provides good level of loose ground traction.
Note: It’s important to keep in mind that the Firestone Destination X/T is exclusively available in the E load range. If your off-roading needs are severe, I’d recommend considering alternative options for a more suitable fit.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT - Best for Towing
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT stands out as the sole on-road all-terrain tire I’m recommending in this article. With its highway-type pattern, it delivers exceptional stability on the road. However, it’s important to note that this feature also comes with its own set of drawbacks.
| Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT |
|---|
| On Road AT Tire |
| F |
| 67 lbs |
| 16.5/32″ |
| 10.6″ |
| United States |
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT provides one of the smoothest and quietest ride experiences, as expected from an on-road all-terrain tire. Its highway rib pattern excels at absorbing bumps and reducing noise levels. Moreover, the increased rubber contact with the road surface enhances its wet traction capability. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that this tire has its limitations, particularly in loose ground performance, which includes deep snow and mud. It’s worth noting that the absence of the 3PMSF marking affects its winter performance. On the flip side, this non-3PMSF compound contributes to a longer tread life and improved on-road stability.
BF Goodrich KO2 - Best Overall
BF Goodrich KO2 is the ancestor of all-terrain tires. Well, it’s always a safe side pick for me because of the great tread width and tread depth ratios. Since it’s only available in E load range for this specific size, it also offer smoother ride.
| BF Goodrich KO2 |
|---|
| Off Road AT Tire |
| E |
| 67 lbs |
| 15/32″ |
| 11.1″ |
| United States |
While the BF Goodrich KO2 may not claim the title for the tallest tire in its segment, its high void ratio makes it a standout performer in loose-ground conditions. Additionally, despite being available in the E load range, its Trigard technology ensures exceptional sidewall durability, making it well-suited for severe off-roading adventures. The low tread depth of the BF Goodrich KO2 is a notable feature that reduces vibration levels and promotes even tire wear. However, it’s important to be aware of one drawback—towards the later stages of its life, this tire may experience a decrease in wet traction.
Toyo Open Country R/T Trail - Smooth Rugged Terrain Tire
Toyo Open Country R/T Trail is the newly released rugged-terrain tire of Toyo. Even though its rating and specification is similar to Toyo Open Country AT3, I prefer a more aggressive design for this specific size. For this reason, I added this tire to my list instead of the Toyo AT3.
| Toyo Open Country AT3 | Toyo Open Country R/T Trail |
|---|---|
| Off Road AT Tire | Rugged Terrain Tire |
| F | F |
| 67 lbs | 69 lbs |
| 16.9/32″ | 16.9 |
| 10.3″ | 10.2″ |
| United States | United States |
The Toyo Open Country R/T Trail presents an excellent choice if you’re looking to enhance your vehicle’s appearance without compromising on tread life. With its substantial and interlocked lugs, this tire offers a commendable level of on-road stability, making it particularly suitable for towing and hauling. However, it’s important to note that this tire features a slightly softer compound to ensure adequate snow and wet traction. As a trade-off, you may experience a somewhat shorter lifespan. To address this, Toyo provides a 45,000-mile tread warranty for this product, whereas the Toyo AT3 comes with a 65,000-mile warranty. If tread life is your top priority, you may lean towards the Toyo Open Country AT3(vs Toyo Open Country RT Trail).
Nitto Ridge Grappler - Best Appearance
Nitto Ridge Grappler might not be the broadest tire but it’s one of the tallest tires of this segment. Since it’s a rugged terrain tire, it looks highly aggressive. However, the real shining point of this tire is on-road manners.
| Nitto Ridge Grappler |
|---|
| Rugged Terrain Tire |
| F |
| 68 lbs |
| 18.3/32″ |
| 10.2″ |
| United States |
The Nitto Ridge Grappler‘s symmetrical and narrow pattern offers several advantages, including noise reduction and enhanced riding comfort. The variable pitch design plays a role in breaking the airflow inside the tire, which effectively decreases the noise level. Additionally, the narrow pattern contributes to even load distribution, ultimately extending the tire’s tread life. However, it’s worth noting that this tire has a limited amount of siping. When you combine this with a non-3PMSF compound and a narrow tread width, you may anticipate a slight decrease in wet and light snow traction.
Kenda Klever R/T - Best Affordable Tire
The Kenda Klever R/T stands out as a highly recommended rugged (hybrid) terrain tire designed to cater to light trucks, SUVs, and 4×4 vehicles, including Jeeps. With its wide product range, the Kenda Klever R/T has become a popular choice among many. However, it’s important to note that not all users are equally satisfied with its performance.
| Kenda Klever RT |
|---|
| Rugged Terrain Tire |
| F |
| 68 lbs |
| 18.8/32” |
| 10” |
| Taiwan |
The Kenda Klever R/T is a reliable tire that performs well on both wet and dry surfaces. It offers a comfortable ride, albeit with some noise. Notably, despite lacking the 3PMSF designation, it delivers decent winter performance in various conditions, though it may struggle on ice. One of its standout features is the 3-ply sidewalls, which contribute to its substantial off-road capability, especially for activities like rock crawling. While its tread life falls slightly short compared to all-terrain tires, it still outperforms most rugged-terrain tires in this regard.
What is Equivalent to a 35x12.50R20?
In fact, there is no direct equivalent to 35×12.50R20 tires. However, the closest LT (Light Truck) metric tire size is 315/60R20.
How to Decode 35x12.5R20 Tire Size in Metric?
Understanding a flotation size is a bit different from LT and P-metric sizes. In LT and P-metric sizes, the first three-digit number defines the width of the tire in millimeters, measured sidewall to sidewall. However, in flotation sizes like 35×12.50R20, the middle number (12.50 in this case) represents the width of the tire, but this time in inches.
The 35” figure corresponds to the overall diameter of your tire. To determine the sidewall height, you should subtract the rim diameter, which is 20” in our case. So, currently, we have 20” as the total height of both sidewalls (imagine a circle with a smaller circle inside, with one sidewall height on top and one below). Therefore, you need to divide this by two. Right now, you have 10” for one sidewall height, which is equivalent to 190mm. Interestingly, this is the same sidewall height as that of a 315/60R20 tire.
Conclusion
When considering 35×12.50R20 tires for upsizing, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of what to expect from these tires. Here are a couple of tips to help you make an informed choice:
If daily driving is your top priority, opting for the E load range is the better choice. To ensure this, you can select one of the on-road all-terrain tires.
However, if you’re willing to sacrifice some on-road manners in favor of off-road capability, rugged terrain tires may be the way to go.
Keep in mind that the lightest tire doesn’t always equate to better fuel efficiency. Pay attention to the tire’s design and tread depth as well.
If you have a lifted 1/2 ton truck, you might find this article helpful: Best 1/2 Ton Truck Tires.
For those with a 3/4 ton truck, it’s highly recommended to check out this article: Best 3/4 Ton Truck Tires.
Take-Home Points:
- LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load index & load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
I hope this article proves to be a valuable resource for your tire selection process. If you require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.
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