20" Inch Winter tire highlight: Sailun Terramax R/T

[ksurfier]

Here’s a potential option for a budget friendly winter tire:
https://simpletire.com/brands/sailun-tires/terramax-r-t

Review:https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/sailun-terramax-rt-tire-review/

33” size is only $160 per tire.

also a studdable 34” size for $220.

tread depths between 16 and 20 32nds.

weight ranging from 44# to ~50#

anyone considering something like the Sailun?

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[Mark_AZR1T]

I'm considering the 34's for my R1T.

 

[R1Thor]

Looks Aggressive! I wonder what the range hit will be.

I think a set of these with the EV Sportline Steelies would be a phenomenally economical solution for anyone who needs it! If I didn't already have an off-road/winter set, I'd be considering this.

 

[Treebeard]

Here’s a potential option for a budget friendly winter tire:
https://simpletire.com/brands/sailun-tires/terramax-r-t

Review:https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/sailun-terramax-rt-tire-review/

33” size is only $160 per tire.

also a studdable 34” size for $220.

tread depths between 16 and 20 32nds.

weight ranging from 44# to ~50#

anyone considering something like the Sailun?

I bought cheap tires (186) before mount and balance. The tires will not balance properly. I’d stay away from a tire this cheap. I’ve had the tires balanced by two different companies with one company trying three times. The balance is almost right, but not perfect .

 

[RivianRunner]

Here’s a potential option for a budget friendly winter tire:
https://simpletire.com/brands/sailun-tires/terramax-r-t

Review:https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/sailun-terramax-rt-tire-review/

33” size is only $160 per tire.

also a studdable 34” size for $220.

tread depths between 16 and 20 32nds.

weight ranging from 44# to ~50#

anyone considering something like the Sailun?

To be clear, that's not a winter tire, it's a rugged terrain tire for year-round use. The three-peak snowflake rating does not make it a winter tire (except from a legal perspective in some jurisdictions). If you studded it, then you could call it a studded winter tire. But I've found studless winter tires to work better for a couple of reasons. Studs have very short useful lives unless you never drive on bare pavement. Once the studs are worn mostly flush you have a tire that is crappy in winter conditions. And the best winter only rubber compounds cannot accept studs because the compound is too soft to retain them reliably. Tires that can accept studs need a harder rubber compound that doesn't work as well in winter conditions compared to true winter tires with winter specific rubber compounds. That's a real "catch-22".

A lot of people think a winter tire gets most of its traction advantage from a more aggressive tread design, but most of the extra winter performance actually comes from softer rubber compounds that have a higher coefficient of friction, even on pure ice. A studded tires main advantage is it still provides reasonably good traction on wet ice (as long as the studs are still proud), in many other snowy conditions a studded tire offers less control than a studless winter tire.

The tread design of this tire doesn't have a high number of biting edges, which is another reason it depends upon studs to work well in winter conditions.

TLDR; Don't buy this tire as a winter tire unless you stud them, and then realize they are only safe as long as the studs are still protruding.

Good tires may seem over-priced but there is a lot of technology, construction details, and quality control that goes into making high quality, high-performance tires and not necessarily in the racing sense of "high performance". And they are the most important component of your entire vehicle. Choose wisely for your use case(s).

 

[ksurfier]

I bought cheap tires (186) before mount and balance. The tires will not balance properly. I’d stay away from a tire this cheap. I’ve had the tires balanced by two different companies with one company trying three times. The balance is almost right, but not perfect .

Good point, maybe there’s an installer that can guarantee balance or don’t pay…

 

[Treebeard]

Good point, maybe there’s an installer that can guarantee balance or don’t pay…

My tire place said they are getting some fancy new balancer that he said would get the job done. I have not been back yet, but I’m not sure my tires are perfectly round anyhow. I just bought them because they have a snake head on the side wall and look cool. Gotta look cool?

 

[zefram47]

Why the hell would you spend nearly $100k on a vehicle and then put cheap-ass, no-name tires on it?!? Pony up for the good stuff or don't bother. At the end of the day you'll always be better off with a dedicated winter tire if that level of performance is important to you.

 

[ksurfier]

Why the hell would you spend nearly $100k on a vehicle and then put cheap-ass, no-name tires on it?!? Pony up for the good stuff or don't bother. At the end of the day you'll always be better off with a dedicated winter tire if that level of performance is important to you.

Did you read the review in link above?
Sailun TerraMax RT: The Drive ’Em in the Desert Review

There just might be someone that likes this tire as well as the price point, that’s why. Believe it or not most of the reviews for Sailun tires are decent, I’m not sure this is the junk tire you imagine it is. I’m definitely not saying these are in the same category of the $400+ tires, but they seem like a reasonable option depending on use.

Some reviews here:
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78538

 

[RivianRunner]

Did you read the review in link above?
Sailun TerraMax RT: The Drive ’Em in the Desert Review

There just might be someone that likes this tire as well as the price point, that’s why. Believe it or not most of the reviews for Sailun tires are decent, I’m not sure this is the junk tire you imagine it is. I’m definitely not saying these are in the same category of the $400+ tires, but they seem like a reasonable option depending on use.

Some reviews here:
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78538

Tire Reviews are next to worthless. People tend to stick in the price category they buy in. So, a good review might just mean it's better than whatever cheap tire they had on there to begin with.

Budget shopping for winter tires can get quite expensive. How much is it going to cost you to fix your car if you have a minor little accident? What if you miss work or need to go to the hospital? What if your insurance premiums get raised by 25%? Good tires are your cheapest insurance. Fork over the money and don't look back!

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