When you travel on an adventure, you need a tire that can drive anywhere and do everything. Common off-road tires have aggressive tread blocks that can grip loose terrains like mud and sand, but a softer mix reduces road noise and provides better wet traction. Sumitomo Encounter AT is an entry-level off-road tire, which should provide competitive performance and high value.
The Sumitomo Encounter AT is the second model in the Encounter family, which already includes the Sumitomo Encounter HT on-road tires, with aggressive MT tires to be added soon. Due to the new line, the Japanese Sumitomo intends to strengthen its position in the American market.
Sumitomo is a tire company with a long history dating back hundreds of years. These premium tires are based in Japan and have been leaders in the industry for decades. Encounter AT tires is designed to provide causal traction and enthusiasts seeking off-road. The large tread pattern is made of special composite materials. 3D grooves and side grooves make the edges of the tire smooth.
The large groove in the middle of the tire can prevent channel water from entering under the tire and should provide a certain level of water skid resistance. The design of the tread sidewall prevents stones and rocks from getting stuck in the tread.
Advantage:
- economical off-road tires with competitive performance
- have excellent control performance in wet weather.
- Snow Mountain symbol with three peaks for winter traction.
Disadvantages:
- There is a lot of road noise on the road paved by at high speed.
Performance
As a tire focused on off-road performance, is somewhat different from pure mud or off-road tires. The tread pattern is not as deep or hard as pure mud tires, which should help reduce the noise they make on the road. By striking a balance between pure off-road performance and daily driving, Encounter AT tires can provide value for money.
Formed into asymmetrical tread pattern with deep grooves. Because of this tread design, the tire must be able to resist wear and provide a more comfortable ride experience. When the tire surface wears evenly, it can reduce the bumps or warping that may lead to premature service life. The tire has four large grooves on its circumference.
These deep channels between the large tread blocks provide good drainage for drainage from the underside of the tire. Water is also forced to drain from the side through side grooves, and the tire rubber chews on rough roads. By keeping the rubber in contact on a hard surface, the tire can maintain grip and resist some of the effects of water skiing. Three treads form an internal barrier, creating a wide continuous footprint on the road. These pattern designs should help reduce the noise generated by the tire when paving the surface and can provide additional grip on loose surfaces such as mud, sand, or gravel.
The specially designed 3D lamella is integrated into the large tread block, which is located on each shoulder. These little tortuous grooves give the tread more flexibility. They act as additional grip points for the tread, pressing down on loose surfaces like snow, mud, or sand. This can produce better traction on a variety of smoother or off-road roads. The Encounter AT tire tread has been tested and meets the requirements of the Sanfengshan Snow Flakes logo. Although not a real winter tire, it should provide good traction in light snow and cold weather. The formed tread is staggered along the shoulder of the tire. These can help prevent stones and other objects from getting stuck between the tread blocks.
The internal structure has nylon-wrapped steel belts to strengthen the tire structure. When the terrain is not ideal, as the weight of the tire shifts, the reinforced tire must maintain its shape. Maintaining the rigidity of the sidewall can also improve the overall ride quality, especially under heavy drag or payload.