Should you’re like most all-terrain tire customers, you most likely don’t drive on filth as a lot as you’d like. So pavement efficiency is vital. However whenever you do steer onto tough filth, gravel, mud, and rocky roads, your tires have to carry out.
That’s me in a nutshell. And it’s how I examined the Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT all-terrain tires over the past 6 months. Mounted on my 2010 Ford F-150, I put about 5,000 miles on a set of Nokian Outpost nATs. In my early use, I’ve discovered them quiet and succesful, stacking up effectively towards the perfect AT tires available on the market.
Briefly: The Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT is a reasonably aggressive AT tire good for gentle vans and SUVs. Made within the USA by a Finnish model, the tires are wonderful on pavement, filth, rocks, and dirt. Whereas I’ve solely had just a few possibilities to check them on snow, to date, they appear wonderful on frozen surfaces. If there’s a draw back, it’s that the tires are inclined to throw rocks greater than common when new.
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Value vary:
$210-540
Out there rim sizes:
15-18, 20, 22
Quiet
Good traction on big selection of surfaces
Sizing to suit big selection of automobiles
Picks up and flings rocks greater than some fashions
Solely OK on mud
Sean McCoy
Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT Evaluate
“Shit road” — we name it that as a result of it’s that dangerous. However the 2-mile filth monitor results in one in every of my favourite trailheads for mountain climbing and searching, so I put it in 4WD and level the hood upward.
Ol’ shit highway made an ideal check for the Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT. Whereas I’ve put about 5,000 miles on the tires since spring, and loads of it off the pavement, this stretch at all times places my tires and truck to the check.
The aggressive tread on the Nokian Outpost nAT gives wonderful traction; (photograph/Sean McCoy)
The primary part is extremely tough, with deep holes and ruts by means of rocky clay that pressure driving at a crawl. Subsequent comes a collection of switchbacks up a steep mountain face. The double-track climbs exhausting right here, with one extraordinarily steep part that may cease nearly all 2WD automobiles because of its tender, powdery clay floor.
From there, it’s a mile of navigating round boulders and potholes to the trailhead.
On 4 journeys out and in of the highway, the Nokians did amazingly effectively. I stored them aired up at freeway pressures, and so they have been completely able to clawing up the 4-inch-deep kitty litter. I did get a bit wheel spin, however felt assured and underneath management your complete time.
‘Oopsie’ Results in Substitute Expertise
Out and in of that terrible highway, up and down the freeway, and throughout many sections of gravel, the Nokian Outpost nATs carried out effectively. That’s, till I made an “oops” coming down Shit Street after elk searching.
By some means, I didn’t discover the big rock protruding from the facet of the embankment. Wham! My truck bounced sideways because the tire and rim whacked towards the stone. Instantly, I heard the dreaded shhhhhhhhhhhhh blasting from the rear wheel. I began searching for a flat spot to park. Certain sufficient, I’d blown the sidewall on a pointy rock.
That tire was toast.
Altering a flat Nokian Outpost nAT tire after blowing out a sidewall on a tough path; (photograph/Sean McCoy)
We modified the tire (thank goodness for a full-size, aired-up spare) and headed house.
This meant I needed to order and change the tire. It was expertise, as I realized that not each store can have it obtainable. It took about 4 days after ordering the Nokian Outpost nAT on-line for it to reach at my Low cost Tires location. All in, the substitute tire and set up price $360.
Lesson realized: hold your eyes on the highway!
Muddy Street Testing
Two days of muddy driving proved the Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT was competent on slick, moist surfaces; (photograph/Sean McCoy)
Whereas most of my driving within the Rocky Mountains was on dry, rocky roads, I did have the prospect to do a few hundred miles of driving on slick, muddy nation roads in jap Colorado. These excessive plains roads, after a heavy, moist snowfall, became greasy, sketchy slides through the 2024 pheasant opener.
The Outpost nAT dealt with these very slick situations all proper. I gained’t say they did incredible, however for a tire geared toward all-around efficiency, they bought me out and again safely and with no actual shut calls. I’ll take it as a win.
I discovered my truck slid sideways a bit, giving me an unsettling feeling once I hit actually tender patches. This was on very moist gravel roads that gave solution to clay after the storm, and I often sank about 4 to five inches within the mud whereas driving. They have been difficult situations, and I do admire that the tires managed them.
Nevertheless, these should not mud terrain tires. In case your major use might be on tender, muddy surfaces, there are higher choices on the market.
Pavement Driving
OK, that is much less thrilling. However for many customers, it’s the place most of your miles will add up, so pavement efficiency is darned essential.
Thankfully, the Nokian Outpost nAT is absolutely good on pavement, moist or dry. I instantly observed that these tires roll easily and really quietly, particularly given their aggressive tread. On my first days of driving, I made a decision that they’re among the many quietest all-terrain tires I’ve examined.
Past their very quiet nature, in addition they deal with effectively. I run 33-inch tires on my F-150, and so they begin, cease, and switch in addition to I’d anticipate for a big tire. My gasoline effectivity shouldn’t be nice, averaging about 14.5 mpg. That’s about the identical as my final tires, the Cooper Uncover TA/KO2, and quite a bit worse than inventory tires. However these are almost 2 inches bigger, so it’s no shock that I misplaced just a few mpg.
Nokian Outpost nAT: Who Ought to Purchase Them
At 5,000 miles, that is nonetheless an early assessment. Winter is simply getting began in Colorado, and I’m excited to check these by means of the chilly and snowy months. I’ll be updating this information after a bit extra expertise on the snow. I’ll additionally report again on put on and tear, however to date the tires nonetheless look model new.
At this level, I feel the Nokian Outpost nAT are nice tires for individuals who want good pavement manners but in addition do authentic off-road driving. They’re an aggressive tire that ought to deal with most tough terrain with out challenge. However they’re nonetheless good on pavement, moist, dry, or snowy.
Testing the Nokian Outpost nAT on a tough path in Colorado; (photograph/Sean McCoy)
Outdoors of throwing up stones when new, I’ve little or no to criticize about these tires. I feel they’ll be a terrific selection for anybody within the AT tire market.