The new Wrangler DuraTrac from Goodyear walks the line between a heavy-duty truck tire and an aggressive off-road tire meant for some rough terrain. It's a tire made for work trucks and tow vehicles that have to have maximum traction during bad seasons, but we won't be surprised to see some smaller off-road toys running this tire too since it has a fairly aggressive tread pattern and a seemingly flexible sidewall-especially for an HD tire.
We tried out (and are still testing) a set of 35-inch DuraTracs on an F-250 Super Duty that not only has to get out to the toys and jobsites, but also has to tow trailers and haul campers.
Unfortunately, it was May in Southern California and about 90 degrees outside the week we were testing these. Needless to say, mud and snow was just not an option for testing in at this time.
Specs As Tested
Make/Model:
Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac
Mounted On:
18x8.5 Dick Cepek Torque wheels
Size On Sidewall:
315/70R17
Plies in Sidewall:
2 polyester
Of Plies In Tread:
2 polyster, 2 steel
Weight Of Tire:
59.9 pounds
Measured Diameter Unloaded:
34 inches
Measured Width Unloaded:
13 inches
Measured Tread Width:
10.5 inches
Available Sizes:
29-36 inches in diameter
Available For:
16- to 20-inch wheels
 The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac...  The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac is a heavy-duty tire made for truck that has to work for a living, but the DuraTrac offers a more aggressive tread pattern than other tires in its class. Notice the multiple siping slits on the tread lugs that help it maintain traction in wet and icy conditions. The outer tread lugs are also pinned for metal studs to be inserted for the best traction in winter conditions.
In between the tread lugs, you'll notice a miniature tread pattern in the voids that Goodyear calls TractiveGroove technology, meant to help keep pushing the truck in deep mud and snow.
Since the DuraTrac is a tire designed for a work truck, the sizes available do not pass 36 inches (in metric sizing). It's mostly available for 16-, 17-, or 18-inch wheels. |  Street The DuraTracs were...  Street
The DuraTracs were quiet on the street, but maybe a little more audible than some smoother fullsize truck tires. They rode exceptionally well on pavement and wooden plank bridges. Bumps in the road were absorbed excellently in the sidewall. These tires definitely rode better than the Brand-X all-terrains we pulled off this truck, which was a little surprising since the tires we pulled off the truck had a much more mild tread pattern. |  Light Trail We hit some dusty...  Light Trail
We hit some dusty trails and uphill grades and never really had to use four-wheel drive except once. In a sport ute with some weight in the rear, this would not have been so surprising, but we were used to trucks always spinning their rear wheels in this area. |
 Sand The sidewalls proved...  Sand
The sidewalls proved just how flexible they were when we got in the sand. We only had to come down to 20 psi to run around in 2WD in the sand. At this (still high) pressure, the tire got a nice enough footprint to float it well in the dunes. It's a load range "D" tire with a 3,195-pound load rating, but it still has a flexible sidewall. |  In 4WD We got into a few...  In 4WD
We got into a few rutted out climbs, lifting a tire occasionally, but never really had any slip. We really wish we would have had some rain before the testing, but the ground was dry and dusty. Even as dry as it was, we were still pleased at how the DuraTracs never even spun an inch while climbing. The rubber on the tire seems very pliable and soft, especially for an HD tire. |  Wheel Used Though we're starting...  Wheel Used
Though we're starting to think black wheels might have been overdone a little bit lately, we cannot deny how good black wheels look on white trucks. We threw our DuraTracs on some 18x8.5 Dick Cepek Torque wheels. The Torques have a nice machined lip portion to give them a little more distinct look than an all black wheel. |
 Overall Impressions So far...  Overall Impressions
So far the tires have been working really well. We haven't put more than a thousand miles on them yet so it's hard to tell you how they're going to wear right now, but they seem to roll very smoothly down the highway and didn't chunk when climbing the rock-embedded dirt trails, so we have faith that they'll last a while. It is curious how soft the sidewall and rubber of the tread feel, and this is obviously a big reason that this tire gives such a nice ride. At the same time, we were still able to load a big camper in the back, pump up the tires to maximum air pressure, and have zero problems with the new DuraTracs. | | |