![Toyo Open Country RT Vs MT : [ Which One To Choose? ]](https://myvehicletalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Off-Road-Vehicle-Front-End-Driving-tire-720x405.jpeg)
If you drive through off-roads frequently, the choice of tires would be a priority. While navigating through extreme or harsh terrain, you might vouch for one of the specialized Toyo Open Country tires. RT (rugged-terrain) and MT (mud-terrain) happen to be two of the most common variants that you can choose from.
Particularly, when you drive in extreme winters, you need to choose the right variant. This choice largely pivots around the surface you drive on and other environmental conditions.
Both Toyo RT and MT have their specific functions and perform better under particular circumstances. To help you make the right call, we have explained how the RT tires from Toyo differ from the MT ones.
What’s the difference between RT and MT tires?
The prime difference between Toyo’s MT and RT tires is the fact that MT delivers better performance on muddy terrains, while RT offers better traction when you cruise through highways.
Both these tires perform well in all seasons, particularly in extreme winters. Mud tires score a point over RT when considering the grip on muddy roads.
The tread blocks in these tires are large and staggered. They have more gaps in between the treads so that your SUV or truck can navigate through stubborn rocks or deep mud. Especially if the soil happens to be too wet after rainfall, MTs can come to your rescue.
Let’s explore how RTs differ from MTs in detail.
Treadwear and durability
When you shop for off-roading tires, you should prioritize the treadwear warranty. You can enjoy a treadwear warranty for Toyo open country RT for 45K miles.
Besides, buyers can benefit from a 45-day or 500-mile satisfaction warranty. So, for a rugged terrain tire, the treadwear warranty for RT looks pretty decent.
Now, when it comes to treadwear, you don’t get any warranty for Toyo open country MT. However, this shouldn’t surprise you since mud tires don’t come with any exact warranty. The tires would serve you for 50K to 60K miles on moderate use.
Speed rating
The speed rating of your tire largely determines its capabilities and performance. The RT tire has got a ‘Q’ rating. This implies that you can safely drive at 99 miles an hour. Considering rugged terrains, this speed looks quite impressive.
Coming to Toyo MT, the safe speed would be a maximum of 99 miles an hour. You would not be looking forward to speed beyond this for muddy terrain. Both the tires look equal when you prioritize their respective speed ratings.
Traction
RT tires benefit the owners with their high level of traction. So, with a Toyo open country RT tire, you can expect excellent traction both on the road and off roads.
Particularly, you would love the drives when you navigate dirty or harsh roads. The open shoulder blocks provide better traction in muddy and snowy conditions. The mud and snow evacuate through the open channel.
The MT, on the other hand, comes with an attacking and aggressive tread design. So, when you drive on off-roads, you would benefit from a high level of traction.
Thanks to the over-the-shoulder tread, you can benefit from the additional traction when you drive through deep mud and snow. On wet surfaces, the MT offers a better grip.
Considering traction, both RT and MT from Toyo fare equally well.
Mud terrain
The manufacturers have designed MTs to ensure that your SUV moves seamlessly on mud. Naturally, when you take on muddy tracks, MTs would be the first pick.
The higher tread depth and open tread design ensure that the deeper and wider grooves can push the particles of mud backward. In this way, the tire gets a clear path to move ahead. Even heavy mud fails to choke the interconnected grooves since they remain interconnected.
Coming to RTs, the performance on mud is good. However, they aren’t just better than MT. The tread blocks in RTs are very dense in the central part. This prevents them from delivering a high level of performance on muddy terrains.
The lack of empty spaces and low tread depth makes it challenging for the tire to negotiate with mud particles. This deteriorates the grip of the tires on the road surface. Compared to grip, RTs offer better handling since they come with open shoulders.
When you take on mud terrains, it would be wise to settle with MT.
Snow terrain
Since MT delivers better performance on mud, naturally, they work well on snow. When you drive on snow, MT would provide adequate traction.
For a common reason, mud tires perform equally well on snow and mud. The open tread design ensures that the snow evacuates properly when you accelerate your SUV. As the snow gathers backward, your car would have a clear way ahead.
However, this open tread design fails to perform well on ice. The contact patch on MTs is lower. This prevents it from gripping the ice properly, leading to higher chances of slippage.
So, RT would be a better option when you drive on ice. Although it doesn’t perform well on snow, its deep sides and more contact with the road surface make it ideal for icy terrains.
Load Index
Before you shop your tire, you should consider the tires’ load-bearing capacity or load index. For Toyo open country RT, you can carry a maximum load of 4080 pounds.
On the other hand, the load index of MTs is considerably lower, at 3970 pounds. So, when you need to carry higher loads, you can settle for Toyo open country RT tires.
Costs
The price of Toyo open country RT is $480 a tire (22-inches), while the 15-inch size would cost you $235 a tire.
When you go for MT tires, the 15-inch tires would cost you around $200. However, the larger tires of 24 inches would cost you $800 each. Considering cost-effectiveness, it would be wiser to go for the RT tires.
Noise
Comparing the RT tires to other tires in the same category wouldn’t produce much noise. Even the MT fares pretty well, producing minimal noise. Besides, you would appreciate the comfortable drives and stable handling due to the intelligible arrangement of the tread blocks.
Closely assessing the amount of noise that these tires make, it appears that RTs are a bit noisier. Therefore, MTs emerge as the winner under this parameter.
Comfort
When considering the comfort level, you need to consider the one with a higher void ratio. This would be producing more noise since there is more space in between for the air particles to strike the walls of the groove.
Since MTs have wider grooves, they generate more noise with their grooves. RTs, on the other hand, have more contact patches and are relatively silent.
The wider grooves on the tires make MTs more comfortable off the road. This serves as an additional suspension for the car. It absorbs the jerks, and you would feel that the tire is lesser inflated. The generous open spaces make MTs more comfortable on rugged terrains.
Rock terrain
Now, when you get a dedicated tire to navigate rocky terrains, you need to examine the grooves. In MTs, the grooves are wider. However, both RTs and MTs have an almost similar number of stone ejectors. Considering the wider grooves, MTs emerge as the better pick under this parameter.
With mud tires, your SUV or truck would have more biting edges. Thus, your tires get the ability to crawl out, as the stone ejectors toss away the pebbles and stones getting into the grooves. So, this feature secures the tread from sustaining damage. The tire can also find its way smoothly and delivers a comfortable ride.
In RT, the number of stone ejectors is the same. So, you can get the stones and pebbles removed from the path.
However, the grooves are narrower, and these tires have a higher contact patch with the surface. So, when you drive on small pebbles, RTs would be a better option. However, when you have larger rocks, RTs wouldn’t be a good solution.
Depending on whether you are driving on rocks or pebbles, you need to decide whether you should go for RTs or MT.
| Parameters | Winner |
|---|---|
| Treadwear and durability | RT |
| Speed rating | Both are good |
| Traction | Both are good |
| Mud terrain | MT |
| Snow terrain | MT |
| Icy terrain | RT |
| Load Index | RT |
| Costs | RT |
| Noise | MT |
| Comfort | MT |
| Rock Terrain | Depends on whether you have rocks or pebbles |
Pros of Toyo open country RT
- The contact patch of the Toyo open country RT is higher.
- The performance both on and off the road looks impressive.
- When it comes to driving on ice, RT tires prove to be better.
- RT tires are also good to navigate terrains with pebbles.
- In terms of durability, RTs perform better.
Cons of Toyo open country RT
- Toyo open country RT would not be a good pick to drive on muddy terrains.
- If you prioritize comfort in off-road conditions, RTs wouldn’t be too good.
- RTs produce more noise, so you have a better option in MT.
- Considering the drive quality on rocky terrains, RTs are not good.
- They aren’t the best solution when you take on soft snow or mud.
Pros of Toyo open country MT
- The void ratio of Toyo open country MT is higher.
- The hydroplaning resistance abilities in MT are better.
- Driving on snow or mud, MTs perform better.
- The off-roading comfort is higher in case of the MT.
- On rocky terrains, they perform better than RTs.
Cons of Toyo open country MT
- They don’t have as much contact patch as RTs.
- In terms of price, MTs prove to be very expensive.
- Even the durability looks unimpressive when you compare MTs with RTs.
- MTs wouldn’t be the best option to drive on ice or pebbles.
- MTs have a lower load index compared to RTs.
When to use Toyo Open Country RT?
Now that you know the perks and drawbacks of Toyo open country RTs, it’s time to find out when you should use these tires.
- If you want to invest in an all-terrain, all-around, and all-season truck tire, you can settle for Toyo open country RTs.
- RTs would be ideal if you are looking for a tire to use in both on-road and off-road conditions.
- For highway pavements, RTs deliver a quieter drive. So, if this is your priority, you can go for RTs.
When to Use Toyo Open Country MT?
Although MTs turn out to be expensive, they do have some strategic advantages. So, when should you vouch for these powerful tires? Here are three conditions under which you might consider getting Toyo open country MT.
- You go for off-road adventures frequently.
- You want a tire capable of carrying heavy loads across any terrain.
- In case you are comfortable purchasing a second tire for daily use, MTs would be ideal for you.
Conclusion
Well, now you know the strategic advantages of RT and MT. So, you can use your discretion to decide which tire to settle for. RTs would be the best pick in case you want to invest in a single all-season tire capable of navigating all terrains.
However, if you singularly prioritize off-roading adventure and comfort, you should settle for MT. They would cost you higher, but you would benefit from the additional set of tires dedicated to challenging terrains.
