Are you looking for all-terrain tires that are both versatile and sturdy? If you are looking for greater performance on your daily drives, we invite you to find out more, in this comparison between Nokian Outpost AT vs Toyo Open Country AT3!
Blackcircles Canada helps you understand what tells both tire models apart, in order to make your choice easier.
How do Nokian Outpost AT vs Toyo Open Country AT3 tires compare
Before comparing the two in greater detail, let’s see what qualities they offer that makes this duel interesting.
Firstly, both belong to the same tire category: winter certified all-terrain tires. This means that they are built to be able to face road conditions like mud and gravel, but also snow and ice. This also means that they are tires that you can keep year round, without having to buy winter tires or fuss over a tire change.
Secondly, both are designed for the same vehicles: SUVs, minivans and trucks. With dimensions ranging between 15- and 22- inches, both cover a wide array of diameters.
However, it is important to mention a difference here: Toyo offers a total of 127 dimensions, while Nokian only currently offers 64 dimensions. This is almost half less than for the Open Country!
Given how many choices of dimensions the manufacturer offers, chances are high that you’ll find the exact Toyo Open Country AT3 tire size you need.
Moreover, the Toyo tire entered a new generation in 2020; it was the perfect time for several improvements, making an already remarkable tire even better. The Toyo brand is also well known for its superior quality all-terrain tires offered at an affordable price!
As for the Nokian, it is still a new tire. Revealed only last year, it is a very recent model, here to replace the Rotiiva AT and Rotiiva AT Plus models. For the time being, very few critics have tested it out in Canada.
Nokian Outpost AT vs Toyo Open Country AT3 tires, are tires designed for the same types of vehicles and offer remarkable off-road skills. Let’s see what this means in greater details!
Nokian Outpost AT: Specs
Nokian promises a durable and resistant tire for your off-road adventures, but without sacrificing on comfort. In order to succeed in this, it utilizes technologies and design elements like:
- Robust Summit flanks
- Gravel protection
- Notched shoulder blocks that work well in ejecting stones
- 3D sipes for traction
- “Canyon” cut-outs
- The use of aramid fibers
As you can see, the Finnish manufacturer focuses on a tire that is really robust, mostly thanks to the Summit flanks. They are also functional, with notches integrated into the shoulder blocks. These small openings provide the tire with greater lateral grip levels.
The X-shaped Canyon cut-outs also provide you with improved traction. They are specially made to trap snow and mud so that you can drive on unstable surfaces in full confidence.
As for the tread design, you will also notice 3D sipes on the blocks. They provide the tire with great grip levels on unstable surfaces, especially for winter conditions like on snow and ice.
As for the tread composition, it integrates aramid fibers, like on several other models from this Nordic manufacturer, who has developed a technology called Aramid Tough Shield, which adds aramid to the tire structure, especially in the flanks.
This substance increases the tire’s durability by making it more resistant. The tire’s design also provides you with gravel protection. Special attention has been paid to increasing resistance to sharp objects, like with small rocks, for example.
Nokian also focuses on a quiet driving experience, thanks to a 3- part design, which in turn provides the tire with greater acoustic harmony. Moreover, the low rolling resistance also increases durability and adaptability to electric vehicles.
Toyo Open Country AT3: Specs
With the newest generation Open Country tire, Toyo takes all of the qualities from the AT2 and brings them to a whole new level. You can expect improved performance and features such as:
- A computer optimized design
- A rugged construction
- An evolved silica compound
- Offset central and shoulder blocks
- Wide lateral grooves
- Ondulated 3D sipes
- Stone ejectors
- And so much more!
With a computer optimized tread, the Toyo tire not only improves traction levels but also its look, which is more modern and demonstrates its rugged nature. Moreover, you will have the choice between two flank designs; you can also opt for tires with white lettering!
The intelligent concept also promotes ideal layout of blocks, for a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride.
Moreover, central and shoulder blocks are offset to provide you with optimal road handling. In fact, central blocks promote a wider contact surface for improved stability. As for the shoulder blocks, they provide you with more grip and traction in all conditions, especially thanks to the griping edges.
Moreover, the offset design also allows for better distribution of tread voids, which contributes to greater traction both on the road and off the beaten path. Between the blocks, you will notice wide lateral grooves that promote water and mud evacuation.
The evolved silica based tread compound also enhances the tire’s flexibility by regulating its temperature. Whether you are driving over wet, icy or snowy road surfaces, it is built to adapt. This is also what has allowed it to merit a winter certification! The 3D sipes also make it a good tire for winter conditions.
A robust build that is designed to resist well to shocks makes this tire a true ally when it comes to driving over bumpy terrain, and so do the stone ejectors.
In short, this newest generation helps improve traction on wet roads while also enhancing winter performance, making it more durable than ever before.
How to choose between the Nokian Outpost AT and the Toyo Open Country AT3
If you are looking for the best tire, you might be hesitating between the one offered by the Nokian Finnish manufacturer and the one made by Toyo, a Japanese manufacturer. Both enjoy a stellar reputation and offer advanced technologies, as you have seen above in the detailed description of their specs.
This is why we will compare them even further, by relying on different completed road tests.
On the one hand, the Toyo Open Country AT2 is already found amongst the best tires of its category, according to The Car Guide. No need to tell you how this latest generation is even better! Moreover, DrivingPress journalists have ranked the AT3 with an overall rating of 92 %.
Versatility is definitely one of the things that makes it an excellent tire: it is comfortable on dry and wet roads alike, along with mud, sand, snow and ice covered road surfaces. If you often drive off-road or spend your days on a worksite, this is definitely an ideal model for you. Moreover, it is particularly skilled on snow covered roads!
It offers excellent traction along with very precise direction and outstanding maneuverability, providing you both with an enjoyable and safe driving experience. The new rubber compound not only promotes durability but also greater stability, by expertly absorbing pressure.
So, you can expect a smooth ride, although not as smooth in mountain settings, according to DrivingPress. In short, it might at times sacrifice a little on comfort, but this is nothing in light of its remarkable performance and durability!
One of the things it shares in common with the Nokian tire, is the stunning rugged style that really focuses on durability.
In comparison with the Toyo, the Nokian Outpost AT focuses a little more on comfort and a quiet driving experience. Justin Pritchars, a TractionLife journalist, mentions how it isn’t any louder than a regular tire.
It also offers solid off-road performance, but winter driving is not its forte. Precision and direction are also apparently a little problematic in certain emergency situations or maneuvers.
So, the Nokian Outpost offers a little less versatility but a little more comfort, while the Toyo Open Country AT3 is ready for anything!
Comparing treads
The tread on both of these all-terrain tires show some similarities, especially in terms of design.
Visually, it is easy to see how both offer wide shoulder blocks and a groove design that focus on the center of the tread. Circumferential grooves are also found on both: Toyo has two while the Nokian has four. This means that they also both offer efficient water evacuation!
The grooves are also rather vertical on the Nokian, while the Toyo opts for a design that combines loads of lateral grooves for even greater evacuation. As we have mentioned in the specs, the off-set block design also promotes stability.
In both cases, you will find stone ejectors along with sipes that improve traction on slippery road surfaces.
The focus is on tread durability, thanks to the use of highly resistant materials, like the evolved silica compound with Toyo, or the aramid with Nokian. The generous tread warranty serves as proof: Toyo covers up to 105,000 km, while Nokian offers up to 100,000 km.
All in all, the Nokian tire is an interesting new tire model for drivers looking for a quieter and more comfortable ride, while the Toyo Open Country remains a pillar in the industry. Well known for the versatility and solid performance it offers, the latest generation will definitely win you over!
Shop for your Toyo tires at a competitive price with blackcircles. The Japanese brand is known for exceptional price-quality ratios, and you will find the lowest prices with blackcircles; a wining choice!
