Goodbye Milestar Patagonia, Hello Gladiator X-Comp A/T?

[drewkillsit]

Wondering if anyone's tried out the Gladiator brand X-Comp A/T tires. Here's some background:

What I'm looking for:

• 40" tire
• Able to hold a conversion while driving
• Doesn't make you feel like you're able to die in variable snow
• Relatively sufficient in other respects

Patagonia Problems:
Right now I've got Milestar Patagonia MTs. They're sufficient in snow (surprisingly so) and, at present, they aren't noisy. Off-road, they're terrific. The ride quality on-road is questionable. On certain sections of the highway, extremely bouncy. After a recent rotation - typically occurring every ~3.5k - they've also introduced an almost undetectable vibration that will numb your hands over time.

When I first mounted them 12k miles ago, I chalked this up to the ride you get with 40s. First time going above 37-38". As the situation deteriorates, I'm shifting some blame to the tires (design, balancing, cupping, other wear, etc.).

Gladiator X-Comp AT Justification:
As I'm starting to consider alternatives, I realized that Gladiator's X-Comp ATs come in 40x13.5R17. As far as I know, it's the only AT tire available in 40" (KO2's new 39" size doesn't count- those probably measure 37" IRL). Really hesitant to invest in a brand I don't know much about, with practically no reviews to rely upon. Otherwise, as is expected with ATs, these would seem quiet, solid in snow (tread is reminiscent of Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws, which I've owned and liked), and would hopefully get the job done in other respects.

If you've used the X-Comp ATs or have alternatives in mind, I'm all ears.

Tires I've Owned:

• Toyo Open Country ATIIs: great in snow, no 40" size
• BFG KO2s: still the best tire I've ever owned, no 40" size
• Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws: great tires, no 40" size
• Goodyear Duratrac: worst tires I've ever owned, abysmal in snow and loud
• Patagonias: bouncy on-road, otherwise pretty solid

Tires I've Considered:

• Nitto Trail Grappler: mixed reviews on how terrifying these are in snow
• Cooper STT Pro: I hear they're loud; similar mixed reviews on snow performance
• Goodyear MT/R: Duratrac's scared me off; tread blocks look too spacey for snow & quiet

Sponsored

 

[sass JT]

Hopefully the mfg’s get a clue and start making at’s in 40’s… I just stayed in 37’s to get the MT Baja boss at’s. Haven’t heard anything on the tire you asked about.

good luck sir

 

[johnparjr]

Weird having that issue with the Patagonias mine have had no issues at all on 2 different vehicles but I’m running 35’s not 40. But I am going to switch to their AT tire when the MT wear out

 

[Orange01z28]

I see you're already out of the Duratecs but I wanted to add a couple points about them

I have friends who swear by them due to good price, light weight, and wonderful off-road performance. They're Toyota guys though

However, the light weight is there because they have thin sidewalls, they'll get cut way more than most tires. The other thing is noise. I had them as stock tires (33s) on my Ram Rebel, they were way louder than the Toyo Open Country MTs in 35 on my JT

 

[drewkillsit]

Hopefully the mfg’s get a clue and start making at’s in 40’s… I just stayed in 37’s to get the MT Baja boss at’s. Haven’t heard anything on the tire you asked about.

good luck sir

I've wondered about Mickey Thompsons before. I think the trick there is that if I wanted to give the Gladiator set a shot, they're relatively inexpensive. With Mickey Thompsons, it feels like you've got to be really, really confident before you make your purchase.

Agreed on the manufacturers making some AT 40s. Feels like there's a market for them now, and with BFG making KO2s in 39", there would seem to be some kind of understanding of it. Take a good all-arounder, give the sidewalls an aggressive look, cut the goofy-looking logos and boom, it's the new standard.

Weird having that issue with the Patagonias mine have had no issues at all on 2 different vehicles but I’m running 35’s not 40. But I am going to switch to their AT tire when the MT wear out

I've definitely read about Patagonias wearing funny and being difficult to balance. It makes me wonder what % of the issue is just the fact that they're 40s.

I see you're already out of the Duratecs but I wanted to add a couple points about them

I have friends who swear by them due to good price, light weight, and wonderful off-road performance. They're Toyota guys though

However, the light weight is there because they have thin sidewalls, they'll get cut way more than most tires. The other thing is noise. I had them as stock tires (33s) on my Ram Rebel, they were way louder than the Toyo Open Country MTs in 35 on my JT

In this case, Duratrac's wouldn't suit the size anyway, but I feel like I'm totally alone on hating them, haha. Great point on the sidewalls. I had them on a WK2 (probably around 32"ish) and they had a really substantial "wom wom wom," typical MT sound on the road. Maybe it was because I was just coming off of the Toyo Open Country ATIIs, but I was sliding all over the place and losing traction at highway speeds in packed snow.

Not concerned about the X-Comp ATs repeating that, but any MT alternative has me fearful that I'll repeat a Duratrac situation.

 

[Rubiwoo]

i remember seeing/watching that you shouldn't chalk test Patagonia's becuase the tire design is rounded not flat.

 

[drewkillsit]

i remember seeing/watching that you shouldn't chalk test Patagonia's becuase the tire design is rounded not flat.

Right, same here. I never chalk tested, but found that they rode "best" around 32psi. The bouncing is pretty much inescapable for me at this point. I think the crowned design is what is contributing to the odd wear, which might be more pronounced for larger tires.

 

[TheSolarWizard]

39” BFG ATKO2 are 37.5” under a gladiator diesel at 30 PSI on an 8.5” wheel (exact same as KM3). Last time I saw a 40” nitto under a gas gladiator it was 38.7”

I have not seen nor do I have any experience with the gladiator AT but the MTs are not good on the road at all

 

[SkeetzMcGee]

just got the Milestar Patagonia's in 35s. hope I don't have the bounce and vibration issue with smaller tires, but I appreciate the review.

 

[Bonanza]

I have Patagonias, and I'm getting fairly annoyed at the vibration that comes through the wheel from the lugs at around 3-7 mph. Overall I have no other complaints, but it's enough to make me want to switch to an AT.

37s^

 

[drewkillsit]

just got the Milestar Patagonia's in 35s. hope I don't have the bounce and vibration issue with smaller tires, but I appreciate the review.

Don't mean to scare you on the Patagonias. The bounce and vibration certainly took some time to set-in, and it's really bothersome, but they otherwise have been really impressive tires. Hopefully they stay great for you.

I have Patagonias, and I'm getting fairly annoyed at the vibration that comes through the wheel from the lugs at around 3-7 mph. Overall I have no other complaints, but it's enough to make me want to switch to an AT.

37s^

Funny you stay that, because it wasn't long before this last rotation that I started noticing the slow speed bumpiness. Usually it's when I'm slowing to a stop sign and you can feel every single tread block. Sound about right? The vibration I'm getting is at highway speeds and it takes me a good 30-45 min before I start to realize my hands feel like they're going to sleep.

In any case, I don't know much about cupping (gun to my head, couldn't tell you if the variation in my tire wear is considered cupping), but with the bouncing and vibration issues I've got, it sounds like that's what I've got, and it's probably a matter of how the Patagonias can sometimes wear.

If you do go to an AT, at least you've got a ton of options at 37".

 

[Bonanza]

Funny you stay that, because it wasn't long before this last rotation that I started noticing the slow speed bumpiness. Usually it's when I'm slowing to a stop sign and you can feel every single tread block. Sound about right? The vibration I'm getting is at highway speeds and it takes me a good 30-45 min before I start to realize my hands feel like they're going to sleep.

In any case, I don't know much about cupping (gun to my head, couldn't tell you if the variation in my tire wear is considered cupping), but with the bouncing and vibration issues I've got, it sounds like that's what I've got, and it's probably a matter of how the Patagonias can sometimes wear.

If you do go to an AT, at least you've got a ton of options at 37".

Yes its the "every tread block" one. I do not get the higher speed one.

 

[Kindafearless]

Never looked at the Gladiators. May not be helpful to add another, but have you looked at the Maxxis Razrs?

I ran them as 35s for a year before going up to the 37 Pats. Love my Patagonias, but I do miss those RAZRs and will very likely switch to them when I go to 40s this year. Those were good tires, and I had them in everything: Snow, mud, sand, rock. My husband rode with me across half the country and wasn't bothered by road noise (he's my annoyed-meter).

Also, there are new version 2 Patagonias coming this year if you want to keep an eye on them. I am.

 

[drewkillsit]

Never looked at the Gladiators. May not be helpful to add another, but have you looked at the Maxxis Razrs?

I ran them as 35s for a year before going up to the 37 Pats. Love my Patagonias, but I do miss those RAZRs and will very likely switch to them when I go to 40s this year. Those were good tires, and I had them in everything: Snow, mud, sand, rock. My husband rode with me across half the country and wasn't bothered by road noise (he's my annoyed-meter).

Also, there are new version 2 Patagonias coming this year if you want to keep an eye on them. I am.

Super helpful! No, I hadn’t heard of the Patagonia XT and I’ll definitely have to throw that into the mix for consideration. Looks like it comes in 40” D-load. Those Gladiator ATs are only E-load, in addition to being a brand I don’t know anything about. Just wondering if the XT will also have the crown profile the MT has and whether it’ll wear as funny as the ones I have.

As for the Razr MTs, I’ve looked at them and wondered 2 things: 1) how loud is “not that loud” (as you often see in reviews) and 2) what kind of snow can they handle?

I’ve found that a fair number of these MTs can tackle substantial/deeper snow fairly well, but when it’s packed on the highway it can be a slip’s slide.

Sounds like you found the RAZRs to be louder than Patagonia MTs on the road. Is that right? How’d you feel about their packed snow performance?

 

[Kindafearless]

Super helpful! No, I hadn’t heard of the Patagonia XT and I’ll definitely have to throw that into the mix for consideration. Looks like it comes in 40” D-load. Those Gladiator ATs are only E-load, in addition to being a brand I don’t know anything about. Just wondering if the XT will also have the crown profile the MT has and whether it’ll wear as funny as the ones I have.

As for the Razr MTs, I’ve looked at them and wondered 2 things: 1) how loud is “not that loud” (as you often see in reviews) and 2) what kind of snow can they handle?

I’ve found that a fair number of these MTs can tackle substantial/deeper snow fairly well, but when it’s packed on the highway it can be a slip’s slide.

Sounds like you found the RAZRs to be louder than Patagonia MTs on the road. Is that right? How’d you feel about their packed snow performance?

In terms of noise, I think the RAZRs were about the same as the Patatagonia's honestly. They really did ride nicely. My husband drives a Volvo, and gets annoyed easily by noise. So riding 9000 miles in the Jeep without complaining means a lot :P (Granted, I have boom-matted my interior)

Worse snow I've been in with the RAZRs was two different circumstances:
Driving up the Ouray Pass into Silverton after a snow storm. Crews hadn't been in and if you've done that pass you know its a little sketch in areas. Never had a problem. I wasn't driving super aggressively, but they gave me plenty of confidence with the truck in 4H.

Driving the highway in a blizzard in VA (our snow crews suck - I used to live in CO). Frozen packed snow, running in 4 high between 50-60 mph. No problems slipping at all.

The interesting thing when switching between the Maxxis and Milestar tires was the differences in profile. The RAZRs give you a more connected to the ground feel, where the Patagonias are a bit more floaty. If anything the RAZRs are more likely to "grab" than slip I feel. When it is raining, I was more careful of the truck grabbing deeper water than hydroplaning like I've experienced with BFG KOs. Hopefully I'm explaining that well, the RAZR is the only tire I've felt that with.

Sponsored