Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT Evaluate

In case you’re like most all-terrain tire customers, you in all probability don’t drive on dust as a lot as you’d like. So pavement efficiency is essential. However whenever you do steer onto tough dust, gravel, mud, and rocky roads, your tires must 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 properly towards one of the best AT tires in the marketplace.

Briefly: The Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT is a reasonably aggressive AT tire good for mild vehicles and SUVs. Made within the USA by a Finnish model, the tires are wonderful on pavement, dust, rocks, and dust. Higher but, they’re unimaginable on snow and ice. 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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Editor’s word: This text was up to date on Jan. 7, 2025, to incorporate details about driving on snow and ice.

Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT Evaluate

“Shit street” — we name it that as a result of it’s that dangerous. However the 2-mile dust monitor results in considered one of my favourite trailheads for mountain climbing and looking, so I put it in 4WD and level the hood upward.

Ol’ shit street 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 primary part is extremely tough, with deep holes and ruts via rocky clay that power driving at a crawl. Subsequent comes a collection of switchbacks up a steep mountain face. The double-track climbs onerous right here, with one extraordinarily steep part that may cease virtually all 2WD automobiles because of its comfortable, 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 street, the Nokians did amazingly properly. I saved them aired up at freeway pressures, they usually had been completely able to clawing up the 4-inch-deep kitty litter. I did get slightly wheel spin, however felt assured and underneath management all the time.

‘Oopsie’ Results in Substitute Expertise

Out and in of that terrible street, up and down the freeway, and throughout many sections of gravel, the Nokian Outpost nATs carried out properly. That’s, till I made an “oops” coming down Shit Street after elk looking.

Someway, I didn’t discover the massive rock protruding from the aspect 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 on the lookout for a flat spot to park. Positive sufficient, I’d blown the sidewall on a pointy rock.

That tire was toast.

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 a superb expertise, as I realized that not each store could 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 value $360. Lesson realized: maintain your eyes on the street!

Muddy Street Testing

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 japanese Colorado. These excessive plains roads, after a heavy, moist snowfall, changed into greasy, sketchy slides throughout the 2024 pheasant opener.

The Outpost nAT dealt with these very slick situations all proper. I received’t say they did improbable, however for a tire aimed toward all-around efficiency, they obtained me out and again safely and with no actual shut calls. I’ll take it as a win.

I discovered my truck slid sideways slightly, giving me an unsettling feeling after I hit actually comfortable patches. This was on very moist gravel roads that gave strategy to clay after the storm, and I recurrently sank about 4 to five inches within the mud whereas driving. They had been difficult situations, and I do recognize that the tires managed them.

Nonetheless, these should not mud terrain tires. In case your main use will probably be on comfortable, 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 necessary.

Happily, the Nokian Outpost nAT is admittedly good on pavement, moist or dry. I instantly seen 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, additionally they deal with properly. I run 33-inch tires on my F-150, they usually begin, cease, and switch in addition to I’d count on for a big tire. My gas effectivity is just not 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 practically 2 inches bigger, so it’s no shock that I misplaced just a few mpg.

Nokian Outpost nAT Snow, Ice Efficiency

This text was initially posted in November 2024. I’m updating it in January 2025 with a significant word: The Nokian Outpost nAT is improbable on snow.

During the last month, I’ve pushed a whole bunch of snowy miles, together with slick situations on I-70 in Colorado and really sketchy path driving whereas elk looking late season within the excessive nation. Throughout the board, the Outpost nAT carried out higher than any AT tire I’ve used on snow and ice.

That shouldn’t have stunned me, provided that Nokian is a model based on winter tires. However darn if I wasn’t impressed over the past month.

Throughout a 30-mile round-trip between Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin throughout a snowstorm, I famous that the tires gave me extra confidence than I anticipated. I’m a really skilled winter driver, however I used to be nonetheless stunned by how good the traction was throughout just a few brake checks. I even tried to brake the rear finish unfastened in an empty parking zone and was stunned by the dearth of sliding after I goosed the throttle throughout a flip!

Off the pavement, the Outpost nAT did in addition to I may count on from any tire with out chains. I drove over in all probability 30 miles of untamed high-country trails lined in packed snow and ice and located the traction to be good. My solely white-knuckle moments got here after I hit a patch of mud on a steep downhill, which required some intense driving to keep away from a ditch in a good flip, however the tires pulled me via.

So, are the Nokian Outpost nAT good in snow? Sure. In fact they aren’t nearly as good as devoted snow tires. However as a winter-rated AT tire, they’re nearly as good as I’ve used.

Nokian Outpost nAT: Who Ought to Purchase Them

At 5,000 miles, that is nonetheless an early overview. Winter is simply getting began in Colorado, and I’m excited to check these via the chilly and snowy months. I’ll be updating this information after slightly extra expertise on the snow. I’ll additionally report again on put on and tear, however to this point 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 additionally do official off-road driving. They’re an aggressive tire that ought to deal with most tough terrain with out subject. However they’re nonetheless good on pavement, moist, dry, or snowy.

Outdoors of throwing up stones when new, I’ve little or no to criticize about these tires. I feel they’ll be an awesome selection for anybody within the AT tire market.