Definity - Dakota A/T light truck tire Review

I have a small pickup truck (a 1996 Mazda B3000 4x4) that I bought used several years ago. It finally wore through the tires that were on it when I bought the truck, so I looked for a new tire and decided on the Definity Dakota A/T, which is a store-brand tire sold by Pep Boys. I looked at other tires from other retailers, but the tires I wanted were either not in stock or the prices were too high. I paid about $80 per tire for the Definity Dakota A/T, after all the extras were added in. The size of the tires I got is 235-75/15 and they are considered "light truck" tires.

What it is

The Definity Dakota A/T is a typical light truck tire with coarse-looking treads that are probably good for light off-road driving. The Dakota A/T has a treadwear rating of 460, which is quite high for a truck tire -- in theory, the Dakota A/T should last for many miles. The tires are rated A for traction and B for temperature. Both are acceptable to me. The Dakota A/T is "Mud & Snow" rated (M&S), which means you can take a vehicle out on the road with these tires if your state says that snow tires are required.

One of the most interesting things about this tire is that its maximum pressure rating is 44 pounds per square inch (psi). This is a nice high rating for a tire, particularly for a truck tire. Most tires are rated up to 35 psi, which is the maximum pressure that you can inflate the tire. However, you get better gas mileage with more pressure in your tires, so your car/truck will get significantly better gas mileage if you have 40 psi in your tires instead of 30 psi. Generally, cars will handle better with higher pressure but ride more stiffly. Putting higher pressure in truck tires is a little dodgy, since trucks are top heavy. Tires that are too firm could increase the possiblity of a rollover. However, I bumped up my tire pressure from 30 psi to 35 psi when I got the Definity Dakota A/T tires.

When I wrote this review, I didn't know which manufacturer made these tires. I've since learned that Definity tires are made by Cooper Tire, a well-known manufacturer based in Pennsylvania.

See my pictures for a look at the tires and its tread pattern.

What it's like to drive

The Dakota A/T rides smooth and quiet, just like a car tire. I thought the chunky-looking tread would be noisy but it is quiet, and that's a good thing. The truck handles well, particularly with a little extra pressure in the tires. However, traction in the rain is nothing special -- I spin the tires on easy startups on a slight grade in the rain. The Dakota A/T tires are a little better than my old tires in this regard, but not much. They seem to grip well on dry pavement. Knowing that the Dakota A/T is a little slippery on wet asphalt, I'm careful about braking.

I've put about 1,000 miles on the truck and hauled a couple of loads with no problems. I have not driven these tires in the snow yet but anticipate no special problems. So far, I've had no problems of any type with the Dakota A/T.

July 7, 2008 Update: I've now used the tires for about 2,000 miles and continue to have no problems. Since replacing the tires, two trips in this truck have been with heavy loads, right at the truck's load-carrying limit. The truck and the tires handled the weight with no problem whatsoever, and both loads were carried for 30-40 miles. Most of the driving was at highway speeds but some was creeping up a steep dirt road in first gear -- no problems.

Summary

The Definity Dakota A/T is an average truck tire for a reasonable price. When I got mine, there was a special deal at Pep Boys that let me get all four tires for around $240 total (including all the mounting, balancing and disposal costs), which is a good price for light truck tires. Keep in mind that this tire is only available at Pep Boys.

I give a modest recommendation to the Definity Dakota A/T. I wish the wet traction was better but like having a maximum pressure rating of 44 psi. I also like that the Dakota A/T is quiet and handles well.