Hankook Dynapro AT2 Review: The All-Terrain Tire That Conquers On and Off-Road

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 is an all-terrain tire designed to deliver exceptional performance both on and off the road. Hankook, a leading South Korean tire manufacturer, has been producing high-quality tires for over 70 years, and the Dynapro AT2 is one of their flagship products in the light truck and SUV segment.

Hankook Tire was founded in 1941 and has since grown into a global brand, known for its commitment to innovation and advanced tire technologies. The company’s focus on research and development has enabled it to create tires that cater to a wide range of driving conditions and vehicle types.

The Dynapro AT2 is a versatile tire aimed at drivers who demand a balance of on-road comfort, off-road capability, and durability. It is designed for light trucks, SUVs, and crossovers that are frequently driven on both paved roads and moderate off-road terrains. Whether you’re commuting to work, embarking on a family road trip, or exploring the great outdoors, the Dynapro AT2 is engineered to deliver a reliable and confident driving experience.

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Design and Construction

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 is engineered with a rugged and aggressive tread design that combines functionality with aesthetics. The tread pattern features deep, multi-angled grooves and sipes that enhance traction on various terrains, from loose surfaces like mud and gravel to slippery conditions like snow and ice. The tread blocks are designed with intricate sipe patterns and biting edges, providing excellent grip and enhanced off-road performance.

The sidewall of the Dynapro AT2 is reinforced with high-strength polyester casing plies, ensuring durability and resistance against punctures and impacts. The tire’s robust construction is further bolstered by a dual-ply polyamide reinforcement, which enhances the overall strength and stability of the tire, particularly during demanding off-road adventures.

Internally, the Dynapro AT2 features a twin-layer casing design that combines two distinct layers of rubber compounds. The inner layer is optimized for durability and resistance against punctures, while the outer layer is engineered for improved traction and handling characteristics. This dual-layer construction ensures a perfect balance between off-road capability and on-road comfort.

Hankook has utilized advanced silica-based tread compounds in the Dynapro AT2, which not only enhance traction and grip but also contribute to improved fuel efficiency and reduced rolling resistance. The tire’s tread compound is meticulously engineered to provide exceptional wear resistance, ensuring long-lasting performance and extended treadlife.

On-Road Performance

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 delivers impressive on-road performance for an all-terrain tire. On dry pavement, it exhibits excellent grip and traction, providing confident handling and steering response. The tire’s advanced tread compound and optimized siping allow it to maintain a strong footprint, ensuring precise cornering and braking.

In wet conditions, the Dynapro AT2’s hydroplaning resistance is noteworthy. Its deep, interlocking tread grooves effectively evacuate water from the contact patch, enhancing wet traction and improving driver control during rainy conditions. The tire’s lateral stability on slick surfaces is also commendable, instilling confidence in the driver.

While the Dynapro AT2 is primarily designed for off-road adventures, its on-road handling characteristics are surprisingly car-like. The tire offers responsive steering feel and minimal wander, making it a pleasure to drive on highways and city streets. Additionally, the tire’s construction and tread design contribute to a relatively smooth and comfortable ride, even on rough or uneven pavement.

Overall, the Hankook Dynapro AT2 strikes an impressive balance between off-road capability and on-road manners. Its performance on dry and wet surfaces is reassuring, while its handling and ride comfort ensure a pleasant driving experience, whether tackling urban commutes or embarking on long-distance journeys.

Off-Road Capability

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 is designed to excel in off-road environments, thanks to its aggressive tread pattern and robust construction. The tire’s deep, interlocking tread blocks and wide grooves provide exceptional traction in mud, delivering impressive mud performance that allows you to navigate through the stickiest and most challenging terrain with confidence.

When it comes to rock crawling, the Dynapro AT2’s reinforced sidewalls and high-strength casing offer superior resistance against punctures and cuts, ensuring reliable performance even on the sharpest and most jagged surfaces. The tire’s sturdy construction and high void-to-tread ratio provide excellent traction and grip, allowing you to conquer rocky trails with ease.

In sandy conditions, the Dynapro AT2’s unique tread design and optimized void ratio work together to prevent excessive sinking and provide exceptional sand performance. The tire’s ability to maintain traction and forward momentum on loose, shifting surfaces ensures that you can tackle dune bashing and beach driving with confidence.

Overall, the Hankook Dynapro AT2’s off-road prowess is truly impressive. Whether you’re navigating through mud, crawling over rocks, or exploring sandy terrain, this tire delivers exceptional performance and capability, making it an excellent choice for adventurous drivers seeking a reliable and versatile off-road companion.

Durability and Treadwear

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 is designed to deliver exceptional durability and treadwear, ensuring a long-lasting performance both on and off the road. With its robust construction and advanced compound technology, this all-terrain tire is built to withstand the toughest conditions.

One of the standout features of the Dynapro AT2 is its impressive expected tread life. Hankook has engineered this tire with a deep and aggressive tread pattern that promotes even wear, allowing for maximum tread life. Owners can expect to get a significant number of miles out of these tires before needing to replace them, making them a cost-effective choice in the long run.

In addition to its impressive treadwear, the Dynapro AT2 also boasts exceptional resistance to cuts and chips. The tire’s reinforced sidewalls and sturdy casing provide excellent protection against the hazards encountered during off-road adventures, such as sharp rocks, branches, and other debris. This added durability ensures that the tires can withstand the rigors of challenging terrain without sustaining significant damage.

To further demonstrate their confidence in the Dynapro AT2’s durability, Hankook backs these tires with an impressive treadwear warranty. While the specific terms may vary depending on the tire size and application, this warranty provides added peace of mind for consumers, ensuring that they can enjoy the benefits of these long-lasting tires for years to come.

Noise and Comfort

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 strikes a nice balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability. On paved surfaces, the tire delivers a reasonably quiet and smooth ride, thanks to its computer-optimized tread design and advanced tread compound. Road noise is well-suppressed, making it a pleasant companion for daily commuting and highway cruising.

However, as an all-terrain tire, the Dynapro AT2 does exhibit some increased noise and vibration compared to dedicated highway tires. This is especially noticeable on rougher surfaces like concrete highways or when driving over expansion joints. The tread pattern’s aggressive shoulder lugs and deep grooves contribute to this characteristic, but it’s a trade-off for the tire’s impressive off-road capabilities.

Off the beaten path, the Dynapro AT2 shines in terms of comfort and impact resistance. Its high-density carcass construction and reinforced sidewalls help absorb shocks and vibrations from rocks, ruts, and other obstacles. This translates to a smoother and more controlled ride, even when traversing challenging terrain. The tire’s robust construction also helps minimize the risk of punctures and sidewall damage, providing peace of mind during adventurous excursions.

Overall, the Hankook Dynapro AT2 offers a well-balanced noise and comfort experience. While it may not be as whisper-quiet as some premium highway tires, it delivers a comfortable and composed ride on both paved and unpaved surfaces, making it a versatile choice for those seeking a capable all-terrain tire without sacrificing too much on-road refinement.

Size Options and Fitments

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 is available in a wide range of sizes to fit most light trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. Sizes range from 15-inch wheel diameters all the way up to 22 inches, with various width and sidewall options. This versatility allows the AT2 to be properly fitted on everything from compact crossovers to full-size heavy-duty pickup trucks.

One of the strengths of the Dynapro AT2 is its ability to be plus-sized, meaning you can fit a wider and shorter sidewall tire onto your vehicle compared to the original equipment size. Plus-sizing can provide improved steering response, better traction, and an more aggressive overall look. The AT2’s strong construction and reinforced sidewalls make it an excellent choice for plus-sizing by 1-2 inches of diameter.

In addition to the broad replacement market sizes, the Dynapro AT2 is also used as original equipment on certain Nissan, Jeep, and Ram models from the factory. This OEM pedigree speaks to the quality and performance capabilities that automakers value in this all-terrain tire design.

Value and Pricing

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 offers excellent value for its performance capabilities and durability. With a starting retail price around $150 for common light truck and SUV sizes, it sits in the mid-range of the all-terrain tire market. Compared to premium rivals like the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 or Falken Wildpeak AT3W, the Dynapro AT2 can save you $30-50 per tire.

While not the most affordable option, the Dynapro AT2 provides a compelling mix of on-road comfort, off-road traction, and long treadwear at a reasonable price point. Hankook backs it with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty for added peace of mind. For drivers seeking a capable all-terrain tire without breaking the bank, the Dynapro AT2 delivers solid performance and value.

The pricing makes it an attractive choice for owners of trucks, SUVs, and 4×4 vehicles who need a versatile tire for mixed driving conditions. With its balance of capabilities and cost, the Hankook Dynapro AT2 presents an excellent value proposition in the competitive all-terrain category.

Relevance and Competition

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 enters a crowded and competitive all-terrain tire market, vying for attention alongside established players like the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, Falken Wildpeak AT3W, and Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015. However, the Dynapro AT2 distinguishes itself with a few unique selling points that make it a compelling option for drivers seeking a versatile and capable all-terrain tire.

One of the AT2’s standout features is its advanced tread compound, which Hankook engineered to provide exceptional grip and traction on various surfaces while maintaining long treadwear. The tire’s aggressive tread pattern, with its sturdy shoulder blocks and deep grooves, enhances off-road performance by providing excellent traction in mud, sand, and over rocky terrain. At the same time, the tire’s computer-optimized pitch sequence and noise-reducing design elements contribute to a quieter and more comfortable on-road experience.

Another area where the Dynapro AT2 shines is its durability and resistance to cuts and punctures. Hankook incorporated a robust, two-ply polyester casing and a triple-reinforced sidewall into the tire’s construction, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of off-road adventures without compromising on-road stability and handling.

While the Dynapro AT2 may not have the brand recognition of some of its more established competitors, it offers a compelling blend of performance, durability, and value that should not be overlooked. With its advanced engineering and competitive pricing, the Hankook Dynapro AT2 positions itself as a viable alternative for drivers seeking a capable and well-rounded all-terrain tire.

Final Verdict

The Hankook Dynapro AT2 is an impressive all-terrain tire that delivers a well-rounded performance on and off the road. Its strengths lie in its excellent off-road traction, durable construction, and comfortable on-road manners. While it may not be the quietest or most affordable option, it strikes a great balance between capability and everyday drivability.

For those who frequently venture off the beaten path, the Dynapro AT2 is an excellent choice. Its aggressive tread pattern and sturdy construction provide reliable grip and protection in various off-road conditions, from muddy trails to rocky terrain. At the same time, its on-road performance is commendable, offering a smooth and stable ride on paved surfaces.

If you primarily drive on the highway or in urban areas, the Dynapro AT2 may not be the most cost-effective option. Its off-road-focused design can lead to slightly higher noise levels and reduced tread life compared to dedicated highway tires. In such cases, a more road-oriented all-season or touring tire might be a better fit.

Overall, the Hankook Dynapro AT2 is a versatile and capable all-terrain tire that caters to the needs of adventurous drivers who seek a balanced blend of off-road prowess and on-road comfort. Its durability and performance make it a worthwhile investment for those who demand the best from their tires, regardless of the terrain they encounter.