Ironhead Thrasher R/T RTD01 Tire Review: Value Off-Roading

The world of tires can be confusing and overwhelming. There’s a limitless amount of choice, which seems to increase by the day. The importance of tires cannot be overstated as they are the only part of a vehicle that contacts the ground. So, doing one’s due diligence and sifting through the plethora of options is imperative, as not all tires are made equally. 

The tire industry can be broken down into three tires. There are the well-known brands that command a premium price for the perceived quality, there are the brands that most know with a middle price point, and then there are the value-based tires. The latter itself is a confusing sector of the tire industry as quality varies immensely. Some value tires are made in facilities that rival the top manufacturers in terms of process, production, and quality. Others are produced in facilities with no quality control, cutting corners at every possible opportunity. 

Ironhead Tire is a value tire brand that firmly resides in the high-quality section of the industry. Although the name will be unfamiliar to many, it is a sub-brand of Sailun Tires Americas. Like the brand’s other offerings, Ironhead tires are produced at a state of the art factory in Cambodia. 

What is Ironhead Tire?

Ironhead Tire makes tires for the passenger and commercial vehicle sectors. Currently, the commercial tire lineup is available in Canada and the USA while the passenger line is only available in the United States. 

Ironhead Tire has two main passenger vehicle tire lines right now, the Reflex and the Thrasher. The Thrasher is a SUV tire that ranges from the on-road-bias H/T series to the off-road-ready R/T series. To see how the latter performs in real world conditions, Ironhead flew us down to Moab, Utah for some serious off-roading. 

Ironhead Thrasher R/T RTD01

The Ironhead Thrasher R/T RTD01 is an off-road capable tire the brand claims deliver a balance between off-road durability and on-road performance. When designing the tire, the manufacture ensured the appearance was rugged looking because, let’s be honest, many folks want the look of an All-Terrain tire even if it will rarely be used in the rough stuff. 

For this customer base, the Thrasher R/T features angled tread blocks that are designed to reduce road noise and tire vibration. For those that do head off on the trails, the staggered scalloped shoulder lugs have stone ejectors that are designed to remove debris from the voids in the tread and help traction. That tread is deep, measuring between 16/32nds and 18/32nds, and features various patterns to provide grip on various loose surfaces as well as rocky conditions. 

For those that live in areas with four full seasons, the Thrasher R/T RTD01 has the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake Certification to handle colder temperatures and snow, as well as the ability to be studded in LT sizes. 

Off-Rodeo Testing

To properly test the tires in Moab, Ironhead Tires partnered up with the Ford Bronco Off-Rodeo adventure program. All the tires on the Broncos were swapped for a set of Thrasher R/T RTD01. Our testing started with a 20-mile highway drive. Having had extensive time in a Ford Bronco Heritage Limited Edition recently, the Ironhead tires produced no more road noise than the stock units on that vehicle. It’s a similar story for vibrations coming through the steering wheel as well. 

When we left the pavement, we immediately climbed a steep, sketchy, narrow dirt path full of dirt, stones, and boulders. The Bronco handled this without issue and off we went for a few hours of off-roading. 

Most of our time was traversing landscapes where anything lacking the ground clearance and capability of a Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness would be scrapping various underbody bits. For the Bronco though, it was no problem at all. The Ironhead tires provided no slip and handled all obstacles without issue. 

Further along the drive, there were a handful of steep climbs that required a spotter and careful driving precision. These are the kind of features that a Bronco can conquer, but not something a lot of folks would be taking a brand-new stock SUV over. Once again, the tires proved capable here, with only driver hesitation stopping forward progression. In particular, the Thrasher held up well on rock steps with hard surfaces that the tread block needed to bite into and drag the SUV vertically upward and forward.

The Verdict – It Worked for Us

Without a tire to directly compare the Thrasher R/T RTD01, it’s hard to say how good or bad the performance really is. All we can conclude is that tire worked on every obstacle we threw at it during our day on and off the road. Our driving guide from the Ford Bronco Rodeo commented on how well the tire was doing, with performance like that of the stock tire. Long-term wear and durability is another area we cannot comment on, but Ironhead does include a 60-month or 45,000-mile warranty on the tire. 

With a price point far lower than the big-name off-road tires, the Thrasher seems like a viable alternative to those off-roading on a budget, or who want the look and feel of an all-terrain tire. Currently, the Thrasher R/T RTD01 is available in 36 sizes, for wheels measuring 17-22 inches in diameter. It's sold exclusively through First Choice Sourcing Solutions (FCSS) retailers.

Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter  here.