Ironman All Country M/T Tire Review
The Ironman All Country M/T is one of the most affordable mud-terrain tires on the market today. Ironman Tires is a well-known niche tire brand producing incredibly economical tires for a wide range of vehicles. Although the brand originally focused on ultra-budget tires (mainly all-season and summer variations for sedans) in recent years the company has re-invested in research and development.
One of the results of this research is the Ironman All Country M/T, a mud terrain tire that offers many high-end off-road features and technologies you’d find with more expensive tires.
The Ironman All Country M/T is a true off-road tire. Although it can be driven on the street, it makes none of the compromises that mid-range all terrain tires make. This tire uses no fuel-efficient compounds, contains no sipes for on-road traction, and there’s no mileage warranty. The M/T (short for Mud Terrain) designation means this is the most aggressive tread in Ironman’s lineup. Huge tire blocks offer a high level of terrain flexibility and can help dig you out of sticky (or muddy) situations.
Tire performance attributes
The Ironman All Country M/T is an off-road tire that’s meant for the trail more than the street.
It performs off-road due to the huge tire blocks and a soft rubber tread which helps with grip off-road.
However this tire does not have the on-road performance:
- Lacks stopping power
- Reduced turning grip
- Low fuel efficiency
- Loud road noise
Fortunately, this tire more than makes up the difference off-road, as it provides stunning grip and traction on soft surfaces.
Tire shoulder blocks
Contributing tremendously to the All Country M/T tire’s performance are its shoulder blocks. Across the tire’s surface are deeply grooved rubber wedges that help the tire bite into the trail. On the edges, known as the shoulders, these wedges are tilted to help remove dirt and sand from the surface of the tire, improving traction off-road.
High void ratio
The void ratio of a tire is related to the amount of empty space in a tire’s tread pattern. The more space a tire has in its tread, the better it is at pulling away water from the contact patch, improving traction. Although in perfect conditions on asphalt, a void ratio is unnecessary (that’s why tires for drag racing have no tread), in an off-road tire, the more space in the tread, the better.
Three-ply sidewall
Although most off-roaders carry a full-size spare, a flat on the trail can still ruin your day. For this reason, Ironman designed the All Country M/T tire to maximize puncture protection. To keep flats to a minimum, the tire incorporates a three-layer sidewall. Three layers of rubber are not only thicker than the traditional two layers, but they’re also layered in a way that makes it hard for debris to get through.
Staggered buttresses
A staggered buttress design helps deflect debris away from the fragile parts of the sidewall. Staggered buttress, in this case, simply means that the shoulder is angled away from the tread. This design prevents flats caused by rock fragments and other trail debris.
Snow capabilities
Designated as a mud tire for a reason, the Ironman All Country M/T thrives in difficult weather off-road. The tire offers below-average performance on the road, even in poor conditions, but relative performance improves in wet and snowy conditions. Throw these on your truck for a rainy day on the trails and you’ll see exactly why this mud tire is worth buying.
Ironman adds an interesting feature to the tread to make it even better in off-road snow. While thick shoulder blocks and a softer rubber compound make this tire exceptional in the snow, for extreme ice and snow conditions, it’s better to add studs. This tire is specifically designed so that metal studs can be placed in reinforced parts of the tire, allowing the tire to dig in on ice. Once the tire is studded, you can’t go back, but if you live in the far north and you’re looking for a pair of budget studdable tires, these tires could be a good option for you.
Sand capabilities
While big tire blocks and an aggressive tread are perfect for the most common style of trail driving on dirt and mud trails, they aren’t necessarily conducive to all types of terrain. These tires can get you out of a jam when you’re deep in the mud, but they get bogged down a bit in sand and light gravel. If you’re driving off-road in the desert, Ironman’s all-terrain All Country A/T might be a better pick.
Affordable tire choice
The tire starts at a little over $100 and can cost up to about $400 in rare sizing variations and super-large sizes, which is still well below average tire cost.
It’s one of the cheapest mud tires on the market, offering incredible value alongside tires from other brands that can cost up to four times as much. At the end of the day, this tire is great for our budget-oriented off-road customers.
Tire Warranty
This tire doesn’t carry a mileage warranty, instead offering a 60-month workmanship and materials warranty. If you want more thorough warranty coverage, this tire may not be for you. You might want to look at an alternative mud terrain tire.
Tire size range
The Ironman All Country M/T is available in one-inch increments from 15-18-inches. And in two-inch increments from 18-26-inches. The All Country M/T tires are engineered for trucks, each tire load rated to the heavy weights necessary for large vehicles, in this case topping out at well over 3,500 pounds.
As far as rim width, it’s available at a minimum width of 7-inches (about as small as you’ll see for a truck tire), and an incredible 21-inches of width for the biggest sizes.
If you’re a truck, SUV, or off-roading driver looking for a well-priced tire with off-road specific features and aggressive dirt performance, the Ironman All Country M/T is well worth a look.
Shop Ironman All Country M/T Tires now
Or if you want more advice choosing the best mud tires for your off-road adventures then give our friendly tire experts a call at (866)-961-8668. We’re here to help.
