In the market for a new set of 265/65 R18 all terrain tyres and wondering which tyre is best? 265/65 R18 is the original size found in a number of popular vehicles in Australia such as the:
And many more. In this guide, we'll take a look at a range of different all terrain options to help you choose the right set of rubber for your vehicle and driving style. Sound good?
Don't have time to read the whole article? We've summarised everything into the table below for you.
Tyre | Traction (AA - C) | Wet Grip (A - E) | Treadwear | Noise (A - C) | Fuel Efficiency (A - E) | Best Price (Set of 4) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 | - | B | - | B | E | |
Falken Wildpeak A/T3W | A | - | 660 | - | - | |
Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus | A | D | 640 | B | D | |
Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3 | A | - | 540 | - | - | |
Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 | A | C | 600 | B | E | |
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S | A | C | 620 | B | D |
Here are the tyres we'll be comparing. They're some of the most popular all terrain options in Australia.
Before we take a look at how each of these tyres stacks up against each other in terms of performance, let's take a look at how much they cost.
Enter tyre quantity below and see table for the best available price in Australia for each of the products. Tyres not shown in the table below are not in stock in major tyre outlets.
Tyre | Best Price (4 x 265/65R18) | Check Prices |
---|---|---|
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 122/119R | $1,726 | Go To Store |
Falken Wildpeak A/T3W 114T | $1,284 | Go To Store |
Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus 114T | $1,600 | Go To Store |
Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 114H | $1,497 | Go To Store |
Let's take a look at what to consider when choosing car tyres, as well as how a number of popular all terrain options stack up against each other!
As you might have guessed, the primary role of tyres is to give your vehicle traction on the road.
Traction to grip the road and accelerate quickly, but also traction to allow you to brake and come to a stop quickly in wet and dry conditions.
Tyres with excellent traction performance have shorter stopping distances, which can mean the difference between a near miss and a collision while out on the road.
Excellent traction also means better contact and grip on a variety of terrain, and less likelihood of getting bogged. This is especially important for all terrain tyres, which are likely to see reasonable off-road action.
EU Grade (A - E) | Compared to an A grade tyre? | |
---|---|---|
All-Terrain T/A KO2 | B | 2.5 metre greater stopping distance when braking at 80km/h |
Wildpeak A/T3W | No data available for this tyre | |
Scorpion All Terrain Plus | D | 7.5 metre greater stopping distance when braking at 80km/h |
Dueler A/T Revo 3 | No data available for this tyre | |
Geolandar A/T G015 | C | 5 metre greater stopping distance when braking at 80km/h |
Discoverer AT3 4S | C | 5 metre greater stopping distance when braking at 80km/h |
As you can see from the table above, the All-Terrain T/A KO2 tyre scored the highest, with a grade of B, whereas the Scorpion All Terrain Plus tyre scored the lowest, with a grade of D.
You can also see these results in the chart below.
UTQG Rating (AA - C) | |
---|---|
All-Terrain T/A KO2 | |
Wildpeak A/T3W | A |
Scorpion All Terrain Plus | A |
Dueler A/T Revo 3 | A |
Geolandar A/T G015 | A |
Discoverer AT3 4S | A |
For the UTQG data, the Wildpeak A/T3W, Scorpion All Terrain Plus, Dueler A/T Revo 3, Geolandar A/T G015, Discoverer AT3 4S tyres scored the highest with a grade of A, whereas the Wildpeak A/T3W, Scorpion All Terrain Plus, Dueler A/T Revo 3, Geolandar A/T G015, Discoverer AT3 4S tyres scored the lowest, with a grade of A.
The dominant source of noise from your vehicle while driving on the highway is your tyres. A typical tyre produces over 70 decibels of noise, with some tyre products being considerably noisier.
Excessive noise makes for an unpleasant journey, so it's worth looking for tyres that are less noisy.
All terrain and mud tyres tend to be noisier than standard road tyres, as the large tread blocks mean more friction on the road and therefore, more noise.
EU Grade (A - C) | Compared to an A grade tyre? | |
---|---|---|
All-Terrain T/A KO2 | B (74 dB) | 2 times as noisy |
Wildpeak A/T3W | No data available for this tyre | |
Scorpion All Terrain Plus | B (72 dB) | 2 times as noisy |
Dueler A/T Revo 3 | No data available for this tyre | |
Geolandar A/T G015 | B (72 dB) | 2 times as noisy |
Discoverer AT3 4S | B (73 dB) | 2 times as noisy |
In terms of noise, the Geolandar A/T G015 tyre scored the highest, with a grade of 71.5 dB, whereas the All-Terrain T/A KO2 tyre scored the lowest, with a grade of 74.3 dB.
These values might seem quite similar, but remember that the decibel scale is logarithmic, so small changes can have a big effect.
Some tyres wear out much faster than others. While you might get 60,000 km of life from one set of tyres, you might only get 40,000 km with another set.
Again, while upfront cost is a critical factor, if you choose a cheaper set that wear out faster, you'll be replacing them sooner, which could mean greater cost overall.
Tyres with greater traction performance tend to have lower tread life, as the increased friction means that the tread wears away faster.
UTQG Rating | Compared to a 400 rated tyre? | |
---|---|---|
All-Terrain T/A KO2 | No data available for this tyre | |
Wildpeak A/T3W | 660 | 65% longer tread life |
Scorpion All Terrain Plus | 640 | 60% longer tread life |
Dueler A/T Revo 3 | 540 | 35% longer tread life |
Geolandar A/T G015 | 600 | 50% longer tread life |
Discoverer AT3 4S | 620 | 55% longer tread life |
As you can see from the table above, the Wildpeak A/T3W tyre scored the highest, with a rating of 660, whereas the Dueler A/T Revo 3 tyre scored the lowest, with a rating of 540.
You can also see these results in the chart below.
The US Department of Energy estimates that around 25% of the fuel consumption of a vehicle is attributable to the tyres.
This is more than you might think, and it means that tyres with poor fuel efficiency could be adding hundreds of dollars to your yearly fuel bill.
While the upfront cost of a new set of tyres is important, it's also worth considering how much extra you will pay over the life of your tyres.
EU Grade (A - E) | Compared to an A grade tyre? | |
---|---|---|
All-Terrain T/A KO2 | E | 0.4L/100km extra fuel consumption. ~$96 extra per year |
Wildpeak A/T3W | No data available for this tyre | |
Scorpion All Terrain Plus | D | 0.3L/100km extra fuel consumption. ~$67 extra per year |
Dueler A/T Revo 3 | No data available for this tyre | |
Geolandar A/T G015 | E | 0.4L/100km extra fuel consumption. ~$96 extra per year |
Discoverer AT3 4S | D | 0.3L/100km extra fuel consumption. ~$72 extra per year |
As you can see from the table above, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus tyre scored the highest, with a grade of D, whereas the All-Terrain T/A KO2, Geolandar A/T G015 tyres scored the lowest, with a grade of E.
You can also see these results in the chart below.
Temperature resistance refers to the ability of tyres to dissipate heat.
Friction between the tyre and road generates heat, and if the tyre can't get rid of this heat fast enough, it will heat up further and further, which could impact its performance in other areas, like traction.
UTQG Rating (A - C) | |
---|---|
All-Terrain T/A KO2 | |
Wildpeak A/T3W | B |
Scorpion All Terrain Plus | B |
Dueler A/T Revo 3 | B |
Geolandar A/T G015 | B |
Discoverer AT3 4S | B |
I'm sure I don't need to tell you how much of a factor price plays when choosing a new set of tyres. Bear in mind that while price is very important, it isn't the be all and end all. Fuel efficiency and treadwear will affect how much you'll pay over the life of your tyres, so consider these factors, too.
Many tyre manufacturers and suppliers in Australia now offer a warranty when you purchase a set of their tyres. This warranty is usually in the form of a wear life guarantee.
Typically, they either offer a time-based guarantee (eg. 6 years) or a distance based guarantee (eg. 60,000 km).
The warranty gives you peace of mind that your tyres will last either a certain amount of time or distance, otherwise you will be entitled to some compensation (usually pro-rated).
Warranty (Time) | Warranty (Distance) | |
---|---|---|
All-Terrain T/A KO2 | 6 years | |
Wildpeak A/T3W | No warranty found | |
Scorpion All Terrain Plus | 1 years | |
Dueler A/T Revo 3 | 50000 km | |
Geolandar A/T G015 | 2 years | |
Discoverer AT3 4S | 80000 km |
Key Info | |
---|---|
Vehicle Suitability | Light Truck / SUV |
Driving Style | On-/Off-Road All-Terrain |
Season | All Season |
Release Date | 2013 |
Run Flat? | No |
Review | BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 Review |
The All-Terrain T/A KO2 tyres were released on the market by BFGoodrich in 2013.
Their wet grip performance is good, with an overall grade of B in testing done by the European Union.
Testing shows that they produce about 74.3 dB at typical driving speeds, which is about average.
Fuel efficiency testing suggests poor performance, with a grade of E awarded by the European Commission.
Key Info | |
---|---|
Vehicle Suitability | Light Truck / SUV |
Driving Style | On-/Off-Road All-Terrain |
Season | All Season |
Release Date | 2016 |
Run Flat? | No |
Review | Falken Wildpeak A/T3W Review |
The Wildpeak A/T3W tyres were released on the market by Falken in 2016.
In terms treadwear, they received a rating of 660 on the UTQG system, which means 65% longer tread life than 400 rated tyres (for example).
Their UTQG traction grade is A, which is decent.
Their temperature resistance is average, which you can see from their corresponding UTQG grading of B for this category.
Key Info | |
---|---|
Vehicle Suitability | Light Truck / SUV |
Driving Style | On-/Off-Road All-Terrain |
Season | All Season |
Release Date | 2017 |
Run Flat? | No |
Review | Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus Review |
The Scorpion All Terrain Plus tyres were released on the market by Pirelli in 2017.
Their wet grip performance is not great, with an overall grade of D in testing done by the European Union.
Testing shows that they produce about 72.2 dB at typical driving speeds, which is about average.
Fuel efficiency testing suggests not great performance, with a grade of D awarded by the European Commission.
In terms treadwear, they received a rating of 640 on the UTQG system, which means 60% longer tread life than 400 rated tyres (for example).
Their UTQG traction grade is A, which is decent.
Their temperature resistance is average, which you can see from their corresponding UTQG grading of B for this category.
Key Info | |
---|---|
Vehicle Suitability | Light Truck / SUV |
Driving Style | On-/Off-Road All-Terrain |
Season | All Season |
Release Date | 2018 |
Run Flat? | No |
The Dueler A/T Revo 3 tyres were released on the market by Bridgestone in 2018.
In terms treadwear, they received a rating of 540 on the UTQG system, which means 35% longer tread life than 400 rated tyres (for example).
Their UTQG traction grade is A, which is decent.
Their temperature resistance is average, which you can see from their corresponding UTQG grading of B for this category.
Key Info | |
---|---|
Vehicle Suitability | Light Truck / SUV |
Driving Style | On-/Off-Road All-Terrain |
Season | All Season |
Release Date | 2016 |
Run Flat? | No |
Review | Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 Review |
The Geolandar A/T G015 tyres were released on the market by Yokohama in 2016.
Their wet grip performance is average, with an overall grade of C in testing done by the European Union.
Testing shows that they produce about 71.5 dB at typical driving speeds, which is about average.
Fuel efficiency testing suggests poor performance, with a grade of E awarded by the European Commission.
In terms treadwear, they received a rating of 600 on the UTQG system, which means 50% longer tread life than 400 rated tyres (for example).
Their UTQG traction grade is A, which is decent.
Their temperature resistance is average, which you can see from their corresponding UTQG grading of B for this category.
Key Info | |
---|---|
Vehicle Suitability | Light Truck / SUV |
Driving Style | On-/Off-Road All-Terrain |
Season | All Season |
Release Date | 2018 |
Run Flat? | No |
Review | Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S Review |
The Discoverer AT3 4S tyres were released on the market by Cooper in 2018.
Their wet grip performance is average, with an overall grade of C in testing done by the European Union.
Testing shows that they produce about 72.8 dB at typical driving speeds, which is about average.
Fuel efficiency testing suggests not great performance, with a grade of D awarded by the European Commission.
In terms treadwear, they received a rating of 620 on the UTQG system, which means 55% longer tread life than 400 rated tyres (for example).
Their UTQG traction grade is A, which is decent.
Their temperature resistance is average, which you can see from their corresponding UTQG grading of B for this category.
When it comes to buying all terrain tires in the 265/65 R18 size in Australia, we really are spoiled for choice.
If traction and wet grip are most important to you, our analysis suggests that you should take a look at the Wildpeak A/T3W, Scorpion All Terrain Plus, Dueler A/T Revo 3, Geolandar A/T G015, Discoverer AT3 4S, All-Terrain T/A KO2.
For those who prefer a quiet tyre, take a look at the Geolandar A/T G015.
If fuel efficiency is important for you (who doesn't like saving money?), the Scorpion All Terrain Plus are worth investigating.
If you'd like your all terrain tyres to last you many years to come, then we recommend a tyre with a high treadwear rating, like the Wildpeak A/T3W.
If none of the tyres we've reviewed in this article suit your needs, feel free to check out these other options that didn't quite make the cut for our list. They are from some of the most reputable tyre brands in Australia.
Wondering which all terrain tyres are best for other popular sizes? Check out the list below:
Louis
I'm Louis, an engineer passionate about helping Australians choose better tyres for their vehicles!