Sumitomo is an international rubber and tire company. Car tires are one of its many rubber-based offerings. As a tire manufacturer, Sumitomo focuses on creating environment-friendly and safe products. This is evident with its dedication to the SMART tire concept.
As such, all its tires are equipped with a sensing core that tracks tire pressure, rigidity, and other types of data. This helps drivers accurately determine road and tire conditions and prevent potential hazards. The rubber compound of the commercial and winter tires have 4D Nano Design technology. It enhances grip and fuel efficiency in winter and wet weather.
In this post, we will focus on the Sumitomo Encounter AT Tires.
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Sumitomo Encounter AT Tires: What the Product Claims
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Sumitomo Encounter AT is an all-terrain tire. It can be used both on and off-road on SUVs, CUVs, vans, and light trucks.
Currently, the price of Sumitomo Encounter AT ranges from $145.99 to $495.99/tire. The variation in price depends on the tire size.
Features and Benefits
Sumitomo claims that Encounter AT Tires offers the following features and benefits.
- Tread that is suitable for all types of terrain.
- Black sidewall
- A limited tread life warranty of 60,000 miles for Metric and LT sizes.
- Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol. This is indicative of the tire being certified to perform in heavy snow conditions.
- Variable-width shoulder lugs in the tire force unwanted material like rocks and mud out of the tire. This allows the tire to maintain consistent traction.
- Non-directional five ribs. This improves ride stability and safeguards against uneven wear.
- Deep circumferential grooves. These enhance wet grip performance. It also offers a better wear life.
- 3D wave stripes for improved performance and traction.
- Rigid and durable construction. The tires have stiff and wide steel belts. They have high tension, causing ply and hard bead apex to reinforce the sidewall of the tire.
- Good hauling and towing abilities.
Overall, the Encounter AT Tire is touted to offer a smooth and comfortable ride on any surface.
Specifications of Sumitomo Encounter AT Tires
Here are the major specifications of the Encounter AT tires that buyers should consider before purchasing.
| Specification | Value | Description |
| Sidewall | BSW | BSW stands for Black Side Wall. It is the appearance of the sidewall. |
| Load Index | 110 | This number indicates the highest amount of weight that the tire can carry. |
| Speed Rating | T | The speed rating denotes the highest speed that a tire can achieve. A higher speed rating is indicative of better handling abilities. This tire is rated for up to 118 mph. |
| Load Range | Unavailable | Load range indicates the durability and strength of the tire. Higher ratings are indicative of a higher load being carried by the tire. |
| UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grading System) | 660AB | UTQG evaluates the tires on several parameters. These include temperature resistance, traction performance, and tread wear. Examine the sidewall of the tire to find the grade for each of these parameters. |
| Max Single Load (lbs) | 2337 | Max single load denotes the highest amount of load that this tire can take up. To get the maximum carrying capacity of these tires, multiply this number by the number of tires on your vehicle. |
| Max Single Pressure (PSI) | 51 | This shows how much air pressure your tire can support. |
| Tread Depth | 13.0 | This indicates how much tread is present on the tire. |
| Tread Design | Non-directional | The tread design is the pattern of lugs, voids, sipes, and grooves on the surface of the tire. |
| Rim Width Range | Between 7.5 to 9.5 | This is the wheel rim range supported by the tire. |
| Measured Rim Width | 8.0 | Measured Rim Width is the wheel width range recommended by the tire manufacturer for the best wear performance. |
| Section Width | 10.6 | This is the measurement from one sidewall to another. |
| Tread Width | 8.9 | This is the measurement from one side of the tread to the other side. |
| Overall Diameter | 30.6 | Overall diameter refers to the tire’s height when it is fully inflated. |
| Manufacturer Part Number | ATH91 | This is the manufacturer part number (SKU) |
Does the Sumitomo Encounter AT Tires Live Upto Their All-terrain Abilities?
All-terrain tires are important for most drivers. Thus, it is an important area to test the Encounter AT tires. In our testing of these tires, we found that they live up to many of the claims.
We took Sumitomo Encounter AT tires on a route of highway and county roads. The terrains that these tires encountered were both rough and smooth. The diversity of terrains helped us thoroughly examine the claims made by these tires regarding their all-terrain capabilities.
Encounter AT tires performed remarkably well on the road. They produced minimal tread noise. Overall, they gave a comfortable ride.
However, we find there is still some scope for improvement with regard to movement control. This is especially true after the tires encountered a rough surface. Also, the tires can be improved with better steering response.
The Encounter AT has excellent traction on wet surfaces. They had remarkable acceleration and braking abilities. One area where we would like these tires to improve is their on-road capabilities. Our testing of these tires makes us conclude that they perform better off-road than on-road.
Also Read: Best All-Terrain Tires for Snow
What We Like About the Sumitomo Encounter AT Tires?
Upon thoroughly testing these tires, we liked the following things about them.
- Outstanding off-road traction, especially in severe winter conditions.
- Protective shoulder lugs. They offer protection from damage.
- Five rib placement. It does a good job of minimizing uneven wear.
- Minimal tread noise
- Affordably priced
- 60,000-mile limited manufacture tread life warranty for LT and Metric sizes.
Where Can Sumitomo Encounter AT Tires Be Improved?
There are a few areas where the tires can be improved.
- The tires do not recover quickly from rough, bumpy surfaces.
- Not fuel-efficient
Final Verdict
Sumitomo Encounter AT are all-terrain tires that exhibit remarkable performance off-road. They offer superior tread life, quiet ride, and are highly durable. An affordable price tag further increases their appeal. With regular maintenance, these tires will last you many years. If Sumitomo improves its offering with a little on-road refinement, these tires can easily be one of the best in the market.
