Goodyear Wrangler Trailmark Tire Review

‍Overview

A couple of years ago, SUV and truck drivers had to contend with a limited selection of tires. They had to either choose a highway terrain tire, which can deliver a comfortable and refined on-road ride but poor off-road performance, especially on rugged terrains.

The second option involved purchasing an out and out off-road tire, which can comfortably handle rugged off-road conditions. But as you may probably know, off-road tires can be extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant to use on-road.

Fortunately, things have changed considerably over the last few years. Today, SUV and truck drivers don’t have to choose one or the other. Manufacturers are now producing tires that can deliver the best of both worlds – a comfortable on-road ride and a dependable off-roading performance. And the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark is one such a tire.

About the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark

According to the manufacturer, the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark is built to deliver outstanding on-road and off-road performances. With this tire, you can switch between paved and unpaved roads, without experiencing any performance-related or ride quality issues.

It’s a rugged all-season tire, which can deliver dependable traction and grip in rugged off-road terrains without sacrificing on-road driving comforts. This all-season tire for trucks and SUVs is sold exclusively at Walmart.

Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark Features and Technologies

As earlier noted, the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark is built to offer the best of both worlds. These are a comfortable and refined on-road driving experience as well as dependable off-road performance.

To this end, Goodyear has equipped this tire with several outstanding features and technologies, to ensure it can deliver on these objectives. Some of this tire’s standout features include:

All-Terrain Tread Pattern

The Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark comes with an all-terrain tread pattern. And as its name suggests, this tread pattern is designed to deliver reliable performances across different terrains and surfaces. So, whether you are driving through deep mud or dry tarmac, this tire has the tread to get the job done.

It features sturdy shoulder blocks, designed to provide traction and grip on soft surfaces as well as an optimized tread profile, designed to reduce noise and vibrations on the highway.

Wide Shoulders

This rugged all-season tire also sports wide shoulders, as well as deep and open grooves. These grooves and the wide shoulders help to keep water and mud out of the tire’s contact patch. And this results in enhanced traction and grip in muddy conditions as well as stellar hydroplaning resistance, resulting in outstanding wet traction.

Extra Biting Edges

Goodyear has also outfitted the Wrangler TrailMark with extra biting edges on its tread. These extra biting edges are designed to help the tire tackle muddy conditions and supply grip when driving on light snowy roads.

Performance in Different Conditions

The Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark is advertised as an outstanding performer on and off the highway. But is this the case? Well, we fitted a set of this tire on a 2015 Cadillac Escalade and examined its performance across different surfaces. And we made the following observations regarding its performance.

Dry Performance

The Wrangler TrailMark is a top-notch performer when it comes to dry surfaces. During our test rides, this tire responded well to our steering inputs. Also, we never experienced any issues related to straight-line tracking or stability, even when we were cruising at highway speeds.

In terms of handling, it was great and predictable. The braking performance was solid. The distances were short and its performance in this aspect is comparable to its competitors.

Overall, we’ve nothing to complain about this tire’s dry performance. It ticks all the right boxes when it comes to highway driving. So, whether you need a tire that can handle your long touring trips or you simply need a reliable tire for your daily driver for your city commuting needs, this tire is perfect.

Wet Performance

After examining its performance on dry surfaces, we then proceed to check how it can handle wet surfaces. And again, the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark didn’t disappoint. In fact, its wet performance was more than impressive.

Thanks to its wide, deep, and open grooves, we never encountered aquaplaning issues, even when driving through flooded surfaces. Also, it maintained adequate traction all through, even during a heavy downpour.

Furthermore, we didn’t experience issues of understeer or oversteer, which are quite common when driving in wet and slippery conditions.

Its stopping distances were short and the braking performance was solid. However, there was slight skidding when we tried stopping the vehicle from above-average speeds. But again, most tires in its class also struggle in such driving conditions. So, it’s not a deal-breaker in any way. Overall, its performance in wet conditions was above average.

Performance in Snowy Conditions

Considering the Wrangler TrailMark is an all-terrain all-season tire, you can expect it to perform reliably well in snowy conditions. The question is, can rely on this tire for winter driving?

Based on our assessment, it delivered decent amounts of grip on light snowy conditions. Also, handling was decent and directional stability in these conditions wasn’t an issue.  Its braking distances weren’t too long either.

But, we should mention that the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark is not a dedicated snow or winter tire. So, if you happen to encounter extremely snowy roads or surfaces covered with thick layers of ice, you can’t count on this tire to deliver a safe ride. It won’t supply adequate traction and grip for driving in these conditions.

Furthermore, this tire is not M+S rated and it doesn’t feature the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol. Hence, it lacks the performance attributes and design features necessary for winter driving.

For instance, it’s highly likely that its rubber will begin to harden in sub-zero temperatures, leading to loss of traction. And this is something that you can expect, considering the Wrangler TrailMark is an all-season all-terrain tire but not a weakness per se.

With that in mind, it will be in your best interests to equip your SUV or truck with proper snow or winter tires, if you experience severe and prolonged wintry conditions marked by heavy layers of snow, slush and ice.

Off-Roading Performance

The majority of all-season all-terrain tires on the market tend to perform poorly whenever they are subjected to rugged off-road conditions. So, is this also the case with the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark?

On the contrary, the Wrangler TrailMark performed admirably when we subjected it to off-road conditions. While a dedicated mud terrain tire will beat this tire hands down in off-road conditions, we never expected it to deliver such an outstanding level of off-road performance.

It gripped dirt and gravel surfaces well and deliver decent handling, steering response, stability, traction and control. Also, light-muddy trails won’t be a bother for this tire. However, deep muddy conditions and clay can prove to be a challenge for the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark.

Also, its tread is not strong enough to withstand extreme off-roading conditions. So, you may end up with a puncture, caused by abrasive surfaces present in such conditions. At the end of the day, it’s not a dedicated off-roading tire. But overall, the Wrangler TrailMark will comfortably hold its own when it comes to off-roading.

Ride Quality

Is the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark refined and comfortable? Without a doubt, the Wrangler TrailMark will deliver a comfortable on-road ride. Despite its aggressive tread for off-road driving, noise and vibrations won’t bother you whenever you are driving on the highway.

However, once you push your vehicle to highway speeds, you may hear some tread growl and vibrations. But overall, its on-road ride is comfortable and quite plush. And when you consider its reliable off-roading capabilities and its quiet ride, this tire will be a great choice for weekend road trips.

Warranties and Guarantees

The Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark only comes with a limited treadwear warranty and a free 90-day return.

Limited Treadwear Warranty

If your Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark wears out without attaining the warranted mileage indicated on its invoice, you are eligible for a replacement. As earlier mentioned, this tire is sold exclusively at Walmart. So, Walmart will handle all the replacements for this warranty.

Under this limited treadwear warranty, Walmart commits to replace your Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark, if its original usable tread wears out down to the last 2/32-inch without delivering the mileage indicated on the invoice.

For this tire, the warranted mileage for the Wrangler TrailMark will depend on the tire you purchase. The P-metric sizes come with a 55,000-mile (80,000 km) warranty while the LT sizes come with a 45,000-mile warranty.

You should also note that the replacement is purely pro-rata, meaning you will not get a free replacement. Hence, you will be responsible for a percentage of the tire’s replacement costs.

The amount you will pay during the tire’s replacement will depend on the percentage of the original usable tread that the tire has managed to deliver by the time it wears down completely. This percentage will then be multiplied by the tire’s current retail price.

For example, you may have purchased a set of 16-inch P-metric Wrangler TrailMark, which comes with an 80,000 km treadwear warranty. Unfortunately, your set may wear down to their treadwear indicators after only attaining 60,000 km. By this point, your set of tires has only delivered 75% of the warranted mileage.

Assuming that Walmart is currently selling this tire for around $140, the amount you will be charged for its replacement will be approximately $105. Walmart will take care of the rest.

90-day Free Return

Most tires sold at Walmart are eligible for a free return. And this is also the case with the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark. If you had purchased a set of this tire and you don’t wish to keep them, you are free to return them to a local Walmart store within 90 days.

However, you should note that Walmart will only accept back the tires if they are new or unmounted. So, if you had used your set of tires even for a single hour, Walmart will not take them back according to the terms of this return policy.

Sizes and Fitment

Currently, there are only 15 sizes available for the Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark. The available sizes for the Wrangler TrailMark run between 16 inches to 20 inches. However, there’s a 15-inch size specifically built for light trucks.

Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark Pros

• Outstanding dry and wet performance
• Dependable traction on light snow surfaces
• Refined on-road ride
• Durable construction

Goodyear Wrangler TrailMark Cons

• Only available at Walmart

Verdict

The Wrangler TrailMark may not be as popular as most of the other Goodyear tires. However, its performance speaks for itself. It’s one of the few all-season tires, which can deliver exceptional performances on and off the highway. And with its decent treadwear warranty combined with its budget-friendly price, you are assured of getting value for your dollars with this tire.