New treads! 295/70r18 Nokian nAT. 10% efficiency loss

[K6CCC]

My comment on the Goodyear Wrangler Territory HT has been terrible. I have gotten more flats in the first year of ownership than I have gotten in the last 25 years combined. And the reality is that I have babied them more than previous trucks because they are not off road tires.

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[Flipper]

My comment on the Goodyear Wrangler Territory HT has been terrible. I have gotten more flats in the first year of ownership than I have gotten in the last 25 years combined. And the reality is that I have babied them more than previous trucks because they are not off road tires.

no problem with my goodyears in 30k miles...I may be getting another set if nothing else looks as good as these. If I could get some Michelin Pilot sports for this truck I would.

 

[DoyouLightning]

I have the hankook dyanpros at2 stock tires and at 33000 miles they are wearing thru very fast for a tire that should get closer to 50-60k miles. With that said I have been looking to get replacement. Wondering about going up to 285 60 20 vs your 295 60 20 any one have advice here for a lariat extended range? I was leaning toward wrangler work horse AT as I hear it has kevlar in it. I spend most time on highway but occasionally at construction sites or a dirt road.

Any advice is greatly appreciated I also bought a 2inch level kit but have not installed it yet so factor that in as well.

 

[Firn]

I have the hankook dyanpros at2 stock tires and at 33000 miles they are wearing thru very fast for a tire that should get closer to 50-60k miles. With that said I have been looking to get replacement. Wondering about going up to 285 60 20 vs your 295 60 20 any one have advice here for a lariat extended range? I was leaning toward wrangler work horse AT as I hear it has kevlar in it. I spend most time on highway but occasionally at construction sites or a dirt road.

Any advice is greatly appreciated I also bought a 2inch level kit but have not installed it yet so factor that in as well.

You will have to do the size comparison since I gave 18 inch wheels, but the 295s fit without tge leveling kit.

Worth noting, the leveling kit will cause the front tirrs to break traction earlier under hard acceleration so you do lose even more acceleration with it

 

[Firn]

The nokians have been ok, but not great. Here is my review of the tires.

Initial Review: Nokian Outpost nAT on Ford Lightning (Upgraded Size)
Upgraded the factory, road-focused tires on my Ford Lightning to a much larger and more aggressive 295/70r18 (up from stock 265/70r18). This increased tire weight from the low 40s to the high 50s per tire, and jumped the load rating from 116 to 129. After a few initial miles, here are my first impressions.

The Good:
Surprising Efficiency & Peppy Feel
Perceived Low Rolling Resistance: Despite the massive size and weight jump, the truck feels "lighter" in the steering wheel at low speeds.
Throttle Response: It feels "peppier" and moves easier under slow-speed, light throttle than expected.
Efficiency: Initial testing shows only around a 10% efficiency reduction. For moving to a significantly larger, heavier, and more aggressive all-terrain tire, this is a phenomenal result for an EV.
Ride Comfort: Comfort remains excellent. It rides nearly as smoothly as the stock tires, which is impressive given the much stiffer sidewalls and higher weight rating.

The Neutral: Handling
Steering Response: Handling is perfectly fine, though there is a bit less precision on the very initial turn-in.
Cornering: The tires load up nicely in curves and feel stable, though they have not been pushed hard yet.

The Bad:
Multi-Layered Noise & High-Torque Extremes
The Noise (Three Distinct Layers): Because the EV cabin is so quiet, the new tread creates a complex acoustic profile:
The Base Noise: A general increase in tread noise—more of a constant, rushing air sound compared to stock.
The Main Hum: A very distinct hum that kicks in right around 30 mph and never disappears. It sounds remarkably like a wheel bearing going bad. This hum changes dynamically, coming and going as the suspension loads up through long corners.
The Occasional Harmonic: A sporadic third noise that pops up, sounding like a single individual tire singing or humming on its own.

Hard Acceleration Slip & Squirm: Under hard acceleration, the massive tread lugs struggle against the Lightning’s nearly 800 ft-lbs of instant torque. In a nearly 7,000-lb truck that hits 0–60 faster than most Corvettes, these tires slip and squirm greatly. The breakaway is progressive—they don't suddenly lose all traction—but total acceleration is noticeably down due to this tread movement. This is a distinct departure from the locked-in feel of the stock tires.
Expected Braking Impact: While hard emergency braking has not been tested yet, the expectation is that the deep lugs will yield a similar squirmy feeling and a significant reduction from the "pull your eyes out" braking distance of the stock rubber.

Summary
For an EV owner looking for a rugged, heavy-duty upgrade, the efficiency retention and ride comfort of the Outpost nAT are incredible. However, you must be willing to trade a quiet cabin for a complex mix of tire hums, and accept a softer, less precise feel when pushing the extreme torque limits of the truck.

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