Hankook Dynapro MT2 — wrap-up
Back in Volume 006, we fitted a set of 265/70R17 Hankook Dynapro MT2 tyres to our Mitsubishi Pajero and spent time testing them, both on-road and in light off-road conditions at standard road pressures. That testing was important, because, realistically, that’s where most mud-terrain tyres spend the majority of their lives. Commuting, gravel roads, towing duties, and the occasional weekend mission.
What we really wanted, though, was mud. Thankfully, after weeks of rain, our testing ground turned into exactly the sort of sloppy mess we were hoping for. Deep ruts, soaked paddocks, standing water, and slick climbs. Perfect conditions to air down and see what the MT2 was actually capable of.
Off-road testing
Tyre pressure: 17 psi
For this round of testing, we roughly halved our normal road pressures to maximise the contact patch and allow the sidewall to flex properly over soft terrain. Airing down remains one of the single best things you can do off-road, and, with a quality set of tyre deflators, it takes only a couple of minutes.
Seeing the MT2s bag out at lower pressures immediately inspired confidence. The sidewall flex transformed the tyre visually, but, more importantly, you could feel the difference straight away once the Pajero dropped into the mud. The MT2s simply made everything feel easy.
The aggressive tread pattern continuously cleared itself, biting through the sloppy top layer and finding grip underneath. Even from a complete standstill in thick mud, the Pajero repeatedly clawed its way forward without needing excessive throttle or momentum. We spent the better part of an hour deliberately trying to get stuck, stopping in boggy sections and easing back onto the throttle to see how well the tyres recovered. Again and again, they just kept driving forward.
Only on steeper climbs and heavily churned sections did the Pajero’s traction control system really begin stepping in, and even then, progress remained controlled and predictable. That lower-pressure testing confirmed exactly what we expected from the MT2. Yes, there’s more road noise than we’d ideally want in a daily driven tyre, but when conditions become genuinely muddy, a proper mud-terrain still has an enormous advantage. When the tracks turn ugly, the MT2 feels completely at home.
Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme
After wrapping up testing on the MT2, it was time to swap to something that better reflects how most New Zealand four-wheel-drives are actually used.
The Dynapro AT2 Xtreme sits firmly in the all-terrain category, designed for drivers who spend the majority of their time on sealed roads, but still want genuine off-road capability once the pavement ends. Compared to the MT2, the AT2 Xtreme features a tighter tread pattern, smaller voids, and a noticeably more road-focused design.
On-road testing
Tyre pressure: 34 psi
Straight away, the difference on-road was obvious. Compared to the MT2, road noise dropped dramatically. At motorway speed, the constant hum associated with mud-terrain tyres largely disappeared, making the Pajero noticeably quieter and more relaxed to drive. Even on coarse-chip roads, where aggressive tyres normally make themselves known pretty quickly, the AT2 Xtreme remained surprisingly refined.
Steering response improved, too. The Pajero felt sharper through the front end, with less vagueness during cornering, and a more settled feel at open-road speeds. Wet-road performance also impressed us. During heavy rain and standing water, the AT2 Xtreme tracked confidently without feeling nervous through the steering wheel.
That’s ultimately why all-terrains are so popular here in New Zealand. Most four-wheel-drives spend far more time on highways, gravel roads, and towing duties than they do buried in axle-deep mud. The AT2 Xtreme feels built specifically around that kind of real-world use.
Off-road testing
Tyre pressure: 20 psi
To keep things fair, we returned to the exact same testing area used during the MT2 evaluation. Same muddy paddocks, slippery climbs, and ruts. Dropping the AT2 Xtremes to 20 psi transformed the tyre off-road. The sidewall flexed nicely, lengthening the contact patch and helping the tyre mould itself into the terrain far more effectively than it could at road pressures.
No, it didn’t suddenly become a mud-terrain tyre. The tighter tread pattern naturally packed with mud sooner than the MT2, and in deeper sections it relied slightly more on momentum to keep moving forward. But honestly, the AT2 Xtreme performed far better than we initially expected. Once aired down, the tyre consistently found traction underneath the mud, maintaining steady forward drive through terrain that would quickly overwhelm a normal highway-pattern tyre. On greasy climbs and deep ruts, the Pajero remained composed and predictable, with far less traction-control intervention than we anticipated.
What stood out most was how balanced the AT2 Xtreme felt. It never felt overwhelmed or out of its depth, it simply required a smoother, more measured driving style compared to the MT2’s almost point-and-shoot approach.
For most Kiwi four-wheel-drivers, that balance will make complete sense. Beaches, gravel roads, camping trips, forestry tracks, towing, and moderate mud are exactly where tyres like the AT2 Xtreme shine.
Would it replace the MT2 for outright mud performance? No. A dedicated mud-terrain still has clear advantages once conditions become extreme. But as a tyre you can comfortably daily drive, while still remaining genuinely capable once aired down and pointed at rough terrain, the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme makes a seriously convincing case for itself.
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