If you are looking for a rugged and go-anywhere vehicle that still delivers high-levels of comfort and refinement, the Chevrolet Colorado might be the perfect choice for you. I’m not a big fan of SUVs and pickup trucks but my test vehicle made me think otherwise.
I got my hands on a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab. It was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 motor paired to a slick-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission. It is true the V6 motor has a healthy appetite for gas compared to larger engines of full-sized pickup trucks (especially if you have a heavy right foot), but direct-injection technology gave the motor a healthy 269 ft.-lbs. of torque, which made it effortless to motivate the pickup even when the bed is laden with cargo.
But the star of the show are the Hankook Dynapro HT RH12 tire. My test vehicle came fitted with stock 17-inch wheels. The owner bought the Hankook tires as a replacement for the old all-season tires. He was very pleased with the performance of the Dynapro HT RH12 because the tires delivered a smooth and comfy ride despite the rugged tread design.
I found this hard to believe. But in this review of the Hankook Dynapro HT RH12, I found out the tires offered more than just excellent all-season capabilities.
Features
The Hankook Dynapro HT RH12 is an all-season tire designed specifically to meet the demands of sporty trucks and sport-utility vehicles. Hankook is quick to point out that the Dynapro HT is also more than capable of exhibiting high levels of grip on wet and snowy roads courtesy of the built-in snow kerfs on the treads.
The tires is also fitted with button and semi-solid ribs to further enhance wet and snow traction. The interlocking geometry of the rib design and the high stiffness center block are responsible for improving the handling and steering response of your truck or SUV.
Equipped with four straight groove channels to improve wet and dry traction, the tire is also constructed using a unique and optimized tread compound that improves tread wear and braking performance. The relative stiffness of the carcass along with reinforced layer of under-tread protection is designed to protect the tire from cuts and abrasions.
It seems Hankook got all the bases covered with the Dynapro HT RH12. But how does it feel when driven on a mixed variety of roads and off-road terrain?
Test Drive
I hopped in and drove like a madman. Although I’m not particularly fond of pickup trucks or large vehicles in general, it is hard to deny the sense of security and go-anywhere capabilities of the Chevrolet Colorado. I was also surprised at the refinement of my test vehicle. It made me feel like I was on a lifted and rugged midsize sedan.
Dry Traction
The Hankook Dynapro HT RH12 is far from being a proper summer tire, but the traction and grip levels on dry roads was above average.
I drove the pickup on a multitude of city roads, highways, and mild off-road terrain but the tires felt surefooted even as I pushed the vehicle to above-average speeds.
Of course, the Colorado is far from being a sports sedan since the tall ride height gave a nervous sense of handling as I turned the wheel to attack a sharp left-handed corner, but I didn’t feel the tires lose traction even as I was working the V6 motor to the upper reaches of the rev limit.
Wet Traction
Truth be told, the tires felt a bit funny on wet roads. There was no hydroplaning or aquaplaning, but I did feel the tires were a bit overworked as I sped on a wet highway.
Braking was also admirable given the drenched condition of slippery asphalt roads. I guess this all had something to do with my aggressive driving nature, but I think the Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33 was better when it comes to sporty performance on wet roads.
Snow Traction
I also got the chance to test the Hankook Dynapro HT RH12 on light snow and I was pleased with the results. I didn’t get the sensation that I was driving on icy roads, and that’s a good thing.
In most cases, you will feel the steering lighten up a bit as you navigate over light snow, which is a sign the tires were losing grip or hunting traction, but not in these tires. In fact, I also drove on roads with more than 2-inches of snow and the tires still felt great.
Comfort
The Hankook Dynapro HT RH12 tires are probably one of the most comfortable truck and SUV tires that you can buy today. The tires felt incredibly comfortable on the city and they were above average on smooth highways.
The owner of the Colorado was right when he said his pickup felt more comfortable and refined after fitting the Hankook tires, but it’s far from being perfect.
You will still feel the tires humping and thumping their way as you drive over concrete expansion joints and potholes, but this is par for the course in the world of pickup trucks.
Noise
I wasn’t expecting the tires to be totally silent given the aggressive nature of the tread design. You will hear moderate levels of tire roar at high speeds, but city driving is a thankfully more refined. The noise levels are not that great, but they are not whisper-silent either.
Treadwear
This is the strongest feature of the Hankook Dynapro HT RH12. The tires fitted to my test vehicle were almost a year old but they still looked relatively fresh. Yes, there were signs of wear on the treads but the tires have already traveled for approximately 9,000 miles at the time of this writing.
Conclusion
The Hankook Dynapro HT RH12 is an excellent choice if you are looking for a rugged all-season tire for your SUV or pickup truck. With prices starting at approximately $100 per piece, the low tread wear of the tires gives them excellent long-term value as well.