All-terrain tires are generally regarded as expensive. But not the Primewell Valera AT. The Valera AT is an all-terrain and all-season tire designed for rugged 4×4 vehicles and SUVs. This is the type of tire that will give your vehicle go-anywhere capabilities. If you want to upgrade the looks and off-road prowess of your truck or SUV, the Primewell Valera AT is a good choice.
First, let’s talk about the price. You can buy a set of 5 Primewell Valera AT tires (one for the spare tire) while still paying less money if you would buy 4 pieces of all-terrain tires from other known brands. That’s how cheap the tires are.
Next, let’s talk about the looks or tread design. The large longitudinal and shoulder blocks are primed for action. The tires are practically screaming for action! It is only fitting that I got myself a 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser fitted with a 2.5-inch lift kit, aftermarket 18-inch wheels, and Primewell Valera AT tires.
But is this tire all about the looks? Does it look good to cover up some minor imperfections on the side? These are the questions in my mind as I prepared for this review of the Primewell Valera AT tires.
Features
The Primewell Valera AT is engineered with five longitudinal blocks that are designed to deliver maximum traction on any type of road surface, including deep or moderate snow. The tire is also equipped with a unique shoulder block design that works like a shovel as you move forward. This design is responsible for the traction and grip when driving over mud or icy slush.
Take a closer look that the grooves of the tires. You will notice that the grooves have a 3D chamfered design that enables the tire to eject stones and debris on the tread. This feature will ensure that the tires maintain traction while also improving the durability of the rubber.
You know the Primewell Valera AT is cheap, and you already know it is fitted with an aggressive and good-looking tread design. But how does it behave on the road?
Test Drive
I’m not a big fan of the FJ Cruiser. But then again, I’m not a fan of off-road driving either. I simply find the FJ Cruiser to be too pretentious for its own good. My colleagues are quick to point out the FJ Cruiser is a capable off-road machine despite behaving like a boat on normal roads. But if I were to go off-roading, I would probably take with me a Jeep Wrangler or a Toyota Land Cruiser.
In the flesh, the FJ Cruiser looks more aggressive, especially in off-road configuration. The lift kit definitely gave the truck some character while the chunky wheels and off-road tires added a rugged appeal to my test car.
Dry Traction
So far, so good. The Primewell Valera AT tires had exceptional amounts of dry traction. I drove on the highway and the tires were surprisingly refined, but more on this later. I also drove on a moderately challenging off-road trail, and the tires never skipped a bit, even on loose gravel peppered with sand and loose dirt.
Wet Traction
The Primewell Valera AT offered huge dollops of grip on wet roads. I never felt the SUV loose traction even as I pushed hard on the gas pedal on a wet highway. The tires simply gave me a feeling of confidence even if my test car had a tendency to wallow and float at moderately higher speeds. I also tested the tires on wet mud and my truck simply drove over the thick slush like it was never there.
Snow Traction
The Primewell Valera AT tires felt exceptionally good as I tested the tires in the snow. Icy roads and slush were no match for the capabilities of the Valera AT. I went as far as testing the tires in deep snow (which was around 3 inches) and the tires never skipped a beat. By this time, I was loving the FJ Cruiser more and the tires were proving that they are worth more than the price.
Comfort
The FJ Cruiser is not the most comfortable SUV I have ever driven, especially with the aggressive lift kit installed. However, I have nothing bad to say about the ride comfort as the SUV felt pretty decent on all types of road conditions. The owner of the FJ Cruiser told me the Primewell Valera AT was a big upgrade in overall ride comfort over his old set of all-terrain tires. This has something to do with the large and solid tread blocks that act like shock absorbers as the tire rolls on the road.
Noise
The same holds true for the road noise. The owner of the FJ Cruiser said the tires are also quieter and more refined than his old set of rubber. This is high praise for an all-terrain tire since these types of tires are not known for their comfort and ride silence. But if you push it on the highway, you will notice a bit more tire roar, which is what I expected given the aggressive nature of the tires.
Treadwear
The treadwear characteristics of the Primewell Valera AT is on the average side of the spectrum. The tires on my FJ Cruiser were approximately 6 months old and have traveled an average of 8,000 miles. I noticed signs of wear on all four tires, but I think this is par for the course. Primewell tires are notorious for less-than-favorable treadwear, but I am happy to report the Valera AT tires on my test vehicle were holding up pretty well.
Conclusion
It’s great to know you don’t need to fork over a huge amount of cash for a quality set of all-terrain tires. You should check out the Primewell Valera AT if you want a cheap, dependable, refined, and great looking set of all-terrain rubber.
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Alvin Reyes has expertise in automotive evaluation. He collaborated with famous newspapers and is still making efforts in tire review for DrivingPress.com