If youre like most all-terrain tire users, you probably dont drive on dirt as much as youd like. So pavement performance is critical. But when you do steer onto rough dirt, gravel, mud, and rocky roads, your tires need to perform.

　　Thats me in a nutshell. And its how I tested the Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT all-terrain tires over the last 6 months. Mounted on my 2010 Ford F-150, I put about 5,000 miles on a set of Nokian Outpost nATs. In my early use, Ive found them quiet and capable, stacking up well against the best AT tires on the market.

　　In short: The Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT is a moderately aggressive AT tire perfect for light trucks and SUVs. Made in the USA by a Finnish brand, the tires are excellent on pavement, dirt, rocks, and mud. While Ive only had a few chances to test them on snow, so far, they seem excellent on frozen surfaces. If theres a downside, its that the tires tend to throw rocks more than average when new.

　　Shopping around? Check out our guide to the best all-terrain tires.

　　Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT $222 at Amazon

　　Specs Price range: $210-540 Available rim sizes: 15-18, 20, 22 Pros Quiet Good traction on wide range of surfaces Sizing to fit wide range of vehicles Cons Picks up and flings rocks more than some models Only OK on mud Sean McCoy Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT Review Shit road — we call it that because its that bad. But the 2-mile dirt track leads to one of my favorite trailheads for hiking and hunting, so I put it in 4WD and point the hood upward.

　　Ol shit road made a perfect test for the Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT. While I have put about 5,000 miles on the tires since spring, and plenty of it off the pavement, this stretch always puts my tires and truck to the test.

　　The aggressive tread on the Nokian Outpost nAT provides excellent traction; (photo/Sean McCoy) The first section is incredibly rough, with deep holes and ruts through rocky clay that force driving at a crawl. Next comes a series of switchbacks up a steep mountain face. The double-track climbs hard here, with one extremely steep section that will stop almost all 2WD vehicles thanks to its soft, powdery clay surface.

　　From there, its a mile of navigating around boulders and potholes to the trailhead.

　　On four trips in and out of the road, the Nokians did amazingly well. I kept them aired up at highway pressures, and they were entirely capable of clawing up the 4-inch-deep kitty litter. I did get a little wheel spin, but felt confident and under control the entire time.

　　Oopsie Leads to Replacement Experience In and out of that awful road, up and down the highway, and across many sections of gravel, the Nokian Outpost nATs performed well. That is, until I made an oops coming down Shit Road after elk hunting.

　　Somehow, I didnt notice the large rock protruding from the side of the embankment. Wham! My truck bounced sideways as the tire and rim whacked against the stone. Immediately, I heard the dreaded shhhhhhhhhhhhh blasting from the rear wheel. I started looking for a flat spot to park. Sure enough, Id blown the sidewall on a sharp rock.

　　That tire was toast.

　　Changing a flat Nokian Outpost nAT tire after blowing out a sidewall on a rough trail; (photo/Sean McCoy) We changed the tire (thank goodness for a full-size, aired-up spare) and headed home.

　　This meant I had to order and replace the tire. It was a good experience, as I learned that not every shop will have it available. It took about 4 days after ordering the Nokian Outpost nAT online for it to arrive at my Discount Tires location. All in, the replacement tire and installation cost $360.

　　Lesson learned: keep your eyes on the road!

　　Muddy Road Testing

　　Two days of muddy driving proved the Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT was competent on slick, wet surfaces; (photo/Sean McCoy) While most of my driving in the Rocky Mountains was on dry, rocky roads, I did have the chance to do a couple of hundred miles of driving on slick, muddy country roads in eastern Colorado. Those high plains roads, after a heavy, wet snowfall, turned into greasy, sketchy slides during the 2024 pheasant opener.

　　The Outpost nAT handled these very slick conditions all right. I wont say they did fantastic, but for a tire aimed at all-around performance, they got me out and back safely and with no real close calls. Ill take it as a win.

　　I found my truck slid sideways a little, giving me an unsettling feeling when I hit really soft patches. This was on very wet gravel roads that gave way to clay after the storm, and I regularly sank about 4 to 5 inches in the mud while driving. They were challenging conditions, and I do appreciate that the tires managed them.

　　However, these are not mud terrain tires. If your primary use will be on soft, muddy surfaces, there are better options out there.

　　Pavement Driving OK, this is less exciting. But for most users, its where most of your miles will add up, so pavement performance is darned important.

　　Fortunately, the Nokian Outpost nAT is really good on pavement, wet or dry. I immediately noticed that these tires roll smoothly and very quietly, especially given their aggressive tread. On my first days of driving, I decided that theyre among the quietest all-terrain tires Ive tested.

　　Beyond their very quiet nature, they also handle well. I run 33-inch tires on my F-150, and they start, stop, and turn as well as Id expect for a large tire. My fuel efficiency is not great, averaging about 14.5 mpg. Thats about the same as my last tires, the Cooper Discover TA/KO2, and quite a lot worse than stock tires. But these are nearly 2 inches larger, so its no surprise that I lost a few mpg.

　　Nokian Outpost nAT: Who Should Buy Them At 5,000 miles, this is still an early review. Winter is just getting started in Colorado, and Im excited to test these through the cold and snowy months. Ill be updating this guide after a little more experience on the snow. Ill also report back on wear and tear, but so far the tires still look brand new.

　　At this point, I think the Nokian Outpost nAT are great tires for people who need good pavement manners but also do legitimate off-road driving. Theyre an aggressive tire that should handle most rough terrain without issue. But they are still good on pavement, wet, dry, or snowy.

　　Testing the Nokian Outpost nAT on a rough trail in Colorado; (photo/Sean McCoy) Outside of throwing up stones when new, I have very little to criticize about these tires. I think theyll be a great choice for anyone in the AT tire market.

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　　$222 at Amazon Sean McCoy