First impressions: Predator New Mutant X-AT tyres

Are the Predator New Mutants every bit as tough as they look? How do they actually perform both on and off-road? Dan gives us his first impressions of the Predator New Mutant X-AT tyres.

Tyres maketh the 4X4. It’s a simple rule, but one that’s served me well over the years. My logic is sound, most 4X4s are super capable out of the box these days. Advanced traction aids, factory lockers, and articulation out of modern IFS systems make 15-year-old dual-cabs look downright archaic. It puts most rigs on a pretty even keel, with the two variables typically coming down to the nut behind the wheel, and the connection between your 4X4 and the ground, whatever that ground may be.

Now, it’s kinda hard to buy talent – lord knows I’ve tried – but a set of more aggressive tyres with a larger rolling diameter and promises of improved off-road performance are a pretty easy upgrade. It was this running through my head as the team at Katoomba Tyre Service were wrangling on a set of 35-in New Mutant X-ATs onto my rim of choice, a set of shiny beadlocked ROH Zullo’s punching in at 17×9 for those interested in the numbers. In just a few short hours, the Ranger would go from showroom fresh to off-road beast, bolting on some capability.

Introducing the Predator New Mutant X-AT tyre

If you’ve never heard of a Predator New Mutant X-AT tyre, you’re not alone, but the story is a pretty simple one. Aussie-based ROH have been making top-tier wheels for decades, and with most 4X4s on the tracks sporting their wheels, they figured it was high time they dabbled into the tyre market as well. Their brand “Predator” has been around stateside for a while now but is only just starting to gain traction here in Australia.

There’s a Predator New Mutant X-MT tyre, which focuses on the more hardcore off-roaders looking for a super aggressive tyre for mud and rock, or the X-AT I’ve fitted up. It’s an aggressive all-terrain that should perform well in the bush, with a few less compromises on the black top, somewhere most 4X4s sadly spend a lot of time.

So, that’s the back story, and the Predator New Mutant tyres look every bit as tough as you’d hope. But good looks only get you so far. How do they actually perform? After running them for a few weeks both on-road and off, I’ve got some solid first impressions.

The quietest 4X4 tyre I’ve ever used

I’ll be honest; I was expecting these Predator New Mutant X-AT tyres to be louder than stock rubber. It’s just part of the game. Bigger, more aggressive tyres normally come with a bit of a hum, especially when you step up to a 35-inch. There’s no getting past the physics of a bunch of tread blocks karate-chopping the road at 100km/h. But these? Shockingly quiet. I’d compare the noise to a bit of wind passing over a roof rack, just a faint whistle at highway speeds. It’s honestly bizarre how little sound they generate.

I’m certainly not smart enough to understand how they’ve done it, but Predator reckons it’s down to their “X” tread pattern and pitch variation. Whatever they’ve done, it works. The staggered blocks, siping, and deep grooves seem to absorb a lot of the usual hum. If you’re swapping from another all-terrain, you’ll notice the difference. If you’re coming off muddies, you’re going to feel like you’re suddenly driving a Bentley. 

On-road performance: surprising for a 35-in tyre

The daily commute is another place I’ve been pretty blown away with the Predator New Mutant X-AT tyres so far. Large diameter tyres with any sort of aggressive tread pattern typically have a few built in compromises. They’ll normally track in ruts and grooves on the road surface, you’ll get vague steering due to the larger side walls, and a noticeable hit in fuel economy too. But so far, the New Mutants are proving surprisingly well-mannered. 

The guys at Katoomba threw in a handful of balance beads rather than more traditional wheel weights (an old trick for off-road rubber), and despite being on beadlocks, there’s minimal vibration through the steering wheel. They don’t chase ruts or wander on the road, and they feel far more planted than the highway-terrains they replaced.

One of the biggest shocks has been how light they feel. Normally, slapping on 35s means you notice the extra weight every time you hit the throttle or the brakes. But the Predator New Mutant Tyres don’t feel like they’re sapping any noticeable power, and my fuel gauge isn’t dropping any faster than usual. That’s a huge win if you’re running them on a daily-driven 4X4. In all fairness, I haven’t had a chance to give them a spin in the rain yet, as QLD seems to be hogging most of it, but that is one area I’m very keen to see how they perform.   

Off-road: where they shine and where they don’t

As this is a “first impressions” yarn, I’ve only had a chance to punt the Predator New Mutant tyres through a couple of terrains so far and can’t really comment on how they’d perform in the gibber stones of the red centre or the thick black mud of the high-country. But I have introduced them to some of my favourite rock crawling tracks up here in the mountains and have been pleasantly surprised on that front, too.

They’re a 2-ply construction, and while some people tend to get a little emotional, demanding you need 3-ply for a 4X4, I actually find the supple nature of a 2-ply something that helps far more than it hinders. On slick rock, the Predator New Mutant X-AT tyres are able to deform far easier than a stiffer constructed tyre, and that means more rubber on the rock and more traction. On the beach, that helps too, with significantly better floatation over sand for a given pressure. You’d have to run super low pressures in a 3-ply to match the grip from a 2-ply. It also means a lighter construction, so the tank of diesel lasts longer. Win win eh?

Under acceleration on fast-flowing dirt, especially out of corners, they do feel a little squirmy. That’s not a deal-breaker; more a mix of turbo-diesel torque and the less aggressive AT tread compared to a more full-on mud terrain. The Predator New Mutant X-AT tyres seem to handle mixed terrain fine and are a big winner for a daily driven 4X4, but if you prioritise off-road performance rather than on-road or want the tougher sidewalls of a 3-ply tyre, then you may want to eye off the Predator New Mutant X-MT tyres instead.

What’s next?

I’ve only had these tyres on for a few weeks, so I’ll be putting them through a few bigger trips over the next couple of months. I’ll be keeping an eye on their wear, how they hold up to rougher terrain, and whether they stay as quiet as they are now. 

First impressions, though? They’re shaping up to be a fantastic tyre for anyone who actually drives their 4X4 daily but still wants something capable for weekends off the beaten path. If they continue performing this well, Predator might have just nailed the perfect balance between on-road comfort and off-road toughness. Stay tuned for a 5,000km check-in, but so far, they seem like a winner.

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