MOAB, UTAH — It’s true, most SUVs and their knobby off-road tires spend far more time navigating mall parking lots than they do off the beaten path, with more concrete cowboys lurking about than true off-road enthusiasts. So naturally, when Sailun invited me out to test their new Ironhead Thrasher R/T all-terrain tires in some real tough terrain, I jumped at the chance because true off-road enthusiasts need true off-road performance. Can this somewhat unknown tire manufacturer make something that you could truly beat up over rock, dirt, steep inclines and declines—and get you back home safe and sound?
Let’s take a step back, because I imagine you’re far less familiar with Sailun than you are with Michelin or Bridgestone. Sailun is a budget-oriented tire manufacturer based out of China. They’ve been around since 2001, now selling somewhere around 30 million tires a year globally—so they certainly aren’t small. Before they started making their own tires, Sailun manufactured systems and machinery that other tire manufacturers still use today, so their years of experience around black circles is rather vast. They have factories and R&D centres in China, Vietnam, and Cambodia, and are opening up another factory in Mexico. They have a few sub-brands under their umbrella, including RoadX, Blackhawk, Rovello, and of course Ironhead.
The Ironhead Thrasher R/T is a new tire in Sailun’s lineup, though it’s not yet available for sale in Canada. Similar to the Sailun Terramax RT, the name denotes “rugged terrain”, splitting the difference between all-terrain and more hardcore mud-terrain tires. If you do a half-dozen or more off-road excursions per year, an RT tire will do you good while keeping you sane on pavement.
The Thrasher R/T certainly looks the part, with full-depth tread and an aggressive pattern spilling over to the sidewall for maximum grip at extreme angles—and obviously visual appeal. These tires have the same three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol as dedicated winter tires, meaning they’re certified for severe snow performance as well, although we didn’t see any of the white stuff where we were.
Our off-road journey with the Ironhead Thrasher R/T started in Moab, Utah. It’s the perfect backdrop for a rugged off-road tire test; the picturesque red rock landscapes from afar, but when you get up close, you realize the terrain isn’t for the faint-at-heart. Sailun slapped their Ironhead Thrasher R/Ts on some already-rather-capable Ford Broncos, and our journey swiftly began where the pavement ended.
On that paved road, we kept tired pressures up at Ford’s recommended 39 PSI, which led to surprisingly good road manners and a moderate but completely bearable level of road noise. Once we hit the dirt, we deflated the Thrasher R/Ts down to a 22 PSI for a larger contact patch over the rocky stuff. The trail started off light and easy enough, but quickly gave way to some bumpy rocks that required finesse and careful consideration. The Bronco would pitch and angle, but the Thrasher R/Ts kept us moving forward confidently.
Even over the trickiest of terrain and the most impossible of angles, the tires kept digging in. I never encountered any wheelspin, and not once did I get stuck even when I thought I would. Watching the Ironhead Thrasher R/T seemingly melt into the boulders and rocks like a sticky ball of gum on a hot summer’s day was impressive. Rock crawling was the name of the game, and the Ironhead Thrasher R/Ts handled it all rather flawlessly.
Now, for some context: rock crawling is literally crawling, going as slow as possible to avoid damaging the vehicle or getting stuck at odd angles. I did misjudge an angle at one point and missed a rock in my line of sight, so I hit something with some real gusto. Still, the tires held and didn’t puncture. They can take a beating, almost perfectly happy to be thrashed. Sorry for the shameless dad joke, I can’t help myself.
This entire experience was eye-opening, from Utah’s beautiful landscapes to the surprising capabilities of the Ironhead Thrasher R/T. Sizes range from 17- to 22-inches, with a variety of widths and sidewall profiles in between. Pity they aren’t available in Canada—we have Sailun’s Terramax RT instead—but I’d implore our friends to take them into consideration. With prices ranging from $140 to $415 USD, if you’re looking for a value-driven off-road tire that doesn’t sacrifice much, the Ironhead Thrasher R/T will make your wallet happy.
