Goodyear Wrangler SR-A Review: Middle of the Road

Owners of trucks and SUVs have probably the largest amount of tire types to choose from. Apart from the usual road tires, they can choose from off-road and all-terrain tires and even performance tires. Despite all of that, highway all-season tires are still the go-to choice for owners, especially those that cover a lot of miles annually.

And, one of the most popular highway all-season tires in North America is certainly the Goodyear Wrangler SR-A. This tire is not only a popular choice among owners, but it’s also very popular among car manufacturers. Many new vehicles, including the most popular mid-size and full-size trucks, come with a set of Goodyear Wrangler SR-A tires.

Most of the time, that’s a good thing. Car manufacturers usually choose tires that work well in a variety of conditions, and that especially works well with the suspension of those vehicles. However, in some circumstances, vehicle manufacturers also choose cheaper tires, so they can make larger profits elsewhere.

So, where does that leave the Goodyear’s highway tire? I’ll try to uncover everything about this popular highway tire in my detailed Wrangler SR-A review. Down below, you will find how the tire performs in various conditions, including dry and wet tarmac, snow-covered roads, and off-road surfaces. Also, I’ll cover the comfort levels and the treadlife of the tire.

As always, I’ll also compare the Wrangler SR-A to its competitors. That’s mostly because, in terms of pricing, Goodyear’s highway tire is among the most expensive in its category. Only the Michelin Defender LTX is more expensive than the Wrangler SR-A, and not by much. Another premium example, the Continental TerrainContact H/T, is cheaper, and on some sizes, significantly so.

While we are in the matter of sizes, you can find the most popular ones in the Wrangler SR-A range. Goodyear offers the tire in 15-inch wheel diameter and up to 20-inch wheel diameter, both in P-metric and LT-metric sizes. This means that the tire fits lighter-duty SUVs, but it also fits full-size pickup trucks. Meanwhile, the LT-metric sizes come in high load ratings, which are great for hauling heavy cargo and towing large trailers.

With that said, let’s see the features that Goodyear utilized in the tire to make it a viable option in the crowded highway all-season tire category and then jump to my thoughts and conclusions.

What are the features of the Goodyear Wrangler SR-A?

According to Goodyear, this is their “best tire for highway driving with enhanced traction, optimized tread wear, and handling on wet roads – complemented by a quiet ride.” Moreover, the company prides itself on being trusted for the original equipment on leading pickup trucks.

Goodyear utilized an advanced all-season tread compound on the Wrangler SR-A. This compound is designed for good traction and grip, regardless of the temperature outside, and also for good wear characteristics.

The tread compound is molded into a symmetric tread design that features the WetTrac Technology. The patter features independent tread blocks with TredLock microgrooves, which lock together to enhance cornering grip, traction, and stability on dry roads. However, these grooves can open up in rainy conditions to improve hydroplaning resistance and traction.

For further improvement in wet traction, the Wrangler SR-A features four wide circumferential grooves for better water evacuation. These grooves channel the water through the self-cleaning lateral grooves for increased hydroplaning resistance and wet traction.

Moreover, thanks to the self-cleaning properties of the lateral grooves, Goodyear markets the Wrangler SR-A as useful in mud and snow. The snow and ice traction are further improved by the multiple zig-zag sipes, which create more biting edges.

The internal construction of the Wrangler SR-A is very standard for the category. It consists of twin steel belts made of high tensile steel, on top of a polyester casing for the P-metric models. This design improves directional stability and responsiveness, while also enhancing the ride quality.

Higher load range and LT-metric models have an additional spirally wound nylon reinforcement, which makes the tire more durable and stable when loaded with heavy cargo or trailer.

What are the maintenance indicators?

Goodyear utilized the regular maintenance indicators on the Wrangler SR-A, called tread wear indicators (TWI’s). These indicators help the driver monitor the tread depth more easily, which is crucial for safe driving on wet surfaces, but also snow-covered roads.

On highway all-season tires, the minimum tread depth, measured on the circumferential grooves, is 2/32-inch or 1.6 mm for metric folks. That’s when the tire loses the ability to maintain safe wet traction and usable hydroplaning resistance. When the tread comes to this point, you should immediately replace the tires. Otherwise, you risk your safety when it rains or snows, and you might also get in trouble with authorities.

Fortunately, you can use the tread wear indicators to monitor the depth. These are narrow rubber bars built into the grooves of the tread, which are recessed when the tire is new. As the tread wears down, the indicators become more visible. When the tread depth reaches 2/32-inch, the rubber bars will be completely flush with the surface.

In terms of treadlife, the Goodyear Wrangler SR-A isn’t the best highway tire out there. Owners report the tread lasting for around 40,000-miles on LT-metric sizes, and only slightly longer on P-metric sizes. Some competitors, such as the Michelin Defender LTX, last for over 15,000-miles to 20,000-miles longer.

Also, the 50,000-mile treadwear warranty that Goodyear provides is good, but far from exceptional. Again, I’ll mention the Defender LTX and its 70,000-miles treadwear warranty, and the Continental TerrainContact H/T and its 65,000-mile treadwear warranty. Oh, and the Continental tire is cheaper, by the way.

How does it behave on a dry tarmac?

The Wrangler SR-A handles daily driving very well. The tire is very responsive, even on LT-metric sizes. Moreover, it provides you with a good feel for the road, making you feel like you’re in control.

In terms of cornering grip, the Wrangler SR-A is among the best highway all-season tires. Also, traction levels are excellent, and the braking distances are short. The Wrangler SR-A is among the best tires for highway driving – the directional stability is exceptional.

Overall, the Wrangler SR-A is one of the better highway tires for dry handling and braking. If you mostly encounter those conditions and drive mostly on the highway, the Wrangler SR-A is a safe and reliable choice.

How is it over wet and slippery roads?

The Wrangler SR-A is good when it rains as well. However, it’s only “good,” while other tires are exceptional. On the handling course, the tire suffers from slight understeer. Also, the driver will feel “on edge” if the tires are pushed to the limits in rainy conditions. The braking distances are also good, but they still fall short of the class-leading tires.

With that being said, how is it on snowy roads?

The Wrangler SR-A has everything it needs for better snow traction, including lots of zig-zag sipes. However, that doesn’t translate into the real world. Snow traction is there for sure, but it’s not impressive by any means. The braking distances are also average for an all-season tire. The Wrangler SR-A performs well in slush, though, which is probably due to the wide grooves on the tread pattern.

Is it suitable for off-road driving?

Even though it’s classified as a highway tire, the Wrangler SR-A has some features that make it useful for off-road driving. I found that the tire is mostly useful for driving on dirt and gravel, where it provides the driver with good overall traction and responsiveness.

Driving in mud is also possible, but only if it’s shallow. Also, the tread compound seems sturdy enough, so you won’t need to worry about damaging the tire during off-roading.

Is it comfortable and refined?

In terms of overall comfort, the Wrangler SR-A is one of the best highway tires on the market. The ride quality is very smooth – the tires don’t transfer a lot of vibrations in the cabin. Moreover, there is not much tread noise, even at highway speeds.

You can see more Goodyear Wrangler SR-A Review here: Video created by Invest Ment

Should I buy the Goodyear Wrangler SR-A?

The Goodyear Wrangler SR-A is certainly a good tire, albeit not an exceptional one. And, the main issue with it is the price. This is one of the most expensive highway all-season tires, yet it doesn’t have the overall performance to match the price.

Simply put, the Wrangler SR-A needs to provide better traction on wet and snowy surfaces for the price. The Michelin Defender LTX, for example, costs about the same, yet it works better on those surfaces. Also, the Continental TerrainContact H/T costs less, and it’s a more accomplished tire overall.