GT Radial Komodo MT Plus vs Radar Renegade R7 M/T tires

If you’ve got a light truck, Jeep, or SUV equipped with four-wheel-drive (4WD) and want to get the most out of its traction and performance potential, you really should think about a set of all-terrain tires. All-terrain tires are a great solution for grip and durability in off-road conditions, with an aggressive, deep tread pattern that efficiently rids itself of mud, gravel, and debris and durable construction for the roughest and most challenging terrain. If, however, you’re the kind of driver who likes to go off-road into the deepest mud or clamber over steep terrain and boulders with aired-down tires for maximum traction, then maybe you should think about a set of mud-terrain tires. Mud-terrain tires are designed with bigger tread blocks and wider voids, with reinforced sidewalls and damage-resistant tread formulations for the most punishing treatment, and tend to be bigger and taller, so they’re a good fit for 4WD trucks and SUVs equipped with lift kits for extra ground clearance.

Today we’re going to look at two very capable mud-terrain tires, the GT Radial Komodo MT Plus and Radar Renegade R7 M/T. Both tires are designed for maximum traction, off-road control, and extreme durability, with plenty of design features and innovations that help them dependably get the job done in the most difficult conditions.

Are you familiar with SimpleScore? SimpleScore is the rating system that the SimpleTire team devised to give you a quick, at-a-glance idea of a tire’s strengths and weaknesses. We take in the tire’s specs, manufacturer information, customer reviews, and other data points, then process all that into a 1-10 numerical score for the categories of traction, handling, and longevity. For the GT Radial Komodo MT Plus and Radar Renegade R7 M/T, the SimpleScore numbers look like this:

GT Radial Komodo MT Plus:

• Traction: 8.0
• Durability: 8.0
• Longevity: 8.7
• Overall average SimpleScore: 8.2

Radar Renegade R7 M/T:

• Traction__: 7.5
• Durability: 7.7
• Longevity: 8.3
• Overall average SimpleScore: 7.8

As you can see from those respectable SimpleScore numbers, the GT Radial and the Radar are both competent tires for off-road conditions. But as handy as SimpleScore is, it’s still the 30,000-foot view that doesn’t really get into the details of a tire’s performance and technical points. Let’s go in for a closer look with this head-to-head comparison review of the GT Radial Komodo MT Plus and Radar Renegade R7 M/T:

GT Radial Komodo MT Plus tires

GT Radial is a Singapore-based tire manufacturer that’s quickly been making a name for itself with premium-quality tires at very reasonable prices. The tough Komodo MT Plus is no exception; this mud-terrain tire is designed with chunky, reinforced interlocking tread blocks and zigzag grooves with a wide void ratio to easily rid the tread of mud, stones, and debris so there’s always a clear section of tire to dig in as the wheel turns. A damage-resistant tread compound guards against cuts, punctures, and abrasions, with a reinforced sidewall and built-in rim flanges to protect valuable wheels against curb rash or other damage. A full nylon cap ply and reinforced bead construction give the Komodo MT Plus great durability and stability on or off the highway, making it a good choice for aired-down performance while rock crawling. While the initial tread depth is deep enough to support long wear and dependable traction, the white block letter sidewall looks great on a wide variety of trucks. SimpleTire’s price on the GT Radial Komodo MT Plus starts at $133.99 per tire.

Radar Renegade R7 M/T tires

The Radar Renegade R7 M/T has a lot of common ground with the GT Radial Komodo MT Plus when it comes to design and performance, along with some distinct contrasts. The custom-blended (and environmentally sustainable) tread formulation of the Radar Renegade R7 M/T is designed for cut, puncture, and chip resistance, good braking and control on all surfaces, and great wear properties for long tread life. Its tread blocks feature a wide void ratio and high tread depth for great traction, long wear, and good self-cleaning of mud and gravel to protect the casing. Its 10-ply rating means great durability and load capacity, and its extra-tall profile makes the Radar a great choice for lifted trucks that need extra ground clearance. The Radar Renegade R7 M/T is designed with an outlined white letter sidewall for a great stylish touch on a wide range of trucks and SUVs. SimpleTire’s price on the Radar Renegade R7 M/T starts at $152.96 per tire.

GT Radial Komodo MT Plus vs Radar Renegade R7 M/T tires on traction

How do the GT Radial and the Radar stack up against each other when it comes to traction? With a SimpleScore of 8.0 for the GT Radial and 7.5 for the Radar, it’s not exactly close. The Radar has the M+S certification for mud and snow performance, and its tread design and rubber formulation deliver capable performance off the highway, but the lugs and massive tread blocks of the GT Radial give it versatile grip on rocks, gravel, loose dirt, sand, and (of course) deep, sticky mud. The wide grooves and void ratio of the GT Radial also do a more efficient job of clearing mud, gravel, and debris from the tread to ensure there’s always a clear section of tread that can dig in for traction as the wheel turns. Our decision here:

ADVANTAGE: GT Radial Komodo MT

GT Radial Komodo MT Plus vs Radar Renegade R7 M/T tires on durability

In the durability category, the GT Radial weighs in with a SimpleScore of 8.0 vs. 7.7 for the Radar. Both tires are designed with tough tread compounds that resist cuts, punctures, abrasions, and chunking, but the internal construction of the GT Radial, with a reinforced casing, 2-ply sidewall, and rim protector flange, gives it a distinct advantage when it comes to the kind of durability you need for difficult off-road terrain. Easy decision here:

ADVANTAGE: GT Radial Komodo MT

GT Radial Komodo MT Plus vs Radar Renegade R7 M/T tires on longevity

“Longevity” is kind of a relative thing when it concerns mud-terrain tires. Paradoxically, while mud-terrain tires are designed to be durable, their tread formulation usually doesn’t have good wear properties on the pavement. Additionally, most mud-terrain tires do not come from the factory with a limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty. We have to defer to customer reviews on this one, and the GT Radial comes in with a SimpleScore of 8.7 vs. 8.3 for the Radar. Pretty cut and dried, our decision is:

ADVANTAGE: GT Radial Komodo MT Plus

When to use each

This is where you need to ask yourself, realistically, what are your needs in a tire for a 4WD equipped truck or SUV? If you want a set of mud-terrain tires just because you love the way they look on your truck, that’s probably not the best reason to use them. While mud-terrain tires have come a pretty long way when it comes to noise levels, handling, and ride quality on the street, they still have some substantial differences from all-terrain tires that are designed to split the difference between civilized performance on the street and offroad traction and durability. Mud-terrain tires tend to be noisier on the pavement, more difficult to balance due to their size, sometimes clumsy in terms of handling on the street, and in need of more frequent tire rotations. If, on the other hand, you do find yourself in the backwoods on logging trails, ranch roads, or oilfield lease roads, or if you like to do aired-down rock crawling over steep boulders and obstacles, or if you get into deep mud, rocks, rough terrain, sand or snow, then all-terrain tires might fall short of being able to get the job done for you.

If you intend to use your vehicle for carrying heavy loads, the Renegade R7 M/T would be a better choice as it has a higher ply rating. On the other hand, the Komodo MT Plus is more like an all-round tire Both tires look good with raised and outlined white letters.

Which one should you choose?

This is the moment of truth in these kinds of tire comparisons: which tire delivers better value and performance, and which would be the better choice between a pair of tires that compare well to each other in most aspects? In this case, our call would be for the GT Radial Komodo MT. Here at the SimpleTire team, the tires coming from GT Radial have been making a pretty good impression on us for some time now, and the Komodo MT is a perfect example. Its SimpleScore numbers are impressive and beat the SimpleScores for the Radar Renegade R7 M/T by a pretty clear margin. When looking at all the features and the SimpleScore ratings of the GT Radial and then comparing prices (starting prices of $133.99 per tire for the GT Radial vs $155.99 for the Radar), it’s our clear takeaway that the GT Radial delivers a better bang for the buck; here at the SimpleTire team, that’s the tire we’d be compelled to go with, between the two of them.

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, and our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.