Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires

Founded in 1963, Mickey Thompson is an enthusiasts-driven brand that has actively participated in motorsport events like NMCA, NHRA, and NMRA. The tire brand caters to the needs of performance and off-road enthusiasts. It offers a wider range of tire categories, including all-terrain, mud-terrain, track competition, UHP summer, all-season, and racing. Similarly, Pirelli also has a history of active participation in motorsport events like Formula 1, Grand Prix, and many others, and caters to a wider segment of performance car enthusiasts.

The Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T and the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus are the two popular all-terrain tires offered by these tire manufacturers. The Baja Boss tires and the Scorpion tires are suitable for use on CUVs, SUVs, Jeeps, and light trucks and they offer the best of both worlds, allowing you to drive with greater confidence on paved roads and taking your vehicle for occasional off-road adventures.

But, as a tire buyer, you might want to understand in detail, which of the two tires should you consider for purchase. Therefore, using SimpleScore, we present you the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires comparison and give you a comparative analysis of the tires’ traction performance, handling, and longevity areas.

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires

Introduced in November 2021, the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T is an all-terrain tire that can be a suitable choice for popular SUVs, pickup trucks, and Jeeps. The tire offers high-end on-road handling, longer tread wear, improved mud and snow traction, smooth ride, reduced noise levels, and sports aggressive looks. This innovative hybrid all-terrain tire also offers confident driving in moderate to severe winter weather conditions and has many great features like extra-deep side biters and unique tread patterns for an aggressive off-road driving experience.

Overall, the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T secures an outstanding 9.3 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its excellent year-round traction performance, outstanding on- and off-road handling, and long-lasting tread life.

Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires

The Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus was launched in May 2018 and is specially engineered for increased off-road performance when used on SUVs, Jeeps, and light trucks. The tire can confidently tackle any terrain and sports an aggressive tread pattern and sidewall design. Reliable on- and off-road performance, quieter rides, self-cleaning tread patterns, and increased traction performance in snowy conditions make the tire a versatile performance with year-round usability. Additionally, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus also boasts features that enhance ride comfort and durability.

Overall, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus boasts an admirable 8.4 SimpleScore, thanks to its solid traction performance, improved handling, and long-lasting tread life.

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires on traction

Designed and engineered for use on- and off-road, all-terrain tires must-have features and technologies that boost traction performance. These tires feature an all-season compound and can be used year-round. But, which out of the Baja Boss and the Scorpion tires perform better on the traction front? Let’s find out!

The Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T boasts an excellent 9.8 out of 10 SimpleScore rating in traction and sports an advanced asymmetric tread pattern that boosts on- and off-road traction. The patented Extreme Sidebiters of the Baja Boss A/T are 150% deeper than Baja ATZP3 and offer extreme off-road traction. The silica-reinforced tread compound of the Baja Boss A/T also helps in maintaining consistent surefootedness and improves traction performance. The tire is also Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, which means it is optimized to offer great performance and traction in severe snow conditions. The sipes spread across the tread of the Baja Boss A/T enhance traction in snow and wet conditions, assuring drivers more confident drives.

On the other hand, the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus achieves a great 8.7 out of 10 SimpleScore rating in traction. Its irregular blocks with great dimensions get sharper edges that provide better traction on slippery surfaces. Likewise, the high sipe density of this tire assures better grip in dry, wet, and snowy conditions. The groove cones on the tread are engineered for better self-cleaning and allow the tire to maintain consistent surefootedness whether you are driving on- or off-road. Similar to the Baja Boss tires, the Scorpion tires are also Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, allowing you to drive with greater confidence in moderate to severe winter conditions.

When we compared the traction performance of both tires, the Baja Boss A/S excels with the Scorpion All Terrain Plus.

ADVANTAGE: Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires on durability

Handling is one of the important areas when it comes to buying a set of all-terrain tires. As these tires are built for use in diverse terrain and weather conditions, their ability to adapt to changing conditions and offer better steering response and controllability becomes crucial. When we analyzed the Baja Boss A/T and the Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires, there was a gap in the scores of these tires.

Let’s start with the Baja Boss A/T which scores an excellent 9.4 SimpleScore rating in handling and features an optimized asymmetric tread pattern that boosts handling performance. For greater stability and quicker steering response, the Baja Boss A/T features a Powerply XD construction that sports a heavier denier cord to the angled third ply. The TI compound offered in the LT sizes and the SI compound offered in the SUV sizes significantly improve the braking and handling performance of the tire. Additionally, multiple sipes across the tread of this Three Peak Mountain Snowflake-certified tire assure superior handling performance in icy and snow conditions.

On the other hand, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus scores an impressive 8.5 SimpleScore in handling, assuring the drivers that the tire can offer good control and steering response in different terrains and changing weather conditions. While the wider footprint of the tire maintains increased contact with the surface for better steering response and controllability, the high-density siping contributes to enhanced control on snowy and wet surfaces and in-time braking. Likewise, the wider grooves on the tread also ease water dispersion from the contact patch area and prevent hydroplaning.

Both, the Baja Boss A/T and the Scorpion All Terrain Plus offer dependable handling performance in changing weathers and terrains, however, it is the Baja Boss tire that leads with a higher SimpleScore rating.

ADVANTAGE: Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T vs Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires on longevity

Longevity is another important factor that relates to how long your all-terrain tire can last. Therefore, we compared the scores and features of both tires and found out that one of them was marginally ahead of the other.

Starting with the Baja Boss A/T, the tire’s SimpleScore for longevity stands at 8.8. This is achieved because of the tire’s solid Powerply XD construction that provides the tire a better puncture resistance and durability to wear at a slow rate. The TI compound (LT sizes) and SI Compound (SUV sizes) are optimized for longer wear. The tread blocks of the tire are also sturdy enough to resist impacts and punctures, contributing to a long-lasting tread life. Additionally, Mickey Thompson has covered the Baja Boss A/T with up to 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which indicates the tire is made to last and cover a good number of miles.

On the other hand, the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus secures an 8.1 SimpleScore rating, which means the tire has the potential to serve for a longer period. Thanks to the optimized contact pressure distribution, the Scorpion tires wear optimally and offer a longer tread life. The shoulder blocks of this all-terrain tire are designed for durability and resist damage. This leads to longer tire use. As far as the tread life warranty is concerned, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires are covered by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

While both all-terrain tires offered a longer tread life, the Baja Boss tires scored higher and surpassed the Scorpion tires.

ADVANTAGE: Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T

When to use each

Both, the Baja Boss A/T and the Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires are suitable for on- and off-road and can serve in all weathers. Whether it is a dry, wet, or snowy road, both tires can let drive with greater confidence. These tires are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, which means they are suitable for use in moderate to severe winter weather conditions in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

While the Baja Boss all-terrain tires are offered in 15- to 24-inch rim sizes, the Scorpion all-terrain tires are offered in 16- to 20-inch rim sizes. This means, if you own an SUV, pickup, or Jeep that has larger wheels with a rim size above 20-inch, Baja Boss can be a good size. But, you must check your vehicle’s tire size before making a purchase.

Which one should you choose?

Now let’s find out which of the two tires should you choose, the Baja Boss A/T or the Scorpion All Terrain Plus.

Looking at the overall SimpleScores of both tires, we found that the Baja Boss A/T scored better than the Scorpion All Terrain Plus (9.3 vs 8.4). But, both tires are slightly different from each other on various fronts and you should compare both to understand which one aligns with your needs and preferences.

As far as the prices are concerned, the Baja Boss A/T will cost you at least $189.09 per tire, while the Scorpion All Terrain Plus costs at least $139.16 per tire. This means a set of four Baja Boss tires will cost you at least $756.36, while a set of four Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires will cost you at least $556.64.

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Baja Boss A/T if you:

• Drive a full-size pickup truck like the GMC Sierra 1500, a heavy-duty pickup like the Ford F-250, or a mid-size truck like the Jeep Gladiator.
• Need a tire with better traction (9.8 vs 8.7 in traction)
• Need a tire with better handling on- and off-road (9.4 vs 8.5 in handling)
• Need a long-lasting tire (8.8 vs 8.1 in longevity).
• Need a tire that offers higher tread life warranty coverage.
• Need a tire that can also be used on vehicles with rim sizes above 20 inches.
• Are comfortable paying extra to own a better tire

Conversely, you should prefer the Scorpion All Terrain Plus if you:

• Drive a 3-row full-size SUV like the Chevrolet Tahoe, a full-size truck like the Ford F-150, or a compact SUV like the Nissan Xterra.
• Want a tire that’s an affordable and dependable performer
• Need a tire that sports Italian state-of-the-art engineered and advanced features
• Need a tire that offers better ride comfort and less noisy drives.

The Baja Boss A/T vs Scorpion All Terrain tires might not look like a close comparison in the all-terrain category, but when you look at their SimpleScore and check the similarities between compatible vehicles, segment types targeted, scores in the longevity, handling, and traction areas, these tires appear to be the close competitors. However, you must consider things like budget, terrain compatibility, weather, and preference in areas like longevity, handling, and traction to find the tire that’s ideal for your vehicle.

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