Toyo Open Country M/T vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires

Toyo Tires, and Mickey Thompson are well-regarded manufacturers offering a wide selection of tires that balance affordability with high performance. Both brands cater to diverse driving needs, including off-road adventures and everyday commuting. Toyo Tires is particularly recognized for its specialized 4x4 truck tires and a comprehensive lineup of passenger car tires designed for various conditions. Mickey Thompson excels in the light truck tire segment, providing robust and durable tires. Both manufacturers offer a full spectrum of tire types, including all-season, all-terrain, winter, mud-terrain, and summer tires.

Mud-terrain tires are essential for Jeeps, light trucks, and SUVs and help navigate demanding terrains like mud, dirt, sand, gravel, and rocks. Toyo and Mickey Thompson both produce high-quality mud-terrain tires, notably the Toyo Open Country M/T and the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ. We will explore the similarities and differences between these two popular mud-terrain tires, in this Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ vs Toyo Open Country M/T tires comparison to help you make an informed decision.

Toyo Open Country M/T tires

Engineered for Jeeps and light trucks, the Toyo Open Country M/T is a mud-terrain tire built to conquer challenging conditions. Its robust 3-ply construction and high turn-up polyester casing provide exceptional durability and impact resistance, while open, scalloped shoulder blocks enhance off-road traction.

Thanks to all these features, the Toyo Open Country M/T received an excellent overall SimpleScore of 9.3 out of 10.

Get Toyo Open Country M/T tires at the best price for your vehicle here

Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires

The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ is a mud-terrain tire engineered for SUVs, light trucks, and Jeeps, designed to provide exceptional off-road performance and durability. This tire is built to handle challenging terrains with confidence, featuring robust construction and an aggressive tread pattern. The Baja Legend MTZ aims to deliver a balance of on-road comfort and off-road capability, making it a versatile choice for adventure-seeking drivers.

Thanks to these features, the Baja Legend MTZ received an average of 8.3 SimpleScore.

Get Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires at the best price for your vehicle here

Toyo Open Country M/T vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires on traction

Traction is crucial for all tire categories, especially mud-terrain tires that navigate rough landscapes. These tires need reliable and consistent traction to ensure optimal performance for both the vehicle and the tires themselves. Key elements influencing tire traction include the tread pattern, the construction of the tire, and the composition of the rubber compound used.

The Toyo Open Country M/T excels in traction with an impressive SimpleScore of 9.7 out of 10, thanks to its advanced engineering. This high score is attributed to the tire's aggressive tread design, which incorporates hook-shaped blocks to maximize off-road grip. The deep siping is integrated into the tread to enhance traction in wet conditions, while the open, scalloped shoulder design further improves off-road performance. Additionally, the over-the-shoulder tread provides exceptional traction in deep mud and snow. These features collectively contribute to the Toyo Open Country M/T's enhanced traction capabilities.

The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ scores a strong 8.2 out of 10, reflecting its capable traction performance. This is achieved through its four-pitch sidebiters that bite into the road for improved grip and traction. Additionally, the aggressive tread pattern ensures a consistent grip while the angled blocks with stone ejectors keep the tread clean for optimal performance.

The Open Country M/T scores considerably better than the Baja Legend MTZ, making it the winner here.

ADVANTAGE: Toyo Open Country M/T

Toyo Open Country M/T vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires on durability

Durability is also important when selecting mud-terrain tires, given the rugged environments they face. This factor significantly impacts a tire's ability to withstand harsh conditions while maintaining peak performance. Evaluating a tire's durability involves assessing its resistance to punctures and cuts from rocky and gravelly surfaces. Important aspects influencing durability include the sidewall design, the tire compound, and other relevant features.

In durability, the Toyo Open Country M/T achieved an excellent SimpleScore of 9.4 out of 10. This high score is attributed to its robust 3-ply construction and high turn-up tough polyester construction, which collectively enhance durability, impact resistance, and handling. These construction elements ensure the tire can withstand the challenges of off-road environments, providing reliable and long-lasting performance.

The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ achieves a great SimpleScore of 8.2 out of 10 in durability. This high score is attributed to its robust construction, including a 3-ply sidewall that provides enhanced resistance to punctures and cuts. The tire's design and construction are engineered to withstand the rigors of off-road driving, ensuring reliable performance and long-lasting durability in demanding conditions.

The Toyo Open Country M/T again takes the lead in durability with an impressive score of 9.4 against a solid score of 8.2 for the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ.

ADVANTAGE: Toyo Open Country M/T

Toyo Open Country M/T vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires on longevity

Longevity is a crucial factor in selecting tires, influencing how well they withstand wear over time. It directly affects traction, as uneven tread wear can reduce a tire's performance. The rubber compound, tread pattern, and tire design are key elements that determine a tire's lifespan.

The Toyo Open Country M/T received a commendable SimpleScore of 8.8 out of 10 in longevity. This strong performance is attributed to its aggressive tread pattern and durable construction, both of which contribute to promoting even tread wear and extending the tire's overall tread life. This design allows the tire to maintain consistent performance over a longer period, offering value and reliability to the driver.

The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ receives a commendable SimpleScore of 8.6 out of 10 in longevity. This rating reflects the tire's ability to provide consistent performance over an extended period. The tire's tread design and compound are formulated to promote even wear, contributing to a longer tread life. While mud-terrain tires generally experience faster wear compared to highway tires, the Baja Legend MTZ is designed to maximize its lifespan through its robust construction and tread design.

The Toyo Open Country M/T secures its final win with a slightly better SimpleScore in longevity as well, beating the Mickey Thompson tire 3-0.

ADVANTAGE: Toyo Open Country M/T

When to use each

The Toyo Open Country M/T and the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ are both robust mud-terrain tires tailored for SUVs, light trucks, and Jeeps. Designed to conquer challenging off-road terrains and withstand extreme conditions, these tires prioritize durability and exceptional traction. This combination empowers drivers to confidently venture into uncharted territories.

While both tires demonstrate the ability to handle light winter weather conditions, they are not designed for moderate or severe winter environments. As they lack the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, drivers encountering significant snow or ice should consider using dedicated winter tires. These specialized tires offer superior traction and safety in harsh winter conditions.

Which one should you choose?

So which mud-terrain tire is the right choice for you? Well, the answer depends on your personal preference as both tires deliver great performance with Toyo Open Country M/T scoring better in all avenues. However, this massive difference in performance can be justified with the pricing of the tires.

While the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ costs $403.39 per tire and $1,613.56 for a set of four, the Toyo Open Country M/T costs $453.60 per tire and $1,814.40 for a set of four. This considerable price difference of over $200 on the set of four justifies the performance difference between the two tires.

(Note - We have picked the LT275/65R20 tire size for price comparison and prices can vary depending on the tire size.)

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Toyo Open Country M/T if you:

• Drive a pickup truck like the Ford F-250, or a RAM 1500
• Want a set of tires that offers better performance in overall score (9.3 v 8.3), traction (9.7 v 8.2), durability (9.4 v 8.2), and longevity (8.8 v 8.6)
• Are willing to pay more for a better set of tires

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ if you:

• Drive a truck like the GMC Sierra 3500 HD or an SUV like the Jeep Gladiator
• Want a more affordable set of tires

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.