Who Makes Pathfinder Tires – Pathfinder Tire Review

You may not know this tire brand, but Pathfinder is steadily growing in popularity among truck and SUV drivers. They are all amazed at their affordability, solid grip, comfortable rides, and confident handling. In this Pathfinder tires – Pathfinder tire review, I’ll reveal who makes them.

Pathfinder is a tire brand that is a subsidiary of Kumho, a South Korean-based company. This tire brand is positioning itself as a tire company that manufactures affordable tires for SUVs and light trucks.

Hankook makes the Pathfinder AT, but it is under the Discount Tire brand. The public knows these tires as discount tires.

Read on to learn more about Pathfinder Tires, their manufacturers, and several relevant reviews to help you see how these tires fare on the road.

Who Makes Pathfinder Tires?

who makes pathfinder tires

Subsidiary of Kumho Tires

Certain information from the company indicates that Pathfinder is a subsidiary of Kumho tires based in Korea. Pathfinder is positioning itself as a tire brand that manufactures high-quality but inexpensive tires for SUVs and light trucks.

Hankook Makes the Pathfinder AT

Some information also says that Hankook makes the Pathfinder AT, but the company markets it as a brand of Discount Tire. Still, Hankook manufactures this tire, and the public knows it is a discount tire.

Pathfinder Is a Private Tire Label or Brand

You can say that Pathfinder is a private tire label or brand considering all these. Kumho Tires, a Korean company, produce their tires. Kumho is famous for its top-quality tires due to its extensive research, development, and strict manufacturing standards.

Aside from Kumho, Hankook also produces tires for Pathfinder. The Nexen Tire Group, a South Korean company, owns tire manufacturers.

More on Pathfinder Tires

Where Are Pathfinder Tires Made?

As you can see, Pathfinder is a tire brand and company that outsources the manufacturing of its tires to established and well-respected tire manufacturers in Korea. Their tires are suitable for SUVs and light trucks.

Affordable and Offer Confident Handling

What makes Pathfinder tires attractive to SUV and light truck owners and drivers is that they are very affordable yet offer confident handling, comfortable rides, and solid grip.

Get Them at Discount Tire Stores

You can usually get them at Discount Tire stores across the United States. They are also available online at DiscountDirect.com.

Pathfinder saw the wisdom of outsourcing the production of its tires after they realized that SUVs and light trucks were popular as a means of transportation among many American consumers. They found out that entering this budget tire business is very lucrative.

Is Pathfinder AT a Good Fit for Your Vehicle?

Reliable On and Off-road Performance

One of the tires being marketed by Pathfinder is the Pathfinder All Terrain or AT. This tire model was developed exclusively for Discount Tire. It can deliver reliably on and off-road performance for all kinds of driving requirements.

Designed for All Kinds of SUVs and Light Trucks

The Pathfinder AT is designed for all kinds of SUVs and light trucks. These tires come with longer-lasting tread and an aggressive tread design. Its price is very attractive, especially for budget-conscious SUVs, light truck owners, and drivers.

Offer Improved Chip and Cut Resistance

This type of tire offers improved chip and cut resistance when driving on rough terrains such as rocks and dirt roads. It has bigger treads that easily clear it from snow, mud, and other debris. This is one of the plus points of this tire.

Comes with an Interconnected Rib Pattern

The Pathfinder AT also has an interconnected rib pattern in its tread design, improving highway performance. Its tread blocks are also siped to give them added grip on snow-covered or wet road surfaces.

Has Zigzag Circumferential Grooves

Pathfinder AT tires also has zigzag circumferential grooves around their tread areas. This design element makes them capable of providing traction on grass, sand, and dirt. It also offers improved water ejection on wet streets and highways.

Pathfinder AT Tire Sizes

The Pathfinder AT tire sizes ranges from 15 to 20 inches, including LT and non-LT models, where LT means light truck. All non-LT tire sizes come with a 55,000-mile warranty. They also feature black sidewalls. LT tires, on the other hand, come with outlined white letters.

Does Pathfinder Make Good Tires?

1. Dependable and Affordable

Are Pathfinder tires good? They must be because many owners and drivers of SUVs and light trucks buy Pathfinder tires. These folks know that Pathfinder tires are very dependable and very affordable.

2. Provide Solid Off-road Performance

You can expect it to provide you with solid off-road performance in most types of terrain. But it’s not a mud performer or serious rock climber since it is not for serious off-roading.

3. Safe and Reliable

When you are driving on the highway, it will provide you with safety and reliability. The noise it makes is not that much. However, its aggressive tread patterns will indeed produce some noise. Ride comfort, however, is great. And then you can expect its tread to last very long.

4. Middle-class Model

Some users have commented that the all-terrain Pathfinder tire can be considered a middle-class model for its delivery of good value for its price. If you are looking to save money on your set of new tires, this is the best you can consider.

Pathfinder Tires Overall Design Features and Technologies

pathfinder tires who makes them

Some of its design features make the Pathfinder tire a good buy:

1. Wide Circumferential Grooves

Pathfinder AT tires has wide circumferential grooves running all over the entire tire. These grooves, which are wide and longitudinal, work together with the lateral grooves of the tire. They help channel water away from the treads. So, hydroplaning is prevented while maintaining slippery and wet roads.

2. Solid Center Ribs

The Pathfinder tires’ solid center ribs can provide a consistent contact patch with the pavement. This results in reduced rolling resistance and very stable traction. Aside from giving stability at high speeds, these ribs will also provide the needed traction when braking or accelerating.

3. Tri-polymer Tread Compounds

These compounds provide Pathfinder tires with high resistance to tearing, cuts, and punctures. Pathfinder tires also come with tapered grooves, tread grooves, and ridges. They are designed to expel debris. This helps prevent road stones from drilling into the tire.

4. Multiple Sipes

Every Pathfinder tire has hundreds of sipes in its treads. A sipe is a little slit in the tread of the tire block. It is there to create additional tread surfaces so the tire can improve its grip on wet, snowy, and icy road conditions. That’s precisely what a Pathfinder tire offers.

Again, who makes Pathfinder Tires? Kumho manufactures the Pathfinder Tires, a private label brand. The brand provides the needs of light truck and SUV drivers at an affordable price. Kumho is famous for making high-quality tires after research and development.

Where Can You Use Pathfinder Tires?

You can use Pathfinder tires in many types of vehicles. Here is a list of SUVs and light trucks where you can use them:

  1. Ford Explorer, F-150
  2. Toyota Highlander, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner
  3. Dodge Durango
  4. Nissan Frontier, Titan, X-Terra
  5. Hummer HT3
  6. Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe
  7. Jeep Commander, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler
  8. Ram 1500
  9. GMC Sierra 1500

Please note that this is not a complete list by all means. You can also use the Pathfinder tire in other vehicles, especially SUVs and light trucks.

Why Pathfinder Tires Are a Good Buy

If you consider their prices and their capabilities, you will not fail to see the reasons why they are popular with owners and drivers of SUVs and light trucks. To make this point more transparent, here are the things that make Pathfinder tires a good buy:

1. Great Price to Performance Ratio

Pathfinder tires come with the good build quality. So, they can provide enhanced road performance. They will give you reliable, safe, and consistent performance. Chances of losing control and slipping are reduced to the minimum.

The tires manufactured by Pathfinder for light trucks offer a good combination of on-road and off-road capabilities. They offer great value for their price points.

2. Long-Lasting

Pathfinder tires come with design elements usually found only on premium truck tires. So, they are strong enough to carry the vehicle’s weight and cargo. Plus, it can work well against the cracks and bumps on the road.

They are made from tri-polymer compounds, making them resistant to punctures and cuts. Their treads are also composed of tapered grooves and ridges that self-clean. All these features make these tires very durable.

3. Great Handling

Pathfinder tires have solid center ribs. This enables them to provide solid stability while driving at high speeds. Each tire has hundreds of tiny sipes around the entire tread pattern. This design element provides an excellent grip on snow-covered and wet roads.

There are wide circumferential grooves on each Pathfinder tire. These grooves force water away from the contact patch, ensure that the tire remains dry, and maintain its braking capability. These tires also offer great traction on paved roads and off-roads as well.

4. Very Affordable

While Pathfinder tires offer premium tire capabilities, they are budget-friendly. A standard Pathfinder tire retails as low as $110. That means you can buy a complete set for under $500 only. At the same time, you get the quality of premium tires.

If you buy a set of premium tires from a popular brand, you can easily spend around $1,000. With Pathfinder tires, you get the same quality at about half the price.

Pathfinder Tire Models

who makes pathfinder tires for discount tire
Pathfinder AT

There are several models of Pathfinder tires that you can choose from based on the type and make of your vehicle and the wheels’ size. In general, there are three types of Pathfinder tires for SUVs and light trucks. They include the following:

  1. Pathfinder AT
  2. Pathfinder HT
  3. Sport S AT
  4. Pathfinder HSR

1. Pathfinder AT

This tire model can provide reliable handling on and off-road. It has a rugged, all-terrain tread pattern and is made of a strong rubber compound that can handle nearly all types of terrains and road conditions.

The Pathfinder AT tires is available in sizes ranging from 15 to 20 inches—one tire costs around $128 to $242. You can buy this tire at Discount Tire.

2. Pathfinder HT

This is an All-Season tire. You can use it on SUVs, vans, and light trucks. It is made to provide dependable all-season traction and confident handling on highways. There are several sizes of the Pathfinder HT. They range from 15 to 20 inches.

The price of this tire model ranges from $99 to $173. So, if you need a set of tires, you will only spend from $500 to $700. That is very affordable if you use it for your van or light truck.

3. Pathfinder Sport S AT

This is a special tire made to be used as an all-terrain tire. It is built to provide reliable on-road traction. The Pathfinder Sport S AT effectively combines great steering response and dependable handling.

It is also available in several sizes ranging from 15 to 20 inches. One tire of this model is retailed for around $130. You can buy it at Discount Tire. Your total cost for a whole tire set is $520.

4. Pathfinder HSR

This tire model is for commercial vehicles. It is a heavy-duty tire that can deliver the following:

  • Long-lasting performance,
  • All-season traction, and
  • A comfortable ride.

You can also buy it at Discount Tire. The price of one tire ranges between $76 and $186.

Pathfinder Tires Warranty

For all non LT sizes, Pathfinder AT extends a 55,000-mile tread warranty. On the first year or first 2/32 inches of wear, tire uniformity is guaranteed.

You will get a warranty for workmanship and material for six years, inclusive of the following:

  • Free replacement during the first year or the first 2/32 inch wear of the tire.
  • A prorated amount for the remaining period leading down to the tire’s final 2/32 inch wear.

Mileage warranties also vary according to the tire model:

  1. AT – 50,000 to 55,000 miles
  2. HT – 45,000 to 60,000 miles
  3. Sport – 60,000 miles
  4. HSR – 50,000 miles

Conclusion: Who Makes Pathfinder Tires?

The tire brand Pathfinder is a subsidiary of Kumho tires headquartered in Korea. Pathfinder is positioning itself as a tire brand that manufactures tires specially designed for SUVs and light trucks.

They are popular with SUV and light truck owners and drivers because these tires are very affordable, yet they offer solid grip, comfortable rides, and confident handling. With Pathfinder, you will get premium tires at almost half the price of the famous brands.

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