Trailhunter: considering Bridgestone Dueler at ascent. Anyone have experience with these?

[Denver448]

2025 4Runner Trailhunter has the Toyo open country at3 currently. Haven’t done a lot of anything off road so thinking about going with a slightly better road AT tire. Anyone have experience with Bridgestone Dueler A/t Ascent? Good bad? Feel like they might suit my driving better but never driven them. Thanks

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[sixfourgarage]

If you're looking at that route look at Continental AT2's in 275/70/18...

I'm coming close to where my TH needs to get tires and I have no idea what I want to switch for... every tire seems heavy, many mediocre reviews... I know TH can take 285's with no prob but I just dont want to see that mpg gauge go even lower....

 

[MikeK]

If you're looking at that route look at Continental AT2's in 275/70/18...

I'm coming close to where my TH needs to get tires and I have no idea what I want to switch for... every tire seems heavy, many mediocre reviews... I know TH can take 285's with no prob but I just dont want to see that mpg gauge go even lower....

Queue up the beat to death "you should've bought a Prius" anytime you mention mpg .
I swear, people who parrot that sound like a broken record.
They act like we have an infinite supply of oil and gas, when in reality we have an estimated 47-50 years of oil reserves left at current consumption rates.
Hell yeah, I'm concerned about MPG no matter what vehicle I'm driving.

 

[josiahg52]

I think there's a distinction between wanting to maximize the fuel economy of the vehicle you own and making fuel economy a significant economic consideration in your purchasing decisions.

I certainly try to maximize mine. My Trailhunter on the original factory Toyota Open Country tires generally averages around 22–23 MPG tank to tank, largely because of my particular driving conditions and how I operate the vehicle. Other owners report less than that, and I don't think tire selection accounts for anything close to the difference.

Ultimately, it's still a 4Runner. Its weight, aerodynamics, engine, drivetrain, and how and where it's driven establish most of its fuel consumption. Different tires can certainly affect that, but they're not going to fundamentally transform its efficiency.

For perspective, even improving from 22 to 22.5 MPG over 60,000 miles saves only about $240 at $4 per gallon. That's a pretty small return if fuel savings are the reason for spending $1,000 or more on replacement tires. If the tires need replacing anyway, that's obviously a different consideration, and there are plenty of good reasons to prefer one tire over another.

As for the inevitable Prius comparison, I don't think it's entirely without merit, although it's often expressed poorly. If fuel expense is a major economic concern, choosing a substantially more efficient vehicle makes a much greater difference than trying to recover fractions of an MPG from a 4Runner. That doesn't mean you can't care about getting good mileage from the vehicle you chose.

Personally, I enjoy seeing how efficiently I can operate mine, but I also recognize what it is. I wouldn't expect it to average 25–30 MPG consistently, and I wouldn't let a speculative fraction of an MPG determine which tires I buy.

 

[Denver448]

From what I’ve read, these tires are smoother and softer on paved roads and make the ride better. MPG is equivalent. I’m looking for a smooth ride with great snow handling. These seemed to fit the bill. Which is why I was asking. Not a MPG related question

 

[Jbob14]

I put KO3s on mine about 6 weeks ago. ~1500 miles in I really like them. Quieter than I expected and it didn't really change on-road manners. I know people are polarized about the KO3s but I'm a fan. (I also had them on my old Grand Cherokee before I traded for the TH)

I'm very impressed by their capability and especially snow management. Yes, they're heavy, yes I got a ~1mpg drop. No regrets.

 

[MikeK]

I think there's a distinction between wanting to maximize the fuel economy of the vehicle you own and making fuel economy a significant economic consideration in your purchasing decisions.

I certainly try to maximize mine. My Trailhunter on the original factory Toyota Open Country tires generally averages around 22–23 MPG tank to tank, largely because of my particular driving conditions and how I operate the vehicle. Other owners report less than that, and I don't think tire selection accounts for anything close to the difference.

Ultimately, it's still a 4Runner. Its weight, aerodynamics, engine, drivetrain, and how and where it's driven establish most of its fuel consumption. Different tires can certainly affect that, but they're not going to fundamentally transform its efficiency.

For perspective, even improving from 22 to 22.5 MPG over 60,000 miles saves only about $240 at $4 per gallon. That's a pretty small return if fuel savings are the reason for spending $1,000 or more on replacement tires. If the tires need replacing anyway, that's obviously a different consideration, and there are plenty of good reasons to prefer one tire over another.

As for the inevitable Prius comparison, I don't think it's entirely without merit, although it's often expressed poorly. If fuel expense is a major economic concern, choosing a substantially more efficient vehicle makes a much greater difference than trying to recover fractions of an MPG from a 4Runner. That doesn't mean you can't care about getting good mileage from the vehicle you chose.

Personally, I enjoy seeing how efficiently I can operate mine, but I also recognize what it is. I wouldn't expect it to average 25–30 MPG consistently, and I wouldn't let a speculative fraction of an MPG determine which tires I buy.

Very good and thorough explanation! You make a good point that relates to my rant about people making the Prius comment. When 4Runner owners talk about MPG, clearly it isn't their main consideration; they're simply trying to maximize it, like you pointed out.
It's like saying, I'd like to improve on-road handling and then some jackass comes in saying 'You should've bought a Corvette.'
It's just a low-IQ comment and does nothing to help the conversation.

 

[josiahg52]

From what I’ve read, these tires are smoother and softer on paved roads and make the ride better. MPG is equivalent. I’m looking for a smooth ride with great snow handling. These seemed to fit the bill. Which is why I was asking. Not a MPG related question

That makes sense. I wasn't suggesting your tire choice was motivated by MPG; my comments were more about the broader fuel economy discussion.

I haven't driven the Dueler A/T Ascent, so I can't offer a meaningful comparison with the factory Toyos. I've actually found the OE Toyos surprisingly quiet and comfortable, but I can certainly understand looking for something with better paved-road manners and good winter performance. It seems that's what Bridgestone positions the Dueler A/T Ascent as. I'm generally not a fan of Bridgestone or Firestone tires due to personal experience across different lines and vehicles but I'd be interested to hear how the Bridgestones compare if you decide to try them.

 

[sixfourgarage]

Queue up the beat to death "you should've bought a Prius" anytime you mention mpg .
I swear, people who parrot that sound like a broken record.
They act like we have an infinite supply of oil and gas, when in reality we have an estimated 47-50 years of oil reserves left at current consumption rates.
Hell yeah, I'm concerned about MPG no matter what vehicle I'm driving.

tbh i am just bitter that Toyota said "oh look its a hybrid 4banger turbo and look at that sticker w. 20+mpg".... when it was complete BS.. in reality, because or all the weight added on TH and aerodynamics of a refrigerator it's like 15ish mpg....I have only seen 20+ on my car when I did a delivery test drive.... but because I don't live in flatlands.. it's 15-16...

a while back i was walking through a Chevy dealership and there was a AEV outfitted Chevy Colorado Bison, it had a window sticker that reflected all the crap they put on it... w. adjusted mpg than regular Colorado.. Toyota could've done same. I've had 3rd gen & 4th gen V8 (best) and 2012 Highlander Hybrid (for like 13 years) and for the most part got what was expected... For some reason this TH feels like a bunch of BS... held by spit. Feels fragile af. Had tons of stuff i had to warranty out when i bought it... prob because it was the first batch of them--

but back to my original comment I should have mentioned that from everything I read : the Continental Terrain Contact At/2 handling (wet/dry) etc seems to be great and it's quiet -- it's recently released so not many reviews..

 

[sixfourgarage]

I think there's a distinction between wanting to maximize the fuel economy of the vehicle you own and making fuel economy a significant economic consideration in your purchasing decisions.

I certainly try to maximize mine. My Trailhunter on the original factory Toyota Open Country tires generally averages around 22–23 MPG tank to tank, largely because of my particular driving conditions and how I operate the vehicle. Other owners report less than that, and I don't think tire selection accounts for anything close to the difference.

Ultimately, it's still a 4Runner. Its weight, aerodynamics, engine, drivetrain, and how and where it's driven establish most of its fuel consumption. Different tires can certainly affect that, but they're not going to fundamentally transform its efficiency.

For perspective, even improving from 22 to 22.5 MPG over 60,000 miles saves only about $240 at $4 per gallon. That's a pretty small return if fuel savings are the reason for spending $1,000 or more on replacement tires. If the tires need replacing anyway, that's obviously a different consideration, and there are plenty of good reasons to prefer one tire over another.

As for the inevitable Prius comparison, I don't think it's entirely without merit, although it's often expressed poorly. If fuel expense is a major economic concern, choosing a substantially more efficient vehicle makes a much greater difference than trying to recover fractions of an MPG from a 4Runner. That doesn't mean you can't care about getting good mileage from the vehicle you chose.

Personally, I enjoy seeing how efficiently I can operate mine, but I also recognize what it is. I wouldn't expect it to average 25–30 MPG consistently, and I wouldn't let a speculative fraction of an MPG determine which tires I buy.

original TOYOS are also H rated SL load tires with 10/32's tread and UTQG 360 (temp A and traction A) they're soft -- weigh around 39lbs. Haven't seen many AT replacements w. with similar specs.

 

[CO/ZA]

I had the Duelers in 275/70 E Load and found them lacking, albeit decent in snow.

The new Pirelli XTM AT is much better overall, and doesn't feel as wallowy in the same size but with additional off road performance to boot.

 

[MikeK]

tbh i am just bitter that Toyota said "oh look its a hybrid 4banger turbo and look at that sticker w. 20+mpg".... when it was complete BS.. in reality, because or all the weight added on TH and aerodynamics of a refrigerator it's like 15ish mpg....I have only seen 20+ on my car when I did a delivery test drive.... but because I don't live in flatlands.. it's 15-16...

a while back i was walking through a Chevy dealership and there was a AEV outfitted Chevy Colorado Bison, it had a window sticker that reflected all the crap they put on it... w. adjusted mpg than regular Colorado.. Toyota could've done same. I've had 3rd gen & 4th gen V8 (best) and 2012 Highlander Hybrid (for like 13 years) and for the most part got what was expected... For some reason this TH feels like a bunch of BS... held by spit. Feels fragile af. Had tons of stuff i had to warranty out when i bought it... prob because it was the first batch of them--

but back to my original comment I should have mentioned that from everything I read : the Continental Terrain Contact At/2 handling (wet/dry) etc seems to be great and it's quiet -- it's recently released so not many reviews..

I don't always get the advertised mpg on my TH, but for example on today's morning commute I did get 22mpg. One observation I've noticed that when I do get close to or the advertised mpg, it's in heavy stop n go traffic or slow traffic when the gas engine shuts off and I'm running in EV mode (Toyota's terminology).
If I'm driving in a traffic situation where the gas engine is enabled for the majority of the time, the mpg noticeably drops.
I typically drive in normal mode and have learned to be easier on the throttle by using the turbo boost gauge.
Another noteworthy thing is that Toyota didn't engineer the hybrid system on these trucks for mpg as the main focus, rather, it's there for the added torque and HP.
Not having flat roads is definitely impacting your mpg, since that turbo is going to be in boost more often than not.

 

[ScoMay]

2025 4Runner Trailhunter has the Toyo open country at3 currently. Haven’t done a lot of anything off road so thinking about going with a slightly better road AT tire. Anyone have experience with Bridgestone Dueler A/t Ascent? Good bad? Feel like they might suit my driving better but never driven them. Thanks

I not only watch the 6th GEN 4Runner forum, but I’ve also been watching the 6th GEN Ford Ranger forum. I clip highlights from comments that may be useful to me when I am ready for new tires. Here are some snippets of comments that members in the 6th GEN Ford Ranger forum have stated about the Bridgestone Dueler Ascent AT tire you are interested in.

There were a lot of positive comments there also about the Pirelli Scorpion XTM‘s (mentioned by CO/ZA above).

Not sure how well the information transfers over from a midsize pickup discussion into a midsize SUV discussion, but note that the Ford Ranger RAPTOR trim currently comes standard with BFG KO3’s.

Here’s some food for thought. (Apologies to the original reviewers - I never note who said what.)

——————-——————-——————

YouTube channel The Topher loves the Bridgestone Dueler Ascent tires (as 35’s).

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Another reviewer put it this way: “I'd say it's probably a trade off: 15% better in snow/ice & offroad vs 15% worse in fuel economy and noise.” (Which tire he was comparing it to I don’t recall - likely the BFG KO3.)

——————-——————-——————

Another said: “I'm upgrading to the Pirelli XTM ATs next week. The Dueler A/T Ascents I have have been great, especially in snow. However, I think the sidewall leaves something to be desired with the scree fields I've come across. I'm planning to run the San Juan trails (Imogene, Engineer, Ophir, etc.). I want the extra insurance for 13,115 ft mountain passes.Haven't sliced one yet, but did have a close call on Bill Moore Lake such that I think the XTM AT is a worthy upgrade for the net cost of switching. The KO3s are my second choice.”

——————-——————-——————

Finally, this reviewer went into quite a bit of detail: “I wanted to love the Bridgestone Dueler Ascent A/T. On paper, it is the "Goldilocks" tire I’ve been looking for: a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rating for Idaho winters, aggressive "Cobra" sidewall looks, and marketing that claims it matches the Michelin Defender LTX for highway comfort.

The Good: The engineering here is undeniably impressive.

Ride Quality: These are remarkably smooth. They absorb pot-holes and washboard gravel significantly better than my original Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT tires. There is zero vibration and the steering feel is excellent—direct and planted.

Performance: I've taken these into dirt and wet conditions where the Goodyear tires would have slipped, and the Ascents just grip. The 3PMSF rating isn't just a sticker; the compound stays pliable in the cold, and the siping eats up wet roads. If you need one tire to handle an unplowed commute and a summer road trip, the capability is definitely there.

The Bad: Everyone claims this is the quietest All-Terrain tire on the market, or even a "hybrid" highway tire. It is not.

Not great in the mud.

I came from the factory Goodyear Wrangler Territory ATs, which are admittedly mild, but they were nearly silent. I expected the Ascents—with their fancy noise-canceling tread pitch and "Enliten" technology—to match that. They don't. There is a distinct, audible hum at highway speeds (55-75 mph). It isn't the aggressive roar of a Mud Terrain, but it is a constant background drone that simply wasn't there with the stock Goodyear tires.

The Verdict: If you are coming from aggressive tires like KO3’s or Wildpeaks, the Ascent will sound whisper-quiet to you. But if you are coming from factory H/T or mild A/T tires (like the Territory ATs) and you are chasing pure silence, you will be disappointed. These are fantastic performers, but don't believe the hype that they are "silent." You are definitely paying a noise tax for that cool sidewall and snow rating.

COMPOUND
Utilizes high-silica "Enliten" technology. This compound is chemically engineered to remain soft and pliable in the cold and wet, prioritizing grip and stopping power over sheer physical durability.

Siping Technology / Groove & Block Design
Uses full-depth 3D interlocking sipes (waffle pattern inside the rubber). When braking, the internal walls lock together to prevent block squirm. This keeps the biting edges open and effective on hard-packed snow and black ice. Features a continuous center rib and tighter block spacing. This puts more rubber in contact with the road at all times, providing superior stability and wet traction, but offering less ability to "paddle" through deep, loose off-road terrain.”

 

[Denver448]

This is fantastic info. Appreciate taking the time to share this

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