Our 2019 HiLux N80 build gets Radar Renegade RT+ rubber

We’ve now clocked up a fair few off-road kilometres in our secondhand N80 Lux and are getting to know it pretty well.

For a relatively stock rig, it parties hard in low range. The traction control remains one of the best systems in the game and, even on basically bald all-terrains, it made it through a few tracks that have stopped similarly specified vehicles cold. However, the harder we pushed it, the more apparent it became that the tyres were at their limit and that we were relying a little too heavily on the Bushranger winch for comfort. We needed more traction.

We’re on a budget, so we started shopping around for some decent-looking hybrid all-terrains, which sit somewhere between traditional all-terrains and muddies, and came across Radar Tyres. We’d been hearing good things about the brand, so we decided to give its Renegade RT+ tyres (↗) a run.

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The Radar rundown

While relatively new to Australia, Radar (↗) has been on the global stage for 20 years.

Along the way, it has collected accolades for becoming the first carbon-neutral tyre company and the first tyre company to support breast cancer research. It has also chalked up some competition-proven credibility with entries in the Baja 1000, one of the world’s most gruelling off-road endurance races.

If there’s anything that improves the look of a 4×4 more than a set of aggressive rubber, we’re yet to find it. The Renegade RT+ tyres were initially a bit of a worry, feeling vague on-road and not particularly planted through corners, but a quick call to Radar revealed the pressures were far too high for the compound.

After dropping them to 34psi up front and 36psi at the rear, the ride improved markedly. Still, we decided to reserve judgement until we’d wheeled with them.

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Off-road performance

With our nose pointed down a medium-difficulty track, low range engaged and the tyres aired down to around 16psi, we were ready to rock.

Our test trail is a mixture of scrabbly rock gardens, loose dirt, sill-deep bogholes and some pretty nasty muddy sections – perfect for testing some fresh rubber. The first thing we noticed was that the Radars bagged nicely over the rocks without sacrificing much in the way of high-speed dirt handling. They also provided better-than-decent grip on the rocks, which was a pleasant surprise given their price point.

While the skull-and-crossed-pistons sidewall design may not be everyone’s cup of premix mojito, the tyres provided a fair bit of lateral grip in the ruts. Again, they exceeded our expectations in that regard.

As for mud performance, well, we got bogged. A quick winch recovery had us on our way and, to be fair, it was probably more a case of driver error – not enough jandal – than any lack of performance from the tyres. Still, they’re not dedicated muddies, so expecting them to deliver mud-tyre levels of grip in the slop was probably asking too much. Everywhere else, they more than proved themselves up to the task.

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Final thoughts

The Radar Renegade RT+ (↗) is a budget tyre that delivers better-than-expected off-road performance while remaining civilised enough on-road. The key to getting the best from it is dialling in the pressures to suit your vehicle.

It took us a few tweaks to get them just right, and any significant change in weight – such as carrying a heavy load, towing a large trailer or driving completely empty – will require a little more or less air. That doesn’t make them difficult to live with; it simply means you need to pay attention to what they’re telling you.

They’re built for wheeling, with stone-ejector technology, three-ply sidewalls and a relatively soft compound. We’re not necessarily expecting exceptionally high mileage from them, so we’ll be paying close attention to rotation intervals. That said, we’d do the same with more expensive tyres, and the trade-off is worthwhile for the off-road performance – especially at this price.

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FAQs

What type of tyre is the Radar Renegade RT+?

The Renegade RT+ is a hybrid all-terrain tyre that sits somewhere between traditional all-terrains and muddies.

What features does the Radar Renegade RT+ have?

The tyres feature stone-ejector technology, three-ply sidewalls and a relatively soft compound. They are built for wheeling and provide a fair bit of lateral grip in the ruts.

How does the Radar Renegade RT+ perform on-road?

The Renegade RT+ initially felt vague on-road and not particularly planted through corners, but the ride improved markedly after the pressures were dropped to 34psi up front and 36psi at the rear.

How much do the Radar Renegade RT+ tyres cost?

The RRP for the LT265/70R17 Radar Renegade RT+ is $339 per tyre.