Thunderer tires is a subsidiary of American Omni Trading Company and offers high-quality tires for passenger vehicles, light trucks, trailers, and commercial applications. The Thunderer RA401 is a premium all-position commercial truck/bus tire suitable for use on regional and long-haul applications. The tire is optimized for longer tread life, reduced rolling resistance, solid durability, higher load-carrying capacity, and increased traction performance.

For your truck or bus, if you’re looking for a dependable regional or long-haul service tire, check out this Thunderer RA401 review and get informed on its features and benefits, strengths and weaknesses, available sizes, and our view on this tire based on SimpleScore ratings for longevity, durability, and traction.

Features and Benefits

Typically, all-position tires are designed and built with steer axles in mind, but they can also be used on drive and trailer axles. These tires are engineered to offer better steering response, confident handling, better driver comfort, and optimum driving performance. The Thunderer RA401 is one such commercial all-position tire that is made for fitment on drive, trailer, and steer axles and boats many impressive capabilities, which we have highlighted below:

• Long-lasting service – The RA401 is designed and engineered for long-lasting service and features up to 22/32” tread depth for increased mileage. The wider and flat footprint of this commercial all-position truck/bus radial tire maximizes weight distribution for even and uniform wear. The generous siping on the tread also combats irregular wear and enhances overall mileage.
• Reduced rolling resistance — This TBR tire is also great at reducing rolling resistance. The tire's advanced tread compound ensures low rolling resistance, boosting fuel economy.
• Solid durability and higher load capacity - This premium commercial tire also boasts solid durability to withstand varied road conditions. It utilizes a highly durable casing and a strong belt carcass that allows the tire to withstand wear during long-haul operations. Additionally, the sidewall structure of this tire is adequately durable to boost its load-carrying capacity.
• Optimum year-round traction performance – A good TBR all-position tire is supposed to serve optimally in varied weather conditions, and the same applies to the RA401 tire. The tire offers better year-round traction and performance in dry, wet, and light wintry conditions. Its four circumferential grooves disperse water from the contact patch to resist the chances of hydroplaning, whereas the sipes on the center ribs maintain surefootedness for increased traction and grip. Moreover, the compound of the RA401 is also tuned for maximum contact with the surface in both dry and wet conditions.
• Maximum self-cleaning – The tire is designed to keep the footprint clean for additional grip and features five ribs that won’t let dirt accumulate. Similarly, the tread grooves push dirt, slush, and water away for consistent contact with the surface.

The Thunderer RA401 is offered in 17.5- to 22.5-inch wheel diameter, and some of its available sizes are listed below:

• 215/75R17.5
• 245/70R19.5
• 315/80R22.5

Pros and Cons

Now, let’s look at the pros and cons of the RA401 and find out where the tire is strong and what areas are not the best choice.

PROS:

• More affordable than some of its competitors.
• Optimized for low rolling resistance and increased fuel efficiency.
• Long-lasting tread life than other similar TBR tires.
• More durable and stronger than their counterparts.
• Engineered for increased load-carrying capacity.
• Offers year-round traction performance.
• It has a self-cleaning tread design.

CONS:

• It is unsuitable in extreme winter conditions or on thick snow or ice.
• No limited manufacturer tread life warranty is offered.

SimpleTire’s view on Thunderer RA401 tires

If you’re looking for an all-position truck or bus radial tire that can be a great choice for regional or long-haul purposes and doesn’t dent your wallet, you must consider the Thunderer RA401.

This all-position tire is optimized for reduced rolling resistance, which also contributes to increased fuel efficiency, eventually leading to more savings. It is also engineered for longer tread life and increased load-carrying capacity and sports a more durable and stronger construction than its counterparts.

Whether the conditions are dry, wet, or light snow, this tire offers dependable traction and grip. It is designed to ensure optimum self-cleaning and consistent contact with the surface, enhancing handling or steering response. The tread compound and design both ensure smooth rolling and boost driving performance.

The tire's durability, traction, and longevity scores are 8.2, 8.0, and 8.0, respectively. These scores indicate that the tire is versatile and can be a value-for-money choice for drivers who need tires that serve longer, offer better traction year-round, and have adequate durability to combat driving pressures and carry higher loads.

It is to be noted that this tire isn’t the best choice if you are looking for something in particular that can be used on roads covered with thick snow or on icy surfaces. Additionally, it doesn’t come with a limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

In the domestic tire market, the Thunderer RA401 competes with the following tires:

• Americus AP2000
• Samson Radial Truck GL284A
• Milestar BS623
• Ironman I-301
• Falken RI151
• LingLong F86
• Sumitomo ST727
• Sailun S637
• Double Coin RT600

Vehicles the Thunderer RA401 is a good replacement tire for

The Thunderer RA401 could be a good replacement for regional and long-haul trucks and buses.