Dynamic on Dirt, Pleasant on Pavement: Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT Review

If you’re like most all-terrain tire users, you probably don’t drive on dirt as much as you’d like. So pavement performance is critical. But when you do steer onto rough dirt, gravel, mud, and rocky roads, your tires need to perform.

That’s me in a nutshell. And it’s how I tested the Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT all-terrain tires over the last 6 months. Mounted on my 2010 Ford F-150, I put about 5,000 miles on a set of Nokian Outpost nATs. In my early use, I’ve found them quiet and capable, stacking up well against the best AT tires on the market.

In short: The Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT is a moderately aggressive AT tire perfect for light trucks and SUVs. Made in the USA by a Finnish brand, the tires are excellent on pavement, dirt, rocks, and mud. Better yet, they are incredible on snow and ice. If there’s a downside, it’s that the tires tend to throw rocks more than average when new.

Shopping around? Check out our guide to the best all-terrain tires.

Editor’s note: This article was updated on Jan. 7, 2025, to include information about driving on snow and ice.

Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT Review

“Shit road” — we call it that because it’s that bad. But the 2-mile dirt track leads to one of my favorite trailheads for hiking and hunting, so I put it in 4WD and point the hood upward.

Ol’ shit road made a perfect test for the Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT. While I have put about 5,000 miles on the tires since spring, and plenty of it off the pavement, this stretch always puts my tires and truck to the test.

The first section is incredibly rough, with deep holes and ruts through rocky clay that force driving at a crawl. Next comes a series of switchbacks up a steep mountain face. The double-track climbs hard here, with one extremely steep section that will stop almost all 2WD vehicles thanks to its soft, powdery clay surface.

From there, it’s a mile of navigating around boulders and potholes to the trailhead.

On four trips in and out of the road, the Nokians did amazingly well. I kept them aired up at highway pressures, and they were entirely capable of clawing up the 4-inch-deep kitty litter. I did get a little wheel spin, but felt confident and under control the entire time.

‘Oopsie’ Leads to Replacement Experience

In and out of that awful road, up and down the highway, and across many sections of gravel, the Nokian Outpost nATs performed well. That is, until I made an “oops” coming down Shit Road after elk hunting.

Somehow, I didn’t notice the large rock protruding from the side of the embankment. Wham! My truck bounced sideways as the tire and rim whacked against the stone. Immediately, I heard the dreaded shhhhhhhhhhhhh blasting from the rear wheel. I started looking for a flat spot to park. Sure enough, I’d blown the sidewall on a sharp rock.

That tire was toast.

We changed the tire (thank goodness for a full-size, aired-up spare) and headed home. This meant I had to order and replace the tire. It was a good experience, as I learned that not every shop will have it available. It took about 4 days after ordering the Nokian Outpost nAT online for it to arrive at my Discount Tires location. All in, the replacement tire and installation cost $360. Lesson learned: keep your eyes on the road!

Muddy Road Testing

While most of my driving in the Rocky Mountains was on dry, rocky roads, I did have the chance to do a couple of hundred miles of driving on slick, muddy country roads in eastern Colorado. Those high plains roads, after a heavy, wet snowfall, turned into greasy, sketchy slides during the 2024 pheasant opener.

The Outpost nAT handled these very slick conditions all right. I won’t say they did fantastic, but for a tire aimed at all-around performance, they got me out and back safely and with no real close calls. I’ll take it as a win.

I found my truck slid sideways a little, giving me an unsettling feeling when I hit really soft patches. This was on very wet gravel roads that gave way to clay after the storm, and I regularly sank about 4 to 5 inches in the mud while driving. They were challenging conditions, and I do appreciate that the tires managed them.

However, these are not mud terrain tires. If your primary use will be on soft, muddy surfaces, there are better options out there.

Pavement Driving

OK, this is less exciting. But for most users, it’s where most of your miles will add up, so pavement performance is darned important.

Fortunately, the Nokian Outpost nAT is really good on pavement, wet or dry. I immediately noticed that these tires roll smoothly and very quietly, especially given their aggressive tread. On my first days of driving, I decided that they’re among the quietest all-terrain tires I’ve tested.

Beyond their very quiet nature, they also handle well. I run 33-inch tires on my F-150, and they start, stop, and turn as well as I’d expect for a large tire. My fuel efficiency is not great, averaging about 14.5 mpg. That’s about the same as my last tires, the Cooper Discover TA/KO2, and quite a lot worse than stock tires. But these are nearly 2 inches larger, so it’s no surprise that I lost a few mpg.

Nokian Outpost nAT Snow, Ice Performance

This article was originally posted in November 2024. I’m updating it in January 2025 with a major note: The Nokian Outpost nAT is fantastic on snow.

Over the last month, I’ve driven hundreds of snowy miles, including slick conditions on I-70 in Colorado and very sketchy trail driving while elk hunting late season in the high country. Across the board, the Outpost nAT performed better than any AT tire I’ve used on snow and ice.

That shouldn’t have surprised me, given that Nokian is a brand founded on winter tires. But darn if I wasn’t impressed over the last month.

During a 30-mile round-trip between Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin during a snowstorm, I noted that the tires gave me more confidence than I expected. I’m a very experienced winter driver, but I was still surprised by how good the traction was during a few brake checks. I even tried to brake the rear end loose in an empty parking lot and was surprised by the lack of sliding when I goosed the throttle during a turn!

Off the pavement, the Outpost nAT did as well as I could expect from any tire without chains. I drove over probably 30 miles of wild high-country trails covered in packed snow and ice and found the traction to be good. My only white-knuckle moments came when I hit a patch of mud on a steep downhill, which required some intense driving to avoid a ditch in a tight turn, but the tires pulled me through.

So, are the Nokian Outpost nAT good in snow? Yes. Of course they aren’t as good as dedicated snow tires. But as a winter-rated AT tire, they’re as good as I’ve used.

Nokian Outpost nAT: Who Should Buy Them

At 5,000 miles, this is still an early review. Winter is just getting started in Colorado, and I’m excited to test these through the cold and snowy months. I’ll be updating this guide after a little more experience on the snow. I’ll also report back on wear and tear, but so far the tires still look brand new.

At this point, I think the Nokian Outpost nAT are great tires for people who need good pavement manners but also do legitimate off-road driving. They’re an aggressive tire that should handle most rough terrain without issue. But they are still good on pavement, wet, dry, or snowy.

Outside of throwing up stones when new, I have very little to criticize about these tires. I think they’ll be a great choice for anyone in the AT tire market.