Some tire tests happen in a parking lot. This one happened on Pritchett Canyon.
If you know Moab, you know Pritchett Canyon is no joke. Steep ledges, slickrock, off-camber climbs, and obstacles make it one of the toughest trail – a perfect proving ground for the newTrailTek R/T.
YouTube influencer @Dirthead_Dave, best known for his TV show and YouTube channel called The Dirthead Shed, took his newly V8-swapped 1998 Butter Jeep YJ back to Moab (for the 100th time) and pointed it straight at Pritchett Canyon — one of the most technical trails in Moab.
The question was… Could the TrailTek R/T handle it?
Table of Contents
- Why Pritchett Canyon Matters
- The Jeep, the Trail, and the Test
- What Makes the TrailTek R/T Different
- Down and Dirty
- Chewy Hill
- Rocker Knocker
- Dave’s Final Thoughts
Pritchett Canyon has a reputation for a reason. It is the kind of trail that exposes weak points fast. On terrain like this, a tire needs to hold traction, feel planted, and handle constant abuse over 8+ hrs of on-trail time.
That made it the right place to test the TrailTek R/T.
The Jeep, the Trail, and the Test
Butter Jeep is built to wheel, and Dirthead Dave is known for putting new gear to the test. On the Jeep YJ was a set of KMC Impact Forged Beadlocks mounted on Avix TrailTek 37-inch tires, headed into one of the toughest trails in Moab.
The TrailTek R/T was created and designed to sit between an all-terrain and a mud-terrain tire. Aggressive enough for real trail use, but still refined enough for everyday driving. Pritchett gave us the perfect place to put that balance to the test.
So what makes the TrailTek R/T different from other R/Ts?
We built the TrailTek R/T with a 3-ply sidewall (10-ply rated, load range E), double block shoulder, and a tread pattern designed to remain predictable in mixed terrain. The silica-based compound keeps that sticky-ness you need on surfaces common in Moab, while the overall construction is built to roll over sharp rock, rough trails, and the miles in between.
Specs are one thing. Watching them work on a trail like Pritchett is another.
Trail Obstacle 1: Down and Dirty
One of the first big tests came on the trail’s first big obstacle: Down and Dirty.
This is the kind of terrain where sidewall strength matters. With the tires aired down to 4 psi and working through jagged rock and pinch points, the TrailTek R/T’s 3-ply sidewall was beefy enough to take abuse while still conforming enough to keep proper traction.
Trail Obstacle 2: Chewy Hill
Chewy Hill is steep, slick, and off-camber in all the wrong ways. On a climb like this, grip is only part of the equation. You also want a tire that feels stable and
predictable. Here, the TrailTek R/T’s staggered center tread design and aggressive shoulder blocks worked together to keep the Jeep controlled when it mattered most. Dave’s comment after this obstacle said it all: “Wow, looking strong so far!”
Trail Obstacle 3: Rocker Knocker
Then came Rocker Knocker. This is one of the most infamous obstacles on Pritchett, and the kind of place that quickly shows whether a tire can back up the look. As Butter Jeep worked through the climb, the load on each tire changed constantly. That is where the TrailTek R/T’s double block shoulder made a difference, giving the outer edge of the tire the support it needed on ledges and uneven rock.
Knowing the tire was up for the test, all Dave had to worry about was whether the V8-swap was enough to get him up and over Rocker Knocker. The double block shoulder design stood strong as Dave slammed Butter Jeep up the side of a 50o wall and successfully over the infamous obstacle. Phew!
Final Thoughts
Pritchett Canyon is the kind of trail that tells the truth.
That is what made Dirthead Dave’s run such a great proof point for the TrailTek R/T. Watching Butter Jeep tackle one of Moab’s toughest trails showed exactly what this tire was built to do.
Dave’s final thoughts said it best.
“Heck ya! The TrailTek R/T did a great job keeping up with some really impressive rigs on super sticky tires. They’re legit. I’m gonna be keeping these on my rig for a while.”
The TrailTek R/T is made for drivers who want one tire that can handle daily driving, road trips, rough terrain, and serious trail use.
Watch the full video and follow Dirthead Dave’s run through Pritchett Canyon for yourself.