275/70/18 tire dilema (1 Viewer)

[dealmaker]

Wanting to go to max tire size I can put on my otherwise bone stock 2006 LX470. Looks like 275/70/18 is best option, but I'm only finding E load range tires in that size, except for GoodyearWrangler Duratrac, which I can get in D, or some General Grabbers in SL load range, which is "worse" than C. I was really hoping for KO3s or WildPeak AT4s.

Anyone else go down that road? Better to downsize to 275/65/18? I think that's what I have now with Michelin LTX Defenders, but I'd be afraid to roll those through Death Valley. I've had K02s C load range on my 4th Gen for 20 yrs and never had any issues with those. So...wait for (hopefully) more selection in load range C? Pick a different tire size?

I was really hoping for KO3s or WildPeak AT4s.

Any and all input appreciated as I slowly orient this pavement princess LX towards more off road use.

 

[JRidz]

Thanks for posting this. I have the same question with a stock 2005 LX470.

 

[LEXCRUISER]

I have installed KO3, so far it's been great! I will replaced KM3 on my 200 to KO3 in the future.

 

[Kingrich33]

Wanting to go to max tire size I can put on my otherwise bone stock 2006 LX470. Looks like 275/70/18 is best option, but I'm only finding E load range tires in that size, except for GoodyearWrangler Duratrac, which I can get in D, or some General Grabbers in SL load range, which is "worse" than C. I was really hoping for KO3s or WildPeak AT4s.

Anyone else go down that road? Better to downsize to 275/65/18? I think that's what I have now with Michelin LTX Defenders, but I'd be afraid to roll those through Death Valley. I've had K02s C load range on my 4th Gen for 20 yrs and never had any issues with those. So...wait for (hopefully) more selection in load range C? Pick a different tire size?

I was really hoping for KO3s or WildPeak AT4s.

Any and all input appreciated as I slowly orient this pavement princess LX towards more off road use.

I did KO3’s and so far so good. No issues I have noticed with them being “E” rated.

 

[Coin]

I have 275/70/18 KO's as well. I will not do it again. It's not terrible, but you can definitely feel the "E" rated tires. I'm thinking 285/65/18 next time.

 

[HuntersHikes]

Regarding your Defender LTX's, from what I've read, you can roll those pretty much everywhere (with the exception of mud and extreme situations).

 

[tmanpuncher27]

I’ve had my k03 in 275 70 18 E (+25offset) for a little over a month now. They’ve been great In the rain so far. My only concern is how much rocks they pic up when I go on gravel roads. Besides that I love mine. mine rub the very slightest bit when turning.

 

[GTV]

275/70 is a HD truck size tire, hence the majority of them being E load.

 

[TahoeZ]

If you want it to roll as smooth as possible on the pavement, stick with a lighter, softer, tire. If you are going offroad, E rated tires are the way to go. They are much stronger. They take hard hits on sharp rocks with less chance of flatting. I think they feel fine on pavement if you run the correct pressure, but I drive big heavy trucks most of the day for work, so YMMV.

 

[dealmaker]

I have 275/70/18 KO's as well. I will not do it again. It's not terrible, but you can definitely feel the "E" rated tires. I'm thinking 285/65/18 next time.

Darn you. Is the 285/65/18 a C load range? Will that work on an '06 LX with OEM 18"s? I'm not seeing any C-load range tires that size on America's Tires website. Know of any in that size that are C load range? Are you over-inflating your tires simply because of their E load range? I am seeing SL load range tires though. Was I correct earlier in this thread where I assumed load range SL was "weaker" than C load range?

Regarding your Defender LTX's, from what I've read, you can roll those pretty much everywhere (with the exception of mud and extreme situations).

I'd hate to find out the hard way 50+ miles in to Saline Valley, or somewhere atop the White Mountains, but I will look in to this more.

If you want it to roll as smooth as possible on the pavement, stick with a lighter, softer, tire. If you are going offroad, E rated tires are the way to go. They are much stronger. They take hard hits on sharp rocks with less chance of flatting. I think they feel fine on pavement if you run the correct pressure, but I drive big heavy trucks most of the day for work, so YMMV.

Granted my 4th Gen 4Runner is lighter than my LX, even with it's Shrockworks front bumper, Hannah sliders and fully loaded up , but I've never had a single issue with my C-range KO2s ever, in all my trips thru Death/Panamint/Saline Valleys, White Mountains, Eastern Sierra.

I am seeing SL load range tires in 285-65-18, like Wildpeak AT4 and others. Was I correct earlier in this thread where I assumed load range SL was "weaker" than C load range?

 

[Coin]

To answer your question, I have not looked at 285/65’s yet. I assume/hope there are some that are not load E rated.

Load E is just way overkill for my use. It’s also unnecessarily heavy.

 

[HuntersHikes]

400,000 Miles

My 2006 Tacoma Doublecab TRD Off Road hit 400k miles last night. The truck is still running great although there have been a few repairs including a...

www.tacomaworld.com

So I think the Michelin Defender is the perfect all-terrain tire...

In the "Overlanding" world excess is the new normal. I am sure you have all seen your fair share of clean traction boards, molle panels, and amber fog lights at your local cars & coffee event! Under all those rigs are these massive all-terrain and mud-terrain tires with copious amounts of tire...

forum.expeditionportal.com

two very good reads!

 

[Moridinbg]

Everybody maxing out and here I am going as low as I can with 265/60/18 30.5"

 

[BullElk]

Everybody maxing out and here I am going as low as I can with 265/60/18 30.5"

View attachment 3714485

Why oh why??

 

[Couvi]

I’ve been running the 265/70/18s for a few sets now and like the size, look and ride quality. My 2 cents.

 

[Coin]

I’ve been running the 265/70/18s for a few sets now and like the size, look and ride quality. My 2 cents.

View attachment 3714639

View attachment 3714640

View attachment 3714641

Get out of here with your reasonable, logical, and well presented arguments!

If you didn’t have to fix the pinch welds, replace the cv’s, or do a sensor lift, are your tires even worth having?

 

[Moridinbg]

Why oh why??

Big multi week tarmac only road trip, wanting something with adequate grip on snow for the winter plus my Toyo MTs are super bald now.
Looks funny, but acceleration, braking and handling are soooo much better.

Not discouraging 33s though. I will be getting another set of Toyo MTs in a few weeks.
Discouraging KM3 though. Worst tire for it's money.

 

[dealmaker]

400,000 Miles

My 2006 Tacoma Doublecab TRD Off Road hit 400k miles last night. The truck is still running great although there have been a few repairs including a...

www.tacomaworld.com

So I think the Michelin Defender is the perfect all-terrain tire...

In the "Overlanding" world excess is the new normal. I am sure you have all seen your fair share of clean traction boards, molle panels, and amber fog lights at your local cars & coffee event! Under all those rigs are these massive all-terrain and mud-terrain tires with copious amounts of tire...

forum.expeditionportal.com

two very good reads!

Thanks for posting this! I've been rolling on Michelin LTX since 2011 and have zero complaints, but only taken the LX offroad three times, and two of those were in the sand at Pismo where rocks aren't an issue. First set was the more aggressive A/T2s, then the less aggressive LTX MS on the last two sets. Rolling on 275/65/18 "XL" load rating, which is below C but above SL, with zero issues and great street manners. I will have to digest this further. There are LTX in my sizes that are E rated...and 10+ lbs heavier per tire.

 

[bkrama0314]

i am stuck on that same issue right now as well, i am aiming for defenders that are 275/70r18

 

[dealmaker]

i am stuck on that same issue right now as well, i am aiming for defenders that are 275/70r18

I just checked out that size in America's Tires site, again. Looks like both the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 and the LTX A/T 2 are available in that size, both E-load. Meanwhile, I've gone back full circle to the KO3s. Read a post somewhere else on MUD where the poster said if you're still rolling with AHC that it's hard to tell the difference. I don't plan on doing a lot of mods to the LX, larger tires and maybe sliders at some point and that'll be it. I drove 1,000 freeway miles in my slightly built V8 4Runner on KO2s coming back from OR this past July. Last year it was a there-and-back, 2,000 miles in the LX. I can't say that the 4Runner was significantly "worse" than the LX on those drives, but stop 'n go and city freeway driving would likely be different.