Another tire question...

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SEAWOLF

SEAWOLF

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Look, before you tell me to use the search button...I wouldn’t be writing this if it produced any definitive results. Besides, it’s not like the internet is going to run out of space...

I have a completely stock 2017 2hundo.

My wife daily drives it (for now).

It needs new tires ASAP. I’d like BFG KO2 (I have them on my Tacoma).

285/65r18 or 275/70r18 ????

No lift, stock wheels, willing to install OEM spacer in front...she doesn’t want a lift.

Yes. I checked the database. Didn’t see anyone with my exact situation.

I can’t buy the wrong size and have them rub, I will be shot and left for dead. Please help save a life...
 
SEAWOLF said:
Look, before you tell me to use the search button...I wouldn’t be writing this if it produced any definitive results. Besides, it’s not like the internet is going to run out of space...

I have a completely stock 2017 2hundo.

My wife daily drives it (for now).

It needs new tires ASAP. I’d like BFG KO2 (I have them on my Tacoma).

285/65r18 or 275/70r18 ????

No lift, stock wheels, willing to install OEM spacer in front...she doesn’t want a lift.

Yes. I checked the database. Didn’t see anyone with my exact situation.

I can’t buy the wrong size and have them rub, I will be shot and left for dead. Please help save a life...
Click to expand...

The problem with 285/65/18......is cost and most tires of that size are Load Range E! Remember, you also need to replace the SPARE TIRE too if you go that size.

To avoid any changes in performance/ride on highway and cost of replacing 5 tires instead of 4, i chose to stick with stock size BFG KO2 285/60/18 Load Range D. No need to replace spare...thus save some $300. Load Range D...so, slightly lighter weight and, more importantly, rides better than E.

But yes, i am HUGE fan of KO2...rides good and surprisingly quiet on highway.........and it just looks damn good!
 
SEAWOLF said:
Look, before you tell me to use the search button...I wouldn’t be writing this if it produced any definitive results. Besides, it’s not like the internet is going to run out of space...

I have a completely stock 2017 2hundo.

My wife daily drives it (for now).

It needs new tires ASAP. I’d like BFG KO2 (I have them on my Tacoma).

285/65r18 or 275/70r18 ????

No lift, stock wheels, willing to install OEM spacer in front...she doesn’t want a lift.

Yes. I checked the database. Didn’t see anyone with my exact situation.

I can’t buy the wrong size and have them rub, I will be shot and left for dead. Please help save a life...
Click to expand...

Just so you have as much info as possible before choosing...

If you stick with the BFG KO2 tires, Recommended Cold Tire Inflation Pressure for the sizes you are interested in would be:

LT285/65R18 Load Range E 125/122R = 42psi
LT275/70R18 Load Range E 125/122R = 41psi

If you still want the KO2 tires, but want the stock size:

LT285/60R18 Load Range D 118/115S = 46psi

Bear in mind, stock tire pressue for the P285/60R18 tires = 33psi

If your wife is sensitive to ride "smoothness," she may not be happy about the increased tire pressures which could lead to a harsher ride feel.

Since you didn't mention winter driving, I'll be the voice of your conscience and bring it up. Some reviews are not that positive about the performance of the KO2 tires in snow and particularly not good on ice. YMMV, but if you plan on using these tires through the winter, you might want to consider a different 4-season tire which has better performance in winter conditions.

My suggestion would be to stick with the stock size and go with a tire that has good all-season performance and provides good ride comfort. So what is this magic bullet tire?

Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015. See the specs here (plug in 285/60R18 tire size): Yoko Geolandar A/T G015

The Recommended Cold Tire Inflation Pressure for this tire is the same as the stock tires: 33psi which is the same as the door placard pressure and would be less confusing for anyone who needs to check the pressure.

Have fun deciding, but after all, "Happy wife, happy life!"

HTH
 
TireRack did review on LT-C BFG KO2 vs. other P-metric ATs: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=249

Surprisingly, KO2 are pretty quiet, pretty decent in rain, and NOT the worst fuel economy offender.

Test results graphs: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/chartDisplay.jsp?ttid=249

Another tire that should be included is the Michelin Defender, which in STOCK size, has excellent weight, great traction, and comes in "XL" designation which means that it can carry more weight than regular P-metric, which is perfect for something heavy like our LCs.
 
Last edited:
Madtiger said:
TireRack did review on LT-C BFG KO2 vs. other P-metric ATs: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=249

Surprisingly, KO2 are pretty quiet, pretty decent in rain, and NOT the worst fuel economy offender.

Test results graphs: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/chartDisplay.jsp?ttid=249

Another tire that should be included is the Michelin Defender, which in STOCK size, has excellent weight, great traction, and comes in "XL" designation which means that it can carry more weight than regular P-metric, which is perfect for something heavy like our LCs.
Click to expand...

And... from the results of that test (same link as yours):

Summary
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 is the complete package, leading every subjective score and objective measurement in our test. Without knowing better, the on-road comfort and handling behavior could easily be mistaken for a Highway All-Season tire. It delivers a high level of wet traction for the On-/Off-Road All-Terrain category, and like all the tires in the test, it's 3PMSF branded.

HTH
 
gaijin said:
And... from the results of that test (same link as yours):

Summary
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 is the complete package, leading every subjective score and objective measurement in our test. Without knowing better, the on-road comfort and handling behavior could easily be mistaken for a Highway All-Season tire. It delivers a high level of wet traction for the On-/Off-Road All-Terrain category, and like all the tires in the test, it's 3PMSF branded.

HTH
Click to expand...

No doubt that G015 is a great tire. (KO2 LT surprisingly did fairly well too.) I just can’t explain the relatively poor fuel economy of G015, worst than even LT KO2!! This is where i think the Defender would be a good alternative to the G015...but Defender does look minivan-ish.
 
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Have you considered 275/65R18 p-metric? While not available in BFG KO2, it is in many other brands. Larger than stock. It should maintain the ride quality while giving you a more aggressive tread and no fit issues.
 
I might add that while it costs more up front, I’ve always been a big fan of going with all 5 new tires, and doing a 5 tire rotation each time. Longer life out of the tire set as a whole, all of your tires wear fairly evenly, and you can be confident that your spare is in good shape. Some people will just buy four new each time they replace without ever having had to use their spare. Then comes the time they need it, and realize they’ve got a 6 year old spare, possibly suffering from rubber rot, and not safe. Just some food for thought.
 
I’m with sdnative. Even if your wife is just going to be a passenger, stick with p metric.

Any tire that requires more than 40psi will land you on the couch pretty quickly.

You can find pretty aggressive tires still in p metric and you can go a size up with minimal impact to ride or efficiency.
 
A 285/70r17 on Rock Warrior wheels is an approved OEM fitment from Toyota. Takeaway here is that it's a 32.7" overall diameter tire. Which is very similar to a 285/65r18 at 32.5" diameter. I would be very comfortable running that size tire as it's within factory thresholds.

In regards to tire pressure, the 42 PSI RCTIP pointed out here is safe. But the recommendation is simply a starting point. There's plenty of opportunity to run lower pressures to accommodate ride comfort and still be in the safe range. Namely 37PSI when pressures are derived for LX fitment, which is a heavier vehicle. My opinion, but many here have dealt with a firmer ride than necessary.
 
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TeCKis300 said:
A 285/70r17 on Rock Warrior wheels is an approved OEM fitment from Toyota. Takeaway here is that it's a 32.7" overall diameter tire. Which is very similar to a 285/65r18 at 32.5" diameter. I would be very comfortable running that size tire as it's within factory thresholds.

In regards to tire pressure, the 42 PSI RCTIP pointed out here is safe. But the recommendation is simply a starting point. There's plenty of opportunity to run lower pressures to accommodate ride comfort and still be in the safe range. Namely 37PSI when pressures are derived for LX fitment, which is a heavier vehicle. My opinion, but many here have necessarily dealt with a firmer ride than necessary.
Click to expand...

Two quick points:

1. The Toyota approved fitment is for LT285/70R17 BFG KO tires on Rock Warrior rims which have a 50mm offset. That does not translate into some kind of tacit approval by Toyota for an LT285/65R18 tire on the stock 18" wheel which has a 60mm offset. Of course, not having KDSS on your LX makes it easier for you to overlook the real possibility of KDSS interference with the LT285/65R18 tires on our LC200's.

2. We are talking LC200's in this thread. Running tire pressures lower than the RCTIP for a LC200, on a LC200, is not safe. I am sad that you are continually so cavalier with the safety of others when you insist on stating falsehoods about LC200 tire pressures. You should keep this opinion of yours to yourself. I have said enough about this in many of my other posts about tire pressures, so I will not engage further in this thread. As with anything else, folks have a right to run whatever tire pressure they desire, but thinking there is "...plenty of opportunity to run lower pressures to accommodate ride comfort and still be in the safe range..." is simply incorrect and - for emphasis - dangerous.

HTH
 
As I said, my opinion. Though an informed one.

It's not as cut and dry as you'd like to make it out to be with a singular dimension of load rating. We're on a board modifying vehicles Plenty of opportunity to take liberties. We're all comfortable with different thresholds and that's fair.

I drive my vehicle far harder on road than most here, across a broader range of uses. I don't make opinions lightly having plenty of seat time road racing. I would be more than comfortable with letting my wife drive my vehicle per my recommendation.
 
2 Weeks ago today I bought this wheel & tire set from the Mud member who bought this SOLD - 2013 Land Cruiser . I'm sure he'll reveal himself soon 😄
I was a little hesitant about the 285/65/18 on my LX but they fit perfect, no rubbing at all, on pavement at least, haven't been off-road yet. I have driven it on the highway and noticed no difference at all in noise compared to the P275/65/18's Michelin LTX AT2's I had on it before or even any noise over the original H/T 20" tires it had on it when I bought it. No 'minivan-ish' look now 👍. If you're looking for a good alternative to the KO2's I'd look at these, Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT, not rated for severe snow, they don't have the 3PMSF marking on the sidewall like the KO2.s, but I think they'll be good in the snow, if not I still have my P275/65/18 Cooper snow tires I may put on in the winter.

Frnt_I.png
 
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Listen to the PSI Ninja, you should... (@gaijin) :poof:
 
Agree on the 275/65r18 suggestion. It is a really common size so get it in any tire brand and style, even ko2 if you must. It is available as xl/sl or even p, and it won't require a spacer.

I'd suggest Ridge Grapplers.
 
Thanks all for the overwhelming response...I knew there were several layers to this as I could not find a clear answer. Some excellent points made, I don't know how to respond to each specific comment, but I will try and touch upon each. I was off the grid this weekend so I didn't get a chance to respond sooner.

For starters, I'm after the KO2 simply because they would look 'cool' on the 200 sitting next to my Tacoma...I don't NEED to get them. I was completely unaware of the load ranges and recommended PSI given the different sizes, etc. Eye opening to say the least. Does anyone have a 2016+ with larger than stock KO2's mounted that can share photos?

I drove the Tacoma with KO2's all winter, and they seemed to do pretty well in the snow and ice...I'm a frequent bad weather winter driver in both Maine and Montana so I do care. I'm even considering getting a dedicated winter set of tires with studs, does anyone else use studded tires? If I were to do this an use the factory 18 inch wheels for winter tires, would I be doing myself a favor moving to a 17 inch wheel for 3 season driving?

I also discovered that we no longer have the factory installed tires (not a fan), I'm currently running LT275/65R18 Toyo Open Country AT2! These Toyo's did not hold up well...evidence of dry rot and cracking with less than 25k miles on them. I believe the spare tire is the original factory size. So it looks like I will be buying 5 tires this time around. I'm fine with that approach anyway.

So after reading everything, I'm still struggling with what to buy. I want something more aggressive looking than what was suggested (geolanders) but it sounds like I would be wise to research p-metric tires? Then comes the 'where do I buy them' & 'any good rebates right now' questions...
 
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