"Best" tire in 285/65/18 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Avalon911
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I'm going to admit my ignorance. I had a 4runner for a long time, but it was a Limited and had that narrow wheel that everyone curses. There weren't that many tire options at the time so I kept buying the OE tires. Now, I'm learning here that those were likely all-season tires and you all are talking about all-terrain tires. I thought they were the same thing. 
Now, having said that... I found the 4runner for the most part did just fine with those tires. A lot of forest service roads, desert, red rock, etc. I don't do anything boulder like. Dirt roads, often narrow, sometimes steep short stretches, gravel, some sand. Utah.
When I look at these tires you are all talking about, I have to wonder how much is overkill. It seems to me that the 4x4 system of these vehicles can make up for the lack of super aggressive tires in most typical use-cases.
What do you think?
Now, having said that... I found the 4runner for the most part did just fine with those tires. A lot of forest service roads, desert, red rock, etc. I don't do anything boulder like. Dirt roads, often narrow, sometimes steep short stretches, gravel, some sand. Utah.
When I look at these tires you are all talking about, I have to wonder how much is overkill. It seems to me that the 4x4 system of these vehicles can make up for the lack of super aggressive tires in most typical use-cases.
What do you think?
It depends on what you are doing. In loose conditions, particularly when steep and wet, an AT tire is much, much better than an all-season tire. If all you are going to do are occasional gravel roads, then stick with an all season tire. The AT tire will be heavier and have worse fuel economy.I'm going to admit my ignorance. I had a 4runner for a long time, but it was a Limited and had that narrow wheel that everyone curses. There weren't that many tire options at the time so I kept buying the OE tires. Now, I'm learning here that those were likely all-season tires and you all are talking about all-terrain tires. I thought they were the same thing.
Now, having said that... I found the 4runner for the most part did just fine with those tires. A lot of forest service roads, desert, red rock, etc. I don't do anything boulder like. Dirt roads, often narrow, sometimes steep short stretches, gravel, some sand. Utah.
When I look at these tires you are all talking about, I have to wonder how much is overkill. It seems to me that the 4x4 system of these vehicles can make up for the lack of super aggressive tires in most typical use-cases.
What do you think?
If you are off-road where there are sharp rocks, you are more likely to cut the sidewall of an all-season tire than an AT tire.
ETA: In mud, nothing beats a mud terrain tire. An all terrain isn‘t great in mud. An all season is likely to fill up with mud and just spin, resulting in no forward progress.
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Will do. Having them swapped on Friday.
This is the route I've taken, with almost three years on the stock size KO2. No complaints, very happy with it both on and off road, loaded and unloaded. I think that this tire gets overlooked on here for a couple of reasons: (1) it wasn't available until a few years ago, so many haven't realized it exists; and (2) there are strong preference on here for load range E tires and for filling out the wheel wells with the largest tire possible.
All of that said- when these wear out, I'll probably go up a size. I've since lifted my LC, making the stock size look a little...small.
Had the oem Dunlops on it. I haven't checked fuel mileage but my gut feeling is i've lost 1 or 2 mpg. The ride is much better though and between that and the improvement in looks.... i'd make that trade all day every day and twice on sunday.
I just sold my LT275/65-18, E, 32.2" dia. KO2's with 65% tread remaining with 40,000 miles on them. My other set of KO2's are on extra OEM wheels and are LT275/70-18, E, 33.2" dia. for off road trail rides this past summer and now hunting season. They have done well in the snow and not as well on ice but better than any other AT tire I have ever run so I bought another set. It has snowed here twice already so I will be researching snow tires for the extra set of wheels.
Yes these trucks have a very nice electronic traction control sys for starting and stopping but if you loose traction with the surface (tire type and application) momentum takes over. You are looking for a happy medium so take every ones past tire experience and then try it your self in your driving conditions. Try different tread patterns, mfg, ply ratings, and pass them along if they don't work out for your driving conditions.
Do not be fooled by the "WOW, new tire feel". I don't think any tire should be tested until 10-15% tread has been warn off on the road for a better traction evaluation.
The first 2/32" of the tire rubber is made of special high traction material that comes from the buds of the Wow rubber tree and gives them their unique smell, after that wears off they just smell like tires.
Yes these trucks have a very nice electronic traction control sys for starting and stopping but if you loose traction with the surface (tire type and application) momentum takes over. You are looking for a happy medium so take every ones past tire experience and then try it your self in your driving conditions. Try different tread patterns, mfg, ply ratings, and pass them along if they don't work out for your driving conditions.
Do not be fooled by the "WOW, new tire feel". I don't think any tire should be tested until 10-15% tread has been warn off on the road for a better traction evaluation.
The first 2/32" of the tire rubber is made of special high traction material that comes from the buds of the Wow rubber tree and gives them their unique smell, after that wears off they just smell like tires.
@4gotalot My spring/summer tires are E rated KO2s. We're in Idaho Falls, but cruise up to Big Sky and Bozeman through the Gallatin frequently. Absolutely love the KO2s. I also have them on my pick-up. They never let me down. In snow, they do fine. However on packed snow/ice they are dreadful. Just put Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV winter tires on. Haven't put them to the test yet but might get to this weekend. And if the past few weeks are any indication...might put them to the test a lot this season.
Guy
Sharp rocks! That I did not consider and is something I experience. When I had the 4runner I was always surprised how I never had issues but the tires always looked rubbed pretty well on the sidewalls. My wife isn't adventurous and that has probably kept me off the crazier roads. I did get a big bent bolt in the tread of a tire at an abandoned mine and had to put the spare on. Now I carry a tire plug repair kit and a 12v compressor. On one rockhounding trip my father-in-law got a flat on his chevy truck that we plugged (had the kit and pump at this point).
Fall break starts tomorrow and we're hitting some dirt roads and old mining areas this break with a little rockhounding. I'll see how the OEM tires feel.
My LC had Toyo Open Country II on it when I bought it. Had maybe 5 or 6/32 left. I found nothing wrong with them. Eventually replaced them with Yokohama Geolander G015. Based on rolling resistance, wet and dry braking ratings and buyer feedback, they seemed like the best choice for my 90/10 on/off road driving. I've been very happy with them. Balanced perfectly the first time, which is rare for my local Discount Tire shop. Quiet ride, handles well. Happy with my choice, but I still consider myself a LC rookie.
The D rated tire felt slightly cushier. The E’s feel more jarring at slow speeds but highway their about same. One caveat though is I still have the original suspension at 220k miles
. They may feel better with a new suspension. Noise levels are comparable, maybe slightly higher on the E’s but neither is load by any means. And these were the 265/65/18. Hope this helps
Question to all: are you happy with your tires in heavy rain and on wet rocks when off-road? How’s the highway comfort and noise level. I’m having a tough time searching the net, getting mixed reviews. None of the reviews mentioned having tires on LC. I’m either going 305-65/18 or 295/70
How heavy are they? Even the 286-65 K02 is a lot heavier than the stock highway tire. That adds unsprung weight, which isn‘t good for the ride.
In regards to unsprung weight, it's not the maligned enemy people are making it out to be. Sure, all things being equal, less unsprung weight is always better. But people are attributing bad handling and ride qualities too much to unsprung weight when it really is due to other variables like bad suspension tuning, firm aftermarket spring rates, too much lift, tire compound, stiff sidewalls, etc.
I have 71lb 305/55r20s on my factory 20" wheels (~38lbs). Arguable some of the heaviest wheel/tire package fitted to a 200-series. It rides like butter and every passenger I've had has no clue it's anything less than Lexus intended. It handles with aplomb with the tire and suspension absorbing big bumps in the road without unsettling the chassis. Off-road air'd down, it rides like a cloud over corrugations and whoops.
I bring this up as I truly believe people are missing out on tire opportunities by over-villianizing tire weight. Big diameter tires are some of the best mods one can make to the their cruiser with respect to off-road capability. It's no surprise that many off-road rigs are classified by tire diameter - 33s, 34s, 35s, etc.
I firmly believe less suspension lift and increased tire diameter to be a more potent recipe that better balances ride, handling, and off-road prowess than large suspension lifts with modest tires. That's going to take more tire weight, but it's okay because this IMO invites less compromises than the classic lift recipes that are the real enemy of handling and poor ride quality.
I have 71lb 305/55r20s on my factory 20" wheels (~38lbs). Arguable some of the heaviest wheel/tire package fitted to a 200-series. It rides like butter and every passenger I've had has no clue it's anything less than Lexus intended. It handles with aplomb with the tire and suspension absorbing big bumps in the road without unsettling the chassis. Off-road air'd down, it rides like a cloud over corrugations and whoops.
I bring this up as I truly believe people are missing out on tire opportunities by over-villianizing tire weight. Big diameter tires are some of the best mods one can make to the their cruiser with respect to off-road capability. It's no surprise that many off-road rigs are classified by tire diameter - 33s, 34s, 35s, etc.
I firmly believe less suspension lift and increased tire diameter to be a more potent recipe that better balances ride, handling, and off-road prowess than large suspension lifts with modest tires. That's going to take more tire weight, but it's okay because this IMO invites less compromises than the classic lift recipes that are the real enemy of handling and poor ride quality.
Well, I guess comfort to means road feel and not floating across the road following every groove in the road. Quiet vs mud tire drowning out my tunes.
My fear is that heavier tires lead to premature shock failure and maybe other suspension parts??
afgman786
SILVER Star
The amount of weight that compresses down on the suspension from the rig is far worse than a heavy set of tires. If you're regular driving or even wheeling the compression is felt from the rig weight down not tires.
