I've been considering that tire. Do you know if they'll fit in the stock spare location with the tow package? That's my only hangup
BFG KM2 255/85/16 Discontinued, What do I do Now???
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LFD2037
TEXAS LEXUS!
I'll know next week when I order my spare but from what I can tell it should t be a problem. I've put these tires thru everything but deep sand and they've been great!
I'm going through the same thing right now. 255 85 16 are all but impossible to get. If I did get some I'd be worried about finding another in the future if needed. There are quite a few 33 10.5 15's around though so I'm going this route.
Sweet, my cruiser came with stock size Open Country ATs, they've done well in everything except mud for me.
LFD2037
TEXAS LEXUS!
Are they the original AT's or the newer AT II Xtremes? There's a significant difference with the newer ones quite a bit more aggressive.
It would not surprise me one bit if wet-behind-the-ears MBAs were behind this. Because it's definitely not anyone who has a clue, just a spread sheet full of optimism while they shred away at what worked.
I understand about 16" rims getting out of fashion on new vehicles. In case no one at BFG noticed, vehicles last much longer than they used to. And enthusiast vehicles can be particularly long-lived, because people care for them. Apparently, BFG is no longer interested in this market and the reliable sales it brings in. It's not like these tires were produced continuously. Just don't batch a bunch of them so often. Or raise the price to make it worth the while. Or something else.
This is one of those New Coke moments in corporate history...but the ending is unlikely to be as happy. Beancounters count and no one else does now.
I got 315 Maxxis Bighorns on 80 wheels on my 40 - I took the Pep Boys Special to 4 Wheel Parts, and they beat the price, with a much better warranty
I like the looks of them, too (not something I normally care about)
The originals with around 35k miles on them. I'm trying to decide between the Xtremes and the new BFG KO2s.
AussieHJCruza
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These are some of the best tyres available over here and I've noticed they'll stay a lot cleaner in the treads than a Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ or anything else similar.
It's good to know there's a tested-in-the-Outback solution available in this size.
My Hankook Dynapro's in 295/75/16 fit.
Yep. I do wonder what volume of business BFG does outside the US. While it tends to be a size used by particular enthusiasts here, just a small part of a offroad market that trends taller and wider than the 255/85, outside the US this size likely makes up a more sizable proportion of overall sales. It's likely that this decision will have substantially more impact on those who handle BFG outside the US, because it probably makes up a larger percentage of sales for them.
There's another aspect of this I just thought of...
Many countries have considerably more restrictive equipment laws, some that restrict maximum tire size or require that a vehicle stick to manufacturer-indicated tire sizing. The 33 is actually a dealer option some places. While a 17" rim compatible size may substitute, like back here, you'd be in the same boat in needing to buy new rims to run an essentially equivalent tire. That's only going to further alienate customers as a "suggested alternative"...unless BFG plans to buy new rims for those who do stick with them through this scandalously bad decision? I just don't see that happening. And what's a guy to do who likes stock rims and has already invested in the same, like me? Not sure Toyota makes these in 17" even if I was to just suck it up and do that, a very unlikely scenario in our family budget.
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I don't know the volume but it's almost a must among travelers.
Regarding the sizes that you can use, at least here in Portugal, to change the tire size you need a paper signed and stamped by Toyota's engineer that basically states that's safe to use a certain measure, then it's past into the car docs. Oh... And Toyota allows 33s as max size.
Cheers
Regarding the sizes that you can use, at least here in Portugal, to change the tire size you need a paper signed and stamped by Toyota's engineer that basically states that's safe to use a certain measure, then it's past into the car docs. Oh... And Toyota allows 33s as max size.
Cheers
loucaojr,
Thanks for confirming the situation. I lived in Germany during the early 70s, but don't remember much about the German regs except they were pretty uptight about such things. We Americans got a little slack as occupiers, but not much. Makes me wonder what the closest BFG KM2 or other tires that are not larger than 33" are?
Interesting comment about people expeditioning using them, too. That's excellent mobile marketing for BFG -- or should I say it was
Thanks for confirming the situation. I lived in Germany during the early 70s, but don't remember much about the German regs except they were pretty uptight about such things. We Americans got a little slack as occupiers, but not much. Makes me wonder what the closest BFG KM2 or other tires that are not larger than 33" are?
Interesting comment about people expeditioning using them, too. That's excellent mobile marketing for BFG -- or should I say it was
Can you confirm the measurement? I have seen people say they are closer to 32"
I'm dealing with this too. Probably will go with 285/75r16 but dont really want to. I will have a barely used spare 255/85r16 KM2 that I will need to get rid of soon. Used twice off road in response to ripped valve cores.
LFD2037
TEXAS LEXUS!
Maybe they're only discontinuing USA sales of that size?
NLXTACY
Wits' End
I find "wider-than-necessary" to be necessary....
Especially when you are dating. I mean....
You are right - officially listed at 32.80"
