BFG Mud Terrain T/A KM2??

[AJM0617]

Hi guys, I am planning to get a set of new tires really soon and I have been thinking / wanting to get the BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 for my 92 FJ80 and also I want to get it on 33X10.50R15 so It would fit my factory 15x7 rims. But I have been hearing mix reviews about it when it comes to driving it on snow / rain / ice. I live in Oregon and I'm not really sure how well these tires would do on wet/snow/icy road when the weather gets to that point. I dont do serious off-roading but I go in the woods and trails quite sometimes. Are these tires really horrible on snow, ice or wet road? I really want to get these tires because I want to be able to go almost anywhere when SHTF and also it looks really good in my opinion... let me know.

Thanks in advance

 

[js93cruiser]

In rain I don't have any problems in either of my trucks, snow/ice there ok, I'd prefer the a/t if you see alot of that

 

[93yotasr5]

only complaint is ice. ive done some sliding and had a buddy slide into me with his rig on km2s. other than that they are bad ass tires. between my ols pick up and my 80 ive had them in 31,33,35,37'

if you see a lot of ice and snow id get the Duratracs. they are a very agressive all terrain with good icy road grip

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

That's the exact tire and wheel combo we have on our 92 (see my Garage for pics). It doesn't snow much in Oklahoma but new years weekend we drove it back from Red River, NM in about 4 to 6" snow. One of the roads we were on was about 40 miles long and hadn't been touched by a snow plow. No complaints here for driving in about 4 to 6" of powder. Driving in rain, no problem. Driving on packed snow or ice, I'm sure a smaller tread pattern could help, but how much? Who knows?
IMHO, the mud-terrains look the best and if that's what you want, I say go for it.

 

[Delancy]

It doesn't snow much in Oklahoma

But when it does, it does.

I'm a big fan of KM2s, my only complaints the stiffness of the sidewall when aired down and BFGs inability to publish accurate, installed sizes. They notoriously smaller than stated.

Have ran on the FJC for ~40k and wear very well on road and they don't chunk off road.

Running on the LX, but may be swapping for more off road dedicated BFG.

 

[greentruck]

Longtime BFG user. I concur with others' experience, it's ice where the KM2 is a bit dodgy. On the other hand, most tires except dedicated all-weather tires are going to show performance degradation on ice. Don't try to drive them like they're an all-weather tire and they do OK. If you live where icing is a regular part of the weather, then it would be worthwhile to consider other options. If ice isn't a big factor, adjusting one's driving to conditions has always worked for me.

Also, some comments I've seen on the KM2 indicate that some folks are conflating the previous generation BFG radial MT with the KM2. While there is a family relationship, the compound used in the KM2 is superior. The old MTs were really bad on ice, no doubt about that. The KM2 works better.

As for stiffness, I think adjusting the PSI will solve most of that. Our 255/85R16s are a little like the blades on a good utility knife. Adjust the psi to suit the conditions and they perform radically different. Not sure if their aspect ratio performance will translate to the 15" ones quite so clearly, but that's the first thing I'd check if things are too stiff for ones taste. IIRC our skinnies are load range E and even on a big honking 80 that's way higher capacity than is needed. It's no wonder they'd seem a little stiff at higher psi.

 

[Azonic84]

Go with Cooper ST Maxxs! They are a great tire!

 

[AJM0617]

Thanks guys... It doesn't really snow or road turn in to ice here in Oregon.. maybe 1 week out of all year is the average.. looks like I am gonna go get myself some KM2

 

[rockrod]

the KM2s are the WORST tires I have ever driven on in the snow and ice.

They seem to do OK in other situations though. Also a bit noisy. I kinda wish I did the Goodyear Duratracs,

 

[2000UZJ]

the KM2s are the WORST tires I have ever driven on in the snow and ice.

They seem to do OK in other situations though. Also a bit noisy. I kinda wish I did the Goodyear Duratracs,

I absolutely loved the KM-2's. I went wheeling in CO and haven't seen a tire slide more and be more unpredictable. They were AWEFUL. On try rocks and southern application. They are brilliant

 

[Black Rhino 13]

I like my 255/85-16 KM2's. Like, not love. Tire wear hasn't been been in my favor.

Those smooth rubber lugs with NO siping cannot do much for you on smooth, slick snow or ice. You just have to be extra careful if conditions are ice rink - like. But frozen water isn't an issue unless it's smooth. That's a subtle thing about them. They are one tough tire. They will grab when there is something to grab. So, textured ice or snow isn't so bad. I got gnarly studded tire chains for mine. One other winter tip: they dig. They like to dig down deep fast. That can be good or bad, depending.

Admittedly, part of it is the very stiff extra HD sidewall on the 255/85's, but I think about the AT's all the time. I might keep mine, because I put some bucks into nice chains, but I really wonder how I'd like 295/75 AT's with softer sidewalls and better all around performance, plus longer wear. I know you are on 15's but I assume there are equivalencies.

I second what everyone said before. Airing up and down is essential with these and can make a rocky trail totally miserable at anywhere from 35-50 psi, or a total dream at 15 psi.

"When roadside assistance is not an option" may be marketing, but it sold me and I have never had a reason to doubt that these tires are very well made.

 

[rockrod]

I absolutely loved the KM-2's. I went wheeling in CO and haven't seen a tire slide more and be more unpredictable. They were AWEFUL. On try rocks and southern application. They are brilliant

they seem to be ok on dry trails and maybe mud and wet rocks, but they are horrible on ice and snow. my wife's xc90 makes the 80 look stoopid in snowy weather. i hear they do well in moab though.

 

[greentruck]

they seem to be ok on dry trails and maybe mud and wet rocks, but they are horrible on ice and snow. my wife's xc90 makes the 80 look stoopid in snowy weather. i hear they do well in moab though.

Ya know, that 300+ HP engine might have just a little something to do with your KM2's being squirrelly in winter conditions?

If I did regularly drive in winter conditions and didn't need to have off-road performance on tap, I think the way to go would be a dedicated winter tire. Otherwise, here in the Midwest, there's just a few days a year (fewer and fewer it seems) where this aspect of a tire's performance even matters.

To a certain extent, I think some of these concerns arise from the raised expectations we have for all of our equipment over the last few decades. This gives us the capability to do all sorts of things in the normal course of hitting the road or trail that would've been exceptional in the past -- but it doesn't defeat the basic laws of physics. The only thing that really helps with ice are ABS (a little) or just slowing down (hard for some of us to do.) With present technology, there's little that can be done beyond that.

40 years ago, when I first started offroading, virtually everything 4x4 rode on 28" skinny aspect ratio bias play tires. Try some ice and snow on those.
The KM2 would stack up pretty well against those in winter and far exceed them the rest of the year on the trail.

And there are lots of tires out there that perform better than the KM2 in winter conditions. But a tire design is always a compromise. The KM2 design priorities cover a lot of ground and what compromise there is that can be a problem under winter conditions is the way it is largely to ensure best performance the other 350 days of the year when that doesn't matter for most of us. I have no issue with taking it easy on the days when I know the weather might cause the need for caution.

You can always get the KM2 siped, which will greatly improve the winter performance. That won't be an asset on a rocky trail, though, when it might contribute to chunking.

A tire is like any other tool. Get the right tool for the job at hand and pity the fool that picks the wrong tool and then blames the tool for why the job went sour.

 

[AJM0617]

I have been doing research on these tires... to be honest I really can't decide weather to get the KM2 or just get the BFG All-Terrain. I REALLY REALLY want to get the KM2, it's just a bad ass looking tires (my opinion) but I am a little worry about when it snows or snows packed and become Ice.. I was reading a review from tirerack.com a guy from Gresham, OR (not too far from where I live) said that they are very good tires except puddle of water and ice, that KM2s are almost dangerous on deep water on road and ice.. In reality, it doesn't really snow or ice here in Oregon that much, but It's unpredictable. but I really want to get these tires :/

 

[Black Rhino 13]

If you had 16 inch wheels I'd hook you up with 6 x 255/85's and I'd get some AT's. I'm even heading to western Washington tomorrow to Just Differentials. Any chance you wanna work something out? I've got an extra wheel I'll throw in. You just need 4.

 

[AJM0617]

If you had 16 inch wheels I'd hook you up with 6 x 255/85's and I'd get some AT's. I'm even heading to western Washington tomorrow to Just Differentials. Any chance you wanna work something out? I've got an extra wheel I'll throw in. You just need 4.

I wouldnt mind 16s... but I am waiting for my tax return to buy tires. I am hoping to get my W2 this week. What kind of tires are you trying to sell?

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

My 305/70/16 KM2's have served me well, but not as well as my previous KM's that were better in the mud and had longer tread life

The KM2's are quieter and have better road manners, but I got 120,000 miles on the KM's and they still had enough tread to sell them for $100 bucks a pop

That being said, now that I have two winches, I don't mind giving up a little mudability for a better ride quality, so my next tire will be 315/70/16 D-Tracs

 

[Toy Junkie]

I have KM2's 33/10.50/15 on my Cherokee. I do a lot of off roading in Alaska all year around. When I bought my Landcruiser I changed to Duratracs because of poor performance of the KM2 in my area and terrain. I would recommend you talking to people in your area and preferably with your same driving style to see if you really want those tires. For me I found that they chunk badly on rocks (I do not go rock crawling), they pack with mud, especially with a clay style mud, and they do not do well on ice. I have found that they perform really well in deep snow, at least the dry powder snow that we have up here. I have been told by others that the larger 12.5 had larger gaps between the lugs so they cleaned out better then my 10.5 tires, I would also recommend going to the more common tire 12.5 wide, when you destroy a tire of a common size it will be easier to find a replacement. I shredded one of my sidewalls and to find a replacement the hard way.

 

[Black Rhino 13]

I wouldnt mind 16s... but I am waiting for my tax return to buy tires. I am hoping to get my W2 this week. What kind of tires are you trying to sell?

I have 6 FZJ80 16x8 wheels with 255/85 KM2's on them. I just happened to be headed your way and was throwing it out there that it could be a way for you to get some KM2's. I just drove 400 miles on my skinny KM2's today on nasty interstates and they did pretty well. I don't see any reason to sell them and buy AT's but if you had been interested, I would have considered it.

 

[AJM0617]

I have 6 FZJ80 16x8 wheels with 255/85 KM2's on them. I just happened to be headed your way and was throwing it out there that it could be a way for you to get some KM2's. I just drove 400 miles on my skinny KM2's today on nasty interstates and they did pretty well. I don't see any reason to sell them and buy AT's but if you had been interested, I would have considered it.

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