Bfgoodrich ta km-2 anybody run them?

[FelixLeiter]

So, reducing width of the tire is better for traction because of rotational mass under braking conditions? If you reduce the surface area of two identical brand and model of tires you will notice the thinner tire breaking traction before the wider. In heavy braking situation, ABS will turn on quicker with a thinner than with the wider tire because grip will be lost sooner. I would rather have my heavy tire turning under braking than having ABS actuate the brakes between lock and turn. Compare the contact patch on a street tire, a/t, and m/t. Without even measuring you can see the reduction in where the rubber meets the road. The thinner tire will also wear quicker and will not support the same amount of load as a wider size.

Personally, I would not go thinner than OEM (I've gone wider). For the amount of fuel I lose due to rotational mass, increaded friction, and aerodynamics, I'll make up for it in slightly better safety and better grip offroad (you waste gas when you're spinning your tires because of lack of traction offroad and also waste rubber). To each his own but my almost 5k lbs brick will ride on 285s.

The size of the contact patch between the tire and the road doesn't increase when you increase the width of the tire...it only changes in shape, not size. Wider tire = wider but shorter contact patch. Narrower tire = narrower but longer contact patch. Of course, this is only true for tires of the same height...a 285/70 is taller than a 265/70.

I have driven many lifted 3/4 and 1 ton trucks with large aftermarket wheels and rims (brand new off the dealer lot, therefore no wear) and braking power is significantly reduced on dry pavement by heavier rims/wheels. Not to mention acceleration and cornering ability--CF rims are not just for the bling factor.

 

[Romanski]

Avon tires had a complete engineered study on their website but unfortunately I can't find the link.

Are wide tires better than narrow? - MotorAuthority - Car news, reviews, spy shots <-- the skinny on the German ADAC study.



There are also other advantages of wider tires over narrow ones not mentioned (load capacity, better sidewall protection, and reduced chance of rollover).

 

[ropedrag]

I installed a set of these and to be truthful I'm not that happy with them.

3 week long wheeling trips to Moab, 2 with Toyo MT's and 1 with the BFG's. I can tell you that there were numerious obsticales that I had no issues with running the Toyo's that were a bear with the BFG's

I wanted to save some money and weight along with trying a new tire, well at least for me I can cross this one off the list. Note that in other conditions outside of the Moad slickrock they seem average.

 

[jmylie]

Hers is the link to skinny vs wide tires:

Expeditions West: Tire Selection for Expedition Travel

 

[Niner]

lots of scientific data to back up their beliefs.

 

[marius]

in africa the 70 pick-up comes out with real skinny tires and they take it allover
it is much easier to turn front wheels with lockers on with 255/85/16 than 285/75/16's and that helps a lot

 

[Niner]

That Marius doesn't take s***


inside joke

 

[Romanski]

from what I've read, wide, tall tires have not been available for off road trucks until recently. Sure, cargo, troop carriers, and other work and military trucks have had large tires but until recently they were not available for the enthusiast. Those guys in Africa and other countries around the world who can't afford a $800+ tire setup (if they can find 'em) run what they have access to. Sand I've never been in but in 2+ feet of snow last week I really enjoyed my 285s.

 

[SkyKing]

My mind tells me to go as big as I can, so to me even 285 is to small. Now I am old enough to remember the US Army Jeep. It had thin tires, and was 2x4.
Very hard to stop them, but 6 men could move the thing 10 feet. No weight... Had to have thin tires to try to dig, and it did. That jeep was a real off road truck before off road trucks were made.

I have to go with my first thought for the FJ.
This thing is a tank empty (about 4,000lbs). Once loaded up, I know I need fat tires on her. Or dig I will, fast...To my frame...And stuck I could get... Okay I got a Lucrum winch mount and a 12000lb MileMarker in it!

I got BFG AT's, and am going to the MT this summer.
I have used the BFG AT's on 4 trucks now (5 sets), but my FJ is a better off road truck, and I find myself off road in mud and stuff a lot more now days... I know the MT's are better.
Still not a true mud tire, but will also work on the road (thats how I get off the road).

I do like a lot of mud tires better, but at $200 a pop, (and we need 5), I need a tire that works well, and can last on the streets just as well.
I do hear that the BFG MT does not work that well on snow covered streets (the light stuff), but what does that is still good in mud?


Whew, I gots to stop drinking so late at night... Sorry...

 

[SHAKE35]

thanks for all your replies i decided and bought the km2's there sittin in my living room right know i need to get them mounted iwent with 285/70/17 they look awesome and there not even on yet thanks

 

[lgrt]

thanks for all your replies i decided and bought the km2's there sittin in my living room right know i need to get them mounted iwent with 285/70/17 they look awesome and there not even on yet thanks

Very cool... let us know your thoughts after you have some highway and trail miles on them. Love to hear your report on these down the road.

 

[SHAKE35]

I'll let you know i have some trail runs coming up soon

 

[SHAKE35]

bump,.....pump it up

 

[SHAKE35]

Very cool... let us know your thoughts after you have some highway and trail miles on them. Love to hear your report on these down the road.

finally took the new set up wheelin .... handled great ! tires are super theres definately a hummm but not bad i actually like it . street manners are good ive drove them in the rain , street ,dirt sand,mud ,water they handled impressive the fj's a offroad beast

 

[suecyde]

hello..I'm new to the forums and fairly new to Wheeling.I generally Lurk, read, learn and comment very little.
I have had my FJ since 06 when they first came out. I later bought my first set of Off Road Tires because I was going to go to S. Lake Tahoe and needed better tires...

First let me start by saying that my only off road experience was based off of driving Humvees in Iraq doing 75+ through urban and Desert Terrain, with a occasional trip over rocks and ditches to gain a little Info........So, when I heard that it was common for off road tires to be noisy...I was like...yea okay.. So to me these tires are quiet. Plus all the cars I have owned have been loud! A 70 Deville with a 472 and strait pipes is not exactly quiet. and niether is a 240Z with a skyline engine.. So these tires on my FJ were heaven!..

In the Snow they performed GREAT!. on the way home there was a storm and traffic was bumper to bumper for at least 10 miles on a creep of 5mph. I own a Standard.. i dont have the patience for this crap..soo i needed to make a U-turn and find me some food and beer!! the center area that divides the traffic was covered in snow about 3 feet high from the plows clearing the roads..Well lets just say that I cleared an area that allowed at least 4 other vehicles to follow me to eat some pizza..

Next would have to be my driving habits. I have owned a Low Rider Classic, and I have owned imports ( both FWD and RWD ). My imports have always been built for speed and handling. So I indeed do have a heavy foot. Though my experienced have taught me to slow down...I still drive on the offense instead of the defense. So my FJ takes a beating on the the Road. These tires perform like Street tires. they can take on turns at high speeds and and corner great w/out losing grip. In the rain ...what rain..I do not even feel it... I love these tires...

At last the Terrain. My First real off road trip was Surf n Turf 08... God that trip hooked me. We did some fun stuff like dune hopping and dune bowls and a little of Garcia's Ridge(GR). These tires performed like Dune Grapplers in the Sand and great on the Fire Trails at GR.

And as for Mud, Rocks. general trails and obstacles? well ......you decide!

Tire Info:
285/70/17 ~ 33's
On Street Tire Press. ~ 45 PSI
Off Road Press. depends 10-20 PSI
Mounted on FJ Cruiser OEM 17" Wheels
Primary use: Daily Driving
Time Owned: ~ 1.5 Yrs

 

[dj313]

finally took the new set up wheelin .... handled great ! tires are super theres definately a hummm but not bad i actually like it . street manners are good ive drove them in the rain , street ,dirt sand,mud ,water they handled impressive the fj's a offroad beast

So, what's your take after nearly 6 months with the tires? Are they keepers?

 

[Mytmic]

I'm running these tires and they're great. Ride is fine and noise level is acceptable. Awesome traction off road. I'll be adding a 2 inch OME lift which hopefully will lessen the rubbing I'm getting w/o a lift.
(rubs when I turn sharp). Do you know if the 285's will fit on the stock spare tire carrier?

mytmic

 

[Brock]

got them on my 60 and love them.....great handling...low noise. I actually dont notice them at all on highway...but I have pizza cutters (33x10.50x15) so there is less rubber on road.....but I did expect them to still be loud with the voids between lugs...but there is nothing. Then again it is on my noisy FJ60with 2F and 4spd and not the quiet FJ Cruiser

 

[daddybear]

Tires

Im interested in the km-2 i really like their aggressive look how do they handle are they loud are they worth the money this is going to be my first set of mud tire im looking to put them on stock wheels 285-70-17 also want to do the ome 3'' lift thanx for any input

I have the OME 3 inch lift with the medium springs. I was going to put on the BF Goodrich and found they are very pricy. I went with the Hankook AT 10 ply. Excellent tire and looks almost like the BF Goodrich and much less $$$$$$$$. $788 / vs / &1195

 

[dj313]

I have the OME 3 inch lift with the medium springs. I was going to put on the BF Goodrich and found they are very pricy. I went with the Hankook AT 10 ply. Excellent tire and looks almost like the BF Goodrich and much less $$$$$$$$. $788 / vs / &1195

I've purchased budget tires before and I've found it's generally not worth it over the 50,000 miles / 3 years of owning them. When possible, I try and buy quality, one time. A person has to find a tire to fit their funds, but IMHO, over the long run, going low dollar on tires doesn't work for me...