Can't decide what tires to get

[rockcruiser915]

How many miles have you got out of a set? I got almost 80k on my last Michelins on another vehicle. I am a year or so out from needing tires on my LC

I purchased the rig with 161,XXX miles it. Today I'm at 198,XXX. The very first thing I did was dump the "pimp-my-ride" 20s with skinny radials for OEM 16s wrapped in AT3s. So I've put around 37,000 miles on the set so far. I would say they've held up exceptionally well. And that's after I've beat the hell out of them. A few battle scars here and there, but overall they're in great shape. I measured 13/32nds of tread remaining.

Once these run their natural course, I'm going with the Cooper STT PROs (35s) on Hutchinson 17" beadlocks.

 

[Evan Kapel]

I just put 275/70 18 Toyo Open Country A/T tires (33') on my 2005 and they fit perfectly with no
rubbing. They are probably the best A/T tire in my opinion although you get what you pay for
($1700 for 5).

 

[txnight]

NTB was running a deal on the Nitto Terra Grappler G2. I have one thousand miles on the 275/70/18 and I'm pleased.

I have the ko2's on my other pickup, so this is my own personal tire test.

Bill D.

 

[landylover21]

Another one to consider is the Cooper ST Maxx, mine are 275/70/18 and I love them! Low road noise (for what they are, they're not a Michelin LTX in terms of noise), they perform well in the snow, and they ride quite well for an E-rated tire.

 

[benjawi4]

Before I found my lucky craigslist ko2 find, I had decided that IF I was going to treat myself to new tires they would be General Grabber AT2s. IMHO, they clearly have the all-terrain look most of us desire, they have the snowflake/severe-service designation, they come in a variety of sizes with multiple load ranges (including 275/65/18 with an SL rating for just 42lbs each, compared to most D and E rated tires weighing about 58lbs), AND they are hundreds of dollars less than the typical 'big name' A/T tires like the KO2s, G2s, etc.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I was planning on going with the Cooper AT3s for my next tire. Care to elaborate what you did not like with those?

Had a friend with a 100 buy tires around the same time as me with fresh OME lift/shocks. Tires developed cupping early on and are now terrible. He had a bit more off-road mileage, but the Coopers seemed to give up pretty easy. My KOs were still fantastic when I replaced them.

Anecdotal evidence for sure, but for what it's worth, there ya go.

 

[Idaho Savage]

FWIW I run the Coopers on my plow truck (Dodge Cummins Dually) as well as my old DD P/U. Serious traction, great price and seem to wear pretty well--Best value I've seen. Would have put them on the 100 but they didn't have the size I was looking for...

 

[ad27326]

Currently running the KO2's on my 100, perfect all around tire for me-towing,off road, dd, aired up or down! I have been pleased! I also had the Cooper ST Maxx on my prior 07 4runner, liked those as well and probably would have those on my 100 if BFG didn't come out with KO2.

 

[Jnschoch]

I just got my 275/70/18 Ko2's on today. I am very pleased with these. I haven't driven too much obviously but I was concerned with the weight based on others comments and was expecting some characteristics of an A/T tire. I was very surprised I could barely tell any difference over the tires that were on the truck (worn out all season nitto crossteks). Definitely very happy with my purchase.

Picture of rig in H mode today.

 

[Clunky]

I have the Cooper AT/3 and they've been great so far. That said, if I was going to do it over again, I'd buy a more aggressive looking tire like the KO2 or the ST/Maxx.

 

[benjawi4]

I just got my 275/70/18 Ko2's on today. I am very pleased with these. I haven't driven too much obviously but I was concerned with the weight based on others comments and was expecting some characteristics of an A/T tire. I was very surprised I could barely tell any difference over the tires that were on the truck (worn out all season nitto crossteks). Definitely very happy with my purchase.

Picture of rig in H mode today.

Funny, this is exactly how I felt as well, even going from lighter 16" wheels and street tires to 18" wheels and ko2s. I am a sucker for soft suspensions and plush rides so I was nervous, but I honestly enjoyed - and enjoy - the ride much better with 275/70/18 ko2s with 45PSI.

 

[aaronrules]

KO2s or Trail Grapplers if you want some real meat.

 

[Madbodhi]

Big fan of Cooper tires. Have AT3's on my XJ that perform flawlessly in rain,snow, street and trail. Went with STT Pro's for the LC because I wanted something more aggressive. Not disappointed. Excellent grip,not overly loud,ride smooth and are wearing well. Was concerned that the aggressive tread combined with the weight of the LC would be a problem in rain and snow but they work perfectly.

 

[Jeepster09]

Everybody knows if you are going to run in the JUNGLE you need TIGERPAWS!

 

[THEIZZARDKING]

i've ran duratracs for years on most of my other vehicles due to not liking the wet road performance of the original KO's , got great life and a pretty comfortable ride, not to mention amazing snow and ice experience out of the duratracs, i put on the KO2's on the LX and i have to say they are pretty loud and rough compared to the Duratracs i'm used to running, that said, it's the only performance tire i've had on the
LX so far so it could be specific to this vehicle, though I'm using the Durtracs on my lifted 4runner as a metric, i think when it's time to do tires again i'll like go back to the Duratracs.

just my personal experience, i'm liking the Duratracs more at this point....but we'll see if that opinion changes once i get significant time off road and in the snow and ice with them, i can live with the rougher ride and marginally louder road noise if the performance is significantly better.

 

[sammybones]

Just put on KO2's. They are awesome. I cant imagine there's a better AT tire out there.

 

[KYLandy]

What size Duratracs were you running? Were they P or LT? I run 6 Duratracs on my F350 and love them. They are a little noisy but they are the best tire I have ever had. I also haul a 3,800 lb camper in the bed and take it off-road when I can. The Duratracs really set the bar for me. I was worried about the noise when I considered putting them on my 2006 LC. I have 275/60/18 Continental CrossContact LX20's on it now so I don't know how the ride will change with truck tires.

 

[THEIZZARDKING]

What size Duratracs were you running? Were they P or LT? I run 6 Duratracs on my F350 and love them. They are a little noisy but they are the best tire I have ever had. I also haul a 3,800 lb camper in the bed and take it off-road when I can. The Duratracs really set the bar for me. I was worried about the noise when I considered putting them on my 2006 LC. I have 275/60/18 Continental CrossContact LX20's on it now so I don't know how the ride will change with truck tires.

The Duratracs on my 4runner are 285/75/16 load range C, i'm running the E range KO2's in the same size on the LX... the 4runner feels smoother and quiter than the LX, the LX was running the LTX AT's from Michelin when i bought it, i only had those on there for a week before i went with a more aggressive tire, the ride and sound characteristics changed quite a bit.

i'm highly likely to go back to my Duratracs on the LX in a couple of years when i need new tires again....the only thing that would keep me with the KO2's i would think at this point would be tire life, i seem to be getting around 50,000 miles out of the duratracs before it's time to reshoe, it's obviously important to ensure you're at the right PSI and you rotate frequently as well as making sure suspension components and alignment are on point as well..

my only suggestion really is to go with the KO2's in a C range tire instead of the E range unless you have alot of weight or need the extra sidewall thickness/stiffness for offroad abuse, i honestly think the E range is a bit too much for the LX's in a near stock configuration and for the type of driving where you're only off road maybe 20-30% of the time.

other than that, the Duratracs are definitely quieter and smoother in my opinion, meaning it's almost like i can feel the tread patteren in from the KO2's when im rolling and never got that sensation out of my Duratracs.

 

[KYLandy]

The Duratracs on my 4runner are 285/75/16 load range C

I don't see that size on Goodyear's website in a Load Range C. They list that size as a Load Range E.

 

[THEIZZARDKING]

I don't see that size on Goodyear's website in a Load Range C. They list that size as a Load Range E.

you're right, lol, i'm sure the KO2's im running have more plys in them than the Duratracs, and probably accounts for a bit more of the firmness i'm feeling, or maybe not because the LC is a heavier vehicle, really, i was just trying give the KO2's a better reason for being a bit more rough feeling other than just tread pattern...lol, but hey there's alot tread pattern lends itself to, so maybe even that alone could be the reason.... i do know that it took almost 20,000 miles for my Duratracs to get as loud as these were from the shop floor...

all in all, the KO2's seem like a pretty good tire, to me, overall they seem to be pretty quite and ride pretty smooth, i just feel like the Duratracs are better in those regards...the KO2's are still vastly better than a majority of the other tires on the market and in my mind it's really a comment between the top 2 tires on the market more so than a comment on the KO2's in general...and as i've said, that's just my experience and i haven't had the duratracs on the LX yet, i may have a different experience because it is a heavier truck with a different suspension setup.