Final thoughts on BFG Mud Terrain T/A KM2.. Need more advise :(

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

AJM0617

AJM0617

10 Year
Joined
Nov 15, 2011
Threads
58
Messages
144
Location
Hillsboro, OR.
Alright guys, I have been researching about the BFG Mud Terrain KM2 for almost 2 months now. I have been to... who knows how many forums, trying to gather some information about the BFG KM2. and the time has come for me to buy some new tires for my 92 FJ80. I have been to two different tire shop and both advise me to get the BFG All Terrain.. and I know that's what I need.. BUT, I really REALLY "WANT" the BFG Mud Terrain KM2, and been seeing "Mixed" reviews about it.

I live in Oregon and it rains quite a few times here. It will snow and/or ice ones in a while (not a lot). I would like to know more how well/poor does the BFG Mud Terrain KM2 does compare to All terrain T/A KO in City or Highway driving, wet road, snow, icy road? also what is the average thread life on these tires?

The main reasons why I really WANT to get the KM2s are: 1) For looks.. It is a bad ass looking tire. 2) I don't really do hard core off-road or mudding. Every ones in a while I will drive on trails, but I am one of those people who would like to have more capabilities to drive pretty much anywhere when I have to. my rig is my daily driving vehicle but it is also my "Bug out vehicle" when Sh*t hits the fan :) therefore I want to have some aggressive tires that would take me pretty much anywhere.

I have scheduled an appointment on Monday 02-25-13 to put new tires on my rig and I need to make a decision on weather to stick with BFG A/T's or go get myself some nice M/T KM2. I have posted a thread here a little while ago about this, but I would love to hear more opinions about the KM2s..

Thanks in advance...
 
KM2 are good tires but for winter BFG AT are better. It doesn't mean that it is not possible to drive with KM2 in winter at all (you must slow down onle)
Now I have Yokohama Geolendar ATR for all year round.

Best regards
 
I have KM2's on my daily driver 97 lx450. They do great. we have 10" of snow on the ground and I go through anything and everything. No slowing me down. Never had a moment of slippage.

I am not happy with my geolanders on my tow rig. Way too quick on the treadwear.
 
AJM,
I haven't run the radial ATs since BFG came out with the original radial MTs. The old ATs did OK in snow, but my experience with those tires was that the MTs were generally the equal of the ATs in snow.

The main issue with the MTs was the very stiff tread compound. They were kind of scary on ice. The KM2s changed that some, although the KM2 is still not a snowflake-rated winter tire despite being a M&S. It does have an "all season" rating, like the other BFG radial off-road tires.

Personally, I have no issues with performance in the snow. Ice can still be difficult. If you're going to do a lot of on-road driving in winter conditions, then you might consider a set of dedicated winter tires, but that's true of just about any tire and not peculiar to the KM2. On the other hand, if you'll only be driving in those conditions a few days each year, there's always that old standby for dealing with winter driving conditions -- slow down.

Wet road performance has been fine for me, but I'm used to running on the old MTs, so make it a practice to take extra care in the wet be force of habit. Realistically, that also true of most mud tires. I think people sometimes expect a tire that does so many things well to do everything well. Tires just aren't that way, they're always optimized to meet a range of conditions but not all conditions. Be aware of what the pluses and minuses are of any tire you run, as none of them do everything best.
 
I know this may not matter too much because of the characteristics of the 80 series, but they are pretty heavy. I have a set of 255/80-17's on steel rims that I use in the summer and they are significantly heavier than the 285/70-16 Hankook AT's that I use in the winter. I have to say that they do really well in the deep sand, rocks and deep snow here in northern Nevada.
 
i have a set of the 315s and live in colorado. the tires work well in the rain and dry roads, but they are probably the worst I have ever had on packed snow and ice. They are also pretty noisy as they wear in and the weight will reduce your braking performance. I regret buying these tires. I have had bfg all terrains and the old style mud terrains and they were much better in these same conditions.

If I were shopping for tires again, I would choose a set of hankook dynapro atms. They are fantastic in the snow and are quiet. I had them on my old dodge cummins and they were awesome.
 
I agree with rockrod 100%, I used to run KM2's on my Tacoma. Any ice at all and traction was absolutely zero, worst tire I have ever had in tbhoser conditions. I decided to try 315 Toyo MT's on the 80 and will never go back. They have WAY more traction on hardpack and in the cold, I havent played with them in the summer yet though. I think they look cooler too if thats important to you.
 
AJM0617 said:
Alright guys, I have been researching about the BFG Mud Terrain KM2 for almost 2 months now. I have been to... who knows how many forums, trying to gather some information about the BFG KM2. and the time has come for me to buy some new tires for my 92 FJ80. I have been to two different tire shop and both advise me to get the BFG All Terrain.. and I know that's what I need.. BUT, I really REALLY "WANT" the BFG Mud Terrain KM2, and been seeing "Mixed" reviews about it.

I live in Oregon and it rains quite a few times here. It will snow and/or ice ones in a while (not a lot). I would like to know more how well/poor does the BFG Mud Terrain KM2 does compare to All terrain T/A KO in City or Highway driving, wet road, snow, icy road? also what is the average thread life on these tires?

The main reasons why I really WANT to get the KM2s are: 1) For looks.. It is a bad ass looking tire. 2) I don't really do hard core off-road or mudding. Every ones in a while I will drive on trails, but I am one of those people who would like to have more capabilities to drive pretty much anywhere when I have to. my rig is my daily driving vehicle but it is also my "Bug out vehicle" when Sh*t hits the fan :) therefore I want to have some aggressive tires that would take me pretty much anywhere.

I have scheduled an appointment on Monday 02-25-13 to put new tires on my rig and I need to make a decision on weather to stick with BFG A/T's or go get myself some nice M/T KM2. I have posted a thread here a little while ago about this, but I would love to hear more opinions about the KM2s..

Thanks in advance...
Click to expand...
How much actual off-roading do you do? The ATs are a better all-around tire - I have used them for years on my trucks and they have done everything I need them to do with only a few exceptions - deep snow, rocks, and mud. If you really only want the aggressive look of the KM2s, you might consider a Duratrac or other more aggressive AT. If you do a lot of off-roading then the KM2s are a perfectly fine alternative, you just need to be more careful when it is icy or with heavy rain - which we don't get much of either.
 
To me, it sounds like the BFG KO's are going to be your best bet from your description. Yes, that or the Duratrac's.

I've run BFG KO's forever, I've had 2 sets of KM2's and loved them, but I've never even driven in ice or snow and Im 30....I stay in warm places ;)

Only gripe I had with the KM2's is that they run ridiculously small. I'd probably order the next size up to match your KO's...which obviously jumps the price up A LOT.

In the end...Sounds like the KO's are your friend. They are great for onroad and most offroad conditions. I've done some pretty good hard trails with lots of slick granite with the KO's, and they have been fine...!
 
Thanks guys... I guess I'll be sticking with BFG A/Ts.. I would consider other tires/brand but I am still using my stock 15x7 wheels so the biggest tires I can put on it (within the specs) are 33X10.50s and BFG is the only one that makes that size that I know of. I wish I have an extra cash to spare to buy a different wheels.. I have no problem getting the A/T KO. But I am a little bum out that the KM2s are not for me... oh well at least am gonna get my money well spent.. thanks again guys... I really appreciate the inputs.
 
AJM0617 said:
Thanks guys... I guess I'll be sticking with BFG A/Ts.. I would consider other tires/brand but I am still using my stock 15x7 wheels so the biggest tires I can put on it (within the specs) are 33X10.50s and BFG is the only one that makes that size that I know of. I wish I have an extra cash to spare to buy a different wheels.. I have no problem getting the A/T KO. But I am a little bum out that the KM2s are not for me... oh well at least am gonna get my money well spent.. thanks again guys... I really appreciate the inputs.
Click to expand...

OK; I'll be the contrarian:

BFG AT's suck. Had them on our 91 here in southern oregon for 8 years. (They suck for a looong time.) Much happier with the Michelins on there now.

If as you say your only decision is between the AT and the MT (personally I doubt I'll ever buy BFG's again), then **** it: Go for the MT's that you want.

At least that way you'll like how your rig looks. :meh:
 
km2s FTMFW
just do it
 
CJF said:
OK; I'll be the contrarian:

BFG AT's suck. Had them on our 91 here in southern oregon for 8 years. (They suck for a looong time.) Much happier with the Michelins on there now.

At least that way you'll like how your rig looks. :meh:
Click to expand...

+1 the BFG AT are fine on ice and snow when new but once they get a season on them they seem to hockey puck. They have exceptional tread wear so you're stuck with them for a long time.

I've run km/2 on two vehicles over the last five years. Love them, except on hard pack and ice. The rest of the time they're awesome, esp off pavement. Very good tread wear, and relatively quiet on the highway.

And I put 315-75-16 on my LX450 without lifting my suspension for two years. Minor rubbing at times but nothing serious that I couldn't live with. So you should be able to fit 35x12.5x15 on yours with a bit of shoehorning if you don't run heavily loaded all the time
 
Boss has KM2s on his Tacoma, absolute garbage traction. Plenty of tread left but may as well run slicks. I followed him up a hard packed snowy dirt road once, pretty steep but he was in 4 low and getting sideways. I had same size tires on a late model Tacoma and followed him without hitting the gas in 2 hi on my bfg a/t's. That's just one example, probably the best example though. They seem to wear well though so they last a while.

All that said I'd recommend duratracs. Now I have the MTR patterned tread wrights which are good tires but they're loud and heavy and I wish I had my duratracs back. I loved those tires.
 
Redneck92 said:
This or MT/R's. I will never buy a set of bfgs just due to the sidewall being paper thin.
Click to expand...

"Paper thin" :confused:

Aren't he BFG sidewalls thicker than the D-Tracs?

I know my KM's had excellent side protection (even more so than the KM2's)

Got over 120k miles out of the KM's and they still had enough tread left to sell for $100 bucks a pop :cool:

They were better in the mud than the KM2's, but the KM2's stayed much quieter as they put on the miles :hhmm:

I'm currently at just over 100k miles on my KM2's, but since one skipped a belt and formed a huge bubble, I'll be going with 35 D-Tracs :meh:

Mainly cause I want a larger tire to fill up the wells, but also want a quieter tire for the highway :cool:

I don't mind losing a little mud traction since I now have two winches and it should be a better overall tire for my intended use, while still retaining an aggressive look :)
 
Yeah, the paper-thin comment doesn't fit with my experience with BFGs either. I've probably got around 500,000 lifetime miles on BFG radials. The only failure I've experience was with my last set of ATs. One of them sucked up a pin out of someone's semi brakes they left scattered on the highway. Hard to do much with a 0.75" pin through the tread. The MTs had just hit the market and it was getting where I was thinking of going with new tires, so had them put a set of the original MTs on and been on every variant of MT since

Other than that, I beat them all across most of the infamous trails of Colorado, some in Utah, and a few other places, plus hit whatever trash it wasn't safe to swerve around on the hardtop. Guess I should be more careful with paper-thin sidewalls, I suppose...:hhmm::confused:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom