Has anyone here gone from 305 BFG KM2's to 315 BFG AT's?

[mr jits]

How were they sound wise after some wear?

I can understand them being bad in the mud, but from what I've gathered from others here, they're better than the KM2's in snow and should also be better on rocks due to the contact patch

They hardened up after about a year and the sound was odd, a higher pitched hum that I got used to but didn't like.
I drove them a lot in the snow (Montana and Oregon) and they were terrible. In comparison to the Dynapro AT/m's I had last snow season it was night and day. The Hankooks were phenomenal in all the slick stuff (slurpee snow, fluffy snow, packed snow, and ice), the BFG's were not even what I'd call ok.

 

[86tuning]

I've been thinking about this as I have 3 spare wheels that I plan on using for an off-road trailer build

Here's what I would do, assuming you have eight rims all together.

Take out your spare and have a full spare set of 4 rims.
Put 315-km2's on one set of four rims.
Put 315-street tires on the other set of four rims.

When running your KM2s use one of the street tires as a full-size spare.

When running your street tires, use a km2 as your spare.

Put whatever you're not using on the truck onto the trailer.

Very briefly I considered having a full set of 315-75-16 snow tires, but then I found out that there is only ONE manufacturer and model of snow tire available in that size... so decided to just stick with my KM2s all year round.

As for street tires, I have no suggestions other than what others have already said regarding BFG AT, that I'm not fond of them. I am very fond of my KM2s though, this is my second set. Other set was on my 84 toy pickup.

The street tires I like (michelins) aren't available in this size, afaik.

Good luck with your search, and have fun shopping!

 

[maybe_a_80...]

How were they sound wise after some wear?

I can understand them being bad in the mud, but from what I've gathered from others here, they're better than the KM2's in snow and should also be better on rocks due to the contact patch

The BFG A/Ts aren't actually all that bad in snow. In some sizes the tire actually qualifies for the mountain snowflake symbol. It's the hardness of the compound that makes them poor in slick conditions. I don't think the exceptional durability of the tire (read overbuilt) helps either with the delicate feel required for driving on those slick surfaces where feel is so important. I've had the truck wander diagonally across icey road surface in a way that was just downright scary. For me this is the hang up with the BFG A/T.

 

[PoorHouse]

I had BFG AT's on my FJ60 for a couple winters, they did very well in fresh snow and slush, not great on ice, but nothing is outside a dedicated snow tire which I ended up getting for winter use.

I've only got a couple hundred miles on the Duratracs so can't comment on longevity. The reviews I read listed replacement mileage in the 50k-60k range, nothing like you are getting with your BFG's.

The Duratracs do ride extremely smooth and are very quiet. Enough that my wife commented how the new tires have really smoothed out the ride of our LX.

 

[Land Shark]

I have run BFG AT's on several vehicles Nissan Hard Body 4x4, 87 4rnnr, 2000 4rnnr, 2003 4rnnr, 2003 Sequoia and now my 97 LC. What I have seen is that they do well in snow and ok off road. No experience on rocks with them and using them on the road have been ok as well. I cannot speak to the other tires out there. I have beeen one to find a tire and stick with it.

 

[jeremymeehan]

Any of you have pics with 315 Duratracs on a 2-3" lift. I'm looking through the threads for this and haven't found. I know it's out there somewhere. Trying to explain to wife that 315 isn't TOO big

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Any of you have pics with 315 Duratracs on a 2-3" lift. I'm looking through the threads for this and haven't found. I know it's out there somewhere. Trying to explain to wife that 315 isn't TOO big

I just had a set of 315 D-Tracs installed earlier today and they seem to fill the wheel wells nicely

I'm running 860's and bags out back and saggy OEM springs with 2" Metal Tech spacers up front.

With all the extra weight, the height is actually very close to stock

No rubbing so far, but I'll most likely replace the stockers with a set of 850 heavies up front and lose the spacers

 

[jeremymeehan]

Hey thanks snake eater! Your truck looks really sharp -I have heavies on right now but am in beed of 1" spacers in front. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[TexasJack]

So you did 120k miles in two years? 160+ miles per day, seven days a week and still had what looks like 50% tread left when you sold them? Not buying it.

Not trying to be an A-Hole but me neither. The most miles I have ever gotten out of a set of tires on my 80 is 60K and that was a set of BFG T/A KO's which are the all-terrain tires. That was a stock tire size. I have been driving my 80 since 97 so I have been through a few sets of tires. To get 120K, you'd have to drive on cotton throughout the life of the tire.

I have KM2's now in 315's and it looks like I'll get over 50K out of these tires.

 

[TexasJack]

I just had a set of 315 D-Tracs installed earlier today and they seem to fill the wheel wells nicely











I'm running 860's and bags out back and saggy OEM springs with 2" Metal Tech spacers up front.

With all the extra weight, the height is actually very close to stock

No rubbing so far, but I'll most likely replace the stockers with a set of 850 heavies up front and lose the spacers

Your truck is one of the nicest looking 80 series I have seen. With that said, you really need a set of sliders before you bend a rocker panel. You don't have to wheel very aggressively to bend a rocker panel. I wheeled my truck from 97 to 2010 without rocker panels and feel extremely fortunate to have avoided bending a rocker panel. My running boards did show the wear.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Not trying to be an A-Hole but me neither. The most miles I have ever gotten out of a set of tires on my 80 is 60K and that was a set of BFG T/A KO's which are the all-terrain tires. That was a stock tire size. I have been driving my 80 since 97 so I have been through a few sets of tires. To get 120K, you'd have to drive on cotton throughout the life of the tire.

I have KM2's now in 315's and it looks like I'll get over 50K out of these tires.

I don't see why it's so hard to believe

It's no secret that I drive a ton of miles and I've posted each time I've bought tires over the years

I just put new 35" D-Tracs on last week and already have close to 1000 miles on them (did my first rotation at 750 a couple days ago)

I will say the majority of the miles are highway as I'm always going back and forth between NYC and Orlando

I'm also very anal about tire pressure, alignment and frequent 5 wheel rotations, which makes a huge difference

Your truck is one of the nicest looking 80 series I have seen. With that said, you really need a set of sliders before you bend a rocker panel. You don't have to wheel very aggressively to bend a rocker panel. I wheeled my truck from 97 to 2010 without rocker panels and feel extremely fortunate to have avoided bending a rocker panel. My running boards did show the wear.

I'm looking into them, but they're not exactly on the top of my list right now

She needs a set of front springs and I'm not sure which route I'll be taking for caster correction just yet

If I go with drop brackets, I hear they might not be compatible with solme pre-built sliders

 

[JCruse]

I just had a set of 315 D-Tracs installed earlier today and they seem to fill the wheel wells nicely











I'm running 860's and bags out back and saggy OEM springs with 2" Metal Tech spacers up front.

With all the extra weight, the height is actually very close to stock

No rubbing so far, but I'll most likely replace the stockers with a set of 850 heavies up front and lose the spacers

Dude, where do you drive that beast in QUEENS?


I'm in Nassau and it feels like EVERYTHING is paved! LOL










.

 

[2000UZJ]

I just went from 305 KM-2's to a 315 BFG AT (on the OEM 16X8 100 Series rim) and I am absolutely blown away at how smooth the AT's ride. I am used to having to raise my voice to talk, blasting the radio to drown out the KM-2's, and not to mention that ungodly rumble under 20MPH. With all that gone I feel like I am back in a vehicle that makes sense. It was embarrassing almost to pick up people and have the truck feel like it's about to explode in the parking lots. I sacrificed a little off-road capability, but for 95% of the driving I do, I could not justify another set of KM-2's and the road noise.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Dude, where do you drive that beast in QUEENS?


I'm in Nassau and it feels like EVERYTHING is paved! LOL


.

Jamaica

All the trails are far East on the Island


Anyhoo, a little update on the D-Tracs

I just did my 4th rotation yesterday and they're still as smooth as day one (even after tossing a few weights)

There's a slight vibe above 80, so I'll be doing a road force balance before my next trip home