KM2's Terrifying in Winter Conditions

[kbahus]

Just wanted to post this up if anyone is on the fence with getting a new set of these tires. KM2's are garbage for winter use. I shat my pants this morning twice on my normal commute to work with packed snow/icy roads. Last year I had Duratrac's and it was a tank in the similar conditions with zero issues. I was caught in a wicked blizzard up at Cameron Pass in the middle of the night and had no issues with the Duratrac's as well. I knew I would be compromising with the KM2's but not this much. I even went to the trouble to sipe the center tread of the KM2's but it doesn't matter, they just are not effective.

 

[aroscow]

Thats not good!!

If you air down are they any better? Well the tyres, not you!!

 

[jameslibra]

Thanks for the warning I was about to order a set next week. any views on cooper stt tyres? I dont know if they are only a UK tyre but they are second choice. Cant get Duratracs here

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Thats not good!!

If you air down are they any better? Well the tyres, not you!!

Airing down does not help - They suck in snow

 

[Wheelingnoob]

I have a few friends running the KM2's and they say the same as you in the snow they are awful. I had my Duratrac's in the snow a few weeks ago and they are fantastic to say the least.

 

[aroscow]

Thanks for the warning I was about to order a set next week. any views on cooper stt tyres? I dont know if they are only a UK tyre but they are second choice. Cant get Duratracs here

Never had coopers so cant help on that one - run bfg ats myself for many years. been VERY happy in the winters we have had recently on the other side of the penines if the stt coopers have the snowflake symbol they are an approved winter tyre.

 

[Ebag333]

Keep in mind it depends on the type of snow. Snow isn't just snow, it depends on where you live.

Here in the PNW we tend to get lots of slush, or layers of snow/water/ice. Other places you get deep thick powder. And others you get solid ice.

All that being said, I'd guess the KM2's suck no matter what type of snow it is....but for other tires it can very much matter.

 

[Corbet]

All mud tires suck for general winter use. over an AT*





























*except TrXus to satisfy Nay.

 

[clownmidget]

Thanks for the warning I was about to order a set next week. any views on cooper stt tyres? I dont know if they are only a UK tyre but they are second choice. Cant get Duratracs here

I ran the Cooper Discoverer S/T's with excellent results in snow. From my experience, most true "mud terrains" aren't siped enough for good results on snow/ice/slush covered pavement. The only exception is the Trxus M/T which is excellent in those conditions. YMMV. I have the Duratracs and everyone I know here in the Northeast swear by them as a winter tire.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

All mud tires suck for general winter use. over an AT*





























*except TrXus to satisfy Nay.

This!

* for Nay...

 

[93yotasr5]

Wow, I was pleased with all 3 sets of km2s ive had in the snow. They suck on ice, but what mt doesn't.
Good thing I only need em for snow when I want to snow wheel.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

According to the OP: this was in packed snow & icy... All mud tires suck in that!

 

[driver5155]

Thanks for the warning I was about to order a set next week. any views on cooper stt tyres? I dont know if they are only a UK tyre but they are second choice. Cant get Duratracs here

I have the Cooper AT3 285 75 16. They are a great tire IMO

 

[BirfMark]

Wow, I was pleased with all 3 sets of km2s ive had in the snow. They suck on ice, but what mt doesn't.
Good thing I only need em for snow when I want to snow wheel.

It was pretty icy here in kbahus-ville this morning (Fort Collins, CO). We started with light rain last night, then the temp fell below freezing & it turned to snow. We had nearly 8" of snow on top of a slick wet ice when I left for work this morning.

Sure glad I've got my Duratracs for this crap.

 

[atomicshawn]

I feel like my km2s do fine in the snow. I'm just on the otherside of the mountain from kbahus-ville so I wouldnt think the snow quality would be much different. But I have to say I dont know anything different (on my 80 anyway). I went from those weak 285 or whatever oem style Michelin's to 315 km2s and that felt like a huge improvement in the snow.

edit: ... and given how well km2s perform in every other condition, I'd rather just keep some Depends in the glove box for the snow days

 

[nuclearlemon]

*except TrXus to satisfy Nay.

only really hit snow in my duratracs twice, once on the trail and once today on the road and on the road, not impressed. on trail aired down pretty good. i do think i remember my trxus being better also tho.

 

[BadReligion]

Like many have said, most M/T tires arent great in hardpack/ice situations. Especially when you have oversized tires. I dont think this is exclusive to the KM2s.

A few weeks ago when it actually snowed in the Sierras, I was driving up a 9% grade following a newer 4wd lexus SUV. There was about 6-8 inches of fresh snow on the road. He started spinning all 4 wheels and then sliding back downhill. My LC never lost traction.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

I find this post very interesting. I had km2's on my Tacoma while I was living in Utah and could not have been happier with them! Granted they were on a different vehicle, I absolutely loved them and will put them on my 80 when fundage allows.

 

[cody c]

Fricking throw some studs in em then!

My nittos were fun (little scary) till I studded them, they were great first winter, and a little worn down this winter.

Have the best of both worlds, ice or deep snow this way!

 

[SUMOTOY]

I ran thru 2 sets of KM2 on my old 4R. The first set was scarey on packed snow and ice, the second set I had siped at Discount Tire when I bought them, and they were awesome in winter. Not as good as a Blizzack, but night and day difference to an 'unsiped' KM2. For more on siping
4WD Magazine
and Discount Tire on the topic
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tireSiping.dos
For winter driving the 80, not much can top the Blizzacks IMO. And not only are they a good winter tire (slush, up up to 4-6in snow, ice, water), but the all season tread is pretty darn good as well. I got 50k out of my first set of Blizzacks (20 winter/30 all season), and I'm 15k into my second set with plenty of winter tread left.

That said, in deep snow, the KM2 has a better tread than the Blizzacks, but if that's 10% of your winter driving, it's still the wrong tire for the job.

HTH and my .02


Scott J
94 FZJ80 Supercharged - Blizzack DMV1