KO2 vs. KM2 tires.....

[GregLCA]

Is there anyone here who has direct experience with both?

The KO2 seems like the more practical choice for a street-driven LC....probably a lot quieter on the highway due to the tighter treadblocks. The siping should also make them better on ice or hard snow.

The KM2 is just so much more aggressive and awesome looking that I'm having a hard time dismissing it for my LC. Even though I won't be doing any offroading every time I see a photo with the KM2s installed, the overall look is fantastic. My concern is highway noise, and potentially lousy performance in snow or on icy roads... It would be great to have "the look" I want, but at this point I just can't figure out how much of an impractical choice it may end up being....??

Can anyone provide direct personal experiences?

Thanks!

-G

 

[krice118]

The ko2 is a pretty aggressive tire!

 

[GregLCA]

The ko2 is a pretty aggressive tire!

Compared to the Michelin MTXs on my LC now.....yes.

Compared to the KM2..... Not so much.


I'm just not sure how far off the deep end I should allow myself to go.

-G

 

[Willy beamin]

I looked at the same tires and ended up purchasing with Nitto Trail Grapplers. Give those a look before you make a purchase. Some of the guys in the 200 forum are running the KO2's and have great things to say (handling / noise). If you haven't already checked out the Goodyear duratracs you should. I really like mine and the noise is just part of being a big rig - its says move over, I need that lane.

 

[TwiceWithHair]

Duratracs were my solution for wanting "the look." It's got mean side lugs on a light weight tire. Haven't put em on yet. My springs just got here today. But I'm looking forward to having "the look."


...via IH8MUD app

 

[GregLCA]

Duratracs were my solution for wanting "the look." It's got mean side lugs on a light weight tire. Haven't put em on yet. My springs just got here today. But I'm looking forward to having "the look."


...via IH8MUD app

Please feel free to post pics in this thread...... Mounted, unmounted.... Whatever you want!

-G

 

[mcgaskins]

If you drive in snow, snow packed or icy roads then I would definitely steer you away from the KM2s or most MTs for that matter. I would instead recommend the KO2, the Duratrac, the Cooper ST Maxx and the Toyo AT2.

 

[40Habits]

I have run a few sets of KM2's and just like an old dog they start to howl. I haven't run the KO2's yet as I am still waiting for addtional tire sizes to be released but I have run a couple sets of KO's and if it is a DD go with the KO's. Great all around traction and significantly quieter.

 

[tripreed]

If it wasn't your daily driver, you could possibly justify the KM2. But the terrible gas mileage and road noise might be hard to put up with, especially if you're not really going to be taking it off road.

 

[ChaseTruck]

...

-G

I thought I recognize the truck in the avatar - you're Greg72 on ColoradoK5, right? I used to hang out over there...

 

[GregLCA]

I thought I recognize the truck in the avatar - you're Greg72 on ColoradoK5, right? I used to hang out over there...

Yep.... I'm kind of new over there. I just signed up for my account 14 years ago!!!


-G

 

[ChaseTruck]

Yep.... I'm kind of new over there. I just signed up for my account 14 years ago!!!


-G

I DID type my post above before I saw the link in your sig...

Can't help on the tires. My K5 is still my main wheeling truck, and right now it's sitting on near-bald BFG AT KOs...

 

[GregLCA]

I DID type my post above before I saw the link in your sig...

Can't help on the tires. My K5 is still my main wheeling truck, and right now it's sitting on near-bald BFG AT KOs...

No worries.....

My truck isn't exactly "road worthy" either at this point, but it's getting closer!!!










-G

 

[woody]

My only complaint with my 315-75-16 KO2's in noise...they are SO quiet I now hear new noises in my 80-series....lol

Impressive snow traction, even light snow. Ice is impressive too. Sidewalls are straight off the KR2 race tire and I was unable to wreck one while testing in Baja. We did hit mud in Baja too, and they hooked up quite well in our test Raptor's.

I haven't had them in Moab yet...road and weather only right now...but the more aggressive outer lugs should perform well.

 

[woody]

...and while I have no experience with the KM2, my Goodyear MT Kevlar's were useless in winter for light snow and ice.

 

[GregLCA]

...and while I have no experience with the KM2, my Goodyear MT Kevlar's were useless in winter for light snow and ice.

My only complaint with my 315-75-16 KO2's in noise...they are SO quiet I now hear new noises in my 80-series....lol

Impressive snow traction, even light snow. Ice is impressive too. Sidewalls are straight off the KR2 race tire and I was unable to wreck one while testing in Baja. We did hit mud in Baja too, and they hooked up quite well in our test Raptor's.

I haven't had them in Moab yet...road and weather only right now...but the more aggressive outer lugs should perform well.

...and while I have no experience with the KM2, my Goodyear MT Kevlar's were useless in winter for light snow and ice.

Thanks for the feedback!

I must reluctantly admit that while the KM2 is a cool "looking" tire... it doesn't really seem well-suited to this project. The hardcore offroad tires (KM2, MT-R, etc) have nice open tread voids which would seem to be great for clearing snow, but without the siping they just seem to be the wrong choice for other type of winter driving (ice, packed snow).

Road noise was certainly a concern, and though I don't log a TON of highway miles on the LC... I don't want to listen to the "Cessna Drone" (I like that analogy!) of a dedicated mud/rock tire either. If that was the only downside of the KM2 or MT-R I probably would have just thrown a bunch of Dynamat and sound absorbing products at the interior panels.... and it probably wouldn't even be noticeable with the windows rolled up!


-G

 

[TwiceWithHair]

Please feel free to post pics in this thread...... Mounted, unmounted.... Whatever you want!

-G

Duratracs 295/65/18

Mounted are general grabber at2 275/65/18 with ~25,000 miles


...via IH8MUD app

 

[GregLCA]

Thanks for that photo.... Truckee, CA? Yeah, I suppose you'd know a thing or two about snow and ice driving up there!!!

-G

 

[tpatrickmc]

I know this is an old thread but I am curious to see where OP ended up. Seems like we have a lot more data on the KO2 now. Also, I am not sure all of the input here was based on KO2, but was instead on KOs (like the "look" for example - KO2s have as much sidewall action as the photos provided). How did it go @GregLCA ? I am weighing a similar choice for my next tire.

 

[GregLCA]

I know this is an old thread but I am curious to see where OP ended up. Seems like we have a lot more data on the KO2 now. Also, I am not sure all of the input here was based on KO2, but was instead on KOs (like the "look" for example - KO2s have as much sidewall action as the photos provided). How did it go @GregLCA ? I am weighing a similar choice for my next tire.

Still puttering around with my MTXs.... I don't drive much so it's been hard to wear them out. By this coming winter I suspect it will be time to make the move, and I'm pretty sure I'm going with the K02s....

-G