Yup no issues here either with the tire, and my usecase is same as you, but the noise is too much for me at my current age.
K02 no more.
KO2s couldn't handle the 200
- Thread starter Hendlerj
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K02 no more.
Are you deflating? In my experience (same vehicle - armored GX 470), 15 PSI on an E rated tire seems to flex more like 30 PSI on a C load. Both were KO2s. 15 PSI on C load rides like butter & wraps around rocks much easier. The difference is dramatic. E's are tough, but on sharp rocks you want flex, which they do not have.
FWIW, the times I have broken sidewalls I was barely deflated, and driving like a dumbass.. too fast, spinning tires on sharp rocks.
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I can't speak to K02s on 200s specifically. And I've actually never run them but I know lots of people who have on everything from Raptors to Jeeps to Tacomas. The consensus in my circle here in Utah is that they're pretty good SoCal tires. In Northern Utah we have a lot of railroad spikes and sharp rocks and it seems like K02s get blown out regularly, torn sidewalls, etc. They also seem useless in serious sticky/clay mud. Just ball right up. But that's to be expected for an AT I guess.
To contrast that I've been running E-rated Toyos for a while - RTs on my 200 and MTs on my 80, 100, Tacoma and Tundra. Over the course of 6 different sets of Toyos I haven't had a single flat. And that's running through all sorts of rocks and harsh trails. Even pulled a nail out on one tire and it still held air.
Yokohamas look great. I've been meaning to try those out soon.
8 psi on an MT -
PhuckItImDone
SILVER Star
I've had my Geolander MTs for just over 20,000 miles now, wheeled them hard in Ouray, Breckenridge, here on the east coast in mud and trees, they are holding up great.
I've been keeping score on tire failures in my group. We're up to 12 tires. 5 of which were KO2s. Granted, they probably represent 1/3 of all the tires in the running as they are pretty good for the southwest region we wheel in.
I've been a critic of the KO2s as they sometimes get blanket fanboi enthusiasm even as there's better tires out. Including KO3s being maybe a new benchmark.
To be fair, KO2s are one of the few ATs that use 3 ply sidewall construction. Though you'll want to check specifics as some milder sizes and load range C or less only use 2 plys. Most all floatation sizes will have 3. I don't think KO2s are any less durable than most competing AT tires as that's suppose to be one of their pros.
I've been a critic of the KO2s as they sometimes get blanket fanboi enthusiasm even as there's better tires out. Including KO3s being maybe a new benchmark.
To be fair, KO2s are one of the few ATs that use 3 ply sidewall construction. Though you'll want to check specifics as some milder sizes and load range C or less only use 2 plys. Most all floatation sizes will have 3. I don't think KO2s are any less durable than most competing AT tires as that's suppose to be one of their pros.
- Thread starter
- #27
Do you happen to know how many plys are in the Yokohama Geolander G003?
I don't know firsthand but most MT tires, being the most aggressive, are going to be 3-ply construction across the board. That's not to say all brands are going to be made equal in robustness and is only one parameter. I would always encourage floatation sizes as that's going to be better even within a tire model, with more tread depth and compliant and durable construction.
I can answer for the Yokohama Geoloander X-AT that is 3-ply and probably closer to what a KO2 is meant for usage wise. It's an R/T tire, but has some of the NVH finishing school qualities of an A/T tire. I've only had it for about 2k miles but I think it's a great alternative if one is willing to trade things like rolling resistance and cornering traction for more aggressiveness and durability.
Other great A/T tires I've had experience, which I would pick ahead of KO2s are Falken Wildpeaks and Toyo Open Country. KO3s would also be really high on my list but have yet to try firsthand.
I've done a solid handful of trips on my G003s with sharp rocks and/or some pretty meaty terrain, mostly northern UT, Moab, and the San Juans. Nothing has touched the sidewalls, but I have had a little chunking in the treads.
8 psi on an MT -
Those Hutchinsons are some grail wheels for me. Too expensive and too heavy for my sometimes-daily 200 but damn I love them.
Hmm strange that they behave like that on your car. I am running 285/70 R17 KO2s and it is the third set of them on the car (since beginning only KO2s as I know) with close 340.000km. And it got a heavy beat over all those years.
I mean still they are all year tires that are kinda like not that nicely to drive on wet ground but yeah they aren’t rly street tires.
The first flat that the car had in alle those years since 2008 was like two months ago when some big metal piece or nail went into it as I guess because I noticed it when it flew away with a big noice while I was on the highway.
I mean still they are all year tires that are kinda like not that nicely to drive on wet ground but yeah they aren’t rly street tires.
The first flat that the car had in alle those years since 2008 was like two months ago when some big metal piece or nail went into it as I guess because I noticed it when it flew away with a big noice while I was on the highway.
Resurrecting this thread as I have had similar issues with KO2s and now KO3s as well.
@Hendlerj what has been your experience with the Geolanders so far? and how many miles do you have on them?
I have been offroading with KO2s for a decade now and never had a problem with them on other rigs. But on my heavy LC200 series it's been one sidewall after another. My rig is 7300lb which is not uncommon for an armored and equipped example. I damaged 3 sidewalls with the first 15K miles of having KO2s on this rig. Two were big chunks (no puncture) and one was an unrepairable puncture. I got two new KO3s 2 weeks ago and already punctured one of them again on the sidewall. This time, it was a twig!!! Totally crazy. Looking at other tires at this point. My tires are 295/70/18 load E and for whatever reason they are not holding up to my use. I have not changed the way I offroad or the trails I take. They just crap out under my car as soon as the sidewall hits anything.
@Hendlerj what has been your experience with the Geolanders so far? and how many miles do you have on them?
I have been offroading with KO2s for a decade now and never had a problem with them on other rigs. But on my heavy LC200 series it's been one sidewall after another. My rig is 7300lb which is not uncommon for an armored and equipped example. I damaged 3 sidewalls with the first 15K miles of having KO2s on this rig. Two were big chunks (no puncture) and one was an unrepairable puncture. I got two new KO3s 2 weeks ago and already punctured one of them again on the sidewall. This time, it was a twig!!! Totally crazy. Looking at other tires at this point. My tires are 295/70/18 load E and for whatever reason they are not holding up to my use. I have not changed the way I offroad or the trails I take. They just crap out under my car as soon as the sidewall hits anything.
Curious what you are airing down to? I flogged mine in Ouray and Moab and no chunking or tearing etc. My rig is about 7100 pounds
- Thread starter
- #35
I am delighted to report that I have had zero issues with the Geolanders. I wheel the same trails, with the same weight, with the same driving ability, and I have had zero issues. It is a far better tire for wheeling a heavy 200. It makes some noise on the highway, but I am no longer afraid of rocks and mud as I was with the KO2. I would recommend the Yokohama without reservation.
- Thread starter
- #36
This is the exact tire I am running...
- Thread starter
- #37
I air them down to 17.5 psi
That is great to hear. Thanks.
I usually air down to 22psi on light/medium trails.
If I need a lot more traction, I would go down to around 17. And if I'm on sand dunes I would go down to 12-15 psi.
Something I have noticed is that these tires bulge a lot under the 200. If they are at 33psi which is the recommended tire pressure for a stock 200 they look kind of deflated and unsafe for highway. At 38psi they start to stand up straight with a little bulge and visually look OK for highway use.
I usually air down to 22psi on light/medium trails.
If I need a lot more traction, I would go down to around 17. And if I'm on sand dunes I would go down to 12-15 psi.
Something I have noticed is that these tires bulge a lot under the 200. If they are at 33psi which is the recommended tire pressure for a stock 200 they look kind of deflated and unsafe for highway. At 38psi they start to stand up straight with a little bulge and visually look OK for highway use.
