MT Tires -

[tucker74]

So I realize tire threads have been done over and over here, but I didn't find exactly what I was looking for reading through them. Most are about AT or dedicated MT tires, and I did read them anyway. I've had 285/75R16 Goodyear MTRs on my 80 for the last 4 years or so, and gotten about 80k out of them. There's a lot of things I like about this tire, but the one thing I haven't like since day 1 is the road noise.

So now I'm looking for a new set of tires, and ATs just aren't going to cut it for what I do. Even though this is my DD, I'm not willing to compromise that much off road. So no BFG ATs, Nitto ATs, or Bridgestone Revos -

The list:

BFG MT KM2: Seem to be what I'm leaning towards, reviews are good and will be good in mud and rocks I play in. Anyone have these on an 80 yet?

Toyo MT's: Hear mixed results on these though I feel they will be good around here offroad, any tips on road noise?

Cooper Discovery STT: Read good things about road noise and traction, but bad things about wear. Anyone want to chime in?

Goodyear MTR: Great tires, but not going with another set due to road noise that started loud and has only gotten worse.

Not going with Trxxus or Cepek's since I'll be DDing this rig, just want the best off-road performance I can without totally sacrificing on road.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
Tucker

 

[Nay]

I'd go KM2's since you don't deal with much winter in Austin. They are not reported to be very quiet, though.

If you want an unbelievably quiet MT, go trxus. Daily driving means wear (these are a 40K tire max and that's if you take them all the way down), but at half tread with a lot of offroad abuse they were still quieter than my brand new Toyos.

I just had my Toyo MT's out on a very icy morning, I'm impressed. We'll see how they do at near zero temps as the trxus were this good in virtually all temps. But my concerns about them being a sketchy winter tire are gone. They are not noisy in a bad way, but they are not anywhere near AT quiet, and the trxus are.

So what do you want? Long wear? Rock crawling tire? Quiet? Not sure you are going to get all three, and I doubt either Toyo or BFG are going to be quieter than MTR. You have to go trxus for that.

 

[Ebag333]

Toyo MT's: Hear mixed results on these though I feel they will be good around here offroad, any tips on road noise?

You'll hear a lot of mixed results. Some will swear by them, others will hate them.

A lot of folks local to me run the Toyo MT's and like them. I didn't for a couple of reasons.

They don't seem to handle very well in slippery conditions (wet, icy, or just really slick rocks). They're on the truck now which is her DD, and I'm not really thrilled with how fast they're wearing down.

They're also pretty noisy. In my truck it was extremely noticable up until about 15 mph, scared the the first time she drove mine with those tires on.

Her's has a LOT of sound deadening stuff I put on, so it's not really noticable there, but they're still a lot louder than her old road tires.

I'm using General Grabber AT2's now, and I think that they handle just as well as the Toyo's ever did (despite the AT designation). They certainly handle significantly better in slippery conditions, got to test them last weekend in a water crossing and going over bushes. Significantly less slip than the guy who was running Toyo M/T's.

Just my two peso's.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Unfortunately, it's going to be a compromise in what you want... A harder tire that will last longer will generally be noisier compared to a softer tire with similar tread design. I've heard that the new BFGs are pretty quiet... My Toyos are noisy, but so is my 80! The Cooper or Hanooks would be something to think about. Even if they don't last as long, they are so much cheaper that it may be worth it... Anyway, good luck with your search!

 

[gotmud]

Just went through the same process you are. I was impressed with the ride and handling of my Revos, but wanted a mud tire when I went to 35’s. I had run MTR’s and BFG’s in the past as well as IROK’s, STT’s and Swampers. All had good qualities, but were a definite trade off between on-road and off-road performance.

I put a set of KM2's on about 3000 miles ago. So far, they have performed well on and off road. They are certainly louder than the Revos, but I expected that.
I am particularly impressed with the way the KM2 sidewalls have held up to some nasty rock scrapes. In one instance, I was sure I was going to either break a bead, or tear the sidewall. The only damage was rock rash on my wheel. The sidewall didn't even show a mark after what would have surely sliced open my Revos.

 

[Bluetribal]

Cooper Discovery STT: Read good things about road noise and traction, but bad things about wear. Anyone want to chime in?

Thanks!
Tucker

The beginning of November will be two years I have had my Coopers. I have been in a five tire rotation and they seem to be wearing well to me. I will try to do an update write-up with pics and measurement and exact mileage. I would guess I have put 12,000 miles each year so a total of 24,000 miles.
They are noisier than when they had 2K-8K miles on them but after driving next to a Heep last month on the freeway way quieter than what he was running. If I had to guess from the look at 65 mph I would say he had the Good Year (NOT so Silent Guard) MT's

 

[dhanney]

I have run the 315 KM2's for about 7 months. Love them off-road, especially in the Moab rocks. On-road they are a bit stiff and road noise is present but tolerable. My wife drives the rig as a DD and there was a sheet of ice in our neighborhood this morning. I just asked her how they did and she reported "no problems at all". They have to be good if the boss is happy.

 

[e9999]

my MTRs are significantly quieter when I run them on the road at higher pressure than the "usual" 35 or so pressure that many folks seem to use.

 

[80t0ylc]

The beginning of November will be two years I have had my Coopers. I have been in a five tire rotation and they seem to be wearing well to me.
In your tire rotation, are you rotating tires from one side to the other? I thought that with steel belted radials if you rotated tires you kept them on the same side. I heard and read that this was necessary because the steel belts settle to the direction of rotation and if you reverse that the tires will eventually destroy themselves. Just curious. -Tom

 

[LUV24BY]

One thing I would like to ask: Considering the soft compound of the KM2's, these wouldn't work well in, say, Phoenix, AZ where the summer pavement gets hot enough to fry eggs, right?

Being in the middle of the Desert - it would be nice to find something that runs well and doesn't get chewed up by the Summers.

One local recommended Nitto Terra Grapplers. How are the Nitto MT's?

John

 

[Sporin]

TrXus MT seems to be a hugely popular tire up here in New England and multiple trucks including 80's, in my club run them. Never heard a single complaint. Just go with Dynabeads for balancing.

That's what I plan to put on my 80 eventually.

 

[jfz80]

AT's arent going to cut it for what you do? what do you do? i see mostly mud and rocks actually........

Id second not overlooking the trxus, but if youve done your research and are settled thats fine. I had them and they ran much quieter than my MTR's granted they wouldnt see 80k. Im surprised yours did, i thought that was reserved for BFG at's Other than a bit of soft lug wiggle the tires did great on the road, very well may got back. (NC)

I have been really impressed w/ my roomates Nitto TG's as well. Aired down theyve been through mud and rock and cleaned out well to boot.

Out of you list though it would be KM2 or coopers for me. Ive always liked the cooper and looks to be a similar tread to a TOYO at a more affordable price. I have seen KM2's on and 80 and they do look good though. HERE are lots of pics.

 

[Nay]

I have run the 315 KM2's for about 7 months. Love them off-road, especially in the Moab rocks. On-road they are a bit stiff and road noise is present but tolerable. My wife drives the rig as a DD and there was a sheet of ice in our neighborhood this morning. I just asked her how they did and she reported "no problems at all". They have to be good if the boss is happy.

That's a good nod for the KM2. It was slick as baby sh$t this morning

 

[dhanney]

That's a good nod for the KM2. It was slick as baby sh$t this morning

No kidding and the bald Bridgestones on the company taco were flat scary!

 

[tucker74]

I'm using General Grabber AT2's now, and I think that they handle just as well as the Toyo's ever did (despite the AT designation). They certainly handle significantly better in slippery conditions, got to test them last weekend in a water crossing and going over bushes. Significantly less slip than the guy who was running Toyo M/T's.

Just my two peso's.

Hadn't seen those, have to check them out ... the price looks decent anyway -

Tucker

 

[Ebag333]

Hadn't seen those, have to check them out ... the price looks decent anyway -

Tucker

I got 5 mounted and balanced for $950 here locally. The shop ordered through TireRack.com, and matched price.

The price is a bit higher than what I paid on TireRack now, but not horribly so. (And if you wait long enough you might get one of their deals, like a $50 gift card or something that they do periodically.)


When I told some local folks here that I was getting an AT they mocked me for it. I especially enjoyed them seeing the tires in person then going "Oh....I guess those aren't so bad."

Like I said, I'm really happy with them. I've had them out twice, and both times they performed as well as the Toyo M/T's did (and better in slippery conditions). My truck's my DD, so I need something that has decent on road performance and lasts a decent length of time. The Toyo M/T's are wearing much too fast for my taste.

More opinions on the Grabber's: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-...63.html?highlight=General+Grabber#post3727663

 

[Cj80cruiser]

Why don't you try out the supposed gap bridger tire--Super Swamper SS-M16? I'm not too fond of the bullets on the side but the tread looks promising. It has good reviews on Offroaders.com. I haven't really heard anybody here say they're running them so be the first.

 

[Nay]

AT's have their place and some are surprisingly good offroad in a variety of conditions. If I didn't deal with deep snow I doubt I'd run an MT except to get the bigger sizes.

AT's + 4' drifts =

 

[AFinn]

i have 295/75 hankook mt's. not a lot of miles, but have handled great offroad so far, and the road noise is barely noticable. i expected a lot more noise, but are not much louder than the all seasons that were on before. price helps a lot too.

 

[Ebag333]

AT's + 4' drifts =

Are you saying that AT's + 4' drifts = because the AT's make it too easy, or because you don't like AT's in those situations?

Part of the reason why I went with the AT2's is because they have holes for studs on them. Should make their handling in snow/ice leaps and bounds above any M/T.