Opinion based on cost : KM2 or KM3 / BFG’s (2 Viewers)

[LINUS]

So here’s where I’m at:

I can either pay ~$460 pre-tax & install, for KM3’s
-or- I can pay ~$357 pre-tax & install, for KM2’s

Bottom line - do you guys who have been through both tires, think KM3’s are worth $100 more each corner?
***IDK how old the KM2’s are, at all - Discount tire / closeout priced***


Do the KM2’s or spend $400 for the KM3’s?




—————————————
It’s a size tire for my Tundra, but this forum sees more guys who have been through multiple sets of any tire, so I figure my odds of getting 100% voices of experience are going to happen here.

 

[chap79]

How important is the added sidewalk protection to you?

Since you’re using Discount Tire I’ll assume you get the road hazard protection. If you bought the KM2’s and had a failure you’d probably end up with a KM3 as a replacement in the future.

 

[rockstate45]

I’ve run the KM2s in two tire sizes now and like them. At the savings, I would probably buy the KM2s even though they aren’t the latest and greatest.

If you need good snow and ice traction, low noise, and things a MT generally isn’t good at - but the KM3 has improved on over the KM2 a then you’re probably looking at the wrong tire.

Either way you go, enjoy the new tires!

 

[baldilocks]

I wouldn’t put either of those tires on anything I own especially if they will be driven on road in the PNW.

You need new tires for your Tundra you say???

 

[cybrstar]

I’ve ran both tires and for street capabilities as well as off road I’d go with the KM3’s. Both will give you over 40k miles, great snow and mud capabilities, but in the rock the km3’s chunks a lot less. The compound in the KM3’s seem a little bit softer but the wear is great. I’m on my first set at about 30k and it looks to be at more than half. The KM2’s on the street had a little more of the Mud Terrain sound.

 

[Azca]

I had not tried eihter but, if it helps, 4wp has $100 off a set and they pay the sales tax. If you have a local store, Discount will beat the price. Worth a look/try...

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[OffRoadScott]

First, are you planning on driving the rig daily? If so I would look at an AT tire but if it is a weekend rig I would definitely go with the either the KM2 or KM3.

Is it safe to assume t those prices you are looking at 37's?

The road hazard is definitely worth it in the long run, in my wife's car she hit a pothole with her driver's side tires and both blew and they were replaced.

 

[Atomic City]

I had not tried eihter but, if it helps, 4wp has $100 off a set and they pay the sales tax. If you have a local store, Discount will beat the price. Worth a look/try...

Off Road Parts & Accessories | Your 4X4 Truck & Jeep Experts at 4 Wheel Parts

Find top 4X4 off-road parts & accessories for your Jeep or truck at 4 Wheel Parts. Discover lift kits, wheels, and more to enhance your off-road experience.

www.4wheelparts.com

Yep, Discount will beat any price you can dig up on any tire. They have done it for me on my last two sets of tires. On my last set of tires, I didn't even go to the discount store - did everything online and had them shipped to me.

 

[LINUS]

I wouldn’t put either of those tires on anything I own especially if they will be driven on road in the PNW.

You need new tires for your Tundra you say???

Yep, Tundra tire time - It’s got a set of 20’s (typical bro-truck Fuel wheels)
325/60r20 is the exact size the sale is on, and I have Toyo Open Country M/T’s that are not worth the $$$ their 35-12.5r20 is.

I pretty much just tow the boat/dump runs, or DD it enough to keep the 3UR/drivetrain “happy” - I have ~9K since I bought it Jan ‘17.

It’ll never get a supercharger, the stock gears are in it, and only drivetrain mod will be the Sequoia TC case to give AWD/ lock the TC like the CDL in a 80.

I had not tried eihter but, if it helps, 4wp has $100 off a set and they pay the sales tax. If you have a local store, Discount will beat the price. Worth a look/try...

Off Road Parts & Accessories | Your 4X4 Truck & Jeep Experts at 4 Wheel Parts

Find top 4X4 off-road parts & accessories for your Jeep or truck at 4 Wheel Parts. Discover lift kits, wheels, and more to enhance your off-road experience.

www.4wheelparts.com

That may help.......thx!

First, are you planning on driving the rig daily? If so I would look at an AT tire but if it is a weekend rig I would definitely go with the either the KM2 or KM3.

Is it safe to assume t those prices you are looking at 37's?

The road hazard is definitely worth it in the long run, in my wife's car she hit a pothole with her driver's side tires and both blew and they were replaced.

325/60 is prob a true 35“ as spec is 35.4” - internet keeps claiming they run small

I figured if I did the KM2’s I‘d def grab warrenty to keep KM3’s possible as a update, and for me yes - place I’m looking to buy will need a driveway punched up a incline / more than likely a switchback & will be rocked with 4” minus (DNR road rock) for a long time to get it to set before any smaller rock goes down, give it a good base.

 

[baldilocks]

I ran two sets of Duratracs in a row on my Dodge Cummins and liked them. Each set lasted just less than 55k. Last month I needed new tires for the pickup so I decided to try something different. After much deliberation, I discover that Nitto tires are made in The USA and garner more respect than I previously thought.

I ran across their tire called Nitto EXO Grappler AWT while researching and that’s what I ended up getting. They are designed as a hybrid and compete with the Duratracs. I was running load range D Duratracs in 285 because D is what discount tire always had in that size. These Exo Grapllers are load range E and obviously more stout. They are actually more quiet than Duratracs and have been putting Cummins torque down on wet pavement very well, even better than the Duratracs in wet conditions. They are definitely more suited to the service a tundra provides than KM’s.

Nitto Exo Grappler Tires

Nitto Exo Grappler tire specs. Find specs for Nitto Exo Grappler tires in every size available on the market.

tiresize.com

 

[LINUS]

@baldilocks - that is the exact tire IIRC a guy at work couldn’t keep round. I’ll doublecheck to make sure.

He wanted them to work, played with PSI & was in the shop a few times as each set went flat spotting.

I’d initially been sorta looking at the Ridge Grapplers, but Nitto/Toyo were sister companies and I hated the Toyos, and then when the Nittos finally were swapped for KM3’s it seemed to cure it - IDK

Link to when I was sorting between GY DT’s & KM3’s:

BFG KM3’s or GOODYEAR DURATRAC (Even GY MT-R’s) -call out your experiences (other tires welcome too)

So as title states, I’m doing tires on a Tundra. -So- -BFG KM3’s -Goodyear Duratrac Those are my 2 front-runners (have GY MT-R’s on my 80, they are good in all but snow) -exactlly as would be expected of Kevlar MT-R’s. — I’m not at all worried about the atheists of the carcass, I want...

forum.ih8mud.com

-post 4 is where I mentioned it, he had the tread that was 1 step ‘milder‘ than Ridge Grapplers which are still milder than their Mud Grappler (IIRC names right).

But yeah - even Discount seems ‘done’ dealing with Duratracs. So that killed that option. Those Dura Ventures or whatever name are too new to say anything.

 

[baldilocks]

Ridge grappler will suck on snow or ice, not enough siping. Your buddy probably had the terra grappler. If a tire is round on day one then it should remain round as long as suspension parts are in good order. I read a lot of tire problems and get baffled because I can’t remember having issues with tires ever in 35 years of buying tires except for some Chinese made trailer tires.

 

[KWalkerM]

Duratracs are hands down the best winter snow/ice tire I have ever ran. I replaced my KM2s for Duratracs on my 80 in December of last year(35s). The KM2s lasted forever and took some abuse but they are super loud and heavy and not good in slick conditions in my experience. I have no KM3 experience and just went for Toyo MTs on my 60 and love those as well (37s).

 

[DSRTRDR]

if you have a 4-Wheel-Parts store close by, their warranty will beat Discount Tire's warranty by a long shot (I have had both over the years, and by now will go to 4WP any time I can)

 

[Azca]

If you are seriously off roading your rig, you should stay far away from the duratracs. The sidewalls are too soft. My brother ripped three sidewalls on the same trip 3 or 4 years ago. Ruined the trip for him (obviously). I have read about many others experiencing the same issue. Great snow and rain tire for street use but unreliable otherwise. He had good success with the Goodyear MTs however.

I have been running the Pro Comp extreme MT2s. I am now on my third set. For the price (they have a buy three get the fourth free) I feel they are hard to beat. They have put up with a lot from the desert rocks and sand to the mountains on many hunting trips. Performed well on all surfaces and had no issues other than one tire when I put a tree branch through the sidewall retrieving an animal when towing a tandem axle trailer off the beaten track. I would be cautious running them in the snow however.

I also have had very good experience with the BFG ATs. Put sets on my son's Taco and daughter's 4runner. She lives in Montana and loves them, especially in the snow.

As on any forum, as you well know, the tire experts will come out of the woodwork with their opinions. Run what you want, you already have a lot of time in the seat an know this. If you compromise, you will never be happy.

 

[bajaphile]

While we're on the topic (I am shopping for new tires as well)... My last set of KM2's (bought in 2011) were installed an looked like skateboard wheels compared to the KO's they replaced. Are they still running undersized or did BFG fix that with the KM3?

 

[chap79]

While we're on the topic (I am shopping for new tires as well)... My last set of KM2's (bought in 2011) were installed an looked like skateboard wheels compared to the KO's they replaced. Are they still running undersized or did BFG fix that with the KM3?

IMO, still undersized in the 315/75r16 ones that I have seen. One of my buddies bought a set to replace his older Cooper ST. he thought they had installed the wrong size KM3's they seemed so much smaller. He had Discount put his old tires back on and ordered a set to ST MAXX instead.

 

[LINUS]

While we're on the topic (I am shopping for new tires as well)... My last set of KM2's (bought in 2011) were installed an looked like skateboard wheels compared to the KO's they replaced. Are they still running undersized or did BFG fix that with the KM3?

Still as undersized, if not slightly moreso / KM3’s than KM2’s.

That’s what I was told.

Also 18/32“ tread in all KM3’s, where most KM2’s were 20/32” or had a 20/32” version for the higher load range ones.

 

[Willy beamin]

KM3's are great and not loud on the pavement. I run them in a 37" on my 80 and have not regretted that decision. I had the Nitto trail grapplers and these are silent in comparison. The extra cost is in the newer tire tech

 

[Cruzerman]

Why would you run mud tires on a pavement pounder rig?