tire recommendations needed (1 Viewer)

[armytaco]

Yeah level out the truck then it will be perfect. I had 2-2.5 in of supsension in front and 1 in bl and never scrubbed once with the 255 on stock wheels (01 Taco). Now with 285...it was a rub fest. I am glad my FJC fits the 285 with no rubbing or I would be using the 255. Nothing worse than hearing your truck srcubbing...atleast I hate it every time I hear it.

 

[pillguy]

Hi Guys,

Thought I would resurrect an old thread despite some flaming by Ted that I know is coming.
After several years of running the 255/85/16 Maxxis bighorns, I am going to go with another tire. They are great mud tires, definitely noisy on the road, but the sidewalls seem to be weak.
I have several cuts and gashes in them and was getting ready for the new years trip and was able to put a screw driver through without any effort on one of them. Basically an accident waiting to happen.
Since I drive to the trails, I still need what I was looking for to begin with, an aggressive AT or decent mud tire.
I have narrowed down to a Cooper ST Maxx or BFG KM2 MTs.
Here is a link to the ST Maxx on Expo portal. [URL]http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/59755-Cooper-Discoverer-S-T-Maxx[/URL]

Any input would be appreciated (size is 255/85/16)

 

[GXO]

Duratracs man....AT but just as good as most MTs (with road worthiness). Better on the road than any MT, just as good offroad wet or dry.

 

[jynx]

Not to throw another one in the mix, but I have enjoyed my Cooper STT's, I know @BMThiker runs the KM2's on his daily driven FJ and he scoots around in metro Atlanta alot and wheels the pee out of it, maybe he will weigh in on them. Dan and @Sam Stewart both roll the Duratracs and as Dan mentioned seem to really like them. I think Dan is on his second set on the GX. If you pound alot of pavement as your DD, then I would say go duratrac or similar to get a little better road manners, if the street time is primarily just getting to and from the trails, I would vote for the KM2's or a more aggressive MT since you are mostly going for trail capability instead of tread life.

@DanKunz how many mile are you getting out of your DT's? I average between 25k and 30k a year on the road and my current BFG ATs are going to likely need replacement soon. Would like to go to a Duratrac, but would like to be in the 60k range on them to make it a consideration. I was thinking if I could get a set of "E" rated tires that might buy me some miles since they should be harder compound. Otherwise I am probably going to end up with a set of the new KO2's that have just been released.

Thanks

 

[BMThiker]

I'm getting about 40K on the K/M2's. I'm on my second set and this set has taken a bigger beating than the first (mostly due to 2 trips to Superlift/Hot Springs ORV Park). I'm probably going to stick with them unless the new K/O2's are significantly cheaper.

 

[jynx]

@pillguy hey Andrew, @89s rule had a set of 255/85R16 BFG KM2s mounted on a set of 4runner 5 spoke wheels that he was trying to get rid of. I am not sure how much tread is left on them, or if he still has them, but I want the 5 spoke wheels, or at least a couple of them to have a matching spare. If he still has them and you want to try and get them to see if you like the KM2's I would take the wheels and you could mount up the tires. I think all in, depending on what it would take to get the set to you, I'd say you could have 5 tires for not much more than one would cost if we split them up.

PM me if you might be interested.

 

[GXO]

My first set of Duratracs got 45k and I replaced them with acceptable tread depth for road and light offroad use (I needed full meats for Moab).

They were E rated. This set is just getting worn in with just over 15k (I drove to/from Moab and SCC on these).

 

[Elbert]

Toyo....Destination MT

 

[pillguy]

@pillguy hey Andrew, @89s rule had a set of 255/85R16 BFG KM2s mounted on a set of 4runner 5 spoke wheels that he was trying to get rid of. I am not sure how much tread is left on them, or if he still has them, but I want the 5 spoke wheels, or at least a couple of them to have a matching spare. If he still has them and you want to try and get them to see if you like the KM2's I would take the wheels and you could mount up the tires. I think all in, depending on what it would take to get the set to you, I'd say you could have 5 tires for not much more than one would cost if we split them up.

PM me if you might be interested.

PM sent, thanks

 

[pillguy]

I'm getting about 40K on the K/M2's. I'm on my second set and this set has taken a bigger beating than the first (mostly due to 2 trips to Superlift/Hot Springs ORV Park). I'm probably going to stick with them unless the new K/O2's are significantly cheaper.

How have they been on the street and in rain, have heard they hydroplane easy?

 

[GXO]

The Duratracs own the road, rain, shine, or snow. I have heard REALLY good things on the new BFG AT KO2s as well. If you insist on an MT I cant help ya for DD duty, they all suck compared to the more aggressive ATs

 

[pillguy]

what about Toyo MTs? I hear great reviews, feel like I wasted money on the Maxxis Bighorns with the crappy sidewalls.

 

[GXO]

I think you are pretty set on MTs, but you really dont need them if you DD. I used to only run MTs but these new ATs are just as good in terms of getting through the gunk and still getting you home. I have only lost one sidewall on the DTs when I slid into a broken off metal sign post in the storms last winter. the Toyo's have good reviews, but they are harder to give them better miles. They end up acting like an AT but are louder.

Given you are running 33s, I would seriously consider a change from an MT, but you gotta do what you gotta do!

 

[robustbambi]

I liked my toyo MTs. Side walls are super beefy. Wore like iron. Not too loud on the highway even in the 12.50" width, so the 255s will probably be even quieter if they make them in that size. Really great tire. That being said i like my MTR kevlars better.

 

[BMThiker]

I'm leaning toward AT's myself after witnessing Woody take his FZJ80 on BFG AT/KO(1) up this obstacle at Hot Springs.

 

[pillguy]

I think you are pretty set on MTs, but you really dont need them if you DD. I used to only run MTs but these new ATs are just as good in terms of getting through the gunk and still getting you home. I have only lost one sidewall on the DTs when I slid into a broken off metal sign post in the storms last winter. the Toyo's have good reviews, but they are harder to give them better miles. They end up acting like an AT but are louder.

Given you are running 33s, I would seriously consider a change from an MT, but you gotta do what you gotta do!

Well, I actually like the MTs the best. I just feel a bit soured on the Maxxis BHs as their sidewalls are 2 ply only. Another reason, I would strongly consider MTs is I run a dual set of tires, and my truck is not my daily driver. I just would prefer a tire that behaves decent on street, but has good mud traction.
Again, not sure if I want the BFG KM2 though... and the ST Maxx's look really promising, but some say they are pretty noisy after 50% treadwear.

 

[GXO]

Ahh, not a DD, go get some Iroks

 

[BMThiker]

Mine's definitely pulling dual duty: commuter and wheeler, but I don't mind the tread noise that much. Definitely quieter than any Super Swamper.
I used to run two sets of tires: Wrangler Silent Armors and SS LTBs. I got tired of swapping wheel sets, so my "compromise" was to buy radial MTs (KM2s) and never look back.

I'm only considering A/Ts because I'm running fewer number of wheeling trips per year and if I can get 50-60K out of the A/Ts instead of 35-40K out M/Ts then I'd be happy.

 

[jynx]

The KM2's are hard to beat. If you like the toyo, then check out the cooper STT, similar tread, heavy sidewall and wear pretty well. I got 50k out of the last set, but that was on a mini truck. Probably would have gotten more if I'da rotated them more than twice....

As far as road manners, most any radial MT should have decent road manners. Most MTs will get louder as they age and lack of rotation and uneven wear will exaggerate the effect. Basically I'd say if you stick with one of the mainstream radial MT options then I'd say you will be good.

 

[GXO]

Believe it or not, but the radial Irok is actually pretty good on the road and amazing off. They do tend to sound like a Cessna though.