Hiking Vehicle Tires

[chumley]

I just got new BFGs today. I learned that at the end of last year BFG introduced a new tire, the AT KO2, replacing the very popular and successful AT KO (of which I have had several sets over the years).

Two things-- the new KO2 features longer tread life, and a really impressive shoulder, dropping the tread well down onto the sidewall. It LOOKS super beefy now!!

AND if you're shopping for a bargain, the "old" KOs are available in limited quantities from some sources at big discounts (example: formerly $238 tire is now $169).

I'll let you know if I have any problems but I can't foresee the newer KO2s performing any less well than the old KOs I've been using all these years. Something about a 10-ply tire on these rocky Arizona roads that provides peace of mind...

[outdoor_lover]

Barrett sure liked his BFGs the last couple of Days.....

[ASUAviator]

I did my homework and was torn between the KO2 and duratracs. I put the KO2s on my truck a couple months ago and have been very happy with them overall. Performance wise they handle great and are quite for a deep tread AT tire. Like you said, the thickness of the side wall and tread bring peace of mind. They look badass as well. On the contrary with added trust comes added weight. The size I went with weigh 55 lbs a piece which cut a few mpg. Worth the trade for comfort and look

[chumley]

which cut a few mpg.

My new tires are 1lb heavier than the last ones -- 4lbs total. That should have no effect on fuel economy. The KO and KO2 are rated the same on fuel economy (which is, to be fair, not particularly good to begin with).

Fuel economy can be affected if you put a larger tire on your truck -- as in a different size tire. If the circumference of the tire is bigger than what you had on before, it takes more power to make one revolution because the tire has to travel farther. That is the only thing that should affect fuel economy between these two tires. And A FEW mpg!? Yikes!

I'll see if I have any mpg change over my next few tanks.

[ASUAviator]

That's cuz you went from KO's to KO 2's. I had stock tires before which was about a 15lb jump per tire. Adding 60lbs to the tires is far different than adding 60lbs to the bed of the truck. They require more torque/power to get them rolling which created a change in acceleration and overall fuel economy.

[Sredfield]

I lost 2 mpg going from the Korean-made stock tires to Wrangler's on my F150.

[RedRoxx44]

10 ply or E rated Goodyear MTR with the kevlar sidewall. On my third set. Doesn't last long enough to suit me but sure does take a beating. Fuel economy and comfort driving--forget it.

[chumley]

comfort driving--forget it

I disagree. Comfort is best achieved by knowing you won't get a flat tire in some isolated canyon, dozens of miles from the nearest help. It has nothing to do with the sound or the ride on a highway.

[RedRoxx44]

@chumley
Wait till you're old then talk to me about comfort.

[CannondaleKid]

10 ply or E rated Goodyear MTR with the kevlar sidewall. On my third set. Doesn't last long enough to suit me but sure does take a beating. Fuel economy and comfort driving--forget it.

I switch between two sets of tires depending on where I will be going:
Cooper Discoverer ATP's (E rated) and Goodyear Kevlar MTR's (D rated).
I am satisfied with both for what each is best for.

ATP Pros:
Great tread wear
Less rolling resistance (helps MPG slightly)
Quiet
Good buy for the money

ATP Cons:
Sidewalls more prone to damage (surprising for an E rated tire... three were replaced due to cut sidewalls)
Less traction than the MTR's off-pavement
Harsher ride than MTR's

MTR Pros:
Kevlar sidewalls stand up to plenty of abuse
Softer tread provides good grip
Better ride than ATP's
Aggressive tread provides excellent traction on all surfaces (except wet pavement)
Surprisingly little noise at speed (a bit more at low speeds)

MTR Cons:
Softer tread = Wears faster
20% higher cost than ATP's

As mentioned above, the ATP's return slightly better mileage than the MTR's, but since both weigh a LOT more than stock tires w/aluminum wheels (both wheel/tire combinations weigh 100 lbs each) and the diameter is 4.5" more than stock, mileage has to suffer. To help offset the power lost in turning that much extra weight I swapped the 3.55 gears for 4.56's.

I averaged 13.5 MPG over 2 months with the stock wheels/tires, 12.7 over 15,000 miles with ATP's and 12.5 over 13,000 miles with MTR's. (Yup, I track every penny... make that dollar that goes into the Jeep.)
:whistle:
Overall, when it comes to replacing one set or the other, I'll get another set of MTR's... traction and tough sidewalls are more important than any other features.

(P.S. Not only have I personally had VERY bad luck with BFG's over the years but I owned a tire shop and saw other folks troubles as well, so I never gave a thought to trying them on the Jeep)

[Thoreau]

The KO's are certainly popular, and the sequel is said to be improved, but I haven't seen anything that would get me to go back to BFG land after the set that was on my truck when I got it. Admittedly, my driving isn't just getting to trailheads, but quite a bit of rock crawling and aiming directly for jagged obstacles, so no tire is perfect. That said, Hankook Dynapro MT's have been on my truck now for about 47,000 rough miles and I expect at least another 10-20k at minimum. Not anywhere NEAR the chunking that the BFG's suffered.

[CannondaleKid]

Not anywhere NEAR the chunking that the BFG's suffered.

That seems to be one of the main complaints I heard about the BFG's.

[outdoor_lover]

I instantly lost 3 MPG when I put the Yokohama Geolanders on...I was hoping that since I went with a less Aggressive Tire that I wouldn't lose that much, but I did... ;) But, they're not Street Tires like I had before, so the Peace of Mind is a little better, especially since I now have Road Hazard too....

[CannondaleKid]

@Outdoor Lover
Are they a taller tire? If so, then probably as much of the mileage loss is from that. A taller tire effectively changes the axle ratio which in turn eats up more power (and mileage).

Another contributory item could be higher rolling resistance, which eats power and gas as well..

[outdoor_lover]

@CannondaleKid
Tire Size is exactly the same as my old Street Tires...That's all I can tell you...Thought about going one size Larger for a little more Clearance, but decided against it for now...Compared to my Michelin Stock Street Tires, these are definitely a more Aggressive Tread, just not quite the BFGs and Heavy Sidewallers you guys are running...Didn't make Sense for me to go that Aggressive since I can't do 4x4 type Stuff anyway (or at least I'm not supposed to, lol)

[big_load]

@Outdoor Lover
Taller tires would have been nice when we crossed Cherry Creek.

[outdoor_lover]

@big_load
Yeah....Makes me think I outta put a Snorkel on the damn thing too....

[te_wa]

i settled on tires that were given high marks, in several real tests (not just loyalty reviews from owners).
turns out that the cooper at3 is a great tire for the money. was able to source a 265/75/16 for $120 each. oh yeah, and they're still made in Ohio.

the stMAXX are insane looking, but much more than i'd ever need.

[ssk44]

Mid-size 4x4 use..

I'm completely sold on the Goodyear DuraTrac. I have LT265/75/R16/C on my Nissan Xterra. I'm on my second set. There not built for high mileage. There a soft compound performance off-road tire. 30-40 K is realistic. On-road driveability is very good. They drive better on the pavement then some mild AT tires that I've used. Off-road performance is amazing. They'll get you where you need to go. It's a very versatile tire. 6 ply C rated LT tires are intended for mid-size vehicles. 8 ply D rated is good option on heavier 1/2 ton trucks. 10 ply E rated is for hardcore rock crawlers and 1 ton trucks. 10 ply rides like hell on mid-size.

[ssk44]

AWD cross-over use..

On my Subaru Crosstrek, my preference is the Toyo Open Country HT. I used them on a Forester prior to switching to the Crosstrek. You cant buy a better P metric tire in my opinion. Most P metric tires suck. The Open Country AT and HT are structurally the same tire other then tread design. I beat the crap out of these tires on my Subaru. They hold up very well for mild off-road use on lightweight vehicles. They wont tear up on gravel roads and you can trust the sidewall. I've been using P metric Toyo Open Country's for years on various 4x2 compact/midsize trucks I've owned. The Open Country HT is a very good adventure touring tire option on AWD cross-over vehicles.