Tire talk

[PabloCruise]

May I add chaos to the world of tires? I also like them. The smell. The look of AT’s. I’ve been looking into tires for a near purchase before the snow starts flying.

I debated KO2’s, Yokohama’s, and Falken’s but landed on the Nokian Outpost nAT’s (275/65/18) due to reviews on snow, gravel, dry roads, and road noise. Below is a thorough thread from various other LC/LX owners from Ih8mud:

Thread 'New Shoes - Nokian Outpost nAT LT275/65r18'
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/new-shoes-nokian-outpost-nat-lt275-65r18.1322759/

I am just joining the convo...
We have BFG KO2s on the 470 and they are ready for replacement.
I had heard the Falken name come up a few times, and then I heard they are less than ideal in snow and ice, so scratch that.
I am curious how people like the KO3?

 

[PabloCruise]

I was completely unhappy with one tire over all others. The Nitto Ridge Grappler, which had about 20% performance in any and all terrains. Less than zero traction in winter on my LX470. I think the Terra Grappler may be okay, but once again the snow traction I've experienced was terrible. I went back to the BFG AT which matches the terrain I travel on and can take the brutality I tend to put things through. I know they won't get great treadwear and mud isn't it's strong point.

I have >65k on our BFG KO2s. On a 470.

 

[Corbet]

I run dedicated snow tires on all of our fleet. Once you do that you never go back to all seasons for winter use. Buy a set of used OEM wheels and cross over to the dark side.

 

[nakman]

hey @Romer you have the exact tires and size that I'm looking at getting... curious where you got them, was it a deal worth sharing? or just list price, etc..

 

[PabloCruise]

I’m a BFG fella however no tyre talk would be worth the printing on a white wall without a what what for the Falken Wildpeak. I went this way last time to shake things up. I’ve found the hype mostly true. Good AT perirmance, good on snow, good wear. I will say that 4 years on that they do seem to be suffering from the same reduction in snow the KO does. Is it the tread gets harder as it wears or the dry climate? I dunno. But even now I’d call them still as good as a new KO in snow. Just not amaze balls anymore.

So here is a thumbs-up for Falken snow performance. Does that apply to slush and ice as well?

 

[Romer]

hey @Romer you have the exact tires and size that I'm looking at getting... curious where you got them, was it a deal worth sharing? or just list price, etc..

I get all my tires at Discount tire. You talking about the Tacoma or 200 tires. Both are Toyo ATs. I always get the certificates and have used them several times. I really like the Toyo ATs off road and in the winter. If you get the 285 18's, get the E rated for stronger sidewall. The 255 r17 only comes E rated. First few tires I cut the sidewall turned out to not be E rated. Live and learn.

The Tacoma is 255 80 r17 (33.1x10")

The 200 is 285 70 r18

I am real happy with both tires.

I buy a lot of tires from them, but I have learned if you call rather than walk in with the Tire Rack or other lower price, they are more prone to work with you than we you are standing in their shop. Some times they chop of a $ amount, sometimes they give me half on new certificates, sometimes from mount and balance. Once I said I can do better with someplace else and was saying goodbye(Gave a name of a discount local shop) and they worked a little more. Another time they said thanks for calling It depends on who you talk to and what store I am guessing.

Both tires had to be ordered and they got them in one day and I paid list on their site, but got $80 off the Taco tire and when I went and got another 200 tire I got half off a certificate

 

[DaveInDenver]

So here is a thumbs-up for Falken snow performance. Does that apply to slush and ice as well?

I've been satisfied with them so far. They are not winter tires and that's obviously better if you have the money for that. Though I don't feel at a disadvantage running them in any situations yet.

Immediately previous tires were KO2 in 235/85R16 and these ATW3 are 265/75R16. Both load range E. Mileage currently on them is 30K and they are wearing very well.

Factor in that I drive like a grand parent most of the time. I could very easily be missing the point.

 

[Corbet]

I've been satisfied with them so far. They are not winter tires and that's obviously better if you have the money for that.

I’d argue dedicated snow tires are cheaper in the long run. Yes you need a 2nd set of wheels. But OEM take offs or steelies are not expensive. Generally speaking snow tires are cheaper than same size AT/MT tires. You can run your summer tires just a little longer as you don’t need to risk wintering with a questionable set. Two sets of tires are going to last as long as two sets of tires but now you can run the summers longer, winter’s cost less and in the case of our Subarus when a set of winter tires are no longer desirable for winter I run them the following summer just to completely wear them out. I’ll never go back to all season tires on anything unless I move somewhere without winter.

Now if you’re going to pay someone to remount and balance 2x a year then dedicated winters will definitely cost more.

 

[PabloCruise]

I've been satisfied with them so far. They are not winter tires and that's obviously better if you have the money for that. Though I don't feel at a disadvantage running them in any situations yet.

Immediately previous tires were KO2 in 235/85R16 and these ATW3 are 265/75R16. Both load range E. Mileage currently on them is 30K and they are wearing very well.

Factor in that I drive like a grand parent most of the time. I could very easily be missing the point.

And now we have KO3 and ATW4, yes?

 

[DaveInDenver]

I’d argue dedicated snow tires are cheaper in the long run. Yes you need a 2nd set of wheels. But OEM take offs or steelies are not expensive. Generally speaking snow tires are cheaper than same size AT/MT tires. You can run your summer tires just a little longer as you don’t need to risk wintering with a questionable set. Two sets of tires are going to last as long as two sets of tires but now you can run the summers longer, winter’s cost less and in the case of our Subarus when a set of winter tires are no longer desirable for winter I run them the following summer just to completely wear them out. I’ll never go back to all season tires on anything unless I move somewhere without winter.

Now if you’re going to pay someone to remount and balance 2x a year then dedicated wingers will definitely cost more.

I tend to age out tires before they wear out. So wear leveling doesn't help me much. This set of Falkens are on pace to hit 50K at 10 years old, which is when Discount will stop working on them.

Also recently much of the driving in the mountains I personally did was in Poma trucks. Who, by the way, was putting Falken Wildpeaks on much of their fleet. These are trucks that spend half their time on snowy Interstates and the other half in 4WD at ski areas. That experience is a part of why I put them on my personal truck.

 

[Corbet]

I’ll probably now have issues with my 80 tires aging out with the 250 in the stable.

 

[Corbet]

I’m starting to lean towards the Falken Rubitrek A/T for my 250 series as a mild AT better street manors for my daily grind. Anyone run these yet?

https://www.falkentire.com/rubitrek/at

 

[PabloCruise]

There was some good discussion at the meeting last night.
I heard a lot of love for the KO2s, and I heard a lot of people loving the Falken ATs, including some snow & ice experience...

 

[Cruisertrash]

I mentioned my new Kenda Klever RTs last night…

Haven’t had a chance to put them through their paces yet, other than city driving. I can say that they stop great - I’ve had several bozos pull out in front me and had to slam on the brakes. Well last night in the rain on the way home from the meeting they did excellent. Very sure footed in corners at both high and low speed. A 2F can’t really “peel out”, but with my new diff gears it has a little more get up and go. I couldn’t get the tires to break traction taking off from a stop light.

We’ll see how they do on the trail Saturday. After that I have to wait for snow for the final test.

These are the 33x9.5x15 size. They measure a hair over 32.5” with the weight of the truck on them, so much closer to true sizing than BFGs. Got them at Coloradoland tire in Ken Caryl. There are a few of those stores around town, and they started in Kansas (Kansasland Tire). The whole chain is owned by a cruiser guy - he showed up to Solid Axle Summit towing his 40 with a 200. I had a great experience there, the techs even listened when I told them I wanted the lug nuts hand torqued.

 

[PabloCruise]

I mentioned my new Kenda Klever RTs last night…

Haven’t had a chance to put them through their paces yet, other than city driving. I can say that they stop great - I’ve had several bozos pull out in front me and had to slam on the brakes. Well last night in the rain on the way home from the meeting they did excellent. Very sure footed in corners at both high and low speed. A 2F can’t really “peel out”, but with my new diff gears it has a little more get up and go. I couldn’t get the tires to break traction taking off from a stop light.

We’ll see how they do on the trail Saturday. After that I have to wait for snow for the final test.

These are the 33x9.5x15 size. They measure a hair over 32.5” with the weight of the truck on them, so much closer to true sizing than BFGs. Got them at Coloradoland tire in Ken Caryl. There are a few of those stores around town, and they started in Kansas (Kansasland Tire). The whole chain is owned by a cruiser guy - he showed up to Solid Axle Summit towing his 40 with a 200. I had a great experience there, the techs even listened when I told them I wanted the lug nuts hand torqued.

Nice to see a 33x9.5x15 option available!

 

[Cruisertrash]

Nice to see a 33x9.5x15 option available!

You get it!

 

[Corbet]

Good morning and welcome to Corbet’s tire warehouse. I like tires and today it smells like new rubber. Picked up the rest of my 275/70r18 Toyo snow tires for the 250.

 

[nakman]

Ok I'm out. decision made, tires purchased and installed.

same tires as @Romer's taco.... Toyo AT3 255 80 r17.

 

[Squishy!]

Ok I'm out. decision made, tires purchased and installed.

same tires as @Romer's taco.... Toyo AT3 255 80 r17.

I just bought and installed the same tires in the same size on our 4th gen. Lol

 

[Corbet]

@nakman @Romer

Let us know how the HWY noise is. That is one of my primary concerns with the 250 given my intended use.