Stock 33 inch KO2 feedback please

[timhood]

Great, when I get KO3 tires I can push it harder in corners when it is wet. I have heard some negative things toward the KO3 like they are less off-road capable than the KO2. I guess I will just need to find out myself. Meanwhile, I will be enjoying the KO2s.

I'd like to see a side-by-side comparison between the KO3s and the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires. Those are my top two contenders for my next set of off-road tires.

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[gbub]

I have friend in Colorado that is running Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires. He spends a lot of time off-road and likes them a lot. I looked into them and did not like how heavy they are. However the E rated BFG AT tires are not light either.

Have you looked at Tire Rack tire test reports. They probably don't have a side by side report but should have one for each.

 

[Brian_B]

I have friend in Colorado that is running Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires. He spends a lot of time off-road and likes them a lot. I looked into them and did not like how heavy they are. However the E rated BFG AT tires are not light either.

Have you looked at Tire Rack tire test reports. They probably don't have a side by side report but should have one for each.

The weight was the reason I didn't go Mickeys or Falkens when I bought tires last time - otherwise I think they are both excellent tires. Although the tire I did go with weighs ~almost~ as much, it's also a size up.

 

[timhood]

I have a friend in Colorado who is running Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires. He spends a lot of time off-road and likes them a lot. I looked into them and did not like how heavy they are. However, the E-rated BFG AT tires are not light either.

Have you looked at Tire Rack tire test reports? They probably don't have a side-by-side report, but should have one for each.

I've been looking for side-by-side comparisons, even if it's not just the two models. I've got some time before the KO2s wear out, owing to my limiting their street use and swapping them back onto the Bronco primarily for off-road trips. The "E" rating of the MTs doesn't excite me--I worry a bit about on-road harshness. Moab is a 3-hour drive, and other destinations are further, so I don't want to be punished. I currently run the C-rated 33" KO2s, so going to the 35" KO3s is still a step up to a "D" load rating--not sure how much difference that makes.

The KO3s are heavier than the KO2s, so even if I stayed in the 285 size, they'll add 5 more pounds. The MTs are much heavier in the 285 size--7 pounds more than the KO3s, so if I stayed with 285s, I'd probably go KO3. I'm leaning toward going to 315s since I won't be daily driving them much, even if it does mean tire changes will be a workout.

 

[userdude]

I don't understand the complaints about BFG AT in wet conditions. I raced in SCCA for 32 years and am very in tune to tire performance in dry and wet conditions on pavement. I ran mostly on slicks and they have very poor wet performance but not too bad until a film of water forms on the surface.

I have gone through many original BFG AT tires and a couple KO2 sets. I went through 1 and 1/2 sets with my 1973 FJ55 Landcruiser, 2 and 1/2 sets on my 1989 Ranger and my 2002 came from the factory with BFG AT tires. I tried experimenting with Pro Comp MT and BFG MT tires with my 2002 Ranger. I also ran Michelin LTX M/S tires on pavement when I was using the MT tires off-road.

I never felt the BFG AT tires were all the bad on wet roads. Sure the Michelin tires were quieter than the ATs and maybe handled a little better in wet conditions but not a major difference. I believe the Michelin tires had noticeably better stopping performance in wet conditions but the AT tires had better overall performance in snow.

After my experimentation with different tires, my 2002 Ranger is back on BFG AT KO2 tires because they give me the best combined performance on and off-road (dry, wet and snow), durability and noise.

I think there's circumstances that causes them to not perform the same for different people. I've got them on my 2010 single cab short bed Chevy pickup and I'll never put another pair on them. I have slid into the opposite lane or spun out several times, and broke free too many times to count from a stop sign.

But, we have worn out cheap asphalt roads that weep oil and get slick with a misty rain here in DFW. I think also maybe something about when they were made might make the rubber more plastic? I dunno, but on that truck they're scary when it's wet but don't need rain to break free.

I have known other people who had them and loved them, though, so I think it's just one of those things.

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