25K miles on KO2 before I gave up

[axlesandantennas]

A few years ago I managed a heck of a deal on a set of 5 285/75/R17 KO2 Take offs from a new Wrangler. I originally had KMs on the Jeep and they were very good tires. I put 45K miles on them and they wore very well. 5K mile 5 tire rotation. Just a little gravel wear from FS trails.

But I wanted BIGGER. So found the guy with the KO2s for a song just up the road.

I put them on sometime in late 2019 and almost from the get-go, did not like them. For one, and this is 100% my fault, they were one size too big and on tight right turns the rubbed. Again, this was my problem, not the tires.

But, they just did not ride well. No matter the tire pressure, they just seemed disconnected from the road. My wife has a Wrangler one week newer than mine and still rides on the OEM KM tires. When I would drive her Jeep, it seemed more planted.

The other thing was the balance. I had them balanced twice in 25K miles, the second time was road forced. That helped a little but after a few hundred miles, I could feel my milkshakes bringing the boys back to the yard.... I always did a 5K miles 5 tire rotation but the vibration was still there.

A little while back, I had bought a spare set of KM from a dude not too far from here (he's a ExPo member too!) and had them setting in my garage until the other day. They are now showing proudly on the Wrangler and I can't wait to get some miles on them!

So that's my janky review.

 

[pith helmet]

Interesting. I have run multiple sets on my pickups, up to 70,000 miles with no issues; good wet and dry traction and good enough off road while working (woods roads, mud and clay) for the trade off for highway manners.

The only reason they aren’t on the Jeep is because they weren’t available at the time...something about a virus? Ended up with some Terra Grappler G2’s, don’t remember size, but close to stock (17) as I could get as I didn’t want a bigger tire.

5k/5 tire rotation, so far so good. Great road handling. Glad to know how they handled on yours as I go forward. Too expensive to get if they don’t run well on the lighter Jeep.

 

[axlesandantennas]

Interesting. I have run multiple sets on my pickups, up to 70,000 miles with no issues; good wet and dry traction and good enough off road while working (woods roads, mud and clay) for the trade off for highway manners.

The only reason they aren’t on the Jeep is because they weren’t available at the time...something about a virus? Ended up with some Terra Grappler G2’s, don’t remember size, but close to stock (17) as I could get as I didn’t want a bigger tire.

5k/5 tire rotation, so far so good. Great road handling. Glad to know how they handled on yours as I go forward. Too expensive to get if they don’t run well on the lighter Jeep.

Your story is like many others I have heard and lead to me wanting this tire. Sometimes, no matter what, it just does not work out. With all that being said, the tires still look good and I am sure that they are a excellent tire, just not for my Wrangler.

 

[pith helmet]

Your story is like many others I have heard and lead to me wanting this tire. Sometimes, no matter what, it just does not work out. With all that being said, the tires still look good and I am sure that they are a excellent tire, just not for my Wrangler.

Curious what load range tire yours were...I run D range on my Sierra 1500, would think too hard and heavy on my JKU....could imagine it feeling disconnected as you say.

 

[jadmt]

Curious what load range tire yours were...I run D range on my Sierra 1500, would think too hard and heavy on my JKU....could imagine it feeling disconnected as you say.

K02 in 285/75-17 is an e rated tire. I ran KO2 in 34x10.5-17 D rated on my JKUR and they were really nice riding tires but just too small.

 

[Regcabguy]

If they could just build some sidewall integrity for the big trucks and make them round.
I spoke to the tire guys at Discount Tire about their experiences with them. Tough to balance frequently and highway vibes which was my experience. One installer chucked his and is very pleased with Falkens. Mine "zeroed out" but had chronic highway vibes + squirm. They were E rated. I sold them on CL and have run Toyos ever since. Not one issue and my rig weighs 8650#.

 

[jadmt]

If they could just build some sidewall integrity for the big trucks and make them round.
I spoke to the tire guys at Discount Tire about their experiences with them. Tough to balance frequently and highway vibes which was my experience. One installer chucked his and is very pleased with Falkens. Mine "zeroed out" but had chronic highway vibes + squirm. They were E rated. I sold them on CL and have run Toyos ever since. Not one issue and my rig weighs 8650#.

yup Toyo for the win. but if you need another set buy now as they are going up in price. I ran Toyo RT's in 35x12.5-17 on two different jeeps and now on my truck and great tire.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. to Adjust Pricing Effective May 1

CYPRESS, CA – Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (Toyo Tires®) announced today that effective May 1, 2021, the company will increase the dealer base prices on most consumer and commercial tires by up to...

media.toyotires.com

 

[jlcanterbury]

I have had excellent luck with KO2's and run them on pretty much all my vehicles.

I have over 50,000 miles on the current set on my Tacoma daily driver. I do a 5 tire rotation, and these still have a ton of tread left. That truck weighs 5k lbs with the camper. Anything lighter than that, and these E-rated tires might ride a little rough however.

I also put these on my much heavier full size Ford trucks. A massive E-350 ambulance body dually, and a big F-350 tow rig. No complaints at all. Super good ride and no real road noise to note.

I wonder if the fact that you got your set "for a song just up the road" has anything to do with your issues. You just don't know what you're getting with used tires. I have seen factory seconds for sale, and out of balance rejects. Some people pick these up and resell them without noting the defects. In my opinion tires are the most important part of your vehicle, and given that new tires really don't cost all that much, tend to only buy new and from a trusted dealer. Costsco has good deals on K02's a few times a year.

 

[axlesandantennas]

I have had excellent luck with KO2's and run them on pretty much all my vehicles.

I have over 50,000 miles on the current set on my Tacoma daily driver. I do a 5 tire rotation, and these still have a ton of tread left. That truck weighs 5k lbs with the camper. Anything lighter than that, and these E-rated tires might ride a little rough however.

I also put these on my much heavier full size Ford trucks. A massive E-350 ambulance body dually, and a big F-350 tow rig. No complaints at all. Super good ride and no real road noise to note.

I wonder if the fact that you got your set "for a song just up the road" has anything to do with your issues. You just don't know what you're getting with used tires. I have seen factory seconds for sale, and out of balance rejects. Some people pick these up and resell them without noting the defects. In my opinion tires are the most important part of your vehicle, and given that new tires really don't cost all that much, tend to only buy new and from a trusted dealer. Costsco has good deals on K02's a few times a year.

I actually bought them from a dude that just purchased a Rubicon. The tire may have had 500-100 miles on them which was backed up by his odometer. I think my jeep just did not like them.

 

[MattF350]

That is unfortunate to hear. Im 4.5 years running on my KO2s for my F350. I love them and recommend them. Hopefully you find something that works better.

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

I liked the KO2s on my 1/2-ton except for the lousy treadlife...replaced at 25k miles. My current 3/4-ton is shod with Toyo AT2s. Great tire except they’re really beginning to howl starting around 45 mph. I’ll be in the market for new tires by summer.

 

[NatersXJ6]

I gave up on 5 tire rotations on my Jeep. The spare is always bent into a “dish” shape by the tire mount to the point where it can have huge balance and vibration nightmares any time you put it into operation. Put a framing square on it and look how bad it is, mine tends to be insane, so I just truly use the spare as a spare.

Additionally, after a few years, my JK started throwing the factory internal wheel weights. I would occasionally find random wheel weights laying in my driveway. I went out and scraped all of them off before I got my last set of tires and they’ve been great since.

Just a few extra thoughts for the group.

 

[axlesandantennas]

I gave up on 5 tire rotations on my Jeep. The spare is always bent into a “dish” shape by the tire mount to the point where it can have huge balance and vibration nightmares any time you put it into operation. Put a framing square on it and look how bad it is, mine tends to be insane, so I just truly use the spare as a spare.

Additionally, after a few years, my JK started throwing the factory internal wheel weights. I would occasionally find random wheel weights laying in my driveway. I went out and scraped all of them off before I got my last set of tires and they’ve been great since.

Just a few extra thoughts for the group.

I'm trying to visualize this and cannot. Are you talking about the wheel or the tire?

As for throwing weights, that's just lazy work from the installer. I had that happen before. They were not cleaning the surface before using the stick-on weights.

 

[axlesandantennas]

I liked the KO2s on my 1/2-ton except for the lousy treadlife...replaced at 25k miles. My current 3/4-ton is shod with Toyo AT2s. Great tire except they’re really beginning to howl starting around 45 mph. I’ll be in the market for new tires by summer.

See, that's funny. I put 25K miles on the tires and there is somewhere around 1/2 tread life left on them.

 

[MiamiC70]

I have “D” rated BFG KO2’s on my Subaru now approaching 24,000 miles. Excellent tire, good on or off-road in dry or wet and improved road performance over factory Bridgestone garbage . Noisier? Sure. However, not unbearable and fine trade off given the tough sidewalls and puncture resistance. As for tread I probably have another 20-30 thousand miles on this set. Can’t recommend enough.