After spending about a year wondering and fretting about tires, I got the KO2's

[CSG]

I have a 2002 Lexus Land Cruiser and asked about tires here and Mud last year. The KO2's were everything I thought I wanted in a replacement tire but I had a lot of concern about going to a 10 ply E load rated tire on a vehicle that comes with P load tires as OEM. Having bought the rig used back in 2009, I didn't realize that the previous owner had moved from the OEM stock tire to a 265/75/16 C load tire (Big O AT). They lasted about 40k miles and were pretty decent off-road and OK in winter. Apparently, they were made by Cooper.

Anyway, as you guys know, when you get a load rated tire on a passenger tire vehicle, you have to inflate them higher than the door jamb numbers to carry the equivalent load. I ran the Big O's at 36-38 which was still a bit underinflated. However, I had Costco try 38-40 on the KO2's and, based on feel alone, it seems about right.

Very quiet on pavement and they seem like they'll work great for my needs (80-85% in town, the rest on really miserable, rocky roads). I think I was concerned about nothing. I'll be curious to see what happens to my MPG. I've consistently gotten 15-15.5 MPG overall these past 7 years. I drive a stock rig sans running boards and rear jump seats. I looked long and hard at the Cooper AT3's as well as I could get them in a C load but they would have been the same price as the KO2's and I wanted the 10-ply tread, 3-ply sidewall, and winter rating.

 

[verdesardog]

I have 315-70-17 ko2's on my Dodge 2500 CTD 4x4. I run them about 35psi (maybe a bit lower in the rear) for daily driving 50 when towing or freeway travel. They do lose chunks of rubber easily...mostly on the edges of the tread. BTW fuel mileage on my truck is around 20mpg highway, 14 off pavement.

 

[CSG]

That seems awfully underinflated for daily driving. I assume E tires are OEM for that Dodge. What does the door jamb say? I seem to recall 55-60 for my GMC 2500 4x4.

 

[ulySSes]

Anyway, as you guys know, when you get a load rated tire on a passenger tire vehicle, you have to inflate them higher than the door jamb numbers to carry the equivalent load.

Hmm. I always thought it was the opposite because of the heavier sidewall. I run 35psi on my load range D 285s.

 

[CSG]

Toyo has a chart on their site from the industry dealing with inflation tables. Of particular note is the section on converting from a P metric tire to an LT tire. For Land Cruiser owners going from OEM tires to LT tires, this is important info as to inflation pressures on the LT tire to carry the equivalent load as the P metric. The key that most don't know or forget is that P tires have to be derated by a factor of 1.1 or 91% of their stated load carrying at a given tire pressure in order to be OK'd for use on an SUV/light truck.

Using my rig as an example - The OEM tire is a P metric 275/70/16 and shows it should be inflated to 29/32 according to the door jamb. I went to a 265/75/16 E (10 ply tire). Here's the calculation from the industry chart:

P metric - 29 PSI shows a load of 2359. Divide by 1.1 and you get 2145
32 PSI shows a load of 2480. Divide by 1.1 and you get 2255

Now, go check the inflation table for your LT tire size so it's inflated to carry the same load. For my 265/75/16, it shows 42 PSI and 45 PSI to give me the factory equivalent of running the slightly different sized P metrics. Any less and my tires are under inflated. Any more and they're over inflated. When I left Costco running them at 38 and 40, they were underinflated.

People can do whatever they want but this is what the industry advises when converting a light truck/SUV that came with P metric tires to using LT tires.

https://toyotires-1524598101.netdna-ssl.com/media/1541/application_of_load_inflation_tables_20151020.pdf

Scan down to P. 11 to see the specific P to LT info.

 

[ricardo]

Are you the kind of person that makes a hundred kiddos wait in line at the ice cream shop..???

They are Tires, they wear out, the get old, they get dull, fall out of fashion, whatever..

If you don't like them, you sell them, if nobody want them you give them away or do epic four wheel burnouts, no big deal.

 

[p nut]

LR E rides too choppy for me at anything higher than mid-30's. I keep mine at 32-ish (cold). They shoot up a few psi when they're warmed up.
-
Don't worry too much about load carry. LT tires are plenty capable of handling the cruiser at any psi. Run what feels comfortable on the road.

 

[verdesardog]

That seems awfully underinflated for daily driving. I assume E tires are OEM for that Dodge. What does the door jamb say? I seem to recall 55-60 for my GMC 2500 4x4.

The OEM tires are much smaller and load range E, what I have on my truck are 315-70-17 load range D. I inflate them according to the tire manufactures recommendations for the weight each is carrying. BTW max inflation for these tires is 50psi. They wear correct at around 35psi and the ride is much nicer than 60psi pizza cutters.
Always consult the tire manufacturers load data when substituting tires that are not OEM recommended size and rating.

 

[calicamper]

My J80 on 285 Kos I ran about 45psi for smooth highway trips 36psi would develop a high speed sorta worble effect too soft for the higher speeds etc. 45 it ran great.

Around town 35-40mph speeds Id drop em to 37lbs for a softer ride. 60,000 miles tread was still pretty decent and wearing even. Amazing tires. A frien was right he said get KOs they'll be last set of tires you put on it. I sold it long before they were due for replacement.

I put BFG Rugged Terrains on the Sequoia. Very different tire but a nice combo of durability ride quality and pretty good in the dirt. Not as beefy as the KOs but still really good BFG durability and nice performance.

I put bfg Touring TAs on the subaru and they have been awesome hands down getting another set after 50k they'll be at wear bars end of Nov..

 

[doug720]

I purchased a set of 33x10.50/15's yesterday at Americas Tires.

The reason I mention this is the special they are running this weekend - $100 gift card with purchase of 4 tires.

They had the best price I found - even the internet. With mounting, balance, tax, tire fee's goota luv CA, etc., out the door was $731.00

Just an FYI

I have ran BFG AT's for many years, and liked them. 2 years ago, they were out of stock when I needed a set, and would not be in production for many months, so I bought BFG MT's. Good tires, but too aggressive my my needs, so I switched back to the new KO2 and darn they ride nice!

 

[CSG]

That's a great price. With the $50 rebate currently running at Costco, I was $861 out the door (which I thought was a pretty decent deal) for my 265/75/16's. In my town, we have Costco, Commercial Tire, Les Schwab, and some small indie shops. For me, Costco is the only game in town.

 

[calicamper]

The American tire / discount tire has been my go too for some time now. They pretty much beat Costco every time and crush costco on the quality of service. Havent done costco since going around and around with them over old out of round crap Michelins I had them put on my vw. 4 trips back 9 different tires later it wasnt shaking like a wet dog at 60mph. Haven't gone back since.. Then about two yrs later costco was busted for selling old tires.

 

[Wirebrush]

That's a great price. With the $50 rebate currently running at Costco, I was $861 out the door (which I thought was a pretty decent deal) for my 265/75/16's. In my town, we have Costco, Commercial Tire, Les Schwab, and some small indie shops. For me, Costco is the only game in town.

I just had our local independent shop order a set of 37x12.50r17 KO2s today. They quoted me a price that beat Costco. Actually the price per tire was the same at $345, but Costco wants $15 each for mounting & balancing and the local shop isn't charging for mounting & balancing.

 

[CSG]

With Costco, I'll get another 4% back between my Costco membership card and Visa credit card. With regards to tires, we've had great service from our local warehouse, especially when warranty issues appeared.

 

[Upland80]

Should of got the Toyos...:ylsmoke: