Can't make up my mind in tires....

[mike.alison]

I would recommend the duratracs as well, Im running the 235/85 16's (just under a 32), they have great highway manners and quiet, fantastic in the snow and mud as they dig in the right amount and clear. I'm running them at 40 - 45 for on road travel, and 15 - 20 for offroad. I'm also running internal balancing, so no slime, but much nicer when they pick up stones. I have a 2009 toyota tacoma 4x4 2.7L access cab with a soon to be OME885 and dakar lift

 

[RealJon]

I am running GTRadial Aventuros and I love them, Cheaper then others, still good tread design and ride very well!

 

[7wt]

Have also heard great things about the duratracs. The one complaint I have seen with some people is that tire wear is fairly quick compared to other A/T's. But no personal experience here.

I don't have the miles handy but I am actually surprised at how well mine have worn over the past year. They still look new and they get used pretty good. I have never bought the same tire twice in a row but this one might be the first, providing I don't try the MTR's.

 

[sardi55]

Well i must be mistaken about the mileage that was only a couple guys I wheel with aroung CO that have seen poor wear, but they are really tough on tires. Like I said no personal experience with the duratracs seem like a great tire.:smiley_drive:

 

[trump]

Next time around I might give the General Grabbers a try...

Looks like they would sling mud a bit better than BFG AT's. Although, I currently am struggling with the idea since I don't see much mud and BFG AT's last forever. They also haven't ever let me down.

 

[7wt]

If I was back in San Diego, I'd be on BFG AT's no doubt. I think the the harder tire compound holds up to the heat and the sun better than the Duratracs would. The only experience I have to back this up is the early death of my Firestone Revos shortly after I moved from Florida to southern CA. The desert ate them up PDQ. The Duratracs are soft very much like the Revos were but hold up much better. Since a move isn't likely, my truck will stay on the Duratracs because they are the best things I have tried for daily driving east coast needs. They work well in wet rocks, mud, snow and slippery exposed roots. They do have their limits because they are AT's but the limit is far past any my old BFG AT's had. Those just plain sucked up here. Sure, they were good in the snow but everything else they felt like greased snot. If Goodyear ever got around to making Duratracs in 255/16's I'd be beyond happy.

All that being said I will most probably buy some MTR's next. Reason being is by the time I need new tires, my truck won't be my daily driver and I always wanted mud tires. Again....Goodyear....make um in 255 and you will have a customer for life!

 

[xjaugie]

Search continues....

Ok, so here is the deal, the search continues....I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the BFG MT KM2s but unsure if I'm bitting off more than I should with the 33x10.50 size.

I've ordered the OME suspension with 881 springs and figure the tires will fit, but unsure what the 33" size will really do to the driveability of the V-6 truck. On my last project (an XJ) I regeared when I installed the 33s but was not planning on it this time for now. I'd rather get more armor and stuff.

Should I stick with a 32" tire, for better road worthyness? if that is really a word? If I go with the 32" size then I'm looking to go with another brand to get the right size. Damn this is hard, all i really want is a 32x10.5 or 255 85 15 in a KM2 but it don't exsist.

Be sure to check out the blog link below to how the build is going so far.

 

[Redline]

snip.......
I've ordered the OME suspension with 881 springs and figure the tires will fit, but unsure what the 33" size will really do to the driveability of the V-6 truck. On my last project (an XJ) I regeared when I installed the 33s but was not planning on it this time for now. I'd rather get more armor and stuff.

Stock gears will be better with a shorter/narrower tire on and off-highway.
I agree that more armor over gears would be nice, and more armor (skids) can be a nice combo with slightly shorter tires.

Should I stick with a 32" tire, for better road worthyness? if that is really a word? If I go with the 32" size then I'm looking to go with another brand to get the right size. Damn this is hard, all i really want is a 32x10.5 or 255 85 15 in a KM2 but it don't exsist.

If you go with a 265/75R16 or 265/70R17 (a bit less than 32") the car will probably drive better, maybe much better, and you will have a terrific selection of brands, treads, and load ranges to choose from. Not so with the 255/85.

 

[jim65wagon]

I'll agree with Redline, a 265 sized tire will give you enough height. They're not the "ExPo" cool size but we won't care. And the selection of treads will be unsurpassed by any other size.
The 255 will be making you wish for more gear ratio (or more engine), and if Maryland is like Virginia, you'll have to special order tires in that size no matter where you go to purchase them.....

 

[redthies]

I love a good tire thread! I have tried a lot of tires, and live in a wet coastal climate, but travel to the desert regularly. My $.02 is:

1. BFG KM2s are much quieter than any other MT. A good option for a truck that sees wet terrain and highway use. Winter data will be gathered soon as I have returned to ski country!

2. BFG ATs are great if you never or seldom see mud. They last FOREVER on a lighter rig! Great in snow.

3. No matter what anyone says, Nitto TerraCrapplers SUCK in snow or mud. They are quiet on the road, and probably great in sand/desert environs, but for where the OP and I live, take a pass on these.

4. I ran Procomp Extreme ATs on an F350 and thought they were a great compromise between AT, MT and highway manners.

5. Redline has done more tire testing than 99% of people on here. Read his threads as his data is very subjective.

My vote is still KM2s. I have them on my 80 series 'Cruiser and really like them! If your Taco has the 3.4 engine you will be just fine with 255s. We ran 285 KMs on our 01 Taco with zero complaints. And yes, we live in the mountains.:ylsmoke:

 

[Andy@AAV]

I am also looking at choices in upgrading tires. Right now I am leaning towards the Cooper Discoverer S/T in 255-85r16 over a BFG AT in 265-75R16. Doing a little math on the tires leads me to believe the Coopers will be better.

BFG / Cooper
Weight: 24.5kg / 19.5kg
Frontal Area: .213 / .214
Moment of inertia: 3.95 / 3.45
Price: $191 / $201

So the wind resistance will be equal based on frontal area and the resistance to rotation is actually less with the larger tire due to less weight.

Combine this with the strengths of the 255-85 size tire for off road use (see the article by expeditions west) and I lean towards the Coopers.

The only down side is availability of the tires, but that's why I carry a spare. Now if I was going to do a crossing of the sahara desert, then I would carry 2 spares

 

[trump]

I am also looking at choices in upgrading tires. Right now I am leaning towards the Cooper Discoverer S/T in 255-85r16 over a BFG AT in 265-75R16. Doing a little math on the tires leads me to believe the Coopers will be better.

BFG / Cooper
Weight: 24.5kg / 19.5kg
Frontal Area: .213 / .214
Moment of inertia: 3.95 / 3.45
Price: $191 / $201

So the wind resistance will be equal based on frontal area and the resistance to rotation is actually less with the larger tire due to less weight.

Combine this with the strengths of the 255-85 size tire for off road use (see the article by expeditions west) and I lean towards the Coopers.

The only down side is availability of the tires, but that's why I carry a spare. Now if I was going to do a crossing of the sahara desert, then I would carry 2 spares

Now compair their durability and traction. I think your parameters ignore this as the most important features of an offroad tire. $0.02

 

[Andy@AAV]

"Now compare their durability and traction. I think your parameters ignore this as the most important features of an offroad tire"

I was thinking about the above comment about the size and its effect on power though.

However this is a good point. BFG are load range E and have thicker sidewalls than the Coopers load range. which accounts for the weight difference.

However, the Coopers have a more aggressive tread pattern, the more flexible sidewalls give a better footprint at higher air pressure and they can be studded for winter use. All of which contribute to better tire performance over the BFG AT as the OP was looking for without the negatives of the BFG MT he was trying to avoid. YMMV

 

[trump]

If they're more aggressive that makes more sense. I'd still be concerned over the durability with the tire being over an inch larger in diameter and still being so much lighter. But, like you said, YMMV.

 

[xjaugie]

Stock gears will be better with a shorter/narrower tire on and off-highway.
I agree that more armor over gears would be nice, and more armor (skids) can be a nice combo with slightly shorter tires.



If you go with a 265/75R16 or 265/70R17 (a bit less than 32") the car will probably drive better, maybe much better, and you will have a terrific selection of brands, treads, and load ranges to choose from. Not so with the 255/85.

Thanks for the info, the problem is that currently the truck has the original 15" wheels and I was going to try and keep them, to save money, but I think you are right and I'll get a set off 16" wheels.

So far in the last week, I drove 900 miles round trip for a deer hunt and found it nice to be driving long hours without the steady whine of the old BFG MTs that I have always run before, then yesterday I was driving across a muddy field to retrieve geese and decoys and did not get stuck with the AT type tires currently on the truck.

In keeping with the theme of this truck, long distance travel is as important if not a little more so, than running the "cool" muds. After all I do, (or will when the bumper is delivered) have a winch on the front.

265/75/16 it is, and after all if I don't like them, I blame you.....ha, ha,ha