BFG KO2's on a daily driver (am I going to regret it?)

[lBasket]

Were yours K02s or the older KOs? The noise you had surprises me as does the rain performance. I agree off road is not what they do well.

They were KO2 I think this was like 2020 or 2021? I did notice on someone's KO2s I wheeled with the other week that they had more siping than mine did. I don't know if they have revised them since or it's because they were 37s vs my 31s.

They were louder than the 2 sets of MTs I've had since, I don't know if that's because the MTs have a softer compound or what.

 

[GoldenGorilla]

They were KO2 I think this was like 2020 or 2021? I did notice on someone's KO2s I wheeled with the other week that they had more siping than mine did. I don't know if they have revised them since or it's because they were 37s vs my 31s.

Not sure about that siping difference in the KO2, but I did see with the KO3 2 key decisions in their development. First they redesigned the tread pattern so that there were longer continuous channels to get water out from under the tread. Second they increased and improved the siping design specifically because of the issues the KO2 had. I know the KO2 production moved at some point and maybe there were mid-series design tweeks.

With the KO3 they made some further design changes from the initial KO3 OE tires to the standard release ones to further improve the tire. Outdoor Auto channel highlighted the differences. This was almost immediately after the initial release.

I'd have to imagine the KO2 was still a step forward from my original KO in the rain. Those had no outward channels to evacuate water. OTOH, the original T/A KMs were a nightmare on the snow.

 

[Chief Brohician]

Been researching tires for a while and keep coming back to the tried and true KO2s.

Currently running Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws. 33x12.5 15's. They were installed on the Jeep when I bought it in '21.. and were new back then.
I've put about 60k miles on them. TJ is my daily driver. Probably 70% surface roads, 30% off. Soft beach sand, rocky fire roads to dispersed camping. No hard wheeling. Fine in the northeast snow, I hate them in the rain. Still have about 9/32" on them and I want to flip them on MP for a couple hundred bucks to offset the cost of the new tires.

Going to stay with 33's.

My only real concern is the KO2s being too loud.

Thoughts from those running the BFGs is appreciated.

I ride Hercules Terra Trac 31x10.5R15LT on the TJ. Quite and smooth ride. In 2018 we bought our JLU Sahara before I deployed. While I was gone I picked up a set of Rubicon wheels w/ KO2's. They had 200 miles on them and wear 1/3 less than new 33" tires for the Sahara. After I returned from deployment. I put on the new wheels. They rode on pavement great. A couple months later; we went on a group ride to an off road park. It rained a couple days and was muddy. The mud (red clay) turned the tires into slicks. After I worn the KO2's out. I went back to the original wheel that came with the Sahara and got 33" Nitto Ridge Grapplers. Super happy with the ride quality on/off road & low noise when windows are down, or doors off, etc. Just my personal experience. I do not like the mud or clay. I try and avoid it like the plague.

 

[ShinyTravisto]

My only problem with them after running them on multiple vehicles for many years is that they just don't last. Tread wears down too quick for the $, I'm looking into other brands for A/T's for my next buy.

 

[Chief Brohician]

My only problem with them after running them on multiple vehicles for many years is that they just don't last. Tread wears down too quick for the $, I'm looking into other brands for A/T's for my next buy.

Check out Hercules Terra Trac.

 

[Rickyd]

My only problem with them after running them on multiple vehicles for many years is that they just don't last. Tread wears down too quick for the $, I'm looking into other brands for A/T's for my next buy.

Between the chip seal and cold patch repairs in rural areas of CA I've never seen more than 30k miles. These roads are like grinders

 

[rasband]

I liked my KO2s more than the Duratracs, but didn't keep the KO2s for long since I wanted to go to 35s. They were fairly quiet, but again that was early ownership. I work from home so don't commute.

On my beater (02 Xterra) I have Falken Wildpeak AT4Ws that I have been more than happy with in snow and rain in the mountains.

 

[BlueC]

I think they were very loud, the were very prone to hydroplaning, had bad grip off-road

Interesting. I've had the exact opposite experience. The only time I don't like KO2s is when mud is involved, but the shit around here is so slippery that even dedicated boggers need wheel speed.

 

[jeepguy03]

Interesting on people's experience with KO2s. I think they have a classic look especially with the white letters out. I love how they performed in snow on my XJs, but my TJ does not see snow. My dad ran them on his WK2 and they were quite loud, but it was also on a heavier vehicle with a very quiet interior. They didn't wear well on his Grand Cherokee, while they wore quite well on my light XJs and have been wearing well on my TJ. I just don't think they are meant for heavier trucks, every person I know that runs BFGs or Duratracs on a 1/2 ton or larger truck complains about tread wear.

Out of round tires is a problem across the board, sadly. I experienced that with 3 different sets of tires from different manufacturers on my BMW dailys. One set, the Michelin Pilot AS4s, had to be rebalanced 3 times before they could get to 80 without a shake, and the shop said they are seeing this more and more with the shit quality of tires these days. I am thankful I bought them at a local shop, because they were very willing to help me get them sorted out.

 

[Bensjeeptj]

I’ve been running my 30x10.5x15 ko2s for ages, love em, will be buying either them or ko3s when they wear out, no crazy road noise other than “it’s a jeep” and the handle great off-road and on road, only complaint is rain performance, but I’ve heard the ko3s have fixed this??? I would recommend them, they do wear pretty quickly on the road though.

 

[Apparition]

every person I know that runs BFGs or Duratracs on a 1/2 ton or larger truck complains about tread wear.

My Superduty had 35" Duratracs from the factory, I got 40k out of them and they didn't wear well. I'm very happy with my Baja Boss AT's on that same truck and that's the AT I'd look at for anything that needed them.

 

[Woodrow]

Interesting on people's experience with KO2s. I think they have a classic look especially with the white letters out. I love how they performed in snow on my XJs, but my TJ does not see snow. My dad ran them on his WK2 and they were quite loud, but it was also on a heavier vehicle with a very quiet interior. They didn't wear well on his Grand Cherokee, while they wore quite well on my light XJs and have been wearing well on my TJ. I just don't think they are meant for heavier trucks, every person I know that runs BFGs or Duratracs on a 1/2 ton or larger truck complains about tread wear.

I have them on a 1 ton truck which sees mostly highway use, often hauling. I replace at 50% gone and generally this is 25-30K for most tires I've tried including KO2s.

Out of round tires is a problem across the board, sadly. I experienced that with 3 different sets of tires from different manufacturers on my BMW dailys. One set, the Michelin Pilot AS4s, had to be rebalanced 3 times before they could get to 80 without a shake, and the shop said they are seeing this more and more with the shit quality of tires these days. I am thankful I bought them at a local shop, because they were very willing to help me get them sorted out.

Out of round is not really fixable (unless you shave the high spots in the tread, maybe?). Dynamic balancing fixes weight imbalance but road force which measures roundness is either in spec (around 30# for a 35" tire, I think) or not. The smaller the number, the less vibration you feel. You are correct I think about a broad dip in tire mfg QC in the last few years. My sense is tires manufactured in Japan are more consistently good. I don't have real data to back that up. Just the general reputation of Japanese goods and my one set of Yokohamas.

 

[KennethS]

KO2’s or KO3’s?

KO2s. The first two sets were before the KO3s came out. I wasn't sure about the most recent set, so I looked on the BFG site and found the KO3 is not made in a 11.5 x 32 size, so the recent ones are KO2s as well.

 

[KennethS]

For anyone wanting to run KO3, check the BFG site and see what sizes they make. I saw only p-metric sizes, and only 2 sizes in 15".

 

[jeepguy03]

I have them on a 1 ton truck which sees mostly highway use, often hauling. I replace at 50% gone and generally this is 25-30K for most tires I've tried including KO2s.

Out of round is not really fixable (unless you shave the high spots in the tread, maybe?). Dynamic balancing fixes weight imbalance but road force which measures roundness is either in spec (around 30# for a 35" tire, I think) or not. The smaller the number, the less vibration you feel. You are correct I think about a broad dip in tire mfg QC in the last few years. My sense is tires manufactured in Japan are more consistently good. I don't have real data to back that up. Just the general reputation of Japanese goods and my one set of Yokohamas.

You're right out of round isn't fixable, the ones I had that were out of round had to be replaced under warranty. I should've specified that. With the Michelins, the shop commented that they seem to be very hard to balance and had that issue with the same tires across different sizes. I will say after that experience Michelin will be last on my list for tires. They were very overhyped. Loud for what they were, and traction was good, but not fantastic like the cheaper Continentals I had before them and the Generals that replaced them. Not a great experience even aside from the balancing issues for expensive performance tires, and I didn't even track that car.

 

[BlueC]

Out of round is not really fixable (unless you shave the high spots in the tread, maybe?).

Tire shaving. An old practice that was common in shops in the days of bias-ply tires. Some specialty shops or hot rod shops will have the tools and might know how to used them. There's a local motorcycle shop who specializes in spoke wheels who does/did it.

 

[BlueC]

You're right out of round isn't fixable, the ones I had that were out of round had to be replaced under warranty. I should've specified that. With the Michelins, the shop commented that they seem to be very hard to balance and had that issue with the same tires across different sizes. I will say after that experience Michelin will be last on my list for tires. They were very overhyped. Loud for what they were, and traction was good, but not fantastic like the cheaper Continentals I had before them and the Generals that replaced them. Not a great experience even aside from the balancing issues for expensive performance tires, and I didn't even track that car.

That's surprising with the Michelins. Which ones and how old were they? I've run several sets of LTX (truck) and Defender (car) and had zero issue, but they did like to get louder at end of life, which for my truck and previous SUV seems to be 60-70K. On my cars my last set of Defenders got changed right at the wear bar with 105K on them, but they were starting to get loud.

 

[jeepguy03]

That's surprising with the Michelins. Which ones and how old were they? I've run several sets of LTX (truck) and Defender (car) and had zero issue, but they did like to get louder at end of life, which for my truck and previous SUV seems to be 60-70K. On my cars my last set of Defenders got changed right at the wear bar with 105K on them, but they were starting to get loud.

They were brand new (2021 or 2022) Michelin Pilot Sport All-season 4. I ran them for 30k miles (pretty typical for that car and tire type) then ran General G-MAX AS07 which seemed to perform about the same but were much quieter for a few months before I sold the car 6 months ago. The car was a 2009 BMW 328i RWD running the stock size 17's.

 

[Camdenst]

I went with the General Grabber ATX and have been quite pleased. Though not a daily, i dont think twice to drive five hours to wheel in PA. I remember they were cheaper as well.

https://generaltire.com/tires/light-trucksuv/grabber-atx

 

[Woodrow]

You're right out of round isn't fixable, the ones I had that were out of round had to be replaced under warranty. I should've specified that. With the Michelins, the shop commented that they seem to be very hard to balance and had that issue with the same tires across different sizes. I will say after that experience Michelin will be last on my list for tires. They were very overhyped. Loud for what they were, and traction was good, but not fantastic like the cheaper Continentals I had before them and the Generals that replaced them. Not a great experience even aside from the balancing issues for expensive performance tires, and I didn't even track that car.

Interesting re the Michelins. I have set of Michelin PS4s on my mildly modified Mustang GT. They are real good and I was considering the even grippier Sport Cup 2s for my next set.