Tacoma Tires

i've been reading a lot about tire options on the forum and Michelin M/S2 tires seem to have high ratings. However, on TireRack reviews the BFG T/A KO2's are rated higher in all categories including ride and noise! How can that be? Reviewers on that site seem to love them! I'm a 80-90% road driver 10-20% light off-road, dirt trails, logging roads, etc. But I do love the aggressive look of the KO's! Also I really want to be able to go up in the snow in winter and like the mountain snowflake rating on the KO. Thinking of a C load rating in the 265/70R17 size but can't decide between the MS2 or the KO. Suggestions?

 

You answered your own question. Best true all purpose tire IMO. Definitely get load C. I swapped my wheels to 17s to run these tires.

Edit: BTW, welcome to TW!

Advancements over the previous tire:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp5dVUol778

 

MS2's are totally fine in the snow and for light off road (they do surprisingly well- you would not be disappointed). Best tire I've ever run. Super quiet. Almost silent in town and awesome on the highway (quieter than my mom's Subaru). There's a thread on here somewhere of a guy rock crawling with the MS2.

The new version (replacing the MS2) is the Defender LTX M/S. It's everything the MS2 was + slightly better wet/snow traction due to updated tread compound. They're great in the rain/snow. I'm running them now (after having run 3 sets of MS2). My last set had 8/32" tread left after 45k miles (sold them on CL for $350 and got bigger ones). That's about 60% of new usable tread depth. Amazing, really. Can't imagine you'd get that with the BFG, but I could we wrong. I'll probably do the same thing again when I hit 45k. So if value is a factor...

I'm also about 80-90% city/highway. The Mich is the perfect tire for me. I totally understand liking the aggressive look of the BFG's. I like that aspect better, too. But I just won't go that way when the Michelins have been so ideal for 90% of the conditions I drive in (and when I am off road, I've never once thought "this would be better with different tires"). If I was in the PNW I might lean toward the AT tires. But I'm in the flat lands. Hey, that reminds me... Have you looked into the Michelin AT? Lots of fans here, as well. Just another option for you. I'm sure the BFG's are a great tire, too. I also think Miches get passed on for lacking a rugged appearance.

 

Thanks everyone for your opinions. They seem to be spot on with my thoughts. Hence my dilemma! I think the deal maker for me is going to be the mountain/snowflake designation on the KO. That will save me a lot of trouble dealing with chains going through the mountain passes in Washington. Since I have the TRD Sport model it came with 17" wheels so I'm looking at the 26570R17 which is about 1" taller. Also like that aspect and it should fit OK with stock wheels and no lifts from what I've read. I'll definitely get a load range C not E.

 

So, if you have the mountain/snow symbol you don't have to chain up? Yeah, I think that would sway me in that direction, too! Haha That's fairly huge.

 

Bfg ko2 265x70x17
No rubbing

 

They will fit. You might get a tiny bit of rubbing on the mini flap in the front in reverse (not mud flap). See the last pic in this in this post when I was at stock height. Easily removed with 2 bolts.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ior-beadlock-style-wheels-on-a-tacoma.381030/

 

thanks for recommending the Mich Defender. I'm also 90% road/freeway so I would like a tire with not a lot of noise.