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New Tire Options/Opinions (Yes, I searched).

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Malore, Apr 30, 2020.

  1. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:19 AM
    #1
    Malore

    Malore [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey team. Before I get berated, I did search for "tires", "new tires" and "which tires" and went pretty deep back on each and didn't find quite what I was looking for. If you know of a tire discussion that applies (I honestly can't conceive of there not being one), please feel free to link it and I apologize for the wasted space.

    Moving on, I bought my 2016 OR DCLB brand new and just hit 50k on my 265/70/17 BFG KO2s. They're done. While I don't really have too much to complain about with them (maybe some balancing issues and a bit of road noise as they wear, but I'm assuming that happens with most tires), I am thinking of going a different route with my new tire choice. No real reason besides the fact that there are a lot of options and I can.

    This is my 6th Tacoma and the first one I have ran A/T tires on. All my older 1st gen Tacos had M/T tires and I'm not doing that again.

    So, here's what I'm after in order of importance.

    1. Aggressive looks. Yes, I know, it's a bit fashion over function, but I figure in an all-terrain tire, hopefully aggressive looks equate to decent performance.

    2. Comfortable on-road driving. I live in rural Oregon around loads of logging/service roads and also spend time driving in snow, sand and silt. I'd say I'm 75/25 on vs. off, but obviously prefer being off.

    3. Off-road traction in dirt, sand and snow (don't do much muddin' these days).

    4. Durability

    I do love the looks of the BFG KO2s. They've seemed to do well with mileage too. I'm fine with 50K. The tread wrapping down the top of the sidewall seems to be beefier and actually more usable than a lot of the other options. Maybe I just stick with them? Just curious about other options and as this is the first A/T I've ran, have zero experience with others.

    Speaking of other options:

    Toyo R/T - Like the looks, but it's not snow rated and not sure how siping it would change performance (I live in Oregon and am constantly driving in the snow over mountain passes from November through March).

    Toyo A/T III - I was really excited about this tire as I've always loved my Toyo M/T tires I used to run, but after seeing them on a few trucks on the forum, they just don't look as aggressive as I thought they would.

    Nitto Ridge Grappler - Great looks, but curious how comfortable/noisy they'd be.

    Goodyear Duratrac - Like the looks, but know nothing else. Anybody?

    Falken Wildpeak A/T 3w - Decent looks. Any thoughts from board members?

    Lastly, I've attached a couple pics of a tear I just spotted on the passenger rear KO2. Not sure how long it has been there, but hasn't seemed to have had any noticeable negative effects on the tire or performance. Just found it interesting as that's a first for me.

    That's about it. I know I'm going to get loads of opinions -- and probably yelled at -- as this is certainly a worm opener. But that's alright.

    I appreciate your time and energy. Thanks for the insight(s).

    IMG_9131.jpg
    IMG_9130.jpg
     
    In&out, Thorian and Thatbassguy like this.
  2. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:26 AM
    #2
    BillsSR5

    BillsSR5 Looking out for #1

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    anything that says MICHELIN on the sidewall
     
  3. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:28 AM
    #3
    merv101

    merv101 Well-Known Member

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    I was looking at the General Grabber A/TX for my last Chevy, and I think I'll try to get them for my Taco one day. If you look at this link, Tire Rack seems to view the Generals as a better tire and its about $20 cheaper each.

    https://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareTires.jsp
     
  4. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:29 AM
    #4
    Malore

    Malore [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks so much for the reply, but none of the Michelin tires do it for me. Appreciate your input though. Thank you.
     
    BillsSR5[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:35 AM
    #5
    Malore

    Malore [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sweet, thanks! Does look like a pretty nice tire, really. Anybody have any experience with these?
     
  6. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:42 AM
    #6
    JStarr

    JStarr Life Off the Road

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    BFG KO2's in E Rating have served us really well on our several vehicles. Our users mainly unpaved, with lots of sharp lava rock on the sides and road surface, and nothing else has worked as well for us consistently. The Michelin LTX in E Rating also are very tough, and have survived when we wanted a less aggressive tire.
     
  7. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:43 AM
    #7
    Kyitty

    Kyitty Mr. Beard

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    Based on your list I'd vote for the Falken AT3W's. I just finished winter #2 in Montana with a set of those. Plus a full summer last year. They handled really well and the tread life is looking great still. I have the E-Rated version though.

    The Cooper ST Maxx I had previously were AMAZING tires but the tread life was not nearly as good as these Falkens. But I beat the utter piss out of those Cooper ST Maxx and never had an issue. Snow, Ice, Dirt, Gravel, Moab wheeling, and summer road driving on Montana highways. Sidewall scrapes, cuts, etc. Even had one Cooper ST Maxx survive a straight on impact that destroyed the suspension on the truck.

    KO2's - Everyone runs these tires. I'm not a fan for that reason alone. LOL But people like them.

    Duratracs - I've heard, and read lots about how these are really good in snow. However, I've heard and read a lot about how their sidewalls are very weak/susceptible to laceration. And frankly, every truck I see in Montana with Duratracs they're either brand new are damn near bald. I never see anything in between. Though they're popular (just not so much in the off-road community here).
     
    shakerhood likes this.
  8. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:48 AM
    #8
    Malore

    Malore [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks so much. The KO2s I have are the C rating and seem to be just great for my needs. I appreciate the input. Maybe I just run them again! Thank you.
     
    JStarr[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:51 AM
    #9
    CarverLB

    CarverLB Who Dat?!

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    I just got some STT Pro’s installed today and I love em! I used to have Duratracs and they were awesome too. The tires in the pic below are 265/70r17 STT Pro on 4R Trd Pro wheels.

    3A93309D-3C80-4446-9D87-E7F6F4BBA354.jpg
     
    Smalltaco44 and doublethebass like this.
  10. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:53 AM
    #10
    Malore

    Malore [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Awesome response. Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. I'm stoked to hear about real hands-on experience with the Falkens and the Coopers. Those Coopers look bad ass! Why'd you switch?

    Why are you running E rating? No criticism here, just not sure whether I need the 10-ply E rating over the 6-ply C rating. Obviously that extra weight must effect performance and mpg. Not that I care too much about mpg. I bought a truck.

    Any pics with them on your rig? Thanks again!
     
  11. Apr 30, 2020 at 11:56 AM
    #11
    Malore

    Malore [OP] Well-Known Member

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    WOW! Those things are great looking! Did you have the Duratracs on a Tacoma before? How's the road noise difference between the Coopers and the Good Years? I don't care THAT much, but when you drive as much as I do, it does come into play.

    I'm sure you can find those tires with an all black sidewall too, yeah?

    Again, what a great looking rig. Jealousy inducing!
     
    CarverLB[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Apr 30, 2020 at 12:06 PM
    #12
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy Sweet or sour?

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    I'm loving the Toyo AT3's so far. The sidewalls on the LT versions seem more aggressive than the SL's. Also, I believe they look better in person.

    I know a lot of guys who are very happy with the Falkens (AT3W). They seem to be good in a lot of conditions, and have good looking sidewalls.

    I'm surprised those KO2's were dead at 50K. I just replaced mine at 29K, and they measure 12/32 of tread(80% of new). The only reason I go rid of them was that they were starting to look too small.
     
    SoCali_Guy likes this.
  13. Apr 30, 2020 at 12:11 PM
    #13
    Malore

    Malore [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks so much! Appreciate the helpful reply. Do you have any pics with the AT3s on your rig? Would love to see. I hit up a few tire dealers in the Eugene, OR area and nobody can seem to get their hands on any AT3s despite being about 5 months old now. Must be a hot tire!

    Good to hear about the Falkens.

    Glad you brought up the "looking too small" issue. I always felt the 265/70/17 looked a little small (I'm running the Icon Stage 2 at about 2" lift all around), but I didn't want to go up to the 285 because of the rubbing/cutting issues (I like my front mud flaps, sue me). And not many manufactures offer a 275 (although it looks like Cooper does).

    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, the world of decision making. So fun.

    Thanks again! I really appreciate it.
     
    Thatbassguy[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Apr 30, 2020 at 12:14 PM
    #14
    CarverLB

    CarverLB Who Dat?!

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    Thanks, Malore. Yes I had some 265/70r17 Duratracs on a ‘17 Sport 4x4 a while back. Sold it to get a Jeep and changed my mind on the Jeep and got another Tacoma. While I’ve only put about 10 miles on these new tires so far, road noise is a huge difference. These are considerably louder than the Duratracs. Still not too loud for me to go another route I just like the look. Fashion over function right?! Don’t quote me but yes I think there is an option on an all black wall or it might just be white letters facing in. Not sure on that. I specifically wanted white letters this go round so didn’t look for the black letters while researching. Thanks again! See pic below of my ‘17 Sport. 1” level kit on FN FX Pro 17x8 wheels. No rub.


    2581FCE1-0C03-4B48-B6B8-8864BD5601DD.jpg

    3DB5782A-1340-4932-BF83-76445E0680AD.jpg
     
    mean_green likes this.
  15. Apr 30, 2020 at 12:20 PM
    #15
    SnowSpartan

    SnowSpartan IT, not the clown.

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    Dirt, sand, snow. Get them Falkens.

    Great on road. Quiet. No issues with them.

    Great off road in the conditions I’ve taken them in.

    Probably never buying a different tire.

    92E09ABA-2A15-4711-94F5-9D96F8FC876F.jpg
    F632C7DD-7369-4E70-9BFA-ACF5449A5629.jpg
    158214D6-4BC5-41BA-A738-6652DD8DD368.jpg
     
  16. Apr 30, 2020 at 12:24 PM
    #16
    doublethebass

    doublethebass aspiring well-known member

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    Check out the Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx. They’re a hybrid MT/AT that wear well and aren’t too noisy:

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-off-your-cooper-st-maxx.346956/

    A bunch of us have 255/85/16s and it’s been a great way to get 33s on a stock 3rd Gen suspension (255/80/17 is the same total size but more wheel / less meat on the tires)…..with no trimming / chopping whatsoever.....and the spare tire fits under a short bed without having to move the bracket

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/put-255-85-16s-on-stock-or-wheels-and-suspension.491079/

    If you need a snow capable tire (something with that three-peak mountain snowflake “3PMSF” symbol) and don’t want to run a second set of dedicated winter tires, the it’s worth looking at the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S....they’re an all-terrain with great winter capability

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cooper-discoverer-at3-4s-review.557727/

    I skipped the KO2s in favor of the Cooper ST Maxx because I’ve read over and over that after about 30k miles the KO2s aren’t great in the wet, especially heavy rain (hydroplaning conditions). A few guys said they were fine (bit of a mixed bag really) but enough said they weren’t for me to shop around. I can say I'd buy the Coopers again now that I’ve had them.
     
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  17. Apr 30, 2020 at 12:28 PM
    #17
    swoly

    swoly Well-Known Member

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    I've had my ATX's for 15,000 miles and I really like them. Haven't had them in snow (live in the Raleigh area now), but they've handled everything else like a champ. I had several sets of the AT2's, which were their predecessors, when I lived in the north east and they were great in the snow, so I would assume these would be the same. Probably can't go wrong with any of the tires on your list.
    IMG_7256.jpg
     
  18. Apr 30, 2020 at 12:30 PM
    #18
    ZekeR7

    ZekeR7 Well-Known Member

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    I run Toyo ATII (NOT the new ATIII) and have 45k so far and it's still good to go.
    Here are different angles of them:

    95566212_838774949966514_3859202306444623872_n.jpg 93302017_245951216789271_5180449626695663616_n.jpg
    95544355_971140506649772_6454931028040482816_n.jpg
     
  19. Apr 30, 2020 at 12:43 PM
    #19
    Malore

    Malore [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Damn! Looked great. I will say I like your new rig better though. Thanks so much for sharing. Helps a lot!
     
    CarverLB[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. Apr 30, 2020 at 12:46 PM
    #20
    Malore

    Malore [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Dang! That is a DAMN fine looking tire. Probably doesn't hurt that we're running the same color :)

    What size are those and what suspension you running? I see they make a 275/70/17 and I always thought my 265/70/17 looked just a tad small running my Icon Stage 2 setup at about 2". Maybe closer to 1.75".

    Leaning towards the Falken I think.

    THANK YOU!
     

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