Goodyear MT/R w/ Kevlar vs. BF Goodrich KM2

I'm currently contemplating what set of tires my first gen Tacoma will get next. I have experience with both set of tires but I do not have experience with them on the same truck. My father owns a solid axle swapped 2007 FJ Cruiser, SAC'D FJC, with 37 inch MTRs. He also owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma with 33 inch KM2s. Both are great trucks, but I don't know which one is better for my use. I'll will primarily be using them on the road, for commuting, as well as using the off-road for rock crawling. Like my fathers 2013 Tacoma I will get 33 inch tires as well. Any help is greatly appreciated. Ask questions if you need to. Thanks you.

 

What does your Dad say? He seems to be well qualified to tell you.

 

Me personally km2




But i think we all really wanna see that fj

 

MTRs here, love 'em.
And yes, FJ pics.

 

Both good tires. I think sometimes the reason we have trouble deciding is because there are so many good choices available.

 

He loves how both tires work. He likes the MTRs off road and how sticky they can be. He also really likes the KM2s on road since they're harder and weigh less than the MTRs.

Either way, MTRs would work super well off road and fine on road, but the KM2s would be harder thus not giving that wide footprint we all like off road, as well as the MTRs are heavier than the KM2s thus KM2s getting better gas mileage and keeping the overall weight of the vehicle down. This goes on and on and on...

He he had to choose a tire, he probably would say the MTRs because he has experience with it both on and off road as well as he been using MTRs on the FJC since 2006, but the most the KM2s have seen is a ditch outside a rental house in Tahoe City.

 

Alright here's some Pic of the FJC at Niagara Rim Trail. Little bit of a poser shot...














Let's give the 2013 Tacoma a little love...

 

Good Lord!

 

That FJ is a work of art

I've had both..The km2's were awesome in everywhere I took them. Usually mud, loose rocks, lots of clay. My biggest complaint was on road. They were very rough riding and terrible when it rained.

My current mtr's (only had them for about a month now) I have zero complaints. so far.. Very good on road manors. Smooth ride, pretty quite, and do well in the rain.

All depends what you want to do. If you want a die hard m/t tire I say go km2's. If you want a all around good tire for on and off road. Go mtr's

 

I take that as a compliments...

Thanks... I'll agree with it being a tough decision. I thought I would go for the MTRs for sure. I've driven the FJC both on and off road, and even the 37s, work amazingly, but I don't have first hand experience off road with the KM2s. I heard that they handle well, but I don't know. Either way, I will be happy with a new set a tires sooner or later.

Thanks... Primarily it will be a road going tire with some rock crawling on the weekends! I'll take it that the MTRs are the better bet for what I would be looking to do.

 

I have 285/75/R16 MTR's on a 2007 Tacoma with Icon Mid Travel. I can honestly say I hate these tires.

They feather they shake, they make a ton of noise on road.

They look badass the worked well new. But with the miles came the shaking and the feathering.

 

I personally prefer the MT-R kevlar over KM2s

 

Feathering usually has to due with a suspension problem, over/under inflated tire or incorrect alignment. Road noise isn't a problem for me.

Could be by random chance? Also, I think that since these tires will be road going most of the time, I shouldn't have to worry about flats, as well as I'll be buying a spare for when I do get a flat.

Good to know. Any particular reasons?

 

MT-R has much better steering response and lateral traction- both on and offroad. KM2s slide sideways way to easy on sidehills, and understeer like crazy in the snow.... for that matter, any time moisture is involved on-road the KM2 is downright dangerous IMO, they just dont have enough siping/biting edges to grab in the wet. They're the last tire I'd choose for driving in snow on-road, but do okay in deep snow offroad. MTRs handle snow/water/mud much better and are comparable on hard pack dirt/rocks.
On the other side, KM2s do last longer from what I've seen and are slightly quieter though.

 

I have yet to hear anything about the KM2s being sketchy on wet grounds... If that's really the case, then MTRs is where I'm headed... Good to know... Thanks for that.

 

I think those pics made me cry a little. By far best fj I've seen without the roof rack.

 

see if you cant find some guys with KM2s up in the North West and see what they say. I mean, I push my trucks pretty hard, but still the KM2s sketched me out. Only reason I didnt get rid of my last set sooner is because I moved to nevada and its dry enough here that they only sucked for 3 mo out of the year. I'll never run KM2s again

 

I ran KM2s with the FJ trail teams and just took them off and went to MTRs. Haven't got to try them off-road yet but I'll let you know. I'm selling my FJs with 285/75 KM2s now

 

Thanks... It had a roof rack before the suspension was redone...



We both prefer the look without the rack though... Gives it a no BS vibe...

Photo is back from 2008 Rubithon...

I live in East Bay, so, in theory, I should be fine since the most we get down here is a bit of rain... if it ever decides to rain again... but rock crawling is what the truck will be used for primarily, and the occasional expedition.

I'll be interested to hear what you have to say about the MTRs...

 

Who owns this rig? and does he have a build page?