Help me choose a new AT/Highway Tire

I own a third gen., 55k miles and I am looking to replace my tires in the next 10-15k miles.

I love the look of the KBro2s but they would really be the wrong tire to buy because I'm on the road 95% of the time in southern California where it rarely rains. Yeah it breaks my heart too.

So I have done some research and wanted to ask other members which tire ya'll have had the best experience with. I am aiming for road comfort (soft) and quietness.

If there are other tire models that you suggest, I will add to the poll. I hope this thread becomes useful for other members whom are in the market for a new set also.

Thanks and Happy Driving!

Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 2 - $720

$310+ Michelin LTX A/T 2 Tires

Michelin LTX A/T 2 - $814

$306+ Pirelli Scorpion ATR Tires

Pirelli Scorpion ATR - $590

Yokahoma Geolandar A/T G015 - $600

$302+ Michelin Defender LTX M/S Tires

Michelin Defender LTX M/S - $805

Goodyear Wrangler SR-A - $700

Toyo Open Country A30 - $690

$241+ Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus Tires

Bridgstone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus - $740

Michelin Premier LTX - $840

$219+ Firestone Destination A/T Tires

Firestone Destination A/T - $690

Prices are as of July 2017.

 

You say that you are on the road 95% of the time. I guess which tire you get depends on how hard you wheel the other 5% of the time. If your off-roading is light then thyou answer to this question is easy - you get the Michelin LTX AT2 and never look back. This is the only tire on the list made from a one piece mold as opposed to being sectioned together from several pieces. The end result is a much more round tire with less vibration and balancing issues. They also wear extremely well.

If you spend that 5% in light to moderate wheeling off road then I would recommend the Cooper AT3. They have good road manners and clean out surprisingly well. My issue with them can be that they feel almost wobbly from side to side and so they take some initial getting used to but for me that feel was likely from the additional tread going from the stock tires. They work well all around and are better off road. They also look more aggressive. I lost about 1mog going from the Michelin AT2 to this tire.

I had both the AT3s and Michelin AT2s on my second gen Sport. The Coopers were better off road for sure but the Michelins were made for that Sport. Everything about them worked better except for off road. But, they worked just fine for light off roading and I never got stuck in them. They wouldn't work for me now on my third gen OR but they sound like the tire for you.

Of the other tires you have listed I would only consider the Yokohamas and maybe Revo 2s but to me the Bridgestone are overpriced. For that money I'm going Michelin. My stock GY Wrangler Adventures with Kevlar have served me well so far on my OR. Very quiet and smooth ride but I now need a more aggressive tire.

 

If "aiming for road comfort (soft) and quietness," I would choose the LTX M/S. I had a set on my previous truck and they are currently the set on my wife's Suburban (as well as multiple other family member's vehicles) - No problems what-so-ever over many years and many sets. That being said, the previous set on my Tacoma was the LTX A/T - it was quiet, looked a bit more aggressive, and the tread lasted plenty long (too long for South Texas as I had to replace due to weather cracking before tread depth was up). Opinions vary as do budgets. Those are the only two in that list that I have experience with. Best of luck!

 

BFG Commercial T/A

 

Have Michelin LTX M/S and can't say enough about them. 7k miles so far towing around the country and they have performed exceptionally well. Some dirt and gravel filled roads as well without batting an eye.

 

95% road use equals Michelin. Don't go for looks. Go for safety. You need a road tire.

 

The Yokohama G015 look good, this is a review of them if your interested.
https://expeditionportal.com/review-yokohama-geolandar-at-g015/

 

Go for the Michelin Defender even though you'll have to take a second out on your house to pay for them. The reason that the KBro2s are the wrong tire is because they are the same garbage that the KBros were, just slightly rehashed.

 

For me price is not the factor really. If you are comfortable and safe driving a tire that you love is totaly worth the $100-$200-$300 that you pay extra.. and besides the fact, I have run tires to the wire before after 80k miles. So its not a big deal for me.

 

I am thoroughly enjoying the ride quality of the Michelin X LT A/S (Costco's Defender). I picked them up a couple of months ago and I'm enjoying driving my truck a lot more. Like you, I am mostly on-road and an AT was more than I needed. My MPG has gone from around 16MPG to just over 20 on average.

 

Michelin Defender (I believe this replaced the m/s 2). I love mine, also live in California. They perform very well, just don't look as rugged. Work fine on poorly maintained dry dirt roads as well.

 

There is no better on road tire than the Michelin defender ms2 or whatever they call them now. If you want an at I’d go with the yoko g015

 

I am admittedly probably still another couple years from getting new tires, but also am looking for a more aggressive road tire than the LTX MS2's on my truck (which I do like a lot, just not aggressive looking at all). I heard great reviews on the KO2's but read that the E rated ones are harsh, and it is the C rated ones you want. However, they don't make the C rated for my wheels, so I said no to those. now I am looking at either Firestone Destination A/Ts vs BFG Rugged Terrains. anyone have any input on these two as well. noticed neither one was mentioned in OP.

 

Yeah I hear you. As much as I wanted an aggressive A/T tire, my driving patterns off road didn't justify them.

So the list of tires that you see above are majorly street oriented. They almost all are called A/T by the manufacturer but they truly where designed for the road.

 

1. Cooper Discoverer AT3
2. Michelin LTX A/T2
3.Any of the others

 

We are definitely thinking the same. are the Firestone Destination AT and BFG rugged terrains, not as street oriented as those you listed?

 

In my opinion, they are not. There are almost no straight lines on the tires. Their mile warranty and wear rating are low vs others. From my experience of driving, tires with straight lines parallel to the tire band means straighter traction on the road... Just look at Michelin's Sport tire. I've seen them in person on my friend's Supra and they are nice.

I added the Firestones though, maybe people have had really good experiences with them vs other tires that are listed. The BFGs are actually hard to find... Tire Rack and America's Tire doesn't have them listed on their site.

 

Stay away from the Rugged Terrains. I would go Cooper AT3 over them all day. The Firestone is a decent tire (my son has these on his new Cherokee Trailhawk) but you can do better, much better. Also, the Falken AT3W is a nice tire.

 

Michelin ltx at2 is king on highway...and can still get down off road... I loved them on my f150...they suck in thick mud/clay.

 

That was the best riding mild AT tire I had on my former second gen. Great on the road but not what you need off road unless it's very mild off-roading.