These KO2's Suck in the rain. New AT Recommendations?

Is speed or driving habits ever a factor when folks talk down the KO2's? I live in Washington State and have read all the things about this tire and poor traction in the rain. Never once had a problem with mine. Maybe I just drive like a grandpa so hydroplaning is not an issue? Maybe I got the only set ever made that are fantastic?

 

I’ve been running the BFGs for as long as I can remember. Original AT the MT and Ko2. I can honestly say that the traction on slick wet roads is terrible in the new Ko2. The other models weren’t nearly as bad. I’ve been eyeing the Cooper Discover AT3 XLTs but new shoes ain’t on the to do list at the moment. Anyone have any good/bad experiences with the Coopers?

 

I quickly noticed the traction breaking just by accelerating onto the highway. I never experienced hydroplaning with the Ko2s.

 

I've had Coopers before and I loved them. I believe I had the ST Maxx and no complaints.

 

I'm just bumping this thread up again.... They suck ass.

 

Cooper ST MAXX are great on constant wet ground. The only time I worry is deeper standing water in highway ruts. Large tread blocks and not amazing siping can make for easy hydroplaning. Had it happen once, albeit without catastrophy, now I ride outside the water-collecting ruts on highways.

 

The other 900 threads shitting on KO2's weren't enough for you?

What size and load range were yours?

I had LT/C 265/70/17's. While they weren't the absolute best at anything, they were sufficient at everything I used them for. Lots of other folks are using them without issues as well.

 

I had KO2s that did great in rain, and I'm pretty sure we get more rain than the OP. However, that was load E on a 100 series LC which is a lot heavier and FT awd. I never considered them for my Tacoma because of the crazy weight. That weight made zero difference on the 100 which pretty much got 14 mpg no matter what I did to it including towing.

 

My KO2's have been through 2-3 rainy seasons now here western WA. No problems whatsoever. No slipping, no sliding, no loss of grip unexpectedly.

 

Am I reading this right that you have 140,000 miles on a set of KO2s? Or have you had a few sets over that time?

 

I wonder if it has to do with the weight on the truck camper shells bumper skid plates so on and so on…

 

No, I wish haha! I have got 60k miles out of a set.

 

I'm in the Seattle area and I love the look of the KO2 with the white letters out but I had Cooper ST Maxx and they were much better tires in the rain. I dislike the wet traction of the KO2.

If you read above there are folks in my area that love them. Maybe they drive like a granny or something in the wet? Maybe I have a lead foot? All I can tell you is same driving to same driving the Cooper ST Maxx was much better in wet driving conditions.

 

Well for what is worth I just swapped out my stock Michelin tires with only (3,600 miles) that came with my Limited for KO2’s yesterday. They may be great in the rain but I would gladly slide all over town with my new KO2’s than drive one more mile with those minivan tires.

 

Think how I felt when I took the trash stock Firestone SPORT tires off. Frankly Toyota should be ashamed. This was at 800 miles! In late 2018. KO2's been just fine, rain, floods, snow....

 

Yeah mi wife though I was nuts when I told her I was going to swap out the new tires, lol. But frankly on a 4x4 Tacoma, Toyota should have thrown in at least some cheap AT tires like the Sumitomo AT’s which don’t look too bad and are relatively inexpensive in comparison. ​

 

Yeah, I didn't mentioned it to the wife. She doesn't care that much.

Oddly I ran a FB add for my new removed tires, had a line-up wanting them. $50 each as I recall. Hey what the heck, some beer money.

 

I love the Maxxis Razr AT's. Light weight, looks amazing and performs great.

 

Vehicle companies care more about the MPG number than traction so most tires that come new on vehicles are light weight, have poor traction, and dont last very long.

 

Well I tried that once with some shitty hard Michelins. They lasted an eternity..............