Cooper ST Maxx or BF Goodrich T/A KO2

3rd gen OEM sport wheels are 7.5” with +30 and guys run 265/75r16s no problem. +15s would push the tire away from the components more so than the OEM wheels. Being that each tire varies on actual measured dimensions vs standard '265/75R16', id say have the tire shop do a test fit, but you should be okay.

 

Just ordered some 255/80 maxx to trade out my 245/75 KO2. KO2 worked well in the summer but just awful in the winter. From all the raving reviews on the coopers I’m looking forward to getting them on the truck.

 

Hows the mpg with them?

 

2013 Crew, SR5, long bed, steel Brute force winch front and rear bumper w/OME 3 inch lift. This is my 3rd of 3 2nd gen taco's all 95k-150k on each. I've been in several not so good and gooder AT, All Season brands but will center on 3 tires and I've ran BF AT2's and Michelin Defender, and Cooper ST Maxx Studded in CO for past 150k miles on my 2013. Michelin Defender, sucks on and off road for anything other than mall crawlin (not as good as the prev LTX MS same tread pattern, but defender seems harder compound). BF AT2's good all around, but when my tires squeal going around the mac D's drive thru dry, that tells me they are not sticky enough by time they are only have tread worn, BF's not so great on tread for packed snow, deep snow, nor mud, and hwy packed snow, but better than mich defender. The ST Maxx """"STUDDED""" is definitely better that my KO2's in packed snow and icy roads compared to both mich AT's and KO2. While I got good 45-50k miles out of mich & AT2, the AT2 is a good all around, but the ST Maxx with outer edge studs gives me much better control, speed, grip on icy/snowy highway and snow/icy mountain dirt roads. I also get equal or better in my CO mountain crappy dirty, muddy, snowy rough roads during hunting. That said, no all season nor AT tires are enough without my heavy duty mud/snow chains. Now, that said I've never tried the ST Maxx "non studded", but the compound of the ST maxx seems hard but the blocks may be may be better than the other 2 tires on snow/ice I can't compare. I can say with high confidence, the ST Maxx studded for me is notably better on packed highway snow and ice and equal or better for my off road needs than the KO2 and Defender, because of the studs and overall tread pattern. I've been in 6 Taco's from 1992 till now and for me if I'm doing a slowish corner or drive thru for food and my tires surprise me squaking & squeling on dry slow turns, then that tells me the treads are hard and most of those tires will suck on packed ice/snow. Remember it's not just the tire brand, all brands have so so all season/winter or only good for summer and only a few tires of each brand have good all season/AT tires for summer and winter without going to a dedicated winter tire. I have been using the same set of FJ Cruiser rims moved to my last 3 tacos so I get extra offset to run mud/snow chains. With a good set of AT tires and heavy, thick mud/snow chains, I can go into hunting areas in the mountains that others with just AT tires can't get to or if they stop, can't get going again, fact. So if somebody tells you mountain dirt/mud 4x4 crappy off roads with 2 feet of snow will only get you stuck with snow/mud chains is BS. Good power, ground clearance, tire tread design, and thick snow/mud chains has confidently gotten me in and out of places just by having the chaings. My st maxx studded with snow/mud chains in my neighborhood allowed me to "plow" straight lines in 30 inches of snow while people with 4runners, and other trucks and similar were fishtailing and getting stuck. You can't do that with just a tire. If your in a state that allows studds all year ST maxx is great. My spare is one of my prev KO2s not down to the wear marks for a reason, they sucked in snow & snow packed/icy.

 

15 dble cab, fj trd rim from 2005, OME HD front & back 3 inch lift w/hd rear leaf, , BFF plate front & rear high clearance bumpers cooper stmaxx 255/85/16 studded, and hd snow & mud chains as needed. Yeah I prefer stmaxx.