Tire recommendations 2015 Tacoma

Ok folks it's almost time for new tires. I drive mostly paved roads and the occasional gravel or dirts roads and of course snow. Mostly I don't want anything noisy. I have a few picked out based on users on here. 1)Geolander G015 2)Hankook Dynapro at 3)KO2s. Is there any other tires I need to check out? Do you have anything good bad or ugly to say about any listed above? Thanks for any input or personal experiences!

 

Based on our driving definitely check out the Michelin LTX AT2 (smoothest tire I ever run and ok for light off-road use) and Cooper Discover AT3. Michelin still makes their tires from a single piece mold resulting in a more round tire with fewer balance issues. The Yokohama you mentioned is also a good tire. Hankook is ok as well but I’ve seen some new yet mismatched tires come in from them. If you go as aggressive as a KO2 then I’d opt for the General Grabber AT2 and save money and get a tire with better grip and good snow performance. I personally think for light OR use the stock GY Wrangler Adventure with Kevlar is a surprisingly good tire. Very quiet.

 

Michelin Defender M/S. It was previously called the MS2. Here’s a brief post of mine from awhile back:

MS2's (now Defender) are great in the snow and for light off road (they do surprisingly well- you would not be disappointed). Best tire I've ever run. Super quiet. Almost silent in town and awesome on the highway (quieter than my mom's Subaru Outback). There's a thread on here somewhere of a guy rock crawling with the MS2.

The new version (replacing the MS2) is the Defender LTX M/S. It's everything the MS2 was + slightly better wet/snow traction due to updated tread compound. They're great in the rain/snow. I'm running them now (after having run 3 sets of MS2).

My last set of MS2 in January had 8/32" tread left after 45k miles (sold them on CL for $350 and got bigger ones). That's about 60% of the usable tread depth remaining! Amazing, really. 100k miles isn't an impossibility. Can't imagine you'd get that with another tire. I'll probably do the same thing again when I hit 45k with my new defenders. So, value is an additional benefit.

I'm also about 80-90% city/highway. The Mich Defender is the perfect tire for me. I totally understand liking a more aggressive look. I like that aspect better, too. But I just won't go that way when the M/S have been so ideal for 90% of the conditions I drive in (and when I am off road, I've never once thought "this would be better with different tires"). If I off-roaded more, I might lean toward the AT tires. But I'm in the flat lands (pastures/grasslands/lakes/boat launching).

Hey, that reminds me... Michelin AT? Lots of fans here, as well. Just another option, but snow/ice performance won't be what you get from theDefenders/MS2. The Defenders kick ass in the winter time. Seriously, they're unmatched in that aspect IMO (unless you were to go with a dedicated snow Tire). Also, I believe the AT warranty is 50k and not 70k. The AT's aren't gonna last as long. It's Just the price you pay for more aggressive look (and different performance aspects). I've read that they're by no means a loud Tire, but I have a hunch the M/S is quieter.

I run my Miches around 34/35psi in summer and 31/32psi in winter.

I've had Cooper and BFG in the past. Didn't last as long and they were noisier than the Miches.

Source: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tires-for-90-highway-use.462445/page-3#post-13964448

 

My AT2 Michelins on my 2nd gen were extremely quiet. The warranty is 60K miles and they did well enough for light off-roading. They no longer meet my needs as I need and want more aggressive tires but for someone that only does light off-roading they are a great tire. I also had the Cooper Discoverer AT3 on that second gen as well. Mine was a Sport and I didn’t like the ride as much on it but think it would be fine for the OR like I have now. It is much more aggressive than the Michelin but still not what I want for my third gen. It is hard to go wrong with the tires mentioned and that Yokohama he mentioned is also a sneaky good tire.

 

Choose a tire in C-load which is much lighter (better mpgs, power, braking, ride) vs heavy 1-ton full size E-load tires. Stock tires are P-load.

P<C<D<E loads. As you go up a tire rating, mpgs, power, performance, braking and ride all go down.

 

Yea that's one thing I had started looking at is load range. An E rating is overkill for the truck. I'll definitely start checking out some Michelin tires. Thanks a lot guys!

 

Another rave for the Michelin LTX M/S. I put them on my Tundra in 2012, loved them. Put them on my Tacoma in May prior to taking a 4,000 mile road trip. Spent several days driving in heavy spring rains, as well as heavy spring snows in CO, WY, and MT. Many good tires on the market, the 3 you mentioned included, I've just come to appreciate the Michelin's.

 

I'm not old by any means however, I have started to appreciate and quiet, smooth ride. So I see what you are saying about and appreciation for such things.

 

I have had the OG BFG KOs and wasn't very impressed in the rain on pavement with them. The real reason I picked the dynapro at and geolander is the snowflake rating. I live near the Appy mountains.

 

Not all came stock with p rated. Mine came with bfg at d rated

 

The Miches don’t have the snow flake rating. Don’t let that fool you. They are amazing on snow and ice. Best truck tire I’ve run on snow and ice. Lots of sipes on the tread pattern. Just to note- you can go up a tire size from stock. 265-75-16 will fit. I’m running 265-70-16. Looks much better than the stock 245's.

 

Photos of my defenders. Loaded with sipes.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/duragloss-253-tire-dressing.421581/

 

The tires do look pretty good. Btw I'm jealous of that color!!!

 

Mine came with 265/70r16 from the factory. Toying with the idea of 265/75r16s it will give it a meaty look.

 

I wanted that bigger size for looks but I didn’t want the decrease in gas mileage. I don’t think the difference is much but it’s there.

 

i made that switch and am extremely pleased with it. I havn't really noticed any mileage drop either. I always thought the wheel wells, esp the back ones looked too big, and tires too small with the 265 70's. The 265 75 16s really fill the wheel wells.

 

I have been running Cooper AT/3's and really like them. Great in the snow, dirt roads and light mud (have not been bogging with them). Not much road noise either. I just got a set off of discount tire direct for $490 after $75 rebate (265/70/17). I run them at 36psi on paved roads and when in the woods or in snow have then between 30-32 psi.

 

Michelin. Either their A/T2 (their dirt tire) or their LTX Defender (formerly M/S2) for highway travel. Quiet tires that last long and do well in snow.

If you aren't planning to off-road you don't need anything more aggressive.

I used to have M/S2's on my 2015 DCLB and they did awesome in snow.

 

I completely agree. I'm thinking the 265/75 will fill out the back nicely. May do 5100s up front then.