AT Tire Thread... Again

[Sarge]

Have you looked at the Toyo Open Country ATII? I ran a set of those on my '08 Taco - never regretted one minute of it. Didn't matter what I ran them in - even deep water during heavy rains or hard packed/soft snow/ice, they always had great traction. One of the highest rated for treadware life as well. I got talked into a set of Destination AT's for my Dodge pickup - really regret buying those as they are worthless compared to the Toyo and nearly the same price.

Sarge

 

[Terminator03]

Have you looked at the Toyo Open Country ATII? I ran a set of those on my '08 Taco - never regretted one minute of it. Didn't matter what I ran them in - even deep water during heavy rains or hard packed/soft snow/ice, they always had great traction. One of the highest rated for treadware life as well. I got talked into a set of Destination AT's for my Dodge pickup - really regret buying those as they are worthless compared to the Toyo and nearly the same price.

Sarge

I agree. The Toyos should definitely be considered. They look nice,and are super quiet. My old ones weren’t good in the snow last winter though due to age/wear, so when I bought new wheels this past fall, I decided to give the Falkens a go in 265/70/17. They have slightly more white noise than the Toyo AtII, but they rock in every other category, especially for the price. After driving in the past couple of snow storms, I have zero regrets! They are almost not fun because the truck is so planted! They have a really nice aggressive looking sidewall which completed the look for me as well. I would buy these again in a heartbeat.

 

[Jazz30-06]

Sounds like you're on the right track, I run the Falkens and I've been impressed with them on snow and ice the last couple winters. I've only heard good things about Duratracs in the snow too. I think either are as good as you can get without getting a dedicated winter tire.

The LX is larger than the 4Runner. It takes a decent amount of work to get 285s under a 4th gen.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Whoops, GX, not LX. I don't want to stuff 285s anyways. I'm assuming the biggest issue with a tire that size is width though?

 

[Shiftless Joe]

Get a lot of snow here, and have roughly a 40 mile round trip to work. Cooper AT3's are still great after five years and 35,000 miles, no loss in traction at all.

 

[Jazz30-06]

Have you looked at the Toyo Open Country ATII? I ran a set of those on my '08 Taco - never regretted one minute of it. Didn't matter what I ran them in - even deep water during heavy rains or hard packed/soft snow/ice, they always had great traction. One of the highest rated for treadware life as well. I got talked into a set of Destination AT's for my Dodge pickup - really regret buying those as they are worthless compared to the Toyo and nearly the same price.

Sarge

Those Toyos are a bit on the painful side for price. Really trying to stay under $200/tire if possible. Plus, it sounds like the Falkens are about as good, with maybe a little more road noise. Thanks for the recommendation though!

 

[MAST4R]

Those Toyos are a bit on the painful side for price. Really trying to stay under $200/tire if possible. Plus, it sounds like the Falkens are about as good, with maybe a little more road noise. Thanks for the recommendation though!

No, no road noise on Falkens at 15,000. Yes noise on Toyos after 20,000 miles. Not sure about Falkens after that point.

To sum up, you have a single three-ply sidewall option, KO2 LT-D/E if you prioritize strength above all else.

You also have a number of other new/ish designs with strong shoulder protectors in P-metric allowing use in tough terrain (at street/near street pressures) and the snowflake:

Wildpeak AT3W
General ATX
Wrangler Ultraterrain

All three are very similar.

Also newish is Geolander AT015 but it does not excite me.

New designs not advertised for heavy offroad use: Conti AT (great on dirt and road) and Pirelli Scorpion ATR PLUS (probably like the Conti).

Older designs:
Toyo AT II tracks great on dirt but is weaker than the above in P metric
Cooper AT3 gets lots of rave reviews and lots of puncture complaints
Duratrac may be the most polarizing AT tire; I have no idea what to think of it as people love it or hate it
Kumho AT51
Scorpion ATR

 

[hinmo24t]

I like my at51 kumhos so far in some rain and dry conditions. Snow soon. Look into them they reviewed or rated better than most discussed tires on here.

 

[firebirdguy]

heres tire racks ratings for popular size 265/70/17 AT tires. surprised not many use the goodyear trailrunners based on their #2 ratings... they rate better than the general, BFG, kumho & pirelli & are the best price.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=ORAT

 

[Jazz30-06]

No, no road noise on Falkens at 15,000. Yes noise on Toyos after 20,000 miles. Not sure about Falkens after that point.

To sum up, you have a single three-ply sidewall option, KO2 LT-D/E if you prioritize strength above all else.

You also have a number of other new/ish designs with strong shoulder protectors in P-metric allowing use in tough terrain (at street/near street pressures) and the snowflake:

Wildpeak AT3W
General ATX
Wrangler Ultraterrain

All three are very similar.

Also newish is Geolander AT015 but it does not excite me.

New designs not advertised for heavy offroad use: Conti AT (great on dirt and road) and Pirelli Scorpion ATR PLUS (probably like the Conti).

Older designs:
Toyo AT II tracks great on dirt but is weaker than the above in P metric
Cooper AT3 gets lots of rave reviews and lots of puncture complaints
Duratrac may be the most polarizing AT tire; I have no idea what to think of it as people love it or hate it
Kumho AT51
Scorpion ATR

Tire place near me has been trying to hard sell the Cooper AT3/4S. About all I can get in the 255/75 is the Duratracs. Falkens are only 80s and have to be E-rated. Any opinion on the new AT3s vs the Falkens/Duratracs? I'd really like to not have to drop $1k on tires atm if I can help it, but the Defenders that came on it are just dangerous in our winter conditions even though they look about new.

 

[Jazz30-06]

heres tire racks ratings for popular size 265/70/17 AT tires. surprised not many use the goodyear trailrunners based on their #2 ratings... they rate better than the general, BFG, kumho & pirelli & are the best price.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surv...7&rearWidth=255/&rearRatio=40&rearDiameter=17

They are poorly rated for winter weather though. That's a huge negative for me. Also, from my understanding, I will not be able to run the 265/70 as it sits because there isn't enough room, whereas I should, in theory, be able to run the 255/75.

 

[chaz]

you should be able to run 265/70s even without lift, depending on the tire design (like duratracs, which also get louder after a few miles) & wheels you have, you might have to move the inner finder liner forward a bit, thats super easy tho! plus you have FJ springs upfront, yes? New Tires - 265/70/17 - No Lift i have no experience with em, but from looking at the responds so far, the general at2 or atx might be good for you. if an aggressive looking tire is what ur hunting for , imo , the GY ultra terrains are worth a closer look for ya. thats what i was gonna go with (coming from the duratracs) but saved $ by going with the at3w, the W means a 3PMSF servere winter rating if that matters to ya, btw, id say the at3w in fairly deep snow are on par with the duratrac, but are much less noisey & better on road in rain etc.

 

[Jazz30-06]

you should be able to run 265/70s even without lift, depending on the tire design (like duratracs, which also get louder after a few miles) & wheels you have, you might have to move the inner finder liner forward a bit, thats super easy tho! plus you have FJ springs upfront, yes? New Tires - 265/70/17 - No Lift i have no experience with em, but from looking at the responds so far, the general at2 or atx might be good for you. if an aggressive looking tire is what ur hunting for , imo , the GY ultra terrains are worth a closer look for ya. thats what i was gonna go with (coming from the duratracs) but saved $ by going with the at3w, the W means a 3PMSF servere winter rating if that matters to ya, btw, id say the at3w in fairly deep snow are on par with the duratrac, but are much less noisey & better on road in rain etc.

Are you talking about the Falkens or the Coopers? The severe weather rating is extremely important to me with the winters we have here. Have you used the AT3Ws on ice or other surfaces to give a good comparison? I had the Mastercraft version on my truck before and hated them, but I keep hearing the W is a much-improved version of the original AT3s. I don't so much care about looks as I do performance and durability. I would like to start getting into off-roading now that I finally have a 4Runner, and tires are a pretty critical part of that.

 

[chaz]

i understand the coopers are very good but not as aggressive looking, if that matters. i have the falkens, in E tho, theyre heavier but have more tread than the SL, and yes they are improved over the last design & for me they are very good in all weather, but im an old dude so take it easy. tire threads are alot of peoples personal opinions & you realize that alot depends on ur driving style, a "one size fits all perfect tire" is hard to find, and there are trade offs, plus it really depends on what u need a tire for most, (on or off road, snow, ice, etc.) if ice is a big concern maybe a true winter tire would be better for you & get an AT/OFFROAD tire for ur other needs.

 

[Jazz30-06]

i understand the coopers are very good but not as aggressive looking, if that matters. i have the falkens, in E tho, theyre heavier but have more tread than the SL, and yes they are improved over the last design & for me they are very good in all weather, but im an old dude so take it easy. tire threads are alot of peoples personal opinions & you realize that alot depends on ur driving style, a "one size fits all perfect tire" is hard to find, and there are trade offs, plus it really depends on what u need a tire for most, (on or off road, snow, ice, etc.) if ice is a big concern maybe a true winter tire would be better for you & get an AT/OFFROAD tire for ur other needs.

The twin tire setup is my usual go-to. I'm just trying to get away from that as I am going to be moving around a lot for the next few years, so having to lug everything around is a PITA. It's why I'm trying to find a good all-around tire. Something that might wear a bit faster than the current Defenders, but not as fast as the Cooper M+S. Something I can take from Texas to Alaska at all times of the year. The runner isn't a racecar it's what I have my Impreza for. I just want the thing to do what I tell it and when in various conditions.

 

[Terminator03]

The twin tire setup is my usual go-to. I'm just trying to get away from that as I am going to be moving around a lot for the next few years, so having to lug everything around is a PITA. It's why I'm trying to find a good all-around tire. Something that might wear a bit faster than the current Defenders, but not as fast as the Cooper M+S. Something I can take from Texas to Alaska at all times of the year. The runner isn't a racecar it's what I have my Impreza for. I just want the thing to do what I tell it and when in various conditions.

If that’s what you are looking for then the Falken Wildpeak AT3W should be a solid choice, as long as you understand that NO AT tire will be the best at everything. I almost went with a second set of rims for winter with Blizzaks, or other true winter tire, but honestly these tires have been so awesome I see no need to do that. Can’t speak to off-road capability because I haven’t used them for that yet, but the guys that do seem to review them very favorably.

 

[Jazz30-06]

If that’s what you are looking for then the Falken Wildpeak AT3W should be a solid choice, as long as you understand that NO AT tire will be the best at everything. I almost went with a second set of rims for winter with Blizzaks, or other true winter tire, but honestly these tires have been so awesome I see no need to do that. Can’t speak to off-road capability because I haven’t used them for that yet, but the guys that do seem to review them very favorably.

I understand no AT will be as good as the M+S for winter driving, but they HAVE to be better than the Defenders I have right now. I actually found the Duratracs in 255/75 for the same price I can find the Wildpeaks for in 255/80. This is kind of a double-edged sword in that I think I want to run the 255/80 eventually, but I don't have a lift right now. From my understanding, the 255/75 is the tallest tire that can be fit in the factory spare position, which is appealing as well. Don't really have the money for a swing out right now and it seems that I would actually lose departure angle with one when compared to just shoving a tire in the OEM spare location.

 

[Terminator03]

I understand no AT will be as good as the M+S for winter driving, but they HAVE to be better than the Defenders I have right now. I actually found the Duratracs in 255/75 for the same price I can find the Wildpeaks for in 255/80. This is kind of a double-edged sword in that I think I want to run the 255/80 eventually, but I don't have a lift right now. From my understanding, the 255/75 is the tallest tire that can be fit in the factory spare position, which is appealing as well. Don't really have the money for a swing out right now and it seems that I would actually lose departure angle with one when compared to just shoving a tire in the OEM spare location.

While I was researching tires, the Duratracs were on my list, but what turned me off was that most reviewers mentioned that they only got around 10k miles before they became extremely noisy on the highway. Since highway noise was a big factor in my choices, that ruled those out immediately. I was literally down to the Wildpeak and the KO2 as both had similar ratings in the areas that were important to me, while having the aesthetics I was also wanting. Price wasn’t the most important, but in the end I was happy that I was able to get a tire that did as well in almost every category as the KO2, and better in some for quite a bit less money. For me that was a win.:wink2:

Oh, and regarding the spare, I opted to not carry one for several reasons. If I was off reading a lot, I’d have a swing out or roof top mount anyway since getting underneath when you’re in the rocks, or mud isn’t exactly convenient. Since most of my use is on road, I’m comfortable in the fact that I carry a AAA Plus card which gives me towing within a 100 mile radius s I can fix a flat at my leisure at home, or a tire shop depending on the situation of the flat. For that, I was able to shave 75-80 pounds of useless cargo from the rear to offset the several hundred pounds of tools I already carry for my job back there. In addition to that, my new wheels have different offsets from stock, and larger tires, so the investment for a matching spare would have been around $500 or so, which seemed silly to me. If I had a nice swing out carrier, I would’ve spent the money for a matching spare, but no way for one that would just collect crap under the back!

 

[MAST4R]

I understand no AT will be as good as the M+S for winter driving, but they HAVE to be better than the Defenders I have right now. I actually found the Duratracs in 255/75 for the same price I can find the Wildpeaks for in 255/80. This is kind of a double-edged sword in that I think I want to run the 255/80 eventually, but I don't have a lift right now. From my understanding, the 255/75 is the tallest tire that can be fit in the factory spare position, which is appealing as well. Don't really have the money for a swing out right now and it seems that I would actually lose departure angle with one when compared to just shoving a tire in the OEM spare location.

The winter tires are marked by the mountain symbol with the snow flake.
How to recognize a true winter tire | Goodyear

You mean true winter tires vs AT with the snowflake symbol. As someone said earlier, an AT will be just as good possibly better in deep snow. However, the winter tire will be better in typical urban conditions and much better on ice. It is ice where the AT with the snowflake won't cut it. But ice is ice.... True winter tires are too soft to be run at non-winter temperatures.

Unlike what the previous poster said, if you plan on ANY offroading, you will definitely want a proper, matching spare if you run any AT tire other than 3-ply sidewall LT-D or E KO2. With that, you could get away with the factory spare. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with the factory location.

If in doubt, it is hard to go wrong with the cheapest good tire, which the Wildpeak AT3W. Looks like the Grabber ATX may be equivalent but there is lots more feedback on the Wildpeak. The Ultraterrain are overpriced and it is unacceptable in my opinion for a new design tire to come with a B traction rating (B on temperature is a given on an AT in this size so that's fine).

 

[Jazz30-06]

The winter tires are marked by the mountain symbol with the snow flake.
How to recognize a true winter tire | Goodyear

You mean true winter tires vs AT with the snowflake symbol. As someone said earlier, an AT will be just as good possibly better in deep snow. However, the winter tire will be better in typical urban conditions and much better on ice. It is ice where the AT with the snowflake won't cut it. But ice is ice.... True winter tires are too soft to be run at non-winter temperatures.

Unlike what the previous poster said, if you plan on ANY offroading, you will definitely want a proper, matching spare if you run any AT tire other than 3-ply sidewall LT-D or E KO2. With that, you could get away with the factory spare. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with the factory location.

If in doubt, it is hard to go wrong with the cheapest good tire, which the Wildpeak AT3W. Looks like the Grabber ATX may be equivalent but there is lots more feedback on the Wildpeak. The Ultraterrain are overpriced and it is unacceptable in my opinion for a new design tire to come with a B traction rating (B on temperature is a given on an AT in this size so that's fine).

So, the part I am struggling with when it comes to the Wildpeaks is size availability. I don't know that I can fit a 255/80 with just FJ springs up front. The Duratracs, AT51, and Cooper AT3W all come in 255/75, which I THINK will fit without issue. Cost is close on all of them after shipping, install, etc.

 

[chaz]

i get that you want a one tire for all times but it seems like ur more interested/stuck on the 255/75 size (32.06) than the brand or weather situation, guess that about 1/2 in. difference from a 265/70 (31.61) is what most important to you, if thats the case, then any of the 3 u just mentioned would fit the bill, (duratracs looking the most agressive) just remember that depending on what wheels you have , u may still have to move the inner fenders forward. 265/70-R17 vs 255/75-R17 Tire Comparison - Tire Size Calculator | Tacoma World