BFG K02's 265/70/17 REALLY sketchy in the rain

[02SE]

I’m in the same boat as you Pedro.

I live in NorCal and I’ve had KO2 on my SUVs for the last 20 year. Never had a problem with them in the rain.

I find it really strange that some people experience bad wet performance and others like me none at all. It’s very puzzling.

I really wonder what is causing this extreme difference in performance. Is it the amount of rain, road surface type or are the ones who are experiencing wet performance issue are more aggressive drivers? I also wonder if those who are experiencing issues are frequent off roaders. Off roading can chip away pieces of rubber which reduces surface contact. Then you have age. As tires get old they get harder. Last you have wear. Then you have the tire build and rubber compound used. So many variables. I wonder which one it is.

Here is a good video on worn KO2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgJV2tYmVEU

In NorCal we get almost no or very little rain from May thru October. When the first rains In the beginning of wet season comes (October or November) the news is always saying be cautious because of the oil build up on the roads. Our heaviest rains usually come around the end of December thru March. However, even in the heaviest rains I’ve never had issue with KO2s in the rain. So why are others posting negative reviews. It’s a mystery.

I suspect it has to do mostly with not using enough other makes and models of A/T's, to realize the difference.

I've used a bunch of different makes and models of A/T tires over the years, to know that the BFG A/T's, be they the Radial All Terrain T/A's, their successor the KO's, or the successor to those the KO2's, lack in wet traction compared to better performing A/T tires.

Dry desert running the latest version of the BFG A/T (the KO2) would be my choice. That classic tread pattern has it's appeal too. But in my experience there are better tires for wet traction.

 

[mrblah]

Driver mods!!!

 

[Lexington]

I suspect it has to do mostly with not using enough other makes and models of A/T's, to realize the difference.

I've used a bunch of different makes and models of A/T tires over the years, to know that the BFG A/T's, be they the Radial All Terrain T/A's, their successor the KO's, or the successor to those the KO2's, lack in wet traction compared to better performing A/T tires.

Dry desert running the latest version of the BFG A/T (the KO2) would be my choice. That classic tread pattern has it's appeal too. But in my experience there are better tires for wet traction.

I don’t doubt that. When I was shopping for new tires about a year ago I read many reviews and watch many AT wheel video comparisons. In wet or rain conditions the KO2 usually were rated in the middle or lower end of the pack compared to similar tires but ranked high for highway and off road especially rock climbing.

The focus here though is why some people swear KO2 are a driving hazard in the rain while others have had no issues at all. It’s a mystery.

I just remembered something. I talked to BFG awhile back and they said the tire pressure for the KO2 should be at 40 to 44 PSI on 4Runners and not at 32 as suggested by Toyota. She mentioned that most tire are fine at the manufacturers PSI rating but she said the KO2 are an exception to this rule. I wonder if that might have anything to do with it? I have run mines at both but still never had issues.

 

[fourrunnerbill]

After lowering the PSI from 36 to 32 I've noticed a little improvement. I normally drive around corners slow, I'm no way an aggressive driver. The road conditions are not a lot of rain but just wet streets during a light rain or shortly after a rain so just when the road is just wet.

 

[Lexington]

After lowering the PSI from 36 to 32 I've noticed a little improvement. I normally drive around corners slow, I'm no way an aggressive driver. The road conditions are not a lot of rain but just wet streets during a light rain or shortly after a rain so just when the road is just wet.

Well that narrows the variables a bit. How old are your tires and how many miles or how much tread do you have left?

Before I had Nitto Grapplers and the slid under the same question. They had about 50% tread. Don’t remember how old.

 

[Gclark949]

My hazardous KO2 were C LT at 20k miles at around 34 psi. Plenty of chunking from off road use. Like OP said, just wet pavement and my experiences were after many rains so in theory not the oil lifting first few rains. Not talking hydroplane scenario just wet roads.

Another variable not mentioned is recycled content of stuff used during the asphalt resurfacing. Maybe some states prohibit certain stuff.

 

[Bubman101]

Worst tire for wet weather will never buy again

 

[TrailRunnin14]

I’ve ran 265’s and 285’s for years, I’ve never slipped in wet weather with the KO2’s. They have been a great tire in rain and snow.


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[bigdaddy2021]

I’ve ran 265’s and 285’s for years, I’ve never slipped in wet weather with the KO2’s. They have been a great tire in rain and snow.


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Came here to say the same thing. I've run them on our 4runner, on my old XJ cherokee, on an LJ wrangler. Never once felt like I was out of control.

Drove all the way to Moab utah on our set of 265's through several rain storms.

Recent storms in Socal had us driving through some serious rain and flooding in the 4runner on 285 KO2's at socal freeway speeds and again, nothing to write home about...


I feel like the siping is always enough, and while I've definitely had traction control engage on startup at lights, when you invariably try to get traction on the slick crosswalk paint, it's on par with the rest of our vehicles.

 

[Grug556]

I have a set, I have heard the complaints. Mine have been fine to date no issues in the rain, better than some other tires. I dunno maybe the compound ages poorly or at low tread depth they get worse. Mine are 5 years old with about 30K miles on them, rotated frequently.

edit mine are 265-17-70 at 40psi

 

[Lexington]

My hazardous KO2 were C LT at 20k miles at around 34 psi. Plenty of chunking from off road use. Like OP said, just wet pavement and my experiences were after many rains so in theory not the oil lifting first few rains. Not talking hydroplane scenario just wet roads.

Another variable not mentioned is recycled content of stuff used during the asphalt resurfacing. Maybe some states prohibit certain stuff.

I think you may be on to something. I’m wondering if the tires are more prone to slipping on certain types of asphalt? Form that one video it seems chunking may also be a significant factor.

 

[IslandJim]

Worst tire for wet weather will never buy again

You should try some bias ply mud tires, drive very carefully around those wet corners....lol

 

[fernando.]

Maybe people are just expecting certain tires to act like glue? Not sure.

Either way, still love my KO2's and will replace them with another set on the wife's 4Runner when this set is done.

 

[baldrik78]

Maybe people are just expecting certain tires to act like glue? Not sure.

Either way, still love my KO2's and will replace them with another set on the wife's 4Runner when this set is done.

It's not right away. It hits at about 20-5k miles, when most of the siping is gone and remaining rubber is super hard so that it can hit those high mileage marks.

 

[N2TRKYS]

It's not right away. It hits at about 20-5k miles, when most of the siping is gone and remaining rubber is super hard so that it can hit those high mileage marks.

I’ve now got over 68K miles on my set of BFG KO2s C-rated tires with no wet weather issues. *

 

[Reinout]

I recall reading someone's post about these tires being sketchy in the rain. I sort of ignore that and bought them anyway for my 2016 TE. We don't get too much rain in so Cal so I sort of discounted that and I was really wanting these tires. I'll have to say in the dirt they are great but when rains came I was alarmed at the ease of the vehicle sliding when turning a corner at even slow speeds. Doing a hard break is fine as long as the vehicle is traveling straight. But going around a corner is freaking scarry. I would never buy these tires again and I'm going back to the tire store and see if they can swap them out for something else. I have no other mods and in dry weather the handling is great.

Anyone else notice this?

I have them on several of my 4runners and have loved them, no problem with traction in the rain, but there's a difference.

I see that a lot of the "complaints" come from areas that are generally dry, and when it does rain, the roads are slippery.

It's commonly accepted that roads, when it first rains are more slick because of the buildup on the road in the form of rubber and oils. Whereas in the PNW, where it's wet more frequently, and the rubber and oils are washed away more frequently, we'd have less issues.

Now that doesn't go to say that it doesn't get slick up here, it does, very slick! I've learned to adjust my driving habits.

 

[Lexington]

I have them on several of my 4runners and have loved them, no problem with traction in the rain, but there's a difference.

I see that a lot of the "complaints" come from areas that are generally dry, and when it does rain, the roads are slippery.

It's commonly accepted that roads, when it first rains are more slick because of the buildup on the road in the form of rubber and oils. Whereas in the PNW, where it's wet more frequently, and the rubber and oils are washed away more frequently, we'd have less issues.

Now that doesn't go to say that it doesn't get slick up here, it does, very slick! I've learned to adjust my driving habits.

I’m not sure if that’s really a factor. Most drivers in California are aware of this when the first rains come in October or November. The local news are always all over this.

It would be interesting thought if we could get people to state when and where there slip and sliding occurs. If most incidents have this happen to Californa during October/November it would prove your assumption, just need data. However, I’m starting to believe it has more to do with the type of asphalt people are driving on. I think some types are more prone to slipping when wet.

 

[mbumpus11]

I'm on my second set of KO2's and haven't had nearly the issues some of the others posting here have had. I'm in Houston where it rains off and on constantly (coastal weather), and the only times I can specifically point to a slip are when I've knowingly been gunning it from a stop, or knowingly taken a turn a little quick (and even then they don't always slip). Otherwise we have precipitation ranging from light mists to torrential downpours CONSTANTLY, and I drive a ton for my career. In fact I drove through a terrible rainstorm two weeks ago on I-45 headed up to Dallas and never once felt out of control in speeds ranging from 55-80mph.

I got 96k miles out of my first set of KO2's. I am currently at about 86k miles on these (truck ODO is almost 173k and had stock tires for a short bit before switching to KO2s), and I do not believe they lost any grip at 25k miles as one poster above stated. That sounds more like a QC issue if anything.

If you don't like the tire, don't buy it. There's a reason BFG improved the KO, and I think countless drivers would attest to how much better the KO2 is over the KO. My wife tells me that I sometimes drive like a grandpa, but given the fact this is a truck that won't beat any other vehicle off the line, and it isn't a sports car, I don't drive it like one.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

To the people that say wet traction is bad how do you know any other tire would not have slid in the same circumstance?

 

[03Fatboy]

This thread is surprising and disappointing if it has merit.