follow up for those who got the KO2's.....

[Bruin1md]

So after I researched the crap out of AT tires for the last 3 weeks, I've come back around to the KO2's. I was initially concerned about the ride quality on my GX 460 with a 10 ply E load tire, but between both the comments from those who got the KO2's saying they were surprisingly well behaved on the highway, coupled with a great thread I searched for and found on this forum that graphed out the pressure differences with load ratings (comparing P rated and LT tires) , I become more comfortable with the idea of the KO2's and running them at around 40 psi for daily driving, until I go off road, at which time I would go up on the psi.
The KO2's seem to be shockingly comfortable compared to most of the p rated AT tires they compete against.

Before that, I was settling in on either the Cooper AT3's or the new Falken Wildpeak AT3W's, but ruled out the former because the look just didn't do it for me once I saw it in person-- even though performance wise it meets all my criteria.
With respect to the Falkens, they're just too new, and none of the dealers around here in Lafayette carry them, and while I can order them online, I'm just not comfortable having them installed by these guys if I end up having any issues.

So for those of you who got the KO2's, do you recommend road force balancing? I can get that done for a little extra on each tire. And do you recommend an alignment regardless after they finish installing them, or have them check to see
if it's needed?

I'm ordering some 18" mayhem wheels online from RimzOne and will get the tires from TireBuyer, unless the local guys can match the price.

 

[TheKent]

Ko2

I have 10K miles on them. No regrets. Good on the highway. Great off road. On install, it took 2 tries to get them properly balanced, but since then no issue. No issues with alignment either.

 

[borfoo3]

So after I researched the crap out of AT tires for the last 3 weeks, I've come back around to the KO2's. I was initially concerned about the ride quality on my GX 460 with a 10 ply E load tire, but between both the comments from those who got the KO2's saying they were surprisingly well behaved on the highway, coupled with a great thread I searched for and found on this forum that graphed out the pressure differences with load ratings (comparing P rated and LT tires) , I become more comfortable with the idea of the KO2's and running them at around 40 psi for daily driving, until I go off road, at which time I would go up on the psi.
The KO2's seem to be shockingly comfortable compared to most of the p rated AT tires they compete against.

Before that, I was settling in on either the Cooper AT3's or the new Falken Wildpeak AT3W's, but ruled out the former because the look just didn't do it for me once I saw it in person-- even though performance wise it meets all my criteria.
With respect to the Falkens, they're just too new, and none of the dealers around here in Lafayette carry them, and while I can order them online, I'm just not comfortable having them installed by these guys if I end up having any issues.

So for those of you who got the KO2's, do you recommend road force balancing? I can get that done for a little extra on each tire. And do you recommend an alignment regardless after they finish installing them, or have them check to see
if it's needed?

I'm ordering some 18" mayhem wheels online from RimzOne and will get the tires from TireBuyer, unless the local guys can match the price.

I have the 6 ply version, 265/70 r17 since day 1 of my T4R purchase. Daily them 60+ miles a day (70% highway), beat them hard on trails and desert sand.. They're an awesome set!

That being said, get them balanced and do it right the first time. That quiets them down 80% in terms of vibration. Of course, they'll never run entirely as smooth as stock or p-rated tires imho.

Tried 42psi, 40psi, 37psi and finally running them now at 33psi. Main reason being the ridiculous number of harsh speed bumps we have down here. Otherwise, I would run them at the 37 to 40psi range.

 

[salong53]

I've had a Load E set on for about 4000 miles. I'll echo what a couple of others have said about the balancing, just get it done right the first time. Don't get me wrong, it's not like these are like trying to balance square tires or anything, but they weigh over 50 lbs per tire. That's a lot of rotating mass to balance.

As for ride quality, I felt that these were a mild on-road improvement over my stock Dunlops. The 10ply sidewalls really help to reduce the lateral sway that comes with a high profile tire. The renowned off road performance speaks for itself. The road noise is noticeable, but not uncomfortable. I've had a couple of sets of General all season tires on previous vehicles that were louder than the BFGs I currently have.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I think dry road grip is slightly reduced compared to the stock Dunlops, probably because of the hard rubber compound and large voids in the tread.

I went through the same process as someone mentioned above with tire pressures. I'm currently running 34 in each tire, where previously I was running 38. It makes them feel slightly more supple.

Ultimately, I got these tires because they look awesome and I wanted slightly bigger tires. I didn't need them to go off road, but they offer extra peace of mind on the 1% of time that I do go off road. The compromise was worth it IMO.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Yes to RF balancing and the alignment.
I too air down slightly due to awful roads. Made the TPMS purchase pointless though...

 

[marshal]

you people need to do some math on the load ratings of your tires if your TPMS system is on telling you you suck.

i run 35x12.50R17 E rated General Grabbers with a max load of 3195lbs per tire, that means to meet my GVWR requirements of the tire i have to be at 35PSI

while P rated tires are 'weaker' than LT E and D load tires, the pressures that the LT tires need to be inflated to for comparable weight carrying to a P rate is considerably more than a P rated tire.

 

[Bruin1md]

thanks for the feedback so far

So it sounds like the general consensus is yes, pay the extra $$ for road force balancing and some say yes, get the wheel alignment to go with it.

do they sell the KO2's in anything but an E rated/10 ply version? If so, I haven't seen it on tirebuyer or tire rack thus far. If so, would most recommend that (the 6 ply) as a better compromise over the 10 ply for day to day driving on road?

I really like the idea of the LT tires over the P metrics for the terrible roads we have and protection against flats given the stronger sidewalls, not to mention the tread seems to wear much better than comparable P rated tires.

Anyway, keep the feedback coming-- it's much appreciated, as I'll likely pull the trigger in the next day or two.

 

[1engineer]

So after I researched the crap out of AT tires for the last 3 weeks, I've come back around to the KO2's. I was initially concerned about the ride quality on my GX 460 with a 10 ply E load tire, but between both the comments from those who got the KO2's saying they were surprisingly well behaved on the highway, coupled with a great thread I searched for and found on this forum that graphed out the pressure differences with load ratings (comparing P rated and LT tires) , I become more comfortable with the idea of the KO2's and running them at around 40 psi for daily driving, until I go off road, at which time I would go up on the psi.
The KO2's seem to be shockingly comfortable compared to most of the p rated AT tires they compete against.

Before that, I was settling in on either the Cooper AT3's or the new Falken Wildpeak AT3W's, but ruled out the former because the look just didn't do it for me once I saw it in person-- even though performance wise it meets all my criteria.
With respect to the Falkens, they're just too new, and none of the dealers around here in Lafayette carry them, and while I can order them online, I'm just not comfortable having them installed by these guys if I end up having any issues.

So for those of you who got the KO2's, do you recommend road force balancing? I can get that done for a little extra on each tire. And do you recommend an alignment regardless after they finish installing them, or have them check to see
if it's needed?

I'm ordering some 18" mayhem wheels online from RimzOne and will get the tires from TireBuyer, unless the local guys can match the price.

Can I ask why you are not posting in the GX460 forum?
There is a sub forum on this site for your vehicle here Lexus GX470/460 - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum and am moving the thread to the proper location. There are also forums out there like this one Lexus GX470/ Lexus GX460 Club - Lexus Owners Club (USA & Canada) that I'm sure could help you too.
-mod-

 

[Bruin1md]

Greg,

I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers. Everyone here has been so helpful and a great resource for information, while the GX forum is basically moribund. I've posted my question on there and the feedback was next to nil, which in turn prompted me to come back here to post my follow up question.

 

[borfoo3]

So it sounds like the general consensus is yes, pay the extra $$ for road force balancing and some say yes, get the wheel alignment to go with it.

do they sell the KO2's in anything but an E rated/10 ply version? If so, I haven't seen it on tirebuyer or tire rack thus far. If so, would most recommend that (the 6 ply) as a better compromise over the 10 ply for day to day driving on road?

I really like the idea of the LT tires over the P metrics for the terrible roads we have and protection against flats given the stronger sidewalls, not to mention the tread seems to wear much better than comparable P rated tires.

Anyway, keep the feedback coming-- it's much appreciated, as I'll likely pull the trigger in the next day or two.

I bought the 6 ply ones assuming they had better road manners + they're lighter than the 10ply version. Didn't need the extra durability for my use.

Funny thing I read around here was someone saying the 10ply version actually ride nicer than 6 plys for some funny reason.. haven't tried myself.

One important thing to note is that the KO2s definitely have less grip in wet slick roads than p rated tires.. Makes sense given the harder rubber compound and less grip surface on those aggressive treads

 

[Bruin1md]

I bought the 6 ply ones assuming they had better road manners + they're lighter than the 10ply version. Didn't need the extra durability for my use.

Funny thing I read around here was someone saying the 10ply version actually ride nicer than 6 plys for some funny reason.. haven't tried myself.

One important thing to note is that the KO2s definitely have less grip in wet slick roads than p rated tires.. Makes sense given the harder rubber compound and less grip surface on those aggressive treads

interesting. I've read from others who have driven in wet conditions that their grip is fantastic in the rain, compared to a lot of the crappy P rated tires out there, like the stock Bridgestone Dueller highway tires that come with the GX.

I'm actually going to go with the 285/60/18 with after market 18x9 wheels with +18 offsets.
Fingers crossed for no rub.

Like the KO2's on your TEP btw-- look great.

 

[T5RUNNER]

until I go off road, at which time I would go up on the psi.

Errr, uhm, do the opposite of that.

 

[Bruin1md]

Errr, uhm, do the opposite of that.

lol, yeah-- brain freeze. I meant go down

 

[oddjob142]

Any comparisons to the Duratracs?

 

[Hobie18]

IMHO the best AT tire on the market. Just be aware that once they hit 50% tread or less they can get squirrely on wet roads. Drive carefully with worn ones in the rain

 

[Virgilus11]

I installed the KO2 after i installed the lift. LT285/70/17. After two months I replace them with the Geolander 015, not the LT. I found the KO to be pretty harsh over the expansion joints and I could feel almost every bump. NE area the roads are pretty bad from the winter. I took the truck on the same road within few hours from changing the tire and I found the Geolander a more forgiving tire in turns and better grip on icy roads. Yes, they both have the snow mountain on the side but I believe that the softer wall is better choice for how heavy the Gx is. If you are really doing some serious off road ?? then KO would be a better choice. None of them where Rf balanced. Just a good Hunter machine and a tech that knows his job. No vibration at all. Good luck on your picking

 

[Bruin1md]

IMHO the best AT tire on the market. Just be aware that once they hit 50% tread or less they can get squirrely on wet roads. Drive carefully with worn ones in the rain

You're referring to the KO2's or the Duratracs?

And if you're referring to the KO2's, is there an AT tire you recommend that does better on wet roads?

 

[Antonov]

I just had C-load 285/70r17 KO2's fitted to the 470, I don't think it was a road force balance, no vibrations worth noting.

This is my second set of KO2's, first set were 265/70 C-load as well, also balanced out well. I guess I've just been lucky, pretty happy customer, the 285/70r18 c-load KO2's might be the lightest 285 out there.

 

[BlackCat914]

I’ve had 2 sets of KO2’s on 2 different trucks that wouldn’t balance for crap. I also have a buddy that has a set on his GX that won’t balance for crap. I ran P rated 31.5 Terra Grapplers and now run 33” LT Falken Wildpeak AT3W’s on my 470. While it was a bit of a shock going to an LT tire as far as ride quality goes, they balanced perfectly and are ETREMELY quiet for an AT.

 

[GreenbowCounty]

Ko2

I gotta say I don't like the KO2s half as much as I liked my old BFG ATs from years ago. I've fishtailed my 3rd Gen a couple of times already, one time very scary descending a slope. I don't have any weight in the back which exacerbates the issue. Between that and balancing items I can say that I will NOT be purchasing another set for any vehicle I own.