Goodyear Duratracs winter and KO2 for summer?

I switch between my stock Limited 20's and 275/70/17 KO2 tires. It is getting to be to much of a nuisance. I will never do it again. When both sets wear out I am just going to run KO2 tires in load range c full time.
 
I've had 275/70R17 K02's on my 4Runner for about 30-35,000 miles so far, and other than the weight, I don't have a single bad thing to say about them. Maybe I got a special set, but mine have provided confidence inspiring traction and handling in all weather and road conditions. I think they provide ample traction on wet roads, think they perform extremely well on snow and ice for an all season tire, they're quiet, strong and they wear like iron.

If Firestone releases the XT in a 275/70R17, I may try that when my BFG's wear out, but they've been an exceptional, if challenging to balance tire for me.

41 PSI up front and 38 PSI in the rear unloaded, if I'm loaded up to road trip I'll bump it up to 44 at all four corners.
 
Getting 255/75 Duratracs installed on November 2nd all year use, but primarily wanted something solid in the winter that wasn't a winter tire.
 
Im on my 2nd set of Duratracs on my 4Runner and I love them. Some people complain about traction in the rain and ive never had an issue. I run E-rated one too, BUT i DO NOT jack the tire pressure up. I personally run about 34-35psi year round for normal driving and have aired down to 28-30 in the winter during some heavy snow conditions, like continuous driving in 8-10in and below 50mph. My last set I put over 60k miles on and they had 8/32nd's of tread still on them. I just didnt keep up on rotations like I should have....even thought I manage a tire shop lol. I have never had a single issue in rain or snow, on ice I just watch my driving and havent had any odd issues there either.
 
I've had multiple sets of E-load DuraTracs on my 3/4 ton truck, and use them as my daily driver tires on my 4Runner. They've been great on dry pavement, snow. They lose a little traction in wet roads, but honestly, I have not driven a tire to date on a truck or SUV where I said "wow, this really has great wet traction"... never found one yet.

Like just about any chunkier tire, they do need to be frequently rotated and balanced to keep quiet. Since I get mine from my local Goodyear place about a mile away, they rotate and balance for free for the life of the tires, so I'm in there about every 4000 miles. Heed this advice, or they will get noisy.

That said, K02s are probably the most popular tire on 4Runners for a reason. They're a good all-around tire. My only fear with the tread pattern was hydroplaning.

Narat
 
Not sure what's different in Chicago than CO? I tried 2 sets of KO2s thinking 1st set was a lemon. They are awesome in summer, quiet and handle great. Anything cold and wet? like driving on banana peels, not safe at all. Many have also stated this. Yep, its got a snow symbol. works great in snow but sure as hell sucks on wet cold roads, the compound gets funky and makes driving fun long as your into daredevil stunts

CO is really dry in winter. The snow is usually that powder stuff not the heavy slushy snow. And once it's plowed the wind evaporates any moisture left so you have pretty dry roads most of the time. If you want the best Chicago tire you should get a set of Blizzaks or proper winter tires. Winter tires are amazing, even when the road is dry at low temps because the compound stays sticky compared to A/Ts.
 
This thread got me thinking: has anyone here tried siping a KO2 to see how that changes traction and wear? I know several people who have had Cooper S/T Maxx tires siped, and they claim it improved wet and packed snow traction. Seems like it might be a viable option as long as you aren't doing a ton of high speed gravel driving where you would likely see significantly faster wear.
 
So it seems there is a difference in DuraTracs. Some suggest they bought E-load DuraTracs and i see some LT versions S and so on?

I'm not towing anything, but it does not mean i wont? I here the non LT versions are better for on road?
 
From every review I've read about duratracs from Canadians, they're good in snow but absolutely brutal on ice. Like bad, bad, bad.

I'm running 285 duratracs for the summer and have a dedicated winter set up with actual winter tires (265 blizzacks).
 
So it seems there is a difference in DuraTracs. Some suggest they bought E-load DuraTracs and i see some LT versions S and so on?

I'm not towing anything, but it does not mean i wont? I here the non LT versions are better for on road?

Main difference between the E rated and D rated ones is weight, D rated are about 6-7lbs lighter per tire in the 285/70/17 Size. They both 18/32nd's of tread So if you DONT need the heavier tire the D may be your options, which I think is the tire for the Colorado Bison or whatever. Which also has a rating of 121/118Q vs 121Q for the E rated.
 
This thread got me thinking: has anyone here tried siping a KO2 to see how that changes traction and wear? I know several people who have had Cooper S/T Maxx tires siped, and they claim it improved wet and packed snow traction. Seems like it might be a viable option as long as you aren't doing a ton of high speed gravel driving where you would likely see significantly faster wear.

The KO2 is already siped, it's an A/T tire with mountain snowflake rating
 
I have run DuraTracs and Wildpeaks on our Jeep (33") The Durtracs where better new, as they got older ice was an issue and noise went way up.

Skied all last year with the Wildpeaks AT3W in the LT and they were great on deep snow, fresh snow, and slush. Okay on ice

My Avalanche has the SL in 265/70/17 and it is noticeably better on ice

My 4R has the same tires as the Avalanche, only drive on ice once last week. Pretty impressed. The softer compound makes big difference.

But having grown up in Colorado and skied my entire life, real snow and ice tires are better, or studded snow and ice tires. It is the ice that will bite you. I think if I ran winter tires studded Duratracs might be my pick, heavy as hell, but will bite. Or, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 studded
 

I assumed he meant like a continuous rib...like in the top section of this pic. a solid continuous open groove all the way around the tire instead of just lines in each individual tread block
 

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I was referring to the practice of having additional sipes cut into the tread of the tire by a tire dealer. It is an uncommon practice nowadays, but there are still shops that do it. The picture below isn't mine, but the tire on the right is an S/T Maxx that has been siped. Does that clarify?

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Well finally decided to get the DuraTracs in stock size but C load. Didn't need the E rated overkill.

A little puzzled that the C rating is a lower weight capacity than the P rated ones, but i think these will be fine for my mild off road usage. Think 35psi will be fine as well?
 
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