Is it time to start the KM3 conversation??

[AFishEye]

KM3 initial impression

The 275 are not out yet so I went with the 265/70 17

1. Loud when slowing down to a complete stop, not too bad at all while driving, turning, etc.
2. Road performance is on par with the Nitto Terra Grappler (AT)
3. Don’t look like they are true to size. The 265 are listed as 31.7”. My crude measurement indicates that they are, at best, 31”

In summary, they look great and have a surprisingly decent on-road behavior; a good start. Will put them to the test on the trail soon.

 

[Xtremluck]

Any read on these being as hard to balance as KO2s? Are folks experiencing vibration issues?

 

[Dave 41079]

Get KM3s they said. Stronger sidewalls they said.

Challenge accepted.

 

[Brandon H]

Went with 295s on mine. Love the way they handle on and off road! The road noise (especially for a M/T tire) is very minimal. I really enjoy them!

 

[dot_tom]

I have about 300 miles on my KM3's. The on road noise is comparable to the Nitto RG's I took off with less than 10,000 miles on them. It'll be interesting to see how well they do after 10k miles. I like to rotate every 3k-4k miles. I'll be taking them to Windrock in two weeks. Looking forward to comparing them to the KO2's and Nitto RG's I've run up there in the past.

Get KM3s they said. Stronger sidewalls they said.

Challenge accepted.

I made sure to get the Discount Tire certs just in case! haha

 

[Dave 41079]

I have about 300 miles on my KM3's. The on road noise is comparable to the Nitto RG's I took off with less than 10,000 miles on them. It'll be interesting to see how well they do after 10k miles. I like to rotate every 3k-4k miles. I'll be taking them to Windrock in two weeks. Looking forward to comparing them to the KO2's and Nitto RG's I've run up there in the past.

I made sure to get the Discount Tire certs just in case! haha

Discount already replaced one for me.

 

[dot_tom]

Discount already replaced one for me.

Really? Maybe I should have kept with Nitto RG and just gone up to 35x12.5 in that tire.... hmmm

 

[Dave 41079]

Really? Maybe I should have kept with Nitto RG and just gone up to 35x12.5 in that tire.... hmmm

I wheel harder than most people, especially in these. What I did would have ruined any tire.

 

[dot_tom]

I wheel harder than most people, especially in these. What I did would have ruined any tire.

That makes me feel better. I'm pretty easy on my rig. Knock on wood, I've never had a sidewall issue and I've run quite a few BFG models over the last 14 years.

 

[Matteblack]

It's definitely crossed my mind. By the time they're released I should have my front bumper on. If they make them in a 285/75/17 I might get rid of the 285/70/17 ST Maxx's I'm currently running. It's really going to depend on what they've done different with the sidewall for me.

I'm thinking the same thing but I currently have the 285/70/17 KM2. Going to the 285/75/17 KM3 adds one inch to the overall diameter if I recall correctly.

 

[Dave 41079]

I'm thinking the same thing but I currently have the 285/70/17 KM2. Going to the 285/75/17 KM3 adds one inch to the overall diameter if I recall correctly.

Correct. I didn't go bigger though because I'm afraid that would get me too close to a regear that I can't afford right now.

 

[dot_tom]

Correct. I didn't go bigger though because I'm afraid that would get me too close to a regear that I can't afford right now.

I couldn't imagine running stock gears on anything bigger than 285/70. I ran 295/70 for a couple weeks before I went 4.56. Now that I am running 35s with 4.56 it feels stock. 4.88 would be awesome but I like the strength with the 4.56.

 

[leo4x4]

I have a set of km3s.
They are pretty noisy compare to ko2s. But great off road

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Matteblack]

With as much interest there is in the KM3, I'm surprised the KM2 is not very popular here. Seems like they are more with Jeeps, just an informal observation, maybe several people have them on this forum and don't post many pics. I'm likely going to replace mine with KM3 in about two years.
MB

 

[Dave 41079]

I couldn't imagine running stock gears on anything bigger than 285/70. I ran 295/70 for a couple weeks before I went 4.56. Now that I am running 35s with 4.56 it feels stock. 4.88 would be awesome but I like the strength with the 4.56.

I had 4.56s and 35s on my Tacoma and out felt perfect to me.

With as much interest there is in the KM3, I'm surprised the KM2 is not very popular here. Seems like they are more with Jeeps, just an informal observation, maybe several people have them on this forum and don't post many pics. I'm likely going to replace mine with KM3 in about two years.
MB

I loved KM2s when I had them. The only downsides I saw were that they chunked pretty bad, but that was from being soft I thought. After a few heat cycles they weren't as soft, but still grippy.

 

[cali.runner]

I'm still waiting for the 285/75/17s to be released...

 

[Signal]

So......... A few questions. Is it true if you go larger than 285's you need to re-gear? and how are these in water conditions, rain, and standing water? We live on the gulf and it rains a lot and the water doesn't go anywhere. I am looking for new tires and these and the MT/r and coopers stt maxx's and even the general grabbers X3's are on my list but there isn't a ton of information on any of these. Also back to the re-gearing thing, what do you go to from the stock gears. I have a 19 4Runner.

 

[mteolus]

So......... A few questions. Is it true if you go larger than 285's you need to re-gear? and how are these in water conditions, rain, and standing water? We live on the gulf and it rains a lot and the water doesn't go anywhere. I am looking for new tires and these and the MT/r and coopers stt maxx's and even the general grabbers X3's are on my list but there isn't a ton of information on any of these. Also back to the re-gearing thing, what do you go to from the stock gears. I have a 19 4Runner.

I doubt you have to re-gear, but your crawl ratio off-road will be poor. I have 285/70-17s and on certain steep inclines with rocks the crawl ratio is not good enough to crawl, had to use momentum which is hard on your vehicle.

 

[Signal]

I doubt you have to re-gear, but your crawl ratio off-road will be poor. I have 285/70-17s and on certain steep inclines with rocks the crawl ratio is not good enough to crawl, had to use momentum which is hard on your vehicle.

I have no intentions on rock crawling, I am more of a explore in the backwoods and as I hate to say it ( overland)

 

[mteolus]

I have no intentions on rock crawling, I am more of a explore in the backwoods and as I hate to say it ( overland)

In that case I would go with 275/70/17s. 285s you will have to do some trimming and possibly a body mount chop even if you have a 3" lift. Even bigger and you will have to do even more modifications. For backwoods and overlanding 275's should be sufficient. And if you do get mud tires of any kind, rotate every 3000 miles or they will get loud. They may get loud anyways. You could get a hybrid like the Nitto Ridge Grapplers or the Milestar Patagonia's to cut down on the noise but still get good off-road traction in mud and sand.

Also invest in some air down equipment such as the Staun's deflators and VIAIR 400P Automatic in case you need a little extra traction in the sand or are on a rocky trail.