I have the Road Ventures as well - as of ~15,000 miles they're getting a little loud, but have performed well in rain, snow, and on dirt roads (haven't gotten a chance to do any real off-roading with them yet).
KO2 no traction -Scary!
- Thread starter jima60
- Start date
I have the Road Ventures as well - as of ~15,000 miles they're getting a little loud, but have performed well in rain, snow, and on dirt roads (haven't gotten a chance to do any real off-roading with them yet).
You do realize that the yellow speed signs are listed with ideal conditions speeds right? 37 and raining is not ideal. Slow down.
muscle_doc
New member
Same boat as you. Looking at Falken AT3Ws for my next set to replace my Duratracs!
1engineer
Moderator
People love the KO2's for the look, and yes, they look great. They pretty much suck at wet weather traction though. I know. Also, the Nitto G2 is better but not great in the wet. My old standby, the Cooper Discoverer AT3 does a good job in all conditions including wet road traction.
One thing about the "snowflake" symbol... the Coopers don't have it. I read where it costs a ton of money to have those tires tested and certified to get the symbol. Cooper didn't pay it and BFG did. Right now, if I had to buy new tires (and I am going to in the next few weeks before the snow flies here) this is my ranking:
Cooper Discover AT3 (or Discount Tire equivalent - forgot the name)
Firestone Destination AT
General Grabber AT
Michelin LTX AT (great on road and snow - not very good at all off road.)
Any brand
Any brand
Any brand
Any brand
BFG KO2
The top three I listed are really close in performance. Coopers win because of price.
One thing about the "snowflake" symbol... the Coopers don't have it. I read where it costs a ton of money to have those tires tested and certified to get the symbol. Cooper didn't pay it and BFG did. Right now, if I had to buy new tires (and I am going to in the next few weeks before the snow flies here) this is my ranking:
Cooper Discover AT3 (or Discount Tire equivalent - forgot the name)
Firestone Destination AT
General Grabber AT
Michelin LTX AT (great on road and snow - not very good at all off road.)
Any brand
Any brand
Any brand
Any brand
BFG KO2
The top three I listed are really close in performance. Coopers win because of price.
ajordan1975
New member
It's wet! Every tire sucks when it's wet out.
SLOW DOWN IN THE RAIN Y'ALL
I have zero issue w/ my KO2's. Love them in snow, rain, dirt, sand and rocks.
My opinion is they are the best off-road tire for a DD
SLOW DOWN IN THE RAIN Y'ALL
I have zero issue w/ my KO2's. Love them in snow, rain, dirt, sand and rocks.
My opinion is they are the best off-road tire for a DD
I've had previous gen BFG A/T and now KO2 through many New England winters without any issues. When the KO2 were new-ish (5000 miles) last winter, most of the time I left it in RWD because the traction was so good.
Let me ask this, OP. You're on an off ramp, it's raining, it's near freezing, miserable. We've all been there. Is it possible that you simply hit some black ice?
Ice is ice, and no tire is going to handle it.
Let me ask this, OP. You're on an off ramp, it's raining, it's near freezing, miserable. We've all been there. Is it possible that you simply hit some black ice?
Ice is ice, and no tire is going to handle it.
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sockeyesalmon
Member
OP, check tire pressure and slow down
I'm running the same tires 265/70/16 E rated 2000 4runner
i run 35 Psi all around
I'm running the same tires 265/70/16 E rated 2000 4runner
i run 35 Psi all around
Hmm, lots of negative experiences in the rain.
I have had my 275/17 KO2s on for 2 seasons and never once felt that I lost traction in the rain. These are the E rated tires set at 42 psi. PS - I have all my traction control gizmos on.
EDIT: As rayofsi mentions below, I have an LE which is full time all wheel drive so that most definitely helps with traction
I have had my 275/17 KO2s on for 2 seasons and never once felt that I lost traction in the rain. These are the E rated tires set at 42 psi. PS - I have all my traction control gizmos on.
EDIT: As rayofsi mentions below, I have an LE which is full time all wheel drive so that most definitely helps with traction
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mybabydaddy
New member
I realize people are passion about the KO2. I get it, I loved my KO1.
The problem with the ramp is just an example of the traction issue with the KO2. To address the comments and the wet conditions and speed, concedering both in front and behind me there were around ten car exiting with me. I am the only one the had the issues with the road conditions. For what I spent for the KO2 I would expect them to preform better not worst than the average.
The problem with the ramp is just an example of the traction issue with the KO2. To address the comments and the wet conditions and speed, concedering both in front and behind me there were around ten car exiting with me. I am the only one the had the issues with the road conditions. For what I spent for the KO2 I would expect them to preform better not worst than the average.
ShermanOlsen
Member
Another vote for Cooper A/T3. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/114342-tires-28.html#post2771990. Wet traction isn't something to compromise on. There was the comment above with "just slow down" but every driver gets surprised sometimes and I want to have a substantial safety margin. I've never felt I was at the edge of adhesion with these tires, wet or dry (stock size, C).
live_discover
New member
K02S have shit wet traction, got rid of mine as I live in the PNW and it just wasn't acceptable.
rayofsi
New member
think everyone having problems has the manual 4h-4lo shifter.
JSparky
New member
This came up recently, you might want to have a look: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/246188-duratracs-out-bfg-t-ko2.html
I agree with others, I'd doublecheck tire pressures.
I recall pinwheeling out of control over Donner Pass in snow on the older KO's. Always avoided them after that.
My brother drives like a bat out of hell in his hemi Jeep with KO2's and hasn't noted any problems, he's on C-range. I had a pair of D or E KO2's for a short period of time and found them grippy when dry, with the increased siping I'd expect them to be better in rain and snow than the originals but you never know. I didn't have hem long enough to tell.
It's a tough egg to crack, trying to achieve wet weather performance in an aggressive all terrain tire. You need at-once larger voids yet increased surface area. One thought would be to have the tire shop throw them on a siping machine, if you're not in dry rocky conditions a lot (that would increase risk for chunking) it could help maximize traction.
I agree with others, I'd doublecheck tire pressures.
I recall pinwheeling out of control over Donner Pass in snow on the older KO's. Always avoided them after that.
My brother drives like a bat out of hell in his hemi Jeep with KO2's and hasn't noted any problems, he's on C-range. I had a pair of D or E KO2's for a short period of time and found them grippy when dry, with the increased siping I'd expect them to be better in rain and snow than the originals but you never know. I didn't have hem long enough to tell.
It's a tough egg to crack, trying to achieve wet weather performance in an aggressive all terrain tire. You need at-once larger voids yet increased surface area. One thought would be to have the tire shop throw them on a siping machine, if you're not in dry rocky conditions a lot (that would increase risk for chunking) it could help maximize traction.
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AsAkite
Member
In Austin it just doesn't rain enough to let that outweigh the benefits of this tire the rest of the time. The KO2 seems tailor made for the rocky, sandy, thorny type terrain you would encounter in the hill country and the dry road manners are great.
Plus, the OP describes a constant-turn loop type scenario and no doubt, the ass end of these things like to go their own way any chance they get... but then so did the ass end of my 3rd gen limited on stockers (that one ended badly for my axle). I experience tire spin some as well as traction control buzzing in turns every once in a while as well, but I got the same in my GS400 with Michelin Pilot Super Sports.
I guess what I am saying is, I live in Austin as well, and have had these for a couple years now and I would definitely buy them again.
... as well
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Soneill
Member
Okay, i feel a little better now.
