KO2 no traction -Scary!

[borfoo3]

For the KO2s, there is apparently a huge difference in wet-weather performance between C and E rated tires. I've been driving C-rated 265 KO2s for a year in all sorts of rain -- including today! -- and have never had any issues with slipping on pavement. Sounds like most of the problems with poor wet road traction are happening with E-rated tires, which totally makes sense.

Maybe more difference batch to batch than C vs E.. or just difference in opinion/ perspective

My C-Rated KO2s are crap in the rain on tarmac.. i probably get more traction barefoot at walking speeds than they do on the truck at similar pace.

 

[jima60]

Seems like the issues between liking the KO2 and hating them is the load rating. I'm running 275/70.17 which only come in "E" rating. Those that have posted to my concern here echo the conclusion that "E" rated tires have the bad traction.

I'm traveling right now and have about 4-hour drive to get back home on Wednesday. First thing I'm going to do when I get back is replace my tires. I just do trust them going down the freeway in the rain.

 

[Florunner78]

Maybe I've just been lucky, but I live in central Florida (plenty of rain) and have put about 10K on my KO2s and never had any issues that I haven't had with any other vehicle/tire combo in the rain. Of course, I brake earlier, accelerate slower and don't carry as much speed into turns in the rain

 

[Gclark949]

C rated crap too

I have C-rated KO2 in stock size and completely agree that the wet traction is very dangerous. I run 35 psig in winter just to hopefully gain some traction (about 39-40 in summer) but traction is crap. It has nothing to do with hydroplane and nothing to do with the oil from a first rain, it is just normal wet roads that are dangerous. I slow way down for any turn for fear of front end just pushing into the curb. The rear end takes care of itself with traction control. Currently have 20k miles but this has been the case since the start.

Will not buy KO2 again for this reason which is a shame because they do look cool.

 

[Brandonium]

That's where Cooper ATP's come in.

Cooper AT3s- supposed to be great but wish they had more aggressive shoulders

 

[b407driver]

I had the original BF Goodrich AT (whatever it was called, same basic tread pattern) on my '86 Xtracab, and once slid my rear end out in a cloverleaf, as well. Crappy wet traction, an average tire that looked good, back in the day (that tire liked to hydroplane). The KO2 does have an aggressive look to the shoulder/sidewall, however I have to admit I'm getting sick of seeing them on daily drivers here in CO that appear to see no offroad miles (though admittedly I have no idea).

The Cooper AT3 'C' is a phenomenal choice, and after 13k on my '16 4R, there is honestly no reason to go looking for my next tire. Above average or good in nearly every category: dirt, rock, sand, highway, rain, snow, 65-mph emergency braking on freeway (semi truck started to change lanes into me)... name it. Mud is the only thing I can't comment on, but I avoid it when I can, and would never select a tire based on mud performance. They're quiet, easy to balance (two different sets, both 265 and 275), have a decent amount of siping for an AT tire, and are wearing well. And, they're reasonably priced.

I cannot ask for--nor expect--any more performance or value in a do-it-all AT tire that excels on-road.

 

[phillyd2]

Around here the KO2 seems to be the favorite among snow plowers and I too have them on my F250 but they are E rated. To hear some of you talk I’ve had better wet traction on old bald tires then you guys do with KO2.

 

[Cymon]

I had the original BF Goodrich AT (whatever it was called, same basic tread pattern) on my '86 Xtracab, and once slid my rear end out in a cloverleaf, as well. Crappy wet traction, an average tire that looked good, back in the day (that tire liked to hydroplane). The KO2 does have an aggressive look to the shoulder/sidewall, however I have to admit I'm getting sick of seeing them on daily drivers here in CO that appear to see no offroad miles (though admittedly I have no idea).

The Cooper AT3 'C' is a phenomenal choice, and after 13k on my '16 4R, there is honestly no reason to go looking for my next tire. Above average or good in nearly every category: dirt, rock, sand, highway, rain, snow, 65-mph emergency braking on freeway (semi truck started to change lanes into me)... name it. Mud is the only thing I can't comment on, but I avoid it when I can, and would never select a tire based on mud performance. They're quiet, easy to balance (two different sets, both 265 and 275), have a decent amount of siping for an AT tire, and are wearing well. And, they're reasonably priced.

I cannot ask for--nor expect--any more performance or value in a do-it-all AT tire that excels on-road.

Agree. I have 10k on my At3’s (275 C load flavor). They have met and/or exceeded my expectations in every category for an all-terrain Tire (including some mud, which I too try to avoid but it’s tough down here in Florida. Very good in wet conditions and at least above average in everything else.

 

[Atlas4R]

Here’s what I’m looking at and in no particular order

Falken ATW3s- lots of people love em especially for wet traction but a few have complained about not being able to balance em

First time I've read this. I bought the AT3Ws about a month ago and balancing has been an issue. The day I bought them, I drove off and immediately got it up to 60MPH and there was quite a bit of wobble in the steering wheel and seat. Immediately turned around and went back to Discount. They rebalanced, claiming that the machine was not calibrated right since they were so off compared to running them on a different machine. Even after they rebalanced them, I still felt a little wobble around 58-60MPH. Took them in again but they still don't feel properly balanced. I haven't had the chance to take them back again since I've been traveling for work but it makes me wonder if I'll be able to get a good balance with them.

 

[KP Texan]

Here’s what I’m looking at and in no particular order

Hankook Dynapro ATMs- 2016 Consumer Reports best all around rated all terrain. I’ve had em and love em.

Looks like I'm one of the few that would recommend this tire as well. Had them on both my '06 Tundra DC 4x4 and my 2013 F-150 4x4 and had no problems with them whatsoever. Great traction under all conditions I encountered, quiet on the highway, and wore nicely during the time I had them. In fact, my only issue with them is that they are priced so well that they may appear to some as a cheapo tire, which is really a stupid gripe.

The only reason I would hesitate to buy them again is because I might just want to try something different.

 

[bamma]

I have posted on this before, but here's my two pennies:

My wife has the KO2s on her 2012 Limited. A couple years ago she was at work during an ice storm. When driving home, she got stuck on a hill and started sliding towards a row of mailboxes and a steep embankment. Some cars were passing her up the hill (it was really slick, not sure what tires those cars were running). I took my 2003 4runner with General Grabber At2s and was able to pull her car up the hill enough to get her home. She now runs the K02s 3 seasons and Blizzak snow tires in the winter because the incident freaked her out so much. She hates winter driving now.

It is funny that my Generals, which look like the old KOs had enough traction to pull my car and her car in icy conditions, where the KO2s couldn't get her car up a hill.

My opinion, is if you drive your car in the winter on any slick surfaces, do not get the KO2s. They do ok in deep snow, but ice or slick packed snow are anathema to these tires. The Generals were awesome during the 40k miles I had them on my old runner. I have run Duratracs, BFG KOs and KO2s, Coopers, Generals and now have Falkens on my Land Cruiser. Haven't tried the Falkens in really slick conditions, but they handled great during the first snowstorm in Spokane this year. Duratracs are amazing in snow/ice too for an AT. They require frequent balancing to avoid vibration.

I have also had major problems getting KOs to balance. Based on their road performance, price and other issues, I will never buy a KO tire again.

 

[2flyfishin]

My only experience is with the original KO's on a S10 4x4 and not the KO2's. I really liked them for everything but the wet performance ( they broke loose at the thought of rain) for about the first 10k mi. After that I noticed a slowly diminishing performance off road as well and by the time I hit 20k, I was experiencing a lot of tread chipping as well. So much so that I never even considered the KO2's after. I put some Cooper ATP's on my last Jeep and aside from the look they performed great. I had an emergency braking situation coming back to Vegas on I-15 where someone lost control going down a hill, around a corner right after it started raining and had to slam on my brakes thinking oh no! and never lost traction with the Coopers. Nothing like going down the freeway at 70 mph and seeing head lights , tail lights, head lights, tail lights right in front of you as a car is spinning down the road to make your rear end pucker! Right now I have the Nitto Terra Grapplers and I would say they are just ok in the wet but have only driven in the rain once with them. In the future, I think I might try the General AT2's when these need replacing.

 

[Wasatch]

I pretty much only drive my 4 Runner in the winter time here in Northern Utah in the snow and ice and haven't noticed any major losses in traction with the KO2s. Trips up to the ski resort 3x a week were not an issue last season and the resort I ski had a record year of snowfall. When I do drive in the summer it's in the barren Utah West Desert and back county Bears Ears, Paria, Moab / Canyonlands and the tires have been exceptional.

I had KO1's on my Tacoma and loved those too (50K miles) but the KO2s are definitely quieter.

 

[Nedloh]

Maybe a quality issue?

I think the only way to make sense of the situation is to post up the size, load rating, date of manufacture/batch, mileage and PSI you're running. With that info we can then match that up with a positive or negative personal experience rating.

The folks I know with KO2s have only positive things to say about them. I'm planning on buying a set when Costco runs their next sale on them.

 

[nevada]

hm, its either hate them or love them with the KO's.
they are without a doubt my GO TO wet weather/snow tire.
never even the slightest hint of a lack of traction with them.

there must be a difference in manufacturing of sizes, or load ranges as stated above.

because they seem to either have great traction, and tread wear, or terrible traction and tread wear. not really anything in between.

 

[probos]

I have E rated KO2s -- no issues so far after about 2 months. I came from Nitto G2s and after about 22k on them they did not inspire confidence. I rotated every 5k and did 4 wheel alignments. I like the KO2s much better.

 

[Judd94]

Agree. I have 10k on my At3’s (275 C load flavor). They have met and/or exceeded my expectations in every category for an all-terrain Tire (including some mud, which I too try to avoid but it’s tough down here in Florida. Very good in wet conditions and at least above average in everything else.

I don’t suppose you could post pics of your AT3s in 275 size huh?

 

[Cymon]

I don’t suppose you could post pics of your AT3s in 275 size huh?

Some pics from different vantage points. Stock suspension FWIW.

 

[dawudih]

Just got rid of mine after 4K miles. Absolute garbage tires for me, I'm in the minority though; most people consider them to be the best. I was really excited when I bought them too. Mine were the 10 ply 58lbs in 275. They look beefy compared to the Cooper ATP's (265's, 41#) I replaced them with. I think mine were defective because they pulled hard right & had a horrible wobble. I even removed my bilstein 5100's, wheel spacers and rear spring spacer going back to stock thinking it can't be the tires, but it definitely was. Drives straight as an arrow with the Coopers.

 

[Runn4est]

Wife's 265s (Load C) have been great for us, until I missed a rotation and they got cupped. Now they're loud as crap but still have fine traction.

We have a set of p285s at3w in the garage for her replacement. I have a set of LT275 at3ws on since January and they are good on wet stuff, EXCEPT for this one turn on my commute. It's bizarre. They're much grippier on some of the harder turns and this one is a rolling left on an uphill. I can get it to slip without fail going 5 under.