KO2 no traction -Scary!

[mrblah]

Adding some weight to the rear wheels might help.

I had k0's on my tundra, and it did well in rain and snow.

I then got ko2's on the 4runner, and it does well in rain for me, but it was sketchy on nonplowed snow roads (then again, driving on nonplowed snow roads is not the greatest of ideas). I added some weight to the rear of the 4runner and it seems to do better in snow. Just some food for thought.

 

[Calif-4runner]

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).

There is little argument the KO2s look amazing and have good performance on most anything except wet roads. I’ve run Duratracs, Grapplers, KO, and now Cooper AT3s. I will only run AT3s going forward. Great all around tire. For a more aggressive look they make the ATP.

 

[EddieV4runnin]

Rabble Rabble Rabble :lalala:

 

[b407driver]

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

Here's a couple of mine w/275 AT3 "C"...

 

[b407driver]

Not sure why it won't take two images in one post, but here's another:

 

[Haas360]

So since my wife uses the 4runner (2016) as the daily driver while I drive my work car,

Safety for her and my son are top priority.

With us living in Utah and the snowy weather being very heavy and often I am assuming I should not get the KO2's? I was totally sold on them till this thread due to the communities love for them.

What would you recommend for the wife on Utah Snow/Rain but better than my stock (once they are dead)

Thanks

 

[Coastie6]

My experiences are similar to what most have said. Have run the originals, the KO's and KO2's on full-size Ford PU (both a 1/2 and 3/4 ton). First, they look GREAT! If you properly care for them, they are pretty darn quiet for their tread pattern. They performed REALLY well in the off-road conditions I experienced getting to hunting and fishing locations, perform just okay on wet, pretty good in snow, and like a lot of E rated tires, "meh" in icy conditions. As long as I wasn't loading down the truck, I would slightly air down the tires in the winter which for me, helped the performance of the E rated tires in winter conditions. I'd have a few hundred pounds of sand tubes in the bed in winter. I would always slow my speed when conditions weren't optimal. All that being said, and as much as I really love the look of the BFGs, I won't be considering them as replacements when my OE tires wear on my new T4R. I think there are a lot of great tire choices better suited for my driving (mostly on-road and light off-road) to consider. This may not be the case for everyone, but its what I've experienced with these tires since the 90's when I first got a set. Again, they look GREAT and performed well for me in certain situations, but not all.

 

[ajordan1975]

So since my wife uses the 4runner (2016) as the daily driver while I drive my work car,

Safety for her and my son are top priority.

With us living in Utah and the snowy weather being very heavy and often I am assuming I should not get the KO2's? I was totally sold on them till this thread due to the communities love for them.

What would you recommend for the wife on Utah Snow/Rain but better than my stock (once they are dead)

Thanks

Buy what you want. I've never had issue w/ wet traction, snow, ice or rocks. The only time i don't like the KO2 is in the mud. I live in Denver metro, so i see a lot of different weather. Love the tires and they are the only tire i run on 2 of my 3 trucks.

 

[2012sr5]

My experience and my friends' experiences have been that KOs and KO2s are terrifying on wet pavement, especially after a few thousand miles.

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.

Were your G2s P-rated or E? I'm running E load G2s and absolutely love them. I've got 8k miles on them, and they're great so far.

 

[bamma]

My experience and my friends' experiences have been that KOs and KO2s are terrifying on wet pavement, especially after a few thousand miles.



Were your G2s P-rated or E? I'm running E load G2s and absolutely love them. I've got 8k miles on them, and they're great so far.

I bought a set of rock warrior wheels with used g2s (c rated). Rode them for about 5k miles. A bit cupped from improper rotation, but great wet traction, even at less than 50% tread remaining. They were a serious contender but decided to try the falkens. Just glad that tires have come so far in the past decade. The KOs used to be the tit, but there are so many better options, especially for rain, snow and ice. All tires can do OK in snow, etc. An apples to apple comparison leaves the KO2 lacking.

The KO2s are strong, and have great tread life, and the hard compound is more forgiving with longer rotation schedules. Beyond that, there is a lot to be desired. Hard compound=bad wet traction. It is a simple fact.

For me, getting Falkens at around 2/3 the cost for a better performing tire is a no brainer. Coopers are awesome too, but for me driving through NW canyons, having a snowflake symbol meets state requirements to avoid chains a lot of times. The Coops are just as good if not better than many snowflake tires, just wish they would test the at3s. The st maxx are snowflake rated, and they were also at the top of my list, and may have won out but I got a great deal on my Falkens.

Ultimately, the compound on the ST Maxx, Duratracs and Falkens are going to be better on snow than almost any other AT tire. I know a lot of professional parking lot plow drivers, and most have Duratracs. Only downside is the need for regular rotations. Falkens have a similar compound with modern siping.

 

[nevada]

I bought a set of rock warrior wheels with used g2s (c rated). Rode them for about 5k miles. A bit cupped from improper rotation, but great wet traction, even at less than 50% tread remaining. They were a serious contender but decided to try the falkens. Just glad that tires have come so far in the past decade. The KOs used to be the tit, but there are so many better options, especially for rain, snow and ice. All tires can do OK in snow, etc. An apples to apple comparison leaves the KO2 lacking.

The KO2s are strong, and have great tread life, and the hard compound is more forgiving with longer rotation schedules. Beyond that, there is a lot to be desired. Hard compound=bad wet traction. It is a simple fact.

For me, getting Falkens at around 2/3 the cost for a better performing tire is a no brainer. Coopers are awesome too, but for me driving through NW canyons, having a snowflake symbol meets state requirements to avoid chains a lot of times. The Coops are just as good if not better than many snowflake tires, just wish they would test the at3s. The st maxx are snowflake rated, and they were also at the top of my list, and may have won out but I got a great deal on my Falkens.

Ultimately, the compound on the ST Maxx, Duratracs and Falkens are going to be better on snow than almost any other AT tire. I know a lot of professional parking lot plow drivers, and most have Duratracs. Only downside is the need for regular rotations. Falkens have a similar compound with modern siping.

i don't think its quite that simple. I currently run 2 sets, and my dad has a 3rd. we do not experience poor traction in any conditions.

 

[bamma]

i don't think its quite that simple. I currently run 2 sets, and my dad has a 3rd. we do not experience poor traction in any conditions.

I am not saying they don't have decent traction, but comparatively, they do not have the same traction on ice as a softer tire, especially when options have just as or more advanced patterns and siping... There is a reason snow tires have soft compound.

They do ok on snow, especially deep snow where the deep grooves can hold snow (snow on snow creates awesome traction).. Try driving them on sheet ice storm and get back to me. I have driven them on ice. The generals got traction where the bfgs spun.

All ats can do ok on snow. But from experience, I would never run KO2s on snow/ice again when there are tires that perform so much better. If I lived in a mild climate w no snow, then the KO2 could be a good option.

I had to resort to actual snow tires for my wife because we didnt want to replace the barely used ko2s, but my wife wisely refuses to drive them through another NW winter.

 

[probos]

Were your G2s P-rated or E? I'm running E load G2s and absolutely love them. I've got 8k miles on them, and they're great so far.

I don't remember. They weren't awful,...they were ok but as time went on especially on wet roads I found them not so good.

 

[Nerves]

I live in the south with homes in Florida and Georgia. I can't tell you that I've lost traction with the KO2's but, I just had them installed recently; so I do not have enough miles/data points to say the "suck" on wet or they are "awesome" on wet.

In my experience, the falkens have been the very worst tire brand I've owned (different vehicles) for wet conditions (IMHO). From a perspective of driving in the rain, well Florida get's more than it's fair share, and people develop skills accordingly. You can easily spot folks that perhaps have a difficult time driving in those conditions (taking a late apex, removing your foot from the accelerator mid-turn, running the wrong pressures, entering with a high load/energy (late break Jed we call them)).

To the OP...If you don't have confidence in those tires and or they are "failing" you...then you should get something else. Regardless of anyone else experience. Cars, truck are all configured differently and we all have different driving styles...So good luck, and lets know which ones you switch to.

https://www.bustle.com/articles/199...-rain-the-10-most-waterproof-towns-in-america

 

[Haas360]

So what are your guys' opinion on the best tire for Winter/Hot climate that Utah goes through? I am still new to off-roading so consider me a beginner. My wife is the daily driver of my 5th Gen, just looking to upgrade from stock. Winter/Summer safety and noise is priority as I still am too new to get deep into back roads

Giving me your opinions will give me a place to start researching, I thought the KO2 were the end all tire, but seems its not the best for my application

 

[bamma]

So what are your guys' opinion on the best tire for Winter/Hot climate that Utah goes through? I am still new to off-roading so consider me a beginner. My wife is the daily driver of my 5th Gen, just looking to upgrade from stock. Winter/Summer safety and noise is priority as I still am too new to get deep into back roads

Giving me your opinions will give me a place to start researching, I thought the KO2 were the end all tire, but seems its not the best for my application

Utah has a lot of mixed terrain. Fortunately, even with the mix of winter weather in Northern Utah, the roads tend to not get as icy as many other states due to the drier snow. However, there can be slick days.

Honestly, if you want best performance, get a set of tires for 3 seasons and a dedicated winter tire. Absent that, get a softer compound all-season like a Goodyear Duratrac or Falken Wildpeak AT3/W. I can also tell you the General Grabber AT2s and Cooper At3 are great in every season, and the ST Maxx also has great reviews. Get something P or C rated vs E rated if you want a good on road performer with a more comfortable ride (and better gas mileage vs heavy E rated tires...

Best bank for the buck would probably be the Cooper AT3, General Grabber AT2 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W.

 

[samster747]

I’ve got the KO2’s in stock size and C rated. Been driving in rain almost everyday now since the rain is back. No problems whatsoever.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[toxicity]

Im pretty heavy footed.. 0 issues w my ko2s.
285 / 65 / 18 ko2s.
Just drive cautiously as if u would any other car on slick roads.

 

[k0bra]

Same experience as everyone else (although my KO2s were on a Tundra). Wet traction was absolutely laughable and the reason I avoided KO2s on my 4Runner.

I've been on Falken Wildpeak AT3s for about a month now (less than 500 miles though) and so far they've been great. Obviously I won't know for sure until a couple years from now but I'm very impressed so far.

To follow up on my initial experience with KO2s on the Tundra: I only put 23k miles on that truck and the first year or so the tires were decent in the rain. However, in the last year when i hit 20k or so the wet traction practically disappeared.

 

[Thorbeast]

I'm surprised they never did anything to improve them. When I had them on my ram they were horrible on wet roads