Need advice on the BFG All terrain T/A KO2

Bruin1md

Bruin1md

New member
for my 2016 GX 460.

I bought it new in October 2015 and recently decided I just can't keep the stock tires on any longer, as the tire/wheel combo leave me blending in with the all the soccer moms who have GX's here.

I live in south Louisiana, where the roads are terrible and we get a ton of rain.

I don't have a ton of opportunities to take it off road, but plan to when I can (will be more mud than rough terrain)....... having said that, a big reason that I ended up getting the GX over the 4runner is that I wanted KDSS more so for its on road behavior/performance as well as the V8. Getting a trail premium with KDSS down here was proving to be too tough to come by.

After researching tires on tire rack, I found that the BFG AT T/A KO2's were the top rated tires in their class with good ride comfort, wet /dry traction, and handling characteristics.

One of the my questions is whether anyone has put these on their GX and second, what are people's thoughts about going from the stock 265/60/18 to 275/65/18 WITHOUT having to do any mods with a lift kit/spacers, etc?
Any issues with 275's such as rubbing (or other issues I need to be aware of), given that there will be about a 2" increase in wheel diameter?

Besides their AT capability, I love the presence I think these tires will have in the wheel well, even with the existing stock wheels.

I've thought about changing out the stock wheels as well, but am concerned about the warranty issues associated with this, and not sure I want to spring for them. Plus I'm not sure I want to go to 20" rims and roughen the ride even further with these tires. So I'm thinking stick with the factory 18's.

Thoughts?
 
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Wow, you sound like me. I thought with Lexus the GX460 was to the RX350 as the 4Runner is to the Highlander in terms of the male to female ratio, but that’s not the case at all where I live either. I had the chance to drive it in some light snow on the stock tires on Saturday and it did great, but most brand new non-summer tires will. I’m probably still going to switch to ATs sooner rather than later, at least for the winter months. I’m considering 17” matte black TRD Pro wheels or something along those lines, but I would need to see a photoshop before committing. You also need to add the cost for separate TPMS sensors. I’m not sure if this appeals to you, but 265/65R17s have approximately the same circumference and will indicate the same mileage/speed as 265/60R18s, and there are a lot of good AT choices in that size. As far as going up in size and rubbing, others will have to chime in, but my guess is that they will rub. I think the TA KO2s will probably look great and perform very well. I’d just worry that they might be a little aggressive and add a little unwanted noise. Aggressive AT tires often get louder over time in my experience, but that’s necessarily the case for all AT tires. Also, if you want to stay with the factory size with the AT capability but a less aggressive tread and mostly likely quieter over time, you could get the firestone destination AT or the Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo 2. I have no experience with the Firestones but they are rated very well. I had the Revo 2 tires on my ’03 and they were pretty solid, but were not wearing as well as the original Revos which I got around 65K miles from. Keep the board posted on what you decide and please post pics.
 
Threev8s said:
Wow, you sound like me. I thought with Lexus the GX460 was to the RX350 as the 4Runner is to the Highlander in terms of the male to female ratio, but that’s not the case at all where I live either. I had the chance to drive it in some light snow on the stock tires on Saturday and it did great, but most brand new non-summer tires will. I’m probably still going to switch to ATs sooner rather than later, at least for the winter months. I’m considering 17” matte black TRD Pro wheels or something along those lines, but I would need to see a photoshop before committing. You also need to add the cost for separate TPMS sensors. I’m not sure if this appeals to you, but 265/65R17s have approximately the same circumference and will indicate the same mileage/speed as 265/60R18s, and there are a lot of good AT choices in that size. As far as going up in size and rubbing, others will have to chime in, but my guess is that they will rub. I think the TA KO2s will probably look great and perform very well. I’d just worry that they might be a little aggressive and add a little unwanted noise. Aggressive AT tires often get louder over time in my experience, but that’s necessarily the case for all AT tires. Also, if you want to stay with the factory size with the AT capability but a less aggressive tread and mostly likely quieter over time, you could get the firestone destination AT or the Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo 2. I have no experience with the Firestones but they are rated very well. I had the Revo 2 tires on my ’03 and they were pretty solid, but were not wearing as well as the original Revos which I got around 65K miles from. Keep the board posted on what you decide and please post pics.
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thanks ...............

I'm more confused than ever after all the research I've done........

I read that GX thread where most felt the 275/65/18's didn't cause any issues as long as it wasn't the luxury model with the variable air suspension (I have the premium, so should be good there), but there still isn't a clear consensus. The guy I chatted with at tire rack was concerned.

The other issue he brought up is that E load All terrain tires will be much stiffer/rougher than our stock (piece of crap) Bridgestones we currently have.
He did say that a standard load all terrain tire like the Firestone A/T might be a good compromise to venture out of the stock highway Bridgestone we have to a more livable daily tire.

Now you've introduced a new issue and that's the TPMS sensors. I never even considered that.

With 17's, I can definitely go bigger to a 275/65, without worrying about rubbing, right?
That might be a good way to go-- TRD wheels or something similar with a pair of KO2's or Firestone Destinations............. but even there, these are different tires, with the KO2's being designed for bigger/heavy duty trucks.

I'm confused............lol
 
I run a 285/65/18 Nitto Terra Grappler on my GX470. I know it's not a 460, but I don't have any fittment issues. I specifically chose them for their fairly aggressive nature, and for not being a light truck load range E tire. The ride would suffer tremendously.
 
I have 34x10.50R17 BFG AT KO2s on my 2003 GX470 and they are awesome. As you may not have a lift, your size range would vary, but I would recommend that tire for sure!!
 
So after a lot of tire research, I'm down to the Cooper AT3's

...... and the Falken AT3W's.

I actually eliminated the KO2 from consideration as I don't need a LT tire.

Among the P rated tires, I thought I was sold on the Cooper AT3's as the best 'compromise' of a good off road tire that has excellent on road manners and very good in the rain/wet roads.

And then I started reading/getting feedback on the Falken AT3W's, which seem like they could be Cooper killers and come in a P rated version.

So far, those I know of who have them seem to love them. Despite being hybrids between AT and MT tires, they have great on road manners.

Not sure if anyone has put them or the Coopers on their GX.
 
Some thoughts on what you posted above:

1) Sounds like you are considering going down a size in wheel. If thats true, then make sure the smaller rims will clear your brakes before you buy.

2) I recommend buying the new TPMS sensors off of Amazon and bring them into where ever you get the tires mounted. You can get the OEM Denso's for cheap on amazon. The tire shops charge double the price and give you a generic TPMS sensor. Not worth it.
 
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Mans ride, Women drive Lexus


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KO2"s are great tires, no matter what u put them on, i have them on both my 2016"s
31d8abb6fbe56896263adb8664ff745b.jpg



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991-GT3MJK said:
Mans ride, Women drive Lexus


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Oh man thats funny until you look under the hood of a GX470 and you'll find a real engine. Can't say the same for either of your trucks.

PS- My gx drives and rides better than both of those brand new rigs, costs about 1/3rd of the price of each and is just as capable. Go home troll, you don't know what you're talking about.
 
Scat Adams said:
Oh man thats funny until you look under the hood of a GX470 and you'll find a real engine. Can't say the same for either of your trucks.



PS- My gx drives and rides better than both of those brand new rigs, costs about 1/3rd of the price of each and is just as capable. Go home troll, you don't know what you're talking about.
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thats funny, look under the hood of a Mercedes SLK-400+hp V8 ? Ohh i see your that guy driving a SLK- i knew i would get a rise out of someone. All i meant was their are cars that women would drive and cars that men would drive. Put my truck next to yours and ask 100 women which truck would they buy and drive everyday, i would bet 90 of them would pick the Lexus and the other 10 lesbos would pick my truck! Call it like i see it.
 
991-GT3MJK said:
thats funny, look under the hood of a Mercedes SLK-400+hp V8 ? Ohh i see your that guy driving a SLK- i knew i would get a rise out of someone. All i meant was their are cars that women would drive and cars that men would drive. Put my truck next to yours and ask 100 women which truck would they buy and drive everyday, i would bet 90 of them would pick the Lexus and the other 10 lesbos would pick my truck! Call it like i see it.
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I can’t decide if this is comical or pathetic. Sorry to say it, but the vehicle you drive makes you no more or less of a man, and driving a 4Runner in no way makes you manlier than any guy in any other vehicle, even if it’s a beetle with the headlight eyelashes. There are tons of women in my area that drive new and old 4Runners for various reasons. It doesn’t make them any more or less feminine and didn’t make me feel any less manly when I saw one during the 13 years that I owned my previous 4R. The reality is, the difference between the people torn between a 4Runner and a highlander or some other CUV is based on comfort, appearance, etc. and most people have no idea or even care about BOF vs unibody, different 4WD systems, off-road ability, etc. Your white Toyotas are only a bumper sticker or 2 away from falling right in line with any other vehicle with the bleeding heart liberal messages on them. I’m not going to bash your Toyotas or tell you why my GX460 is better than your TRD Pro. I’m also not going to tell you that you are less of a man because my last 4Runner had a v8 and my GX has a v8, and your Toyotas each have a v6, one with only 3.5 liters of displacement. 4Runners are great vehicles, period. My wife has one and loves it. Her last car was a 4-cylinder camry that she also loved. Does that mean that your 4R is a girly POS bc an attractive female liked a 4-cylinder camry almost as much as a 4runner that has better on-road handling and a better 4WD system than your TRD PRO? Maybe by your logic it is.
 
Threev8s said:
I can’t decide if this is comical or pathetic. Sorry to say it, but the vehicle you drive makes you no more or less of a man, and driving a 4Runner in no way makes you manlier than any guy in any other vehicle, even if it’s a beetle with the headlight eyelashes. There are tons of women in my area that drive new and old 4Runners for various reasons. It doesn’t make them any more or less feminine and didn’t make me feel any less manly when I saw one during the 13 years that I owned my previous 4R. The reality is, the difference between the people torn between a 4Runner and a highlander or some other CUV is based on comfort, appearance, etc. and most people have no idea or even care about BOF vs unibody, different 4WD systems, off-road ability, etc. Your white Toyotas are only a bumper sticker or 2 away from falling right in line with any other vehicle with the bleeding heart liberal messages on them. I’m not going to bash your Toyotas or tell you why my GX460 is better than your TRD Pro. I’m also not going to tell you that you are less of a man because my last 4Runner had a v8 and my GX has a v8, and your Toyotas each have a v6, one with only 3.5 liters of displacement. 4Runners are great vehicles, period. My wife has one and loves it. Her last car was a 4-cylinder camry that she also loved. Does that mean that your 4R is a girly POS bc an attractive female liked a 4-cylinder camry almost as much as a 4runner that has better on-road handling and a better 4WD system than your TRD PRO? Maybe by your logic it is.
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Yeah, I never got the whole "man car / girl car" thing. I have owned everything from classic muscle cars, a slew of Toyotas, several Jeeps, Suburbans and a few Miatas and Mini Coopers. I drive what I want for what I want to do and gender identity doesn't come into question. Heck, even when people in some lifted monstrosity or a smokey dually pickup started giving me a hard time about my MINI or Miata, I would just say, "Like you, I am just compensating." :D
 
Anyone compare these to the Goodyear Duratracs? I have heard good things about the new KO2s and am considering them for the next time. Love my duratracs though...
 
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