Got these installed last week and thought I'd write a quick review after the first 500 miles or so. I'm at a 2"/.5" lift currently. They are mounted on 17x8 TRD replica wheels. Full disclosure: I am a KO2 fanboy. I loved them on previous vehicles and loved them on my 4Runner. But, it was time to try something new.
So far, these are some of the best on road tires I have ever driven on. They ride terrific compared to my stiffer KO2s. The BFGs are C-load, so it was expected. But, I didn't expect this much better. The 500 miles I did was mostly highway and some around town. The highway I was on was mostly flat with some small hills (The Parkway in NJ). I averaged 18mpg for the trip with some local driving at our destination. I reset the meter before hitting the highway and it was at 18.5mpg when we got there 160 miles later averaging close to 80mph. Not bad for a lifted gas guzzler on 33s, IMO.
Pro's:
- They balanced easily with minimal weight.
- These are some of the smoothest and best riding tires I have ever driven on. Absolutely smooth as glass driving down the road.
- Look great and the 285s fill the wheel wells much better than the 265s
- 43lbs a piece. Light for a 285/70r17
- I paid under $200/tire on Amazon. Cheap
- 60k warranty for P-metric
- I reached out to Maxxis and they sent me stickers in a week. I'm a sucker for free branding and good customer service.
- No issues in some light rain
Cons:
- Louder than my KO2s, which were still silent at 10k miles. Not bad, but noticeable depending on the type of asphalt on the highway. Some roads they are silent, some they are noticeable.
- I think KO2s are a cooler looking tire.
- only 12/32" tread depth.
Cons from going to 285s:
- Not a knock on the tires, but going up in size lead to more down shifting on the highway going up hills with cruise control, especially at 80mph. Dropping to 75 helped a bit. I don't really notice any loss of power around town really.
- MPG I'm sure will drop, but time will tell after a few months.
- They rub, but not anymore than my 265s with wheel spacers did. Need a BMC or less caster at some point
- More wandering at highway speeds due to tire width.
Overall verdict so far?: I'm really not sure why these don't get the love Falken's or any of the other common ATs do. They look the part, are performing very well at least on road, and really seem to be a tire bargain at this price. I haven't been able to test them in crazy rain or offroad yet, but I'm optimistic. Snow testing needs a few months...
Yes, i blinged it up before hitting the beach.
