OME Lift and new tires: doing it right

[John7M7]

It will be a bit stiffer, but I wouldn't say they would be terrible. Where it will be noticeable is in the power loss you'll feel as well as the drop in mpg's.

Ok, the issue is that I can't find the 265/75R16 Dick Cepek Fun Country in C or D rating...

The only interesting choice so far that was not E was a set of Goodyear DuraTrac rated C / 6 ply
What do you think about that? Would it be relevant for this WE / overlanding truck of mine?

 

[Hepar]

Ok, the issue is that I can't find the 265/75R16 Dick Cepek Fun Country in C or D rating...

The only interesting choice so far that was not E was a set of Goodyear DuraTrac rated C / 6 ply
What do you think about that? Would it be relevant for this WE / overlanding truck of mine?

Yeah, it's getting harder and harder to find tires in that size and in a C load. It's one of the big reasons I switched from BFG's to Goodyear Duratracs. I like them, but I don't love them. It is wet here in the PNW so much and that is one area that I am disappointed in them. Some find them noisy at freeway speed, but I don't notice them much at all. They're great in mud and dirt and are wearing better than expected.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

FWIW, my BFG All-Terrain KO2 tires only came in load range E, and I have no complaints with them at all. The FJ Cruiser also comes with BFG's in load range E from the factory.
I keep them at 45PSI typically, and air them down to 30PSI during snow/ice driving. Great traction, cut through standing water great, super quiet.
That said, I would have probably chosen a C rated tire, but I was set on the KO2.
My buddy runs Duratrac's on his cummins, as well as on his 3rd gen 4R, and is happy with them on both.

 

[John7M7]

Yeah, it's getting harder and harder to find tires in that size and in a C load. It's one of the big reasons I switched from BFG's to Goodyear Duratracs. I like them, but I don't love them. It is wet here in the PNW so much and that is one area that I am disappointed in them. Some find them noisy at freeway speed, but I don't notice them much at all. They're great in mud and dirt and are wearing better than expected.

Did you consider switching from Duratracs to MT/Rs? I hear they're doing a little better on wet surfaces (though not so much on snow).

How many miles do you have on your Duratracs?

 

[John7M7]

FWIW, my BFG All-Terrain KO2 tires only came in load range E, and I have no complaints with them at all. The FJ Cruiser also comes with BFG's in load range E from the factory.
I keep them at 45PSI typically, and air them down to 30PSI during snow/ice driving. Great traction, cut through standing water great, super quiet.
That said, I would have probably chosen a C rated tire, but I was set on the KO2.
My buddy runs Duratrac's on his cummins, as well as on his 3rd gen 4R, and is happy with them on both.

Good to hear from people running the Duratracs and the KO2s as well. I'm all about MPGs, since I think it's easy to overload and overbuild the rig and end up with a really bad MPG.
It's ok for pure off-roading, but since we plan on going for longer adventures, it matters.

Also, since my rig will be carrying a lot of gear, does the difference between load rates (C have 112, E have 123) matters?

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Good to hear from people running the Duratracs and the KO2s as well. I'm all about MPGs, since I think it's easy to overload and overbuild the rig and end up with a really bad MPG.

It's ok for pure off-roading, but since we plan on going for longer adventures, it matters.

I understand. I average 16.5mpg on my 315/70R17 KO2's at 45psi, stock 4.30:1 gears, and an auto trans. I'll be swapping to 5.29 gears and a manual trans this year, and am interested to see what that does to my fuel mileage.

 

[Hepar]

FWIW, my BFG All-Terrain KO2 tires only came in load range E, and I have no complaints with them at all. The FJ Cruiser also comes with BFG's in load range E from the factory.

Honestly, if I hadn't just came from a set of the same sized BFG's in a C load, I doubt I would have really complained at all, but the difference to me just in the load was very noticeable.

Did you consider switching from Duratracs to MT/Rs? I hear they're doing a little better on wet surfaces (though not so much on snow).

How many miles do you have on your Duratracs?

I haven't considered the MT's. They only have around 20k on them. When they wear more, I'll look at other options. But most likely I'll get another set of Duratracs. They're one of the only tires that fit the criteria that I'm looking for.

 

[John7M7]

Honestly, if I hadn't just came from a set of the same sized BFG's in a C load, I doubt I would have really complained at all, but the difference to me just in the load was very noticeable.



I haven't considered the MT's. They only have around 20k on them. When they wear more, I'll look at other options. But most likely I'll get another set of Duratracs. They're one of the only tires that fit the criteria that I'm looking for.

What were your criteria if I may ask?

I understand. I average 16.5mpg on my 315/70R17 KO2's at 45psi, stock 4.30:1 gears, and an auto trans. I'll be swapping to 5.29 gears and a manual trans this year, and am interested to see what that does to my fuel mileage.

Ah, the whole re gearing thing...
Hopefully going to 31" or 32" won't require for me to re gear... right?

The funny thing is the Fun Country 265/75s are actually 32", and the Duratracs are 31.7". The size chart I first used classifies both as 31" tires. Kind of what I've used to select tire sizes with the right Revs/Mile, etc.

 

[Road Bull]

I think that the Goodyear Duratracs and the BFG KO2s are some of the most popular options. I have the KO2s in E rating and like them, but tires seem somewhat subjective. I would love to ride in a rig with running Duratracs, or Cooper ST MAXX sometime. Or anything else for that matter.

Also... this is important. I bet you could get a sweet deal from discount tire in March. They should be running their twice a year sale. Generally $100 off a set of two tires that total over $400. So if you are lucky, $200 off a set of four and no tax / free shipping. Takes the bite out of new shoes.

[MENTION=56396]Hepar[/MENTION]in. Are you still happy running 265/75/16s? How do they treat you out in the trails? Do you link up with any other peeps running 33s and ever feel you are at a disadvantage?

 

[John7M7]

I think that the Goodyear Duratracs and the BFG KO2s are some of the most popular options. I have the KO2s in Europe rating and like them, but tires seem somewhat subjective. I would love to ride in a rig with running Duratracs, or Cooper ST MAXX sometime. Or anything else for that matter.

Also... this is important. I bet you could get a sweet deal from discount tire in March. They should be running their twice a year sale. Generally $100 off a set of two tires that total over $400. So if you are lucky, $200 a set of four and no tax / free shipping. Takes the bite out of new shoes.

[MENTION=56396]Hepar[/MENTION]in. Are you still happy running 265/75/16s? How do they treat you out in the trails? Do you link up with any other peeps running 33s and ever feel you are at a disadvantage?

Really interested in the answer too!

The KO2s are awesome but only available in E rating, and if I go E then I go for the Fun Country.
Thank you very much for the info about the deal, I might not be able to wait until March though - my wife's free time is more than limited and if we want to go on some adventures like the Death Valley, it will have to be in February. Since I currently have highway all weather tires, I could use A/T

 

[Hepar]

What were your criteria if I may ask?

Preferably 265/75-16
C load
All-Terrain
Decent lifespan
Decent Performance

[MENTION=56396]Hepar[/MENTION]in. Are you still happy running 265/75/16s? How do they treat you out in the trails? Do you link up with any other peeps running 33s and ever feel you are at a disadvantage?

Yep. But keep in mind I'm not into hardcore trails or anything. I use my rig mainly to head to the coast to surf or to the hills to climb. Both have their share of off-the-beaten-path roads, but mainly dirt, gravel, mud etc etc. There's maybe one unmaintained road that I have the only vehicle out of my group of friends that can access it, but most vehicles with a decent clearance and decent tires could do the same. I'd say in the times I did more difficult trails, an open diff would hold me back long before a slightly larger tire would.

I personally like the size. I don't feel the need to try and run the biggest tire. I want something that does have an aggressive look with a size that doesn't make longer trips much of a headache. The only times they look small to me is when they're sitting next to a rig with big tires. But even then I don't feel the need to go bigger.

 

[Road Bull]

Preferably 265/75-16
C load
All-Terrain
Decent lifespan
Decent Performance



Yep. But keep in mind I'm not into hardcore trails or anything. I use my rig mainly to head to the coast to surf or to the hills to climb. Both have their share of off-the-beaten-path roads, but mainly dirt, gravel, mud etc etc. There's maybe one unmaintained road that I have the only vehicle out of my group of friends that can access it, but most vehicles with a decent clearance and decent tires could do the same. I'd say in the times I did more difficult trials, an open diff would hold me back long before a slightly larger tire would.

I personally like the size. I don't feel the need to try and run the biggest tire. I want something that does have an aggressive look with a size that doesn't make longer trips much of a headache. The only times they look small to me is when they're sitting next to a rig with big tires. But even then I don't feel the need to go bigger.

Cool. I feel this size fits more closely to the overall vehicle's design specs. And like anything else, there are tradeoffs to be made for going further. But for now, I like what I got.