Quietest AT Tires?
- Thread starter WannaBe77
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blackie2
Member
The stock Nitto Terra Grapplers on my 2021 are much quieter than the K02's that were on my 2016 that I traded in for the new one. Over 10,000 miles on it and no complaints at all with them. Can't say the same for the K02's that never seemed to be in balance over the 60,000 miles I put on them. And yes they got progressively louder with the mileage.
max rockatansky
New member
I just got the new Cooper Discoverer Rugged Treks in 285/70r17. They are a tiny bit
louder than stock size Terra Grapplers......
Are you getting phantom "Cooper pull" to the right? I recently put some stock size Rugged Treks (XL load) and at certain speeds/certain type of road they pull to the right. I've heard that is an issue with STT max and such, but since this has the same outer tread blocks, I'm wondering if that is the cause (tire pressures and alignment are dead nuts).
Definitely have some road hum to them, but I think I'll get used to it. Either that or obsess over it until I talk myself into something else.
Hans Moleman
New member
I've only used 2 AT tires and just can compared only both of them.
Goodyear Duratracs are loud on the highway
BFG KO2s are extremely quiet on the highway
Goodyear Duratracs are loud on the highway
BFG KO2s are extremely quiet on the highway
thennen
New member
Expound, please. What is your experience? I’m wondering about Michelin LTX A/T2 tires myself. For mostly on-road, but wanting to be ready for a bit more than that, plus snow, they seem like a good fit to me.
MannMade82
Member
General Grabber ATX. Super affordable, great traction, quiet, and look good too.
Jetboy
New member
FWIW - Goodyear ATS.
Yeah, they've been around a long time. But I've had 3 sets on 2 4Runners and a Suburban. Never once had a flat in any of them. They last forever. Super quiet. And do very well on most dirt/snow/wet conditions. And they're pretty cheap too! - Normally they run about $125/ea, but current inflation prices are a bit higher. I've seen them on sale during holiday sales for under $400/set. Not a mud tire by any stretch of the imagination. I'd buy them over the the Toyo AT2's I had without hesitation if they made them in the size I want. The AT2 didn't last long for me. I had a lot of issues with them and went through half a dozen replacements over about 2 years I had them and finally Discount tire ended up just tossing them and giving me credit for something else. I bought Cooper AT3s and they've been rock solid - but I don't daily drive them. They'd be fine for it, but they're 34" tires and the wheels are really chewed up from the rocks, so I keep them for mostly offroad trips. I have a set of street tires that are a bit smaller for daily driver duty.
I currently have Cooper HT Plus for my street tires. They're quiet, smooth, and have tread equally aggressive as most ATs - it's a result of how they scale up to larger sizes. I don't think they make them in anything smaller than about a 33" diameter and I think the smallest wheel is 19 or 20". They're starting to make more noise now that they're maybe 75% worn. It's time to replace. But I'm not sure with what. I'm planning on moving to a new vehicle soon (I've had my 4R for almost 7 years now and mostly I'm just kind of looking for something new/different), so I'm probably going back to a stock size and stock suspension swap back in before I sell the 4R.
On my F250 I have Michelin LTX A/T2. They're quiet enough I can't ever hear them over the diesel clatter or feel them over the diesel shake. But I'm not sure I could hear bias ply Super Swamper TSL's over the diesel rattle in that POS. It's a crude truck as far as NVH so I just can't tell much. They are something I'd buy again and try on a different vehicle though. Traction is good enough on the highway. I have no real reference because I haven't ever lost traction with them. I don't drift it, it can't do a burnout, and a stock F250 is about as offroad worthy as a Camry. So all I can really say is that they look like great tires for a street oriented AT that can also work okay in the dirt.
Michelin also makes one called a Primacy XC that is bit more street oriented tire that looks kinda like the LTX AT2. Could be a great tire - but they only make them in a few oddball sizes for OEMs right now.
Yeah, they've been around a long time. But I've had 3 sets on 2 4Runners and a Suburban. Never once had a flat in any of them. They last forever. Super quiet. And do very well on most dirt/snow/wet conditions. And they're pretty cheap too! - Normally they run about $125/ea, but current inflation prices are a bit higher. I've seen them on sale during holiday sales for under $400/set. Not a mud tire by any stretch of the imagination. I'd buy them over the the Toyo AT2's I had without hesitation if they made them in the size I want. The AT2 didn't last long for me. I had a lot of issues with them and went through half a dozen replacements over about 2 years I had them and finally Discount tire ended up just tossing them and giving me credit for something else. I bought Cooper AT3s and they've been rock solid - but I don't daily drive them. They'd be fine for it, but they're 34" tires and the wheels are really chewed up from the rocks, so I keep them for mostly offroad trips. I have a set of street tires that are a bit smaller for daily driver duty.
I currently have Cooper HT Plus for my street tires. They're quiet, smooth, and have tread equally aggressive as most ATs - it's a result of how they scale up to larger sizes. I don't think they make them in anything smaller than about a 33" diameter and I think the smallest wheel is 19 or 20". They're starting to make more noise now that they're maybe 75% worn. It's time to replace. But I'm not sure with what. I'm planning on moving to a new vehicle soon (I've had my 4R for almost 7 years now and mostly I'm just kind of looking for something new/different), so I'm probably going back to a stock size and stock suspension swap back in before I sell the 4R.
On my F250 I have Michelin LTX A/T2. They're quiet enough I can't ever hear them over the diesel clatter or feel them over the diesel shake. But I'm not sure I could hear bias ply Super Swamper TSL's over the diesel rattle in that POS. It's a crude truck as far as NVH so I just can't tell much. They are something I'd buy again and try on a different vehicle though. Traction is good enough on the highway. I have no real reference because I haven't ever lost traction with them. I don't drift it, it can't do a burnout, and a stock F250 is about as offroad worthy as a Camry. So all I can really say is that they look like great tires for a street oriented AT that can also work okay in the dirt.
Michelin also makes one called a Primacy XC that is bit more street oriented tire that looks kinda like the LTX AT2. Could be a great tire - but they only make them in a few oddball sizes for OEMs right now.
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Gecko
New member
A lot of good advice given here, but I want those of you who call KO2s "just as quiet as stock" to get back to me with a hearing test. That tire is significantly louder than stock on its very first day installed, even in the softest Load Range C option. I know it - I owned them. Roll the windows down and tell me again that it's as quiet as stock.
As someone else mentioned, "aggressive looks" and "no noise" are mutually exclusive. The things that give the aggressive look make noise, and not having the aggressive tread blocks creates less noise. The other element you haven't considered is MPG... not many buy a 4Runner for its gas mileage prowess, but as you add heavier rolling mass (tires), you're going to lose gas mileage and performance is going to be impacted as well.
I think a lot of people in the 4Runner and off-road community have been sucked into this void over the last few years and it's understandable: We all want that "aggressive look" but to keep the ride and noise we have stock. And just like you, most of us still do 95-98% on road driving.
My .02 on this is to seriously consider your threshold for noise and reduced ride quality, especially with KO2s. Some of the Nittos and Falkens come in P-Rated options which is going to preserve most of your ride quality. The KO2s start at Load Range C for 265/17, and your ride is going to change as a result. It's not going to throw you around like a conestoga wagon, but your "stock ride" will be a thing of the past and you'll have more noise, too. Those tires are also a lot heavier than stock and will cost you 1-2MPG.
I went through this with my two 5th gens. First had the stock tires, then went to KO2s and as much as I loved the look, I got really sick of the noise, ride quality, reduction in MPG and slower acceleration response. I did tons of research - reference this thread - and ended up with the Yokohama Geolandar G015 A/T and actually loved the tire. I noticed it was recommended by someone previously in this thread and I would give it a glowing review. The only thing I will say is that you'd have to have a trained eye to see that it's an A/T tire over stock or something like the Michelins, so I'm not sure it really was the "halfway" point I wanted between something that visually looked like a KO2 but behaved like an OEM tire. Towards the end and before upgrading to my GX 460, I was thinking a lot about just going to the Michelin LTX because I had given up on trying to get an aggressive look. To me, those tradeoffs become harder as the miles go by.
With that said, everyone has a different tolerance for look, ride, noise, MPG and performance... and there are a lot of different options. I'm just surprised that with the boom of the off-road scene over the last five years, BFG hasn't come out with a "KO3" with better wet road performance and that offers a P-rated version because that would probably be one of the best selling tires on the market considering how so many folks just want an A/T look with P-rated performance.
Good luck.
As someone else mentioned, "aggressive looks" and "no noise" are mutually exclusive. The things that give the aggressive look make noise, and not having the aggressive tread blocks creates less noise. The other element you haven't considered is MPG... not many buy a 4Runner for its gas mileage prowess, but as you add heavier rolling mass (tires), you're going to lose gas mileage and performance is going to be impacted as well.
I think a lot of people in the 4Runner and off-road community have been sucked into this void over the last few years and it's understandable: We all want that "aggressive look" but to keep the ride and noise we have stock. And just like you, most of us still do 95-98% on road driving.
My .02 on this is to seriously consider your threshold for noise and reduced ride quality, especially with KO2s. Some of the Nittos and Falkens come in P-Rated options which is going to preserve most of your ride quality. The KO2s start at Load Range C for 265/17, and your ride is going to change as a result. It's not going to throw you around like a conestoga wagon, but your "stock ride" will be a thing of the past and you'll have more noise, too. Those tires are also a lot heavier than stock and will cost you 1-2MPG.
I went through this with my two 5th gens. First had the stock tires, then went to KO2s and as much as I loved the look, I got really sick of the noise, ride quality, reduction in MPG and slower acceleration response. I did tons of research - reference this thread - and ended up with the Yokohama Geolandar G015 A/T and actually loved the tire. I noticed it was recommended by someone previously in this thread and I would give it a glowing review. The only thing I will say is that you'd have to have a trained eye to see that it's an A/T tire over stock or something like the Michelins, so I'm not sure it really was the "halfway" point I wanted between something that visually looked like a KO2 but behaved like an OEM tire. Towards the end and before upgrading to my GX 460, I was thinking a lot about just going to the Michelin LTX because I had given up on trying to get an aggressive look. To me, those tradeoffs become harder as the miles go by.
With that said, everyone has a different tolerance for look, ride, noise, MPG and performance... and there are a lot of different options. I'm just surprised that with the boom of the off-road scene over the last five years, BFG hasn't come out with a "KO3" with better wet road performance and that offers a P-rated version because that would probably be one of the best selling tires on the market considering how so many folks just want an A/T look with P-rated performance.
Good luck.
2021nightshade4x4
New member
Tire noise shouldn’t matter so much anymore.
2021 4Runner is incredibly quiet inside. And that’s coming from a full size Range Rover previously, with all the noise deadening, acoustic glass, and expense that goes with it.
4Runner doors might sound like a Tuna can but once you’re in it’s comparably quiet. Bravo.
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2021 4Runner is incredibly quiet inside. And that’s coming from a full size Range Rover previously, with all the noise deadening, acoustic glass, and expense that goes with it.
4Runner doors might sound like a Tuna can but once you’re in it’s comparably quiet. Bravo.
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Bruin1md
New member
All great points and I couldn’t agree more about the KO2.
When I had my 2016 GX460, I put on E load KO2 285’s. Amazing puncture resistance for driving the crappy roads that I did but they were pretty loud tires.
Furthermore, they were HORRIBLE in the rain for wet traction.
After that, I said no more to KO2’s, and I learned my lesson for not paying attention to the load rating when I ordered these.
I’m pleasantly surprised by the stock Nitto’s on my TRD pro. They are fairly quiet but they do SO much better in the rain than the KO2’s ever did. And yes I realize they’re P rated tires.
Consequently, I may look hard at the Second Gen Terra grappler G2’s next time around.
Gecko: What did you end putting on your GX460? The Geolanders ?
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I also agree about the noise. The KO2's are definately louder than the OEM P tires. But, I have never had a problem with the KO2's in the rain tho'. I am running the 6 ply (load Range C) so I don't know if the 10 ply are worse or not in the wet.
honda250xtitan
New member
for how aggressive ko2's are, they are quiet. but theyre not quiet compared to the cooper at3 XLT. the coopers are wayyyyy quieter but they sacrifice some offroad traction. Very aggressive sidewall though so aesthetically theyre pretty sweet IMO.
85GT-79FJ40
New member
I've been looking into those Yoko's myself. I'm about 23k miles into a set of 285/70/17 Toyo AT3's and I am SO ready to get them off the truck. I do love the look of a more aggressive A/T tire. I've been driving and modifying Toyota 4x4's for over 25 years. LOTS of sets of BFG A/T's over the years and I love them. But they aren't quiet. Quieter than a set of mud tires sure. On my 5th gen I swapped out the stock dunlops for Grabber ATX's in SL load in the stock size within a week of getting the truck as a CPO with a recent set of dunlops installed. I loved those tires. Just as I had loved the grabber AT2's I had put on one of my tacomas. Sure they were a little louder than stock but handling was good and snow performance was great. Then I lifted it and went 285's with the Toyos after bad balance issues with Falkens and really not loving BFG's on the truck for 3 days. So I went with the new at the time Toyo AT3's. Initially smooth as glass and great road manners. About 3 months in I took the truck on vacation and drove about 8 hours on the highway at 80mph fully loaded. When I got back I noticed some slight cupping. Got it aligned again. It was actually fine. Brand new 5100's and JBA uppers, all new front end bushings... Started rotating them every oil change. They are so badly worn now and so incredibly loud I am done with them. I have had quieter mud tires. And they are almost at the wear bars just a little over a year later. Not to mention they absolutely are horrible in the rain and forget about snow.
Nick Nostril
Member
Hmmm, I thought I was the only one
:I'll second this. I have about a 1k miles on my Scorpions and can confirm all that you said. Awesome rain traction, dunno about snow but they are 3 peak rated. I haven't noticed any increase in noise (or very little) and neither has my wife.
As for off road: I've had occasion to drive on grassy hills and in some mud and they acquitted themselves very nicely.
Gecko
New member
I hear good things about the TGs, so I hope they work out for you if you go that route.
I'm leaving the GX stock for now, and mine has the Luxury package which comes with the larger 19" wheels (not ideal for off-road driving but... read on). The tire is a Dunlop GrandTrek AT23 and I have no qualms with on-road driving so far. I attended ToMoCo's "HQ Confidential" event in Plano in June and as part of it we threw GXs around an off-road course that included ruts and logs, an uphill rock crawl, tons of mud, water crossing, etc. and the GXs in use were Sport Designs which have the same 19" tires and wheels as mine. After that thorough trashing, I was downright shocked with the Dunlops and figure they will be plenty for anything I could use them for.
Not really too keen on modifying the GX. It's a great package for me as-is.
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Hmmm, I thought I was the only one
I'll second this. I have about a 1k miles on my Scorpions and can confirm all that you said. Awesome rain traction, dunno about snow but they are 3 peak rated. I haven't noticed any increase in noise (or very little) and neither has my wife.
As for off road: I've had occasion to drive on grassy hills and in some mud and they acquitted themselves very nicely.
I must agree wholeheartedly.
I have 25K on a set of Pirelli Scorpion All Terain Plus tires and have had them in heavy rain, tons of snow (we are skiers), mud, gravel roads and rock climbing. They handle all this stuff very well.
They also look great, are super-quiet on the road and are the best-handling A/T tire I have ever used at high speed on the freeway. We spend a ton of time in Montana with its 80mph speed limits, and these tires handle like race car tires at 90mph.
They did not effect my MPG after installation, either.
While I don't think I will get the full 50K on these before I need to replace them (I work them hard on basalt rock and drive 85-90mph over thousands of miles in summer temperatures), I do expect that 40-45K is quite realistic as I still have 9/32 after just over 26K. This is more than acceptable for the non-existent road noise and snow traction alone.
They are sexy-looking AF, too!
All this being said, I got 94K (honestly!!!) on a set of KO2s and they were great. Can't argue with that. And a buddy of mine has Firestone Destination X/Ts on his T4R and they are the bees knees....quiet, rugged and super-capable in all kinds of stuff.
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CarlsbadWyatt
New member
Tire size and rating is just as important as which brand. I went with Toyo AT3 SL since most of my miles are highway and I was trying to avoid the weight and noise of the E rated tires. The SL also have a 65k mile warranty vs 50k on the E rated. I have just over 10k miles on them and they have been perfect.
Sportsfreac
New member
My vote would be for the Falken Wildpeak AT3's. We've had them on the 4runner since August of 2018 and have around 28K miles on them. They are just as quiet as the stock tires, however, the ride is stiffer(in a good way), the tires also look far better in person than what most website pictures show. They have handled the summer downpours in Central Alabama great. We have had them on a few trails and they performed great, didn't throw a lot of rocks or dirt(compared to my Toyo M/T's on my F-150). They have appeared to be a great value so far and the quality appears to be very good.
