Shortage of AT tires, considering 'cheap' MT in meantime.

[Endlessblockades]

Many of the big retailers I've called are out of stock (with a 2+ month ETA) for many popular AT tires in 265/75/16. Seems a lot of ppl tired-up already and I missed the boat. Discount (America's Tire) Tires put me on hold and called Michelin (so they said) about KO2s and were told there are QTY 2 in Canada but not a full set available in the US in distro. Can this be? As a result I'm considering some cheaper offish-brand MTs like the Milestar Patagonias for now and just hold off on getting some quality long-term ATs. I/m thinking there may be some new designs/options coming out in 2021.

The 2000 LTD I bought a few months ago has Toyo highway tires that are the only thing holding me back from real off road fun this Summer.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Bad Luck]

Many of the big retailers I've called are out of stock (with a 2+ month ETA) for many popular AT tires in 265/75/16. Seems a lot of ppl tired-up already and I missed the boat. Discount (America's Tire) Tires put me on hold and called Michelin (so they said) about KO2s and were told there are QTY 2 in Canada but not a full set available in the US in distro. Can this be? As a result I'm considering some cheaper offish-brand MTs like the Milestar Patagonias for now and just hold off on getting some quality long-term ATs. I/m thinking there may be some new designs/options coming out in 2021.

The 2000 LTD I bought a few months ago has Toyo highway tires that are the only thing holding me back from real off road fun this Summer.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Not exactly what you're looking for, but I always use this website to look at different tires and prices within a specific tire size: 265/75R16 Tires

I would highly recommend falken wildpeak at3 if you want an all terrain similar to KO2's

 

[MStudt]

I would highly recommend falken wildpeak at3

The AT3's are great tires, and you won't regret getting them.

Mike

 

[UnderFire]

Don't limit yourself to one particular tire or dealer. There's about 10 tires I can think of off the top of my head that are comparable to the KO2's.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

 

[Endlessblockades]

The AT3's are great tires, and you won't regret getting them.

Mike

AT3's seem to be out of stock (and often out-of-round, apparently). However, I would overlook that and order a set if I could.

I'm desperate for anything at this point. There appears to be an industry-wide shortage of 265/75/16

Edit - F it, I went with some kooky MTs that I already have sold to a buddy in Tahoe when mudding season starts. The Patagonias have to be shipped from AZ but were the only option I could find and get on in time for the 4th of July weekend. Cheaper than most all ATs too. Viva Taiwan. I won't buy anything from mainland China if there is nearly any other option.

 

[Endlessblockades]

Don't limit yourself to one particular tire or dealer. There's about 10 tires I can think of off the top of my head that are comparable to the KO2's.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

I did try a BUNCH of chain retailers as well as the usual mailorder ppl. 2 sales dudes did mention a seasonal shortage but I suspect there are additional reasons - maybe Covid logistics. Not sure, but I was surprised that I couldn't just say "give me 4 of your xxxx"

 

[JLTD]

AT3's seem to be out of stock (and often out-of-round, apparently). However, I would overlook that and order a set if I could.

I'm desperate for anything at this point. There appears to be an industry-wide shortage of 265/75/16

Edit - F it, I went with some kooky MTs that I already have sold to a buddy in Tahoe when mudding season starts. The Patagonias have to be shipped from AZ but were the only option I could find and get on in time for the 4th of July weekend. Cheaper than most all ATs too. Viva Taiwan. I won't buy anything from mainland China if there is nearly any other option.

Dude don't know what you are talking about there were lots of AT tires available in that size right here:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...6&rearWidth=255/&rearRatio=40&rearDiameter=17

And here: Find 265/75R16 Tires | America's Tire

But I see you bought something.

Wondering though, what would have been wrong with doing some mild wheeling with the street tires while waiting for what you really wanted?

 

[Endlessblockades]

Dude don't know what you are talking about there were lots of AT tires available in that size right here:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...6&rearWidth=255/&rearRatio=40&rearDiameter=17

And here: Find 265/75R16 Tires | America's Tire

But I see you bought something.

Wondering though, what would have been wrong with doing some mild wheeling with the street tires while waiting for what you really wanted?

I appreciate the link but look at the fine print on the Tire Rack one (right side of the screen)

Availability: 07/18/20
Can be delivered Wednesday, 07/22

That's a month away. BFG's owner Michelin said there are 2 KO2s in NA - in Canada. That was called in by the guy at America's/Discount tire. I didn't believe it but shopped around and found 'Delayed' messages on all the sites from Simple Tire to 4Wheel Parts.They want you to put them in your cart, but they don't exist. Someone somewhere may have local stock, but I spent enough time looking. Anyway, I can have a real mall crawler look for 5 months and pass them along to a buddy without losing a ton of money. The MTs I bought are $742 a set mounted whereas KO2s were going to be close to a thousand. Oh well, I just found it noteworthy that this shortage seems to exist. Maybe some others are having this experience as well.

About mild wheeling on street tires - I did some of that last weekend and that's no fun. Life is short - I'm goin muddin! (Dustin' is probably more like it)
:bounce:

 

[JLTD]

Heh heh right on yeah I missed some of those :shrug: but the. Cooper evolution has 4 available for my zip code.

Enjoy dustin'!

 

[UnderFire]

I did try a BUNCH of chain retailers as well as the usual mailorder ppl. 2 sales dudes did mention a seasonal shortage but I suspect there are additional reasons - maybe Covid logistics. Not sure, but I was surprised that I couldn't just say "give me 4 of your xxxx"

Odd. I've yet to see any kind of shortage working at a very high volume tire shop, we don't carry BFG but have done a handful of special orders for them Scott free over the last couple months.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

 

[MStudt]

AT3's seem to be out of stock (and often out-of-round, apparently). However, I would overlook that and order a set if I could.

I'm desperate for anything at this point. There appears to be an industry-wide shortage of 265/75/16

Edit - F it, I went with some kooky MTs that I already have sold to a buddy in Tahoe when mudding season starts. The Patagonias have to be shipped from AZ but were the only option I could find and get on in time for the 4th of July weekend. Cheaper than most all ATs too. Viva Taiwan. I won't buy anything from mainland China if there is nearly any other option.

Check local!

Do you have a Discount Tire in your area? I just called the one in Euegen Oregon, and they have the AT3's on the floor for $179/ea, but they only have 6 of them. They also have the BFG KO2's on the floor for $195. If you plan on taking a trip I'm more than happy to pick something up, and hang onto them for you.

This is my opinion, but I won't buy anything other Wildpeak's after the last couple sets that I've had. I'm on my second pair of my 4runner, and have a very new set on my Rover. The first pair had aound 85k miles on them, and never had an issue. I also plan on putting their 35x12.5x17 on my new project when it's ready.

Mike

 

[Dieselchessy]

265/70r16 is more common and not much smaller.

 

[Bad Luck]

AT3's seem to be out of stock (and often out-of-round, apparently). However, I would overlook that and order a set if I could.

I'm desperate for anything at this point. There appears to be an industry-wide shortage of 265/75/16

Edit - F it, I went with some kooky MTs that I already have sold to a buddy in Tahoe when mudding season starts. The Patagonias have to be shipped from AZ but were the only option I could find and get on in time for the 4th of July weekend. Cheaper than most all ATs too. Viva Taiwan. I won't buy anything from mainland China if there is nearly any other option.

In stock and available from all these listed here Falken Wildpeak A/T3W 265/75R16

 

[Tommy854runner]

I just put on a set of Goodyear Duratracs in the 265-75-16 size and love them.
Make a little noise but otherwise the road manners are pretty awesome and they pull very well off road. I just checked the atlanta area and they are showing 12 in stock in various warehouses.

 

[Endlessblockades]

Check local!

Do you have a Discount Tire in your area? I just called the one in Euegen Oregon, and they have the AT3's on the floor for $179/ea, but they only have 6 of them. They also have the BFG KO2's on the floor for $195. If you plan on taking a trip I'm more than happy to pick something up, and hang onto them for you.

This is my opinion, but I won't buy anything other Wildpeak's after the last couple sets that I've had. I'm on my second pair of my 4runner, and have a very new set on my Rover. The first pair had aound 85k miles on them, and never had an issue. I also plan on putting their 35x12.5x17 on my new project when it's ready.

Mike

That is a super kind offer, Mike and i was actually planning to pick up a set of tires in Oregon next month during a family vacation to Bend/Sisters, but can't wait. I could have found WP AT3s locally, but since i have such a short time frame before a Tahoe 4th of July trip next weekend, I was getting worried that if I had a balancing issue due to the relatively high number of out-of-rounds they seem to find (per Discount Tire rep) that a replacement would be hard to get in time. Even on their sites, when it say In Stock, it also says In stock, normally delivers within 2-5 business days 'Normally'.
Anyway, I live in a fairly large metro area and there are 28 Discount Tires within 75 miles, not one had stock on the floor. Maybe all the CA mall crawlers wiped out the stock during Covid boredom. Thank you for all the input. Yesterday I went on Craigslist for the hell of it and up pops a set of 2000 Star wheels (same as mine) with KO2s at 50% and 75% tread that i could get for 350-400. That would allow me to keep my current stars with the nice Toyo Open Country highway tires as a backup. if the Patagonias don't show up or there is an issue, I'll go used if they are still available, keep the 50%ers as spares and get 2 new tires to match the 75%ers.

Crikey, this is an adventure.

 

[994wd]

Sounds like you got everything figured out! Wish you the best of luck with your 2 sets of wheels and tires