Tire pressure for BFG KO2's

[Randyman...]

RE: [MENTION=223330]Frasty[/MENTION] - Are the adhesive balance weights coming off by chance? Seems odd to be "in balance" one day and "out of balance" the next. You can get harmonic constructive interference that will amplify balance issues based off the relative position of the tires against each other - but that should come-and-go as you make turns and crap...

I have mine "road force balanced" (balance of wheel and tire against each other as well as "in round" considerations both taken into account) at Discount Tire when purchased (have to go to a location further away as the one closest to me does not have the proper Hunter Road Force balancer in-store). Have them perform the road-force balance procedure AT YOUR DESIRED PSI as well. That along with making sure the tech is using the proper Toyota adapter cone and that the wheel is "true" on the machine can make a lot of difference...


Back to Tire Pressure:
I run my KO2 C-Load's at 42psi on stock SR5 wheels. I do get some pre-mature center wear - but I'm one to take the tradeoffs of a better ride (subjectively), better handling and increased MPG (objectively ) in lieu of additional mileage out of the tires.

 

[mrblah]

285/70/17 K02 for the last 10k miles, and had them at 36 w/ no uneven tire wear, and very good ride comfort. I decided to bump them up to 40 psi, and noticed that the ride is much firmer, but at least my tires don't look flat.

I haven't calculated difference in MPG yet, but at 36 ft/lb it was pretty bad (due to a variety of conditions).

 

[Frasty]

RE: [MENTION=223330]Frasty[/MENTION] - Are the adhesive balance weights coming off by chance? Seems odd to be "in balance" one day and "out of balance" the next. You can get harmonic constructive interference that will amplify balance issues based off the relative position of the tires against each other - but that should come-and-go as you make turns and crap...

I have mine "road force balanced" (balance of wheel and tire against each other as well as "in round" considerations both taken into account) at Discount Tire when purchased (have to go to a location further away as the one closest to me does not have the proper Hunter Road Force balancer in-store). Have them perform the road-force balance procedure AT YOUR DESIRED PSI as well. That along with making sure the tech is using the proper Toyota adapter cone and that the wheel is "true" on the machine can make a lot of difference...

We don't have Discount Tire up here in the great white north....but I did get it done at reputable national tire shop. Maybe I should just take it to Toyota to balance?

 

[akcc]

I run my 275/55/20 (10ply) Nexen rodian pro ra8 at 38psi cold


When I had 265/50/20 (4 ply) tires, I ran them at 40psi cold (got better gas mileage from 16L/100km down to 14.8L/100km)

 

[cgrigsby79]

We don't have Discount Tire up here in the great white north....but I did get it done at reputable national tire shop. Maybe I should just take it to Toyota to balance?

I posted my experience in the Toyota Steering Wheel Wobble thread, but it took two Discount Tire locations three times to correctly balance my 275/70/17 KO2s. The difference in ride quality is night and day and they are as smooth as my stock Dunlops now. What I have learned is that there is a cheap/fast way that most tires are balanced and a far more in depth method using a "Road Force" machine. In my case, one tire had to be entirely remounted in order to balance correctly, but it is perfect now. No wobble in the steering wheel and my mpg actually went up quite a bit. Averaging 20mpg driving on the highway in the mountains in Colorado with a 3" lift kit!

 

[bigbadpoppa]

Going to install 265/70/17 soon , sounds like 36-38 PSI is ideal if we are talking about maximizing contact patch on in the city / hwy without taking too big of a hit on mileage and comfort? What I'm trying to avoid is uneven tire wear in the center. I live in a Rainy city and also get the occasional dump of snow so even tire wear is very important from edge to edge.

 

[Frasty]

I posted my experience in the Toyota Steering Wheel Wobble thread, but it took two Discount Tire locations three times to correctly balance my 275/70/17 KO2s. The difference in ride quality is night and day and they are as smooth as my stock Dunlops now. What I have learned is that there is a cheap/fast way that most tires are balanced and a far more in depth method using a "Road Force" machine. In my case, one tire had to be entirely remounted in order to balance correctly, but it is perfect now. No wobble in the steering wheel and my mpg actually went up quite a bit. Averaging 20mpg driving on the highway in the mountains in Colorado with a 3" lift kit!

This is the machine they used....I watched them do it two days a row. 2nd day, first tire was 0.25 out, second 0.75 out, third OK and 4th 0.50 out.

 

[cgrigsby79]

This is the machine they used....I watched them do it two days a row. 2nd day, first tire was 0.25 out, second 0.75 out, third OK and 4th 0.50 out.

Read this article...then ask them to do a 'Road Force' balance and see if that fixes your issue. If it doesn't then I would ask for a different set of tires.

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/...MIibX_qvaf2wIVlf5kCh2LEAv7EAAYASAAEgLJRfD_BwE

 

[mrblah]

Are they using weights or are they using beads to balance tires?

 

[Frasty]

Are they using weights or are they using beads to balance tires?

Weights.

 

[Frasty]

Read this article...then ask them to do a 'Road Force' balance and see if that fixes your issue. If it doesn't then I would ask for a different set of tires.

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/...MIibX_qvaf2wIVlf5kCh2LEAv7EAAYASAAEgLJRfD_BwE

Did some Googling....found a bunch of places with a Road Force balancer, my Toyota dealership has one too.

You can find a place here:

https://www.hunter.com/gsp9700

 

[Hadelson]

Run KO2's stock size C rated at 36PSI. My preference is like the ride at this PSI and have even wear. For my driving winter traction is excellent as well as the improved trail off the road driving

One concern I just started to experience: just past 19K and seeing some loss of wet traction. I don't general drive with a heavy foot but am experiencing more breaking loose at starting from a stop, minor hydroplaning when hitting a puddle and last week when entering on-ramp to interstate, kicked down to 4th gear to accelerate and briefly lost rear traction in the rain.

I get this is an AT tire with aggressive tread. That said, it's definitely not a Michelin MS2 in this area were I never experienced this change as the tire aged with mileage on them.

 

[Decipher]

Run KO2's stock size C rated at 36PSI. My preference is like the ride at this PSI and have even wear. For my driving winter traction is excellent as well as the improved trail off the road driving



One concern I just started to experience: just past 19K and seeing some loss of wet traction. I don't general drive with a heavy foot but am experiencing more breaking loose at starting from a stop, minor hydroplaning when hitting a puddle and last week when entering on-ramp to interstate, kicked down to 4th gear to accelerate and briefly lost rear traction in the rain.



I get this is an AT tire with aggressive tread. That said, it's definitely not a Michelin MS2 in this area were I never experienced this change as the tire aged with mileage on them.

This unfortunately is being reported as common for the KO2.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[83Mule]

It's not the KO's........it's the INCREDIBLE power of the Mega 4 Liter! (not!):laugh:

 

[Hadelson]

It's not the KO's........it's the INCREDIBLE power of the Mega 4 Liter! (not!):laugh:

Yup, a 4 wheel rocket.:flame:

 

[Tim122576]

I just mounted my 275/70/17 KO2's E Rated that came balanced from Tirerack on my 18 4Runner TRDOR. They came inflated to 80PSI..after reading this thread it appears I should be running 40psi?

 

[CLO T4R]

I'm on 275/70/17
Daily - 40-43 PSI
Trail - 15-18 PSI

 

[rcfs1834]

Run KO2's stock size C rated at 36PSI. My preference is like the ride at this PSI and have even wear. For my driving winter traction is excellent as well as the improved trail off the road driving

One concern I just started to experience: just past 19K and seeing some loss of wet traction. I don't general drive with a heavy foot but am experiencing more breaking loose at starting from a stop, minor hydroplaning when hitting a puddle and last week when entering on-ramp to interstate, kicked down to 4th gear to accelerate and briefly lost rear traction in the rain.

I get this is an AT tire with aggressive tread. That said, it's definitely not a Michelin MS2 in this area were I never experienced this change as the tire aged with mileage on them.

I also have run into this problem. I have about 20k on my Load E KO2s and I'm finding the exact same issues when it comes to wet traction. I guess I'll have to run Blizzak's this winter because I don't trust the KO2s at all. I run the Load E's at 42psi.

 

[lakerman]

Interesting find on different pressures/ testing

Puncture testing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kz8mmLkeks&t=1s

 

[monnone]

Great info here! Just installed a set of 275/70/17 on stock 2010 wheels. The inflation levels seem to be all over the place but 38-43 seems to be the consensus for E load K02s. I think I'm going to run a chalk test and see what is what.