Worried about AT Tire Rain Performance
- Thread starter alext72888
- Start date
Woz1976-MT
New member
I'll pitch for the Cooper Discoverer A/Tw's. I have the LT's -- a couple of weeks ago I was experimenting in some thick mud and wet dirt trails on the east side of Glacier National Park. They got my TE up a rutted, muddy, wet/sloppy hill without the need for 4WD.
I also drove through South Dakota during a torrential, though short, thunderstorm. I was still doing 75 mph (80 mph zone) passing just about every vehicle around. Totally secure in rain and deep puddles building up on the interstate.
Granted, I'm in Montana so the "regional" issue doesn't affect me. But, even if you had to order them, I'd say it's worth it. I ordered the tires before I took delivery of my TE and had the dealer switch all 5 tires when it was delivered to the dealer.
I also drove through South Dakota during a torrential, though short, thunderstorm. I was still doing 75 mph (80 mph zone) passing just about every vehicle around. Totally secure in rain and deep puddles building up on the interstate.
Granted, I'm in Montana so the "regional" issue doesn't affect me. But, even if you had to order them, I'd say it's worth it. I ordered the tires before I took delivery of my TE and had the dealer switch all 5 tires when it was delivered to the dealer.
Aurora85
New member
I'll read great threads like this one and start to really lean toward the at3's, but then see posts like yours about the balancing issues. Seems common for this tire. Makes me a bit gun shy about coopers even though the price is so great.
TrailPJ
New member
Living in S. Florida, rain performance is a big consideration and my KO2s have been excellent in the rain and wet roads that we frequently have.
Someone mentioned Bridgestone Revos; I had those on a 3rd gen and they were great in the rain and dirt as well.
Good luck!! Just note that once you get new tires on your 4Runner, you're going to want to go explore a whole lot more
Someone mentioned Bridgestone Revos; I had those on a 3rd gen and they were great in the rain and dirt as well.
Good luck!! Just note that once you get new tires on your 4Runner, you're going to want to go explore a whole lot more
ToyoDriver
New member
Living in S. Florida, rain performance is a big consideration and my KO2s have been excellent in the rain and wet roads that we frequently have.
Someone mentioned Bridgestone Revos; I had those on a 3rd gen and they were great in the rain and dirt as well.
Good luck!! Just note that once you get new tires on your 4Runner, you're going to want to go explore a whole lot more
This is good to hear. I had 33" KOs on a Wrangler TJ and they sucked kind of hard in the rain...which from June-Sept is quite a bit.
I got my KO2s right after Matthew and they haven't seen any wet roads. I've been really curious about them.
1engineer
Moderator
I have had three sets and had zero issues with the Cooper AT3'S.
You need to remember two things please:
1. This is the internet and some things you read are not quite true lol.
2. And this is important... When someone has a problem or issue they feel compelled to tell people. When something goes right most people just accept it and tell no one. So you reading about balancing issues are from most people who have a problem. You aren't hearing about the vast majority of people who have no problems.
The balancing issue doesn't seem to affect everyone. Some folks have no issues with balance on the AT3. I can say I definitely have though, but I still think it's a very good tire. Larger, heavier tires are harder to balance no matter what brand you have.
You could talk to the installers when you are shopping around for a set and see what they have to say about the AT3 and balancing. The balancing problems may be a small percentage at the shops. It could be on the higher side as well. I would be interested to know.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
I had the original KO's on my Nissan pickup and yes they sucked in the rain especially at highway speeds. After doing extensive research and talking to a few people I ended up going with the KO2's.I have about 2k miles on my T4R and the KO2's and they are significantly better in the rain then the originals.
Keep in mind I am not saying they are the absolute best tire but many people that complain about KO's have not had direct experience with the KO2's
Keep in mind I am not saying they are the absolute best tire but many people that complain about KO's have not had direct experience with the KO2's
Friggin Idiot
Senior Member
I posted a 21kmi review of the KO2's the other day. Not satisfied I swapped to the Discoverer AT/3's in same size C load.
ToyoDriver
New member
Nice review, thanks for sharing. But Comparing KO2 E load to any C Load tires is Apples to Firetrucks.
The C load KO2s are a world of difference. I can't compare them directly to the AT/3s (which are great tires) but I do know the 275 KO2s suck donkey dick compared to the 265 E load.
Friggin Idiot
Senior Member
I would expect to be wet weather performance to be similar across the same line of tire. While the surface friction and weight distribution for different sizes will be a little different due to the laws of physics, I don't expect that a manufacturer would change the compound formula between sizes. This thread was in reference to wet weather performance, hence I wasn't suggesting the review for a ride comparison.
Just trying to give a perspective from someone who ran a tire for lots of miles in varied weather and had a little wear on it. The wear did change how the tire and truck handled, which seemed to be the OP's concern. If anything the change in handling is what I was most disappointed with. I knew the ride would be rougher with E's, and in conjunction with the weather concerns was enough for me to change tires.
Copper78
New member
KO2 here load C. Highway rain experience has been good for me. Was in a 1 hr monsoon driving up to Milwaukee. No issues including when a motorcycle decided to merge in front of and having to slam on the brakes to keep him from being an organ donor.
Only issue is when starting slowly from a stop they don't immediately grip in the rain.
Only issue is when starting slowly from a stop they don't immediately grip in the rain.
Throwback
New member
BFG KO2 - Load Range C (not E) Wet Performance?
I'm getting analysis paralysis even though I already have a set of 265/70/17 LR:C tires on my '14 TE. Thanks to the internet I am now aware of many horror stories about hydroplaning, excessive ABS activation, and general poor wet weather performance with the BFG AT KO2s.
There was even a thread yesterday from a member who swapped out KO2s for Cooper AT3s due to what he described as dangerous wet asphalt performance, so things are looking pretty poor for the tire.
However, I'm starting to think that most of those who experience these ill effects are running a Load Range E tire, not a stock size Load Range C. I'd like to get some feedback on this from folks running either load range. I'm no engineer or tire expert but I am wondering if the stiffer Load Range E tire causes such little contact patch that the tire cannot get proper traction.
I have 10 days left on my 30 day "ride satisfaction guarantee" period so if I'm about to head into the wet season on tires that are dangerous for my wife and I to drive in wet, dark, congested conditions I need to remedy that ASAP.
I posted this in the 5th Gen forum since there's been several threads about AT tire wet performance, and I'm specifically interested in the tire sizes for 5th Gens.
:rain:
I'm getting analysis paralysis even though I already have a set of 265/70/17 LR:C tires on my '14 TE. Thanks to the internet I am now aware of many horror stories about hydroplaning, excessive ABS activation, and general poor wet weather performance with the BFG AT KO2s.
There was even a thread yesterday from a member who swapped out KO2s for Cooper AT3s due to what he described as dangerous wet asphalt performance, so things are looking pretty poor for the tire.
However, I'm starting to think that most of those who experience these ill effects are running a Load Range E tire, not a stock size Load Range C. I'd like to get some feedback on this from folks running either load range. I'm no engineer or tire expert but I am wondering if the stiffer Load Range E tire causes such little contact patch that the tire cannot get proper traction.
I have 10 days left on my 30 day "ride satisfaction guarantee" period so if I'm about to head into the wet season on tires that are dangerous for my wife and I to drive in wet, dark, congested conditions I need to remedy that ASAP.
I posted this in the 5th Gen forum since there's been several threads about AT tire wet performance, and I'm specifically interested in the tire sizes for 5th Gens.
:rain:
Approaching 20k on ours and they have been nothing but a good tire for us. Snow and rain have brought no issues.
I have been researching tires the last couple of weeks and came across the new Yokohama Geolandar AT G015. I have never owned a set of Yokohama tires but looking at the design and amount of siping on it this tire should do well in the rain. It's also severe snow service rated.
I don't see it doing well in the mud but I read a couple of articles where they tested the tire and said it had good off-road traction on dirt, sand, rocky trails, and slick-rock sandstone, but it didn't look like an extensive test.
This is one of the articles I read.
Tire Review: Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015
The tire doesn't look bad either.
The LT 265/70/17 E load has a 31.9" diameter and 18/32" tread depth. That's the deepest I've seen in that size with the exception of the Falken AT3W that is exactly the same.
I don't see it doing well in the mud but I read a couple of articles where they tested the tire and said it had good off-road traction on dirt, sand, rocky trails, and slick-rock sandstone, but it didn't look like an extensive test.
This is one of the articles I read.
Tire Review: Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015
The tire doesn't look bad either.
The LT 265/70/17 E load has a 31.9" diameter and 18/32" tread depth. That's the deepest I've seen in that size with the exception of the Falken AT3W that is exactly the same.
007Tacoma
New member
...I should let you know, all tire reviews (especially peer reviews) are extremely subjective. People may have the exact same tire, but that is where the similarities in a comparative test will stop. Everyone drives differently on different roads, with different driving techniques, with different road surface, with different temperatures, with different oils and debris on the road, with different traffic, with different speeds, with different vehicles (granted - mostly the same on here), with different loads in their vehicle, and in many cases with different suspension (gotta keep those tires "grounded to the ground" - thanks Camry commercial).
In 'short' - only a same day, same road, same driver, same vehicle, same conditions test will net you with accurate assessments of differences in any two tires.
...but opinions can helpish...:focus:
In 'short' - only a same day, same road, same driver, same vehicle, same conditions test will net you with accurate assessments of differences in any two tires.
...but opinions can helpish...:focus:
gm350reratliff
New member
I ran this exact tire on my 4th gen for over a year (roughly 15k) and didn't have any issues. During that time period, the tires were driven through just about every condition imaginable did great. There was only one instance where I thought the traction was lacking but it was on a very steep, muddy, rocky hill climb by Ouray CO and it was after I aired up from coming out of a trail but I didn't feel like airing down again. Had I aired down, they probably would've climbed right up. The only reasons I switched them out was that I wanted a taller tire, found an amazing deal on some ST Maxx, and found a buyer for my BFGs all in the same day. I will be installing some KO2's on my 5th gen in the next few months.
LandCruiser
New member
A lot of people run these in CO all year round with no problems.
I maintain your issue is a subjective one.
I maintain your issue is a subjective one.
