Anyone running BFG TA KO2 tires on their offroad TC rigs?

silversand wrote:
Is there anyone out there running the new KO2 BFGs on their rigs?

We're now running Duratrac meats on our rig, but would like to gather info on these babies...

LT285/75R16 (126/123R) E (3750 lbs @ 80 PSI)

Nope just bought new tires 3 weeks ago but could not get them in my size for my dually.

So now second set of Duratracs which I have loved! The tire store said on the new KO2s I could likely get them in March or April when more sizes will be available....but I'll stick with the DuraTracs this round.

Silver,

It's a little more than a ski weekend :-O We've been at our condo in Colorado since December 20. It's at 8000' in the Rockies and we've received about 3' of powder since we've been here. I'm taking it easy with a new knee that's only 8 weeks old and it's been a challenge.

The Toyo AT2's have performed flawlessly here with the additional siping. I've only had to engage 4wd once over Monarch Pass. Most of the time where we are the roads are rarely plowed. These tires are amazing in packed snow and ice but unfortunately no stamp on them. We drove out here over the Sierras in rain too which was a 1200 mile trip. These tires performed just as well on wet pavement as my old M/T's. I can't wait to try them out in the mud/dirt. The weight rating is a whopping 4080 too.

Steve

I've always had good luck with BFG ATs over the years. Not my fave but still a good all around tire. Biggest gripe I've had is BFGs have consistently taken the most weight to balance out.
As far as off road with a heavy camper my only exp is with Toyo MTs and they worked well. 4500lb camper on my Ram and lots of backroad running in AK for 2 summers without one flat. Tires were rated 3950lb each and I was maxed out on tire load for sure.

Thanks Steve. I think I'll put the BFG KO2s on my "watch list" (considering Kholdad's experience: very few in use; your neg experience with destruction; my neg experience with cracking)...

Kholdad:

The only snow cert. tires with meaningful use statistics I could find, were:

Goodyear Silent Armor ( LT285/65R18, E Pro-Grade, 3640 lbs)

and:

DuraTrac LT295 / 65R18, E, 3860 lbs)

Just be warned that the Duratrac tires are extremely expensive (considered an industrial-grade tire rather than consumer grade). I paid well over $300 CAD each + balancing, + 4-wheel alignment (all 4 had manufac. date stamp of 3~5 weeks of age: very fresh; when you buy these tires in our neck of the woods, the dealer insists on a 4 wheel alignment, and follow up allignments every 2 years). Since I had GM do an alignment only 4 months earlier, my tire dealer's machine showed excellent numbers (ie. they didn't want to fool with the already good numbers), so I wasn't charged. My tire dealer services only large rigs, Class As, farm tractors, and local businesses, and have a superb reputation. Free life-time rotation.

On edit: The Mad (gotta love that handle!), good point.

Thanks bcbouy for the BC snow tires law confirm (detailed!) !

Oh, Steve: have a great ski weekend ! We finally got snow here; everyone open now, even our local mountain 3-kms from our front door (all trails). Just a bit coolish (in the -43F to -12F wind-chill range over past week); this means: so skiing in shorts and T-shirt :B

bcbouy wrote:
in bc after oct.1 to march 31 all passenger cars and rv's must have m+s or snow tires to travel high elevation mountain passes and a couple high elevation hiways.almost all m/t and a lot of a/t tires meet the standards for bc.did you look at the toyo m55?judging by quebec laws it might be easier to mount a separate set of tires for winter driving.you are very limited in snow tires.

problem with the M55 Toyo is the very hard rubber compound they use. Yes, it is a good, long lasting tire but very poor in cold conditions. Although studding it would help.


:h
I must admit confusion here, but I think that the Toyo Open Country C/T linked to by kohldad and the Toyo Open Country R/T I mentioned earlier are actually the same tire. One for Canadian sales and the other for the US.

in bc after oct.1 to march 31 all passenger cars and rv's must have m+s or snow tires to travel high elevation mountain passes and a couple high elevation hiways.almost all m/t and a lot of a/t tires meet the standards for bc.did you look at the toyo m55?judging by quebec laws it might be easier to mount a separate set of tires for winter driving.you are very limited in snow tires.

Checked the Toyo site and found only the Open Country CT has mention of the snow cert logo. Unfortunately, not in the size you need.

And if you are wondering why I keep posting helping you find the tire is because I'm looking at options for my next tire which must be capable of running in the snow on my snow runs.

silversand wrote:
Hi Steve!

Wow. Just to clarify: was it the TA/Ko or TA/KO2 BFGs that cracked and delaminated? I would never go back to BFG TA/Ko tires; after just 3 years of use, all 4 of mine cracked severely between tread blocks and completely around all 4 sidewalls (I had scrapped them ~7 years ago for set of Micheline LTX AT2). I liked them before they cracked up (used them all over the Chaco area and VOG on the TC rig), so I was hoping to gather lots of TC rig anecdotes IF the KO2s are being used at all on heavier rigs...

I'll have to seriously look at those Toyos. Are you aware of the winter rated stamp being on any of the Toyo line-up ? Unfortunately, this year in Quebec, all heavy-duty trucks are required to have the special snow/ice rating stamped on tires used after mid December, or major fine (I believe that British Columbia has the same winter tire law, too), or i'd have the tires of my choice siped.

Silver,

The tires were TA/KO's that cracked and delaminated. But when Michelin told me they would not warrant the truck damage I was done with BFG. We're up on the mountain today but will check on the stamp when we return.

Steve

I don't think you are going to find many folks with actual KO2 usage, definitely not long term since they were only released November. These are a new release and the new sizes are still being released. My 18" tire size won't be released until March this year.

My guess though is if you are unhappy with the KO, you won't be happy with the KO2.

Did some checking and found out the these two rinks which may help you out. They show 5 tires which all should have your size. Toyo was not one of the tires, but tirerack carries them at least in the size you are looking at getting.

Non-Winter Tires That Meet the Industry's Severe Snow Service Standards

Hi Steve!

Wow. Just to clarify: was it the TA/Ko or TA/KO2 BFGs that cracked and delaminated? I would never go back to BFG TA/Ko tires; after just 3 years of use, all 4 of mine cracked severely between tread blocks and completely around all 4 sidewalls (I had scrapped them ~7 years ago for set of Micheline LTX AT2). I liked them before they cracked up (used them all over the Chaco area and VOG on the TC rig), so I was hoping to gather lots of TC rig anecdotes IF the KO2s are being used at all on heavier rigs...

I'll have to seriously look at those Toyos. Are you aware of the winter rated stamp being on any of the Toyo line-up ? Unfortunately, this year in Quebec, all heavy-duty trucks are required to have the special snow/ice rating stamped on tires used after mid December, or major fine (I believe that British Columbia has the same winter tire law, too), or i'd have the tires of my choice siped.