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Bushwhacked
Member
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2017 01:58am
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So I saw the forum of what vehicle do you use to get to your cabin...... and I agree with a few of the posts... It maters a lot about what TIRES you have on your rig. Id like to ask what people have mud/snow/long gravel roads what tires they have had experience with and what brand/model tire they like and why. Also what rig they have the tires on, I think that makes a difference. Its obviously fall time and Im going to buy some new all season tires in the next month or two and the research I saw was the Cooper Discovery AT/3 were a great tire for a all season (maybe for my rig, a Toyota Truck). I have also heard the new BF Goodrich KO 2's were a re design of the old yet tried and true design that has been around for years and years.
I have had the Goodyear Silent armor and I wasn't impressed with them. I have Bridgestone Dulers now and they were OK in light snow... but I'm past the halfway mark for the total mileage life so they will be a summer only tire now.
I had Geolander on my 4Runner and when new I was SUPER impressed with them.... not so much later on.
Any first hand info would be welcome!
Cheers!
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2017 08:48am
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Each tire is an individual with it's own set of characteristics. One is not better than the other unless weighted against the users needs.
Grip and shed capability.
Noise.
Highway tread.
Rubber compound.
Load rating.
Speed rating.
Cost.
Look at the tread on the Cooper AT3 and the BFG AT KO.
Grip and shed capability.
Cooper AT3, less
BFG AT KO, more
Highway tread.
Cooper AT3, more
BFG AT KO, less
The Goodyear AT made much more noise that the BFG AT.
I ran BFG AT for years on Toyota 4x4 and Ford 4x4. Excellent tires for 50%+ off road use, 50% or less highway.
But now my requirements have changed to 90% highway, 10% off-road/snow. So I went with Michelin's and rely on the 4x4 and momentum to make up for less knobbyness. Three hours on the highway and 20 minutes climbing the mountain - happy drive.
The outer and inner ring of knobby tread will grab and shed the best. Solid middle rings of tread provide high speed lateral control the best.
So use the characteristics list above and assigned weights (1-10) to all your choices, to help make an informed decision.
What someone else uses may not be the best for you.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2017 11:45am
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Here is the BFG AT KO tread.
Side tread has deep and wide knobs.
Middle Highway ribs are knobby.
Overall tread is equally knobby across.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2017 11:48am
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Here is the BFG AT KO and KO2.
What differences can you see?
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2017 11:52am - Edited by: DaveBell
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Here is the MICH LTX AT2.
I went a little to far towards highway tread. What I should have bought was something a little more trail/mud and less highway. Notice the middle ribs are getting close to being solid rings with three nice grooves (rain traction and speed).
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2017 12:03pm
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Here is the BFG Rugged Trail.
How would you characterize this tire tread?
The best tire for you is the tire that fits your needs. Tirerack.com is one site to look at to see differences.
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KinAlberta
Member
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2017 12:37pm - Edited by: KinAlberta
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Yes, tires are a very vehicle specific issue.
About 15 yrs ago we high-centred two small 4x4s getting into our place in the winter. A 80s or 90s Blazer and something else I can’t recall.
The thing was, the snow wasn’t very deep at all but it was wind blown and hard enough to slow and then stop the vehicles. The tires l which I’m certain would have just been all seasons just spun.
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Mr RoC
Member
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2017 10:20pm - Edited by: Mr RoC
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I've got 3.5 km of unmaintained dirt gravel road to get to my cabin door. Come winter time I can be plowing through at least a foot of snow easily. Last winter I ran stock Goodyear SR-A All-Season and tire chains on my 1500 Silverado without any issues. I've got 46000 km on those tires so it may be time to get new tires, we'll wait and see.
I'm leaning towards the Cooper AT/W All-Weather tires for my needs.
Google it and compare it with the AT/3 and see which one fits your needs.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 15 Oct 2017 03:07pm
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Yeah the AT3 look like a poor off road tire, good highway tread. The ATW looks better for off road.
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/cooper-at3-vs-atw-1541857.html
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Borrego
Member
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# Posted: 15 Oct 2017 06:38pm
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I always go with BFG AT's, last forever, great offroad, great on highway, the newer models are quieter than the old ones..
If you need on-road and off-road capabilities from the same tire, these can't be beat IMO...
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Littlecooner
Member
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# Posted: 16 Oct 2017 03:50am
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A buddy of mine has run the BFG AT for years so I put a set on my F150 about three years ago. My road to the cabin is tough, 4 wheel drive only, mix of heavy rocks and some mud. I love these tires, they are wearing well, low road noise and go great in the off road world. I would recommend trying a set if you spent any time off road.
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skootamattaschmidty
Member
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# Posted: 16 Oct 2017 08:07pm
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This is a timely thread for me! We are looking at new tires for our 2013 Jeep Wrangler. The factory tires were Bridgestone duellers which have been amazing. They have 120000km on them and still have life left in them. We have rotated every 10000km and do a five tire rotation which I am sure has helped the longevity.
My wife has little bit of redneck in her and would like something a little more aggressive. I have researched a bunch and I am very impressed with the reviews on the BF gooderich AT K02's. I think it is what we will go with! The above posts have helped convince me! Thanks all
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Borrego
Member
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# Posted: 16 Oct 2017 09:21pm
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Quoting: skootamattaschmidty We are looking at new tires for our 2013 Jeep Wrangler.
I have them on my 2015 Wrangler and getting them (again) on my Chevy Silverado. Had them on my last 3 Jeeps. They are great off-road as they have proved time and again.....particularly since they added the little bit of side tread 
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 17 Oct 2017 01:05pm
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On my F250, I went with Load Range E. More steel in the sidewalls. If you have to plug the E tire you need a drill.
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Malamute
Member
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# Posted: 17 Oct 2017 04:42pm - Edited by: Malamute
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I used to buy mud and snow tires. One truck I bought had all seasons. I decided to wear them out before getting "good" tires. They did so well offroad and in snow, and were so stinking quiet, I never bought mud and snows since (that was in the 80s), or anything that makes noise again. I hate loud tires.
So broad generalization, but I havent had any need (or desire) for more than all seasons, and I used to go lots of stupid places. Tires havent been an issue as far as getting stuck offroad. When its time for chains, its time for chains, regardless of loud traction tires or not.
And yes, load range E tires, the lighter duty dont hold up as well. hey have max pressure of about 80 psi. I run them a little soft at 60psi or so in the winter, 75 in the summer.
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2017 02:18pm - Edited by: Cowracer
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I run 37" Toyo Open Country M/T tires on my Excursion. I'm on my second set and I'll never buy any other. They are a true 'mud tire' as opposed to an 'all-terrain' or 'mud/snow" and they are some of the best tires I have ever bought.
My buddy runs Mickey Thompson 35's on his F250 and he is about halfway through his third set of them for about the same mileage as on my Toyos. They wear like iron and give very good traction on road and in the soupy stuff.
At some point in the near future, I'm going to drop the truck from an 8" lift to a 4" lift and go with 35" tires. that big lift looks cool, but my 50+ year old legs (and those of my wife) are not enjoying getting in and out if it one bit, plus... it really kills my gearing for towing my camper. At that point, I will proabably go with a set of Toyo R/T All-terrains over the M/T.
At any rate, I cannot say enough good things about the Toyo tires.
Tim
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ColdFlame
Member
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2017 02:37pm
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I just put Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac's on my '05 Tacoma today.
A couple of my buddies have been running the Duratrac's for a while and really like them. Aside from some people reporting "out of round" or "cupping" issues with the Duratrac's, they're a pretty aggressive tread, are reasonably quiet on the road, and also have a snowflake rating for winter use (which is required for some Canadian provinces).
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Bushwhacked
Member
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# Posted: 21 Oct 2017 08:06pm
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DaveBell thanks for all the good info. I appreciate the pics. I have heard some positive things about going with load range E. I didnt know you needed a drill to plug them though haha.
Cowracer I had some Toyo all terrain tires on a work rig of mine that I had forgotten about until your post there. Add another one to my considerations list
I had come across this website a year or so ago when I started thinking of new tires..... and its the reason why the Coopers are on my list Though they couldn't test the new BFG's
https://expeditionportal.com/where-the-rubber-meets-the-road/
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Bushwhacked
Member
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# Posted: 21 Oct 2017 08:11pm
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OH yea
ColdfFlame, Have your buddies had any issues with the Duratrac's? I have read a few articles that they are quiet when new.... then can be super loud as they wear. It seems to depend on the vehicle though.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 21 Oct 2017 09:59pm
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That test was okay for.... Arizona, Texas, SoCal, etc. Look at the background in the pictures. See any snow. The Cooper AT3 would be my last choice.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 21 Oct 2017 10:31pm
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Quoting: Bushwhacked OH yea ColdfFlame, Have your buddies had any issues with the Duratrac's? I have read a few articles that they are quiet when new.... then can be super loud as they wear. It seems to depend on the vehicle though.
Rotate every 5000 miles and keep good shocks on the truck. I have 30,000+ on a set on a Tacoma and have no complaints.
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Bushwhacked
Member
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# Posted: 22 Oct 2017 01:26am
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Quoting: DaveBell That test was okay for.... Arizona, Texas, SoCal, etc. Look at the background in the pictures. See any snow.
True!
Quoting: ICC Rotate every 5000 miles and keep good shocks on the truck. I have 30,000+ on a set on a Tacoma and have no complaints.
Note taken 
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leonk
Member
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# Posted: 22 Oct 2017 07:50am
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I drive 4runners and I was with Michelin AT, now I am on Coopers AT, Coopers have better grip in mud and snow, but more noise (negligible) and worse mileage. They're cheaper, but their life is shorter. Michelin is more uniform tire, requires less weights to balance.
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Bushwhacked
Member
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# Posted: 22 Oct 2017 11:57pm
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Quoting: leonk I drive 4runners and I was with Michelin AT, now I am on Coopers AT, Coopers have better grip in mud and snow, but more noise (negligible) and worse mileage. They're cheaper, but their life is shorter. Michelin is more uniform tire, requires less weights to balance.
The exact first hand info I'm looking for. THANKS!
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 23 Oct 2017 06:29am
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I have Cooper Discoverer Tires on my Daily Truck and they get me through the worst snows, muds with little issue (mostly keeping a gentle foot on pedal)... They do get a tad noisy but the simple trick is rotating them so the "knobies" don't cup which makes the noise... Learned that trick ages ago...
"All Season" as such is really 3 season and not intended for "real winter" conditions... See the results every first couple of snowfalls as cars turn into billiard balls cause of their worn all season tires... Fine in places like Florida but not in New York or Alaska 
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ColdFlame
Member
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# Posted: 23 Oct 2017 01:47pm
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Quoting: Bushwhacked ColdfFlame, Have your buddies had any issues with the Duratrac's? I have read a few articles that they are quiet when new.... then can be super loud as they wear. It seems to depend on the vehicle though.
In all but one case, the trucks these guys were running the Duratrac's on were heavy diesels. The one exception to that was a Tundra.
So far, and granted I've only put a tank of gas on the tires, I'm really impressed. Very quiet on the road and handle well. Haven't yet got to try snow, however.
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neckless
Member
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2017 10:33pm
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duratrac on my 09 gmc when new they were amazing in the snow , goin to buy a new set tomoro... not noisey at all, and we get 7 months of winter 285 70r 17 about a 34 inch tire
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