Opinions on Tires

Blue

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2004
10,043
856
AZ
Time for some new tires. 2004 Discovery with OME HD suspension. I first had 265/75/16 BFG ATs for 60K-odd miles, now have 285/75/16 Cooper Discoverer STTs that went on 40K-odd miles ago in November 2014 and time for something new.

Considering going with 255/85/16. This size would be a bit taller (maybe half inch, probably more like quarter inch) than my 285s and about an inch narrower. Equates to about 33" X 10". 285/75 is about 32.5 X 11". I wouldn't mind at all going an inch narrower, definitely don't want to go any wider. At full stuff my 285s used to rub a bit in the wheel wells and on the rear doors but that's all been beaten or worn away (and the tires are worn down too).

The 255 size is a bit more limited than 285....considering BFG MT KM2 at $237 each.

In the 285 size I really like the Cooper Discoverer MTP at $204 each or Cooper Discoverer STT Pro at $224 each or BFG MT KM3 at $261 each. I've also looked at the Falken Wildpeak M/T01 at $181 each.

Interestingly, the BFG KM2 in 255 size is 55 lbs vs. 65 lbs for the KM3 in 285. Saving 10 lbs per tire would be nice. Price doesn't much matter, it's only money. Tire noise doesn't matter much either driving this pig around.

What's a girl to do? Really interested to hear feedback on the BFG MTs in KM2 and/or KM3. I've never had a set of BFG MTs. I've heard lots of bitching about them and heard & seen the tire failures. They figured that shit out yet? My BFG ATs were great tires, just sucked doggy dick in anything remotely resembling mud. My Coopers have been great too, no problems whatsoever.
 

Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
No KM3 in 255/85? Not sure I’ve read a direct KM2 v KM3 comparison but have seen good reviews on the KM3
 

rover4x4

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2004
5,228
45
41
North Carolina, Raleigh
KM3 is currently available in 255/85. Not many options in this size, Toyo offers an MT that is more expensive. I've always thought BFG KM's were great tires, the best compromise. Falkens are currently at the top of the list for my RRC and KM3 for D90. STT pro seems to be really popular tires with good reviews across the board.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Well I'm glad I don't sit up at 2:00 am thinking about what tires im going to run. I've been running BF Goodrich Commercial TA Tractions. It's been great in the dirt and even better in snow.
 

stu454

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2004
5,407
61
Atlanta, GA
I ran 255/85R16 on my old D2. I liked them and wouldn't hesitate to run that size on a D2. Are you regeared?
 

Rovergroup

Member
Mar 23, 2014
14
1
Rochester
I’ve been incredibly satisfied with my 265/75/16’s on D2 with 2” TF HD lift and front 1” spring spacer from AB for leveling. Fierce attitude by Goodyear. The generals are identical to BFG for AT and have lasted really well. Actual off roading performance was weak though. The fierce are more like mini excavators on my hub than tires. Not horrible price either. Rolling since June ‘18, still have nipples on sidewalk and no visual wear! Canadian expedition and 8 off road trips so lots of road time and off. Kinda impressed.
 

Jeff Blake

Well-known member
May 6, 2016
429
16
Pacific Beach, San Diego
KM3's look fantastic, I'd read lots of reviews on them.

I'm in the hunt for tires too (and lockers, gears, hd axles). Currently on 235/85's with 16x7 terrafirma beadlock ready wheels (TF107). I really want to do the Dusy Ershim trail this summer and 31.7" tires ain't gonna cut it

I was SO close to ordering BFG KM3's on 315/75r16 last week, but I hit a snag on the wheels... I need at least 8" rims. No worries, I thought I'd get the beadlock kit ($700) which turns my rim into an 8" rim. But TF no longer manufactures them... bummer. So then I went on a hunt for new wheels... and I came up with this crazy idea:

16.5" beadlock hummer wheels with military tires. I know... sounds crazy... but the more I thought about it, it sounds like a decent idea. 90%+ tread tires are like $80 a pop. My only concern is weight, and stuffing a 37" tire in there. (prepared to do a lot of trimming)

Link: http://www.trailworthyfab.com/12-Bolt-Hummer-Wheel-Special-w-TIRE.html
Full set of 5 wheels are tires for like ~$2,200
Put 8 or 10oz of Equal Flexx or airsoft bb's in there and good to go

Talk me out of it...
 
Last edited:

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Time for some new tires. 2004 Discovery with OME HD suspension. I first had 265/75/16 BFG ATs for 60K-odd miles, now have 285/75/16 Cooper Discoverer STTs that went on 40K-odd miles ago in November 2014 and time for something new.

Considering going with 255/85/16. This size would be a bit taller (maybe half inch, probably more like quarter inch) than my 285s and about an inch narrower. Equates to about 33" X 10". 285/75 is about 32.5 X 11". I wouldn't mind at all going an inch narrower, definitely don't want to go any wider. At full stuff my 285s used to rub a bit in the wheel wells and on the rear doors but that's all been beaten or worn away (and the tires are worn down too).

The 255 size is a bit more limited than 285....considering BFG MT KM2 at $237 each.

In the 285 size I really like the Cooper Discoverer MTP at $204 each or Cooper Discoverer STT Pro at $224 each or BFG MT KM3 at $261 each. I've also looked at the Falken Wildpeak M/T01 at $181 each.

Interestingly, the BFG KM2 in 255 size is 55 lbs vs. 65 lbs for the KM3 in 285. Saving 10 lbs per tire would be nice. Price doesn't much matter, it's only money. Tire noise doesn't matter much either driving this pig around.

What's a girl to do? Really interested to hear feedback on the BFG MTs in KM2 and/or KM3. I've never had a set of BFG MTs. I've heard lots of bitching about them and heard & seen the tire failures. They figured that shit out yet? My BFG ATs were great tires, just sucked doggy dick in anything remotely resembling mud. My Coopers have been great too, no problems whatsoever.

Just make sure you get something with a proper three ply carcass, bead to fucking bead, no bullshit, no voodoo, with a high turn-up, good tread section stabilization, and decent amount of filler. At the very least you'll get what you paid for.

Tires manufactured in fully-segmented molds are preferable in larger sizes, as well, given their higher dimensional quality and better wear characteristics. These two factors will land you with something that doesn't get much louder over time, rides smooth, handles sharply, and will take a beating.

You already know I'm going to suggest General or Toyo out of the gate for those very reasons, and they're the heavyweights, unfortunately. You can only make something so light with three full plies.

The Cooper equivalent would be the S/TMAXX, but they may have started making the STT properly before you bought them. I don't remember off the top of my head; I just know they were planning to move their Armor-Tek3 (basically building it properly for once...) carcass to the STT a while back.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,163
62
Raleigh, NC
Just make sure you get something with a proper three ply carcass, bead to fucking bead, no bullshit, no voodoo, with a high turn-up, good tread section stabilization, and decent amount of filler. At the very least you'll get what you paid for.

Tires manufactured in fully-segmented molds are preferable in larger sizes, as well, given their higher dimensional quality and better wear characteristics. These two factors will land you with something that doesn't get much louder over time, rides smooth, handles sharply, and will take a beating.

You already know I'm going to suggest General or Toyo out of the gate for those very reasons, and they're the heavyweights, unfortunately. You can only make something so light with three full plies.

The Cooper equivalent would be the S/TMAXX, but they may have started making the STT properly before you bought them. I don't remember off the top of my head; I just know they were planning to move their Armor-Tek3 (basically building it properly for once...) carcass to the STT a while back.

Cheers,

Kennith
I just got the Cooper STT pros in 35x12.50-15. So far they have been amazing on road and off. Yes they have the Armor-Tek3 sidewalls
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
I just got the Cooper STT pros in 35x12.50-15. So far they have been amazing on road and off. Yes they have the Armor-Tek3 sidewalls

Good to know. That's the construction you're looking for.

I'll look into the current crop of tires soon to see who's changed what.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

Blue

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2004
10,043
856
AZ
Still on stock gears, Stu. No plans to re-gear.

I'm going to take another look at the Cooper STT Pro in 285/75/16 based on feedback.
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
KM3's look fantastic, I'd read lots of reviews on them.

I'm in the hunt for tires too (and lockers, gears, hd axles). Currently on 235/85's with 16x7 terrafirma beadlock ready wheels (TF107). I really want to do the Dusy Ershim trail this summer and 31.7" tires ain't gonna cut it

I was SO close to ordering BFG KM3's on 315/75r16 last week, but I hit a snag on the wheels... I need at least 8" rims. No worries, I thought I'd get the beadlock kit ($700) which turns my rim into an 8" rim. But TF no longer manufactures them... bummer. So then I went on a hunt for new wheels... and I came up with this crazy idea:

16.5" beadlock hummer wheels with military tires. I know... sounds crazy... but the more I thought about it, it sounds like a decent idea. 90%+ tread tires are like $80 a pop. My only concern is weight, and stuffing a 37" tire in there. (prepared to do a lot of trimming)

Link: http://www.trailworthyfab.com/12-Bolt-Hummer-Wheel-Special-w-TIRE.html
Full set of 5 wheels are tires for like ~$2,200
Put 8 or 10oz of Equal Flexx or airsoft bb's in there and good to go

Talk me out of it...
I ran 315/75/16's on stock D1 alloy wheels with zero problems.
 

salvvia

Well-known member
May 28, 2005
990
39
BIG WHEEL ROVN IN KNOXVEGAS TN.
Look at the mickey thompsons and dick cepek they make a good tire and summit racing runs deals on them all the time i bought 5) 235 85 16 extreme country i think it was around 670 to my a couple months ago
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,163
62
Raleigh, NC
If you want Coopers, get them from Tirecrawler.com I paid $777 for 4 35x12.50-15 STT pros shipped to my door. I ordered them Friday morning, Sat afternoon they got delivered!
They had a promotion going on plus free shipping.
 

stu454

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2004
5,407
61
Atlanta, GA
Still on stock gears, Stu. No plans to re-gear.

I'm going to take another look at the Cooper STT Pro in 285/75/16 based on feedback.

Bill, my D2 had stock gears with the 255's. It was a pig climbing to the Eisenhower tunnel on I-70. Otherwise, they were fine.