BFG AT/KO vs. Duratrac?

[DAA]

Tires will be going on a brandy new Ram 1/2 ton (have not even picked it up yet). Will see mostly pavement, but also will see tons of dirt road, some towing of a travel trailer, frequent long trips of mixed pavement/dirt with a loaded bed. But no "real wheeling". Will avoid mud whenever possible...

I've had many sets of the BFG KO's, totally known quantity. Generally been satisfied. Was planning to put them on the new truck. Pricing them from Discount, price is about the same for the BFG's or the Duratrac's. But the dealer can get me into the Duratracs for a couple hundred less.

I've had four or five sets of Goodyears over the years. Loved my old style MT/R's, but every other Goodyear I've ever owned totally sucked. So I'm pretty leery about the Duratrac's. Just have not had much luck with GY tires overall. But, I do like the looks of the Duratrac's, they have more sex appeal than the KO's, and a couple hundred bucks saved is very tempting.

So, I'm sure some of you guys have run both the KO's and the Duratrac's. I'd love to hear how you think they compare? Especially in an application similar to what I'm looking at - 1/2 ton, mostly pavement, but plenty of "expo" type dirt too, some towing/hauling. How do they compare for wear? Snowy/icy/slick pavement? Noise? Ride? One of the problems I've had with Goodyears in the past is shredding sidewalls just from looking at them wrong, from what I have found from Google, it sounds like the Duratrac sidewalls might have the same fall-apart-if-you-flick-a-booger-on-them problem I have experienced firsthand with Wranglers - internet myth or real concern?

What has been your experience?

- DAA

 

[jeep-N-montero]

It's tough to beat the KO's in sidewall strength, but I have read the Duratrac is better on snowy roads, although if you sipe the KO it will likely make up the difference. I personally have been though 6 or 7 sets of the KO since I bought my first Jeep in 1999 and never had a flat or other issues.

 

[RogueJeepr]

It's tough to beat the KO's in sidewall strength.

X2 . Couldn't find anything better in the AT world. Great milage on em too .

 

[DAA]

Yeah, I've run lots of KO's and been happy enough with them I was planning to use them again, and probably still will. I've shredded a few of them over the years too, both sidewall cuts and had one nearly new once took a rock right through the face of the tread block just bombing the PET one day. But overall, I have had better luck with them than most of the Goodyears I have run. Except the old style MT/R's, had them siped and I don't think there is anything the KO's could do better except noise and wear - by the time I had 30K on those MT/R's, they were so loud, and these weird base rumble harmonics would get going, that after a few hours on the highway I wanted to slit my own wrists just to make it stop. But those were pretty awesome tires, really.

Just trying to talk myself into the Duratrac's I guess. Partly because they look good, partly because I can save a couple hundred dollars, and honestly, partly because I have run KO's so long, on so many different rigs, I feel like trying something different.

- DAA

 

[193kyle]

I just put a set of Duratracs on my Tacoma a few months ago and so far I have been impressed. Only about 3-4k miles so far but they handle well on the street and seem to hook up really well on the rocks. They are quieter than a KM2 but probably a little louder than a KO. Just make sure you get the E rated duratracs as they have a 3 ply sidewall, anything less only has a 2 ply sidewall.

 

[gertsch]

Go duratracs. The wear way better and the traction is awesome.

 

[Caleb]

Yeah, I've run lots of KO's and been happy enough with them I was planning to use them again, and probably still will. I've shredded a few of them over the years too, both sidewall cuts and had one nearly new once took a rock right through the face of the tread block just bombing the PET one day. But overall, I have had better luck with them than most of the Goodyears I have run. Except the old style MT/R's, had them siped and I don't think there is anything the KO's could do better except noise and wear - by the time I had 30K on those MT/R's, they were so loud, and these weird base rumble harmonics would get going, that after a few hours on the highway I wanted to slit my own wrists just to make it stop. But those were pretty awesome tires, really.

Just trying to talk myself into the Duratrac's I guess. Partly because they look good, partly because I can save a couple hundred dollars, and honestly, partly because I have run KO's so long, on so many different rigs, I feel like trying something different.

- DAA

Every time I buy a new set of tires I go through the same dilemma (wanting to try something new) and every time I end up spending the few extra dollars and getting the KO's. I've not once regretted getting the KO's. I've been eyeing the Duratrac's for some time but they get mixed reviews. Almost seem like a more cheaply made tire.

 

[DAA]

Go duratracs. The wear way better...

Hell, if they wear way better, they would last me dang near forever. I got 50K each out of several sets of KO's on my heavy CTD's - should also point out, I tend to replace tires earlier than most folks. On my Wife's Denali, which is lighter and she doesn't drive nearly as hard as I do, she had over 60K on the last set and really, they had enough tread left I think most people would have just kept running them but I didn't want her transporting the kids in the snow on them anymore so bought new ones. It's hard to imagine the Duratrac's could do much better than that? Maybe so though. That would be awesome.

- DAA

 

[Tom95YJ]

I was a tire salesman for years up until last January. It is hard to beat the K/O, However it is a dated design. If I was in the market for an A/T tire I would go with a Duratrac.

Also if it makes a difference all the LEO vehicles that go up and down Big and Little Cottonwood canyon all winter run Duratracs

 

[Maverick]

Duratracs are awesome when new. That's all I know first hand. They seem like they will be less awesome as they wear. They are more aggressive than the BFG AT, which I have had 3 sets of on my X, getting 35k miles, rotated religiously, evenly worn. Would love 50k. Don't know how to do that.

Loved the BFG AT's, thought they wore too fast. I think they would wear better than the Duratracs.

For a half ton driver, I would, have, and do, (on my supercrew work truck), run the Toyo AT's. Good consistent wear, good traction.
The BFG's are better in the snow, and the Duratrac's are better than either.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm pretty sure my next set of tires will be e-rated duratracs. I don't have much peace of mind with the 2-ply LT rated sidewalls. The e-rated sidewalls bump it up to 3 ply.

Keep in mind that I hate the BFG A/Ts, so take my review with a grain of salt.

 

[cackalak]

Never ran Duratrac's, but a friend bought some last year. They're wearing a little too quick, compared to my BFG KO's I bought last year (same size--33's). I've had a few sets of KO's in the years past and they have always done great. After about 1/2 tread, the performance seems to go down fairly quick. I think the next go around, I will try out Cooper ST Maxx.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/59755-Cooper-Discoverer-S-T-Maxx

 

[DAA]

...the BFG AT, which I have had 3 sets of on my X, getting 35k miles, rotated religiously, evenly worn. Would love 50k. Don't know how to do that.

Isn't that crazy? Don't doubt you for a second. But how one of us gets 50K out of them driving CTD's like he stole them, and the other only gets 35K is just nuts. I wouldn't think that X would be any harder on tires than a CTD. Heck, I got 30K out of the Toyo MT's I had on my Megacab - didn't care much for those tires and was glad they were wore out so I could finally get rid of them, but 30K out of a MT on a heavy truck like that isn't too bad really. But same as you, I rotate and rebalance often - every 4K.

This is one of the things that makes tire decisions so hard though. What works for some of us, just doesn't for others and it seems impossible sometimes to figure out why.

Two reasons I'm avoiding the Toyo AT's. One, is I really didn't like the Toyo MT's I had. They would never balance worth a crap - one of them took 15 ounces to balance and I was able to get it replaced but the replacement took 9 oz and those tires just always had a little wobble and shake to them that only got worse as they aged. Loud and harsh riding too. Just did not like them. Two is that none of the tire stores I like to go to sell Toyo's at all anymore.

Keep in mind that I hate the BFG A/Ts, so take my review with a grain of salt.

Curious what you hate about them Steve? Of all the many tires I have run over the last 30+ years of buying them, I would have to say that overall, the KO have been the most consistently decent. I'm bored to death of them and wanting to try something different, but there really isn't another tire I can point to that has ever treated me any better for the application.

- DAA

 

[sixstringsteve]

Curious what you hate about them Steve? Of all the many tires I have run over the last 30+ years of buying them, I would have to say that overall, the KO have been the most consistently decent. I'm bored to death of them and wanting to try something different, but there really isn't another tire I can point to that has ever treated me any better for the application.

- DAA

I had 'em on an old '85 4runner and the only tires that I've hated more were Pro-comp X-terrains. Maybe my set was super old and dried out, but they had poor traction on just about every surface. Granted, this was a daily driver/crawler on 35's, not a tow rig. But I didn't like them on snow/ice, and I didn't like them on dirt.

 

[moab_cj5]

I have had variations of the KO many times over the years. about 10 years ago I ran them on my 82 CJ5 and loved them, ran a set on my 99 XJ and got 45k miles out of them and I rarley rotated them, then replaced them with more BFG AT's in 2009 and loved them until the Jeep was totaled. My dad ran them on his 90 Bronco and had great luck with them.

I don't know if they have changed much since my last set in 2009, but that was in Kansas where we had ice storms, snow, and insane flash floods. Those tires took it all in stride! I think the vehicle and rating of the tire does come into play however. All of the vehicles I have had experience with were lighter than your 1/2 ton truck.

I am semi considering running them on my JKU when my Toyo's wear out. I don't have any experience with Duratrac's, but I never had a set of Goodyear's that impressed me.

Opinions are just that though, opinions. As is eveident in this thread, tires are a dividing force! Not quite as volitale as politics, but everyone has a tire they swear by and someone else hates, or a tire they hate and someone else loves. The best opinion would be of someone that has run the tires you are looking at, in that size and load rating you are looking at, on a very similar vehicle. That would be the best baseline for comparison IMHO.

Good luck! Don't forget to give us a review after you make the plunge!

 

[Gravy]

Geolander AT-S.

Less aggressive than a KO but better ride (less noise, less shoulder squirm, smoother) and far superior in the snow and ice (on road).
Excellent tread life on my 5150lb truck and I tow quite often.

 

[Maverick]

Good advice. The reason I went BFG on the X was because the guy with a cabin across from me had no issues getting up the hill in the snow. When I won the rims, I thought I'd try the Toyo equivalent Nitto (bad choice for my snow). Since I now had Nitto's for summer, I snagged the Duratrac's for winter.

Regarding the BFG mileage above, once I was at 1/4" and winter approaching, I would replace them, so maybe I could have got 40k out of them.

 

[DAA]

Changed my mind twice today . Had decided to just stick with the tried and true BFG's, but changed my mind and decided to give the Duratrac's a try, then started really thinking about some of the other Goodyears I have had, and changed my mind again.

So currently leaning BFG. But would still like to try the Duratrac's too.

Will decide one way or the other probably tomorrow. Not sure how many more times I'll change my mind by then!

Appreciate all the input from everyone for sure.

- DAA

 

[I Lean]

The majority of the trucks used by field techs who work for my company seem to use Duratrac's. (natural gas pipeline workers) They're always fullsize trucks with lots of tools and stuff in the bed, and they get driven long and hard every day. They seem to like them.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I've heard great things about the Falken Wildpeak A/T. They're a little heavier than a BFG A/T, but they're supposed to be great.