What tires to buy

[TRD270]

Okay so here is the deal.

As some of you know I recently purchased a 06 Tacoma access cab.

My intentions (at least for the life of the first set of tires)

Camping vehicle
Light Wheeling (i.e one or two days down in Moab, insert dirt road, backcountry area where I won't run into people.)
Hauling the dirt bike around
Don't do a lot of commuting as I have a "company car"
Slowly turning into a mostly stock expedition vehicle, stock suspension, eventually some armor, a winch and recovery gear.
Still plan on doing most of the camping in a tent, so tires that can take a lot of extra weight is not a factor.

I've narrowed it down to 4 tires i'm looking at.

I'm pretty much set on one particular tire but I wanted to get some feed back on the others before pulling the trigger.

This will serve as my DD of sorts but not a DD commuter, I do plan to retain the more highway style tires and keep them mounted for really long voyages for better mpg's

Hopefully I will be picking up an extra set of rims from Moody tomorrow.

I do plan to run these tires in all kinds of terrain

-Sand
-Slickrock
-Washboard roads
-As little mud as possible because I hate mud
-Snow
-General dirt roads and unimproved terrain

I want something that will give me good wear, good traction, and good reliability as I don't want to be sitting with a bunch of flat tires out in the middle of nowhere by myself

If you have a suggestion for a different tire than listed in the poll let me know!

 

[bamacpl]

I didn't see a poll....
--Nitto mud grapplers(look good & perform)
--BFG (any)

 

[gorillaxj]

I love my KM2's, they have pretty good road manners and low noise for a MT IMO... I haven't been impressed with the GY Kevlars from what I have seen. the BFG all-terrains are a good all around tire, but think there are better ones for your needs/wants. I have had no experience with the grabbers... Just my 2 cents.

 

[Cascadia]

I've had all 4, loved all 4 except the bfg at didn't have the best traction compared to the rest. I also loved my grabbers. They cleaned out mud well which is good since you don't like mud. They aren't loud and they were also awesome in sand.

 

[TJDukit]

I am in love with my Nitto Trail Grapplers. Very quiet for a M/T and I have been very impressed with their performance in mud, snow, sand and especially the rocks. They are load range E but still flex very well when aired down. They have done great on gas mileage since stepping up to 35's from the 32's I haven't lost any gas mileage or at least not that noticable of a difference. I've read that they last a long time and being load range E I don't doubt that.

 

[JL Rockies]

I've only purchased MT/R on my Jeep and my 4Runner. Kool Kidz know.

 

[MOODY]

Muds are overrated. A good quality AT will make you happy.

 

[JL Rockies]

MT/R is not simply a "mud" tire though: Maximum Traction / Rock

 

[MOODY]

"R"=Reinforced (the kevlar)

In my opinion, MT's wear like shit, are noisy, and 98% of the time are unnecessary. The only MT I liked was the Big O XT I had for a few years on my cruiser, and even those were noisy with age...

 

[74highboy]

out of the 4 sets of tires i have had on my jeep im really impressed with the bridgestone dueler revo 2 iv had them for almost a year now and they have very little wear and very even

 

[TRD270]

I love my KM2's,

Not gonna lie this is the tire I kinda plan on getting

I've had all 4, loved all 4 except the bfg at didn't have the best traction compared to the rest. I also loved my grabbers. They cleaned out mud well which is good since you don't like mud. They aren't loud and they were also awesome in sand.

I originally was going to go with the A/T's but as you said they just don't offer the traction. And after an early spring trip out to 5 mile with my girlfriends rig (which has A/T's on it, at least until the new rims show up) they suck in anything wet or gooey they clog up really easy. And even on the dry terrain they just weren't hooking up nearly as well as my Maxxis

The grabbers are really only on this list because of your Taco. I like the the tread pattern on the grabbers, kind of a happy medium between a true mud and a true A/T. These are in a very close second to the KM2's i'm really torn. I've never had General tires so I don't know how they hold up. I've had lots of BFG's and they have never let me down, but I really like the grabbers and they are the cheapest

I've only purchased MT/R on my Jeep and my 4Runner. Kool Kidz know.

I had the old style MTR's on my old runner and loved them, how ever new ones aren't even close and I have little experience. But i'm intrigued thats why they are on the possible

Muds are overrated. A good quality AT will make you happy.

Was my original thought, i'm just worried about getting out somewhere having a good rain storm and being stuck with non cleaning out A/T's

 

[TRD270]

I didn't see a poll....
--Nitto mud grapplers(look good & perform)

I am in love with my Nitto Trail Grapplers.

Sadly, not offered in the size range I need

 

[TJDukit]

Sadly, not offered in the size range I need

That sucks. I take it they would be on your list if they were offered.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Muds are overrated. A good quality AT will make you happy.

x2. Don't judge all A/Ts by the BFG A/T (one of the worst tires I've had). Out of the 4 you suggested, I vote the KM2, but I think there's a better tire for you: the Big O all-terrain (or the Hankook A/T, almost identical).

Big O A/T: http://www.bigo.com/item.asp?id=266
hankook A/T: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/re...T|pc|84043&typ=Truck/SUV&tmn=DynaPro+ATM+RF10

The only thing they're not fantastic in is mud, but you don't like mud anyway. They rock on the rocks, sand, pavement, snow, and ice. Ask Moody, he knows about 'em too. I've had 'em on my 2001 tacoma in the past, a tracker, a previous 4runner, and now my wife's 4runner just got a new set. Aside from a km2, they're my favorite tire off road. They're my favorite on-road tire. In fact, I considered running a set on my current rig instead of the KM2s. Absolutely fantastic tires, on or off road. I'll bet 95% of the people out there with mud terrains would prefer the big o A/Ts for everything except the aggressive look of the M/T. For your stated use/needs I think they'd be perfect.

Although I've never owned a set, I'd think that some duratracs would come in 2nd place for your needs.

 

[spencurai]

I am shopping for something not quite MT but not a totally lame duck AT. I work in the oil field and I watch the tire trends by what the roughnecks and field service techs are putting on their trucks. I'm not afraid to ask people how they feel about their tires either. The hankook and Nittos are really popular but the one people seem to be really happy with are the Goodyear Duratracs. The duratracs are also really popular nationally with the FJ Cruiser crowd since they have the look of an MT but are in between an MT and AT for tread gap so unless something comes along that piques my interest I think I am going with the Duratracs as soon as my bridgestone duelers are worn out on the FJ.

 

[Kevin B.]

... but I think there's a better tire for you: the Big O all-terrain (or the Hankook A/T, almost identical).

Big O A/T: http://www.bigo.com/item.asp?id=266
hankook A/T: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/re...T|pc|84043&typ=Truck/SUV&tmn=DynaPro+ATM+RF10

The only thing they're not fantastic in is mud, but you don't like mud anyway. (snip)

I've got the Bigfoot ATs on right now, and for what it's worth I've been fairly pleased with how they do in mud. I don't play in the stuff either, but when I have to get muddy they hook up fairly well and seem to clean out really good. I've run BFG and Kumho ATs in the past, and the Bigfoot tires are definitely better, though they don't seem to be wearing as slowly as the BFGs did.

Based on reviews, I would definitely give Duratracs a shot if the price was right. I'm also intrigued by the Treadwright Guard Dogs - I've watched a lot of threads on other boards, and most everyone who gets a set has reported good things.

 

[I Lean]

I've got the Bigfoot ATs on right now, and for what it's worth I've been fairly pleased with how they do in mud. I don't play in the stuff either, but when I have to get muddy they hook up fairly well and seem to clean out really good. I've run BFG and Kumho ATs in the past, and the Bigfoot tires are definitely better, though they don't seem to be wearing as slowly as the BFGs did.

Based on reviews, I would definitely give Duratracs a shot if the price was right. I'm also intrigued by the Treadwright Guard Dogs - I've watched a lot of threads on other boards, and most everyone who gets a set has reported good things.

I still like my Guard Dogs...but they're on my F350, so I can't say how they'll do in actual off-road stuff. I've had them on dirt roads, and muddy/slick dirt roads, and they did well. They are noisier on the highway than other tires, if you care.

 

[DOSS]

I am shopping for something not quite MT but not a totally lame duck AT. I work in the oil field and I watch the tire trends by what the roughnecks and field service techs are putting on their trucks. I'm not afraid to ask people how they feel about their tires either. The hankook and Nittos are really popular but the one people seem to be really happy with are the Goodyear Duratracs. The duratracs are also really popular nationally with the FJ Cruiser crowd since they have the look of an MT but are in between an MT and AT for tread gap so unless something comes along that piques my interest I think I am going with the Duratracs as soon as my bridgestone duelers are worn out on the FJ.

The Duratracs are what they run on the field vehicles on the Dugway range (so my source has said). They seem to do good in most all of the snot covered and dirt roads of the west desert.

 

[TRD270]

x2. Don't judge all A/Ts by the BFG A/T (one of the worst tires I've had). Out of the 4 you suggested, I vote the KM2, but I think there's a better tire for you: the Big O all-terrain (or the Hankook A/T, almost identical).

Big O A/T: http://www.bigo.com/item.asp?id=266
hankook A/T: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/re...T|pc|84043&typ=Truck/SUV&tmn=DynaPro+ATM+RF10

The only thing they're not fantastic in is mud, but you don't like mud anyway.

I would like to have a good A/T they wear better, better mpg, and are a lot quieter. However just because I don't like mud doesn't mean I won't encounter it. I don't like mud because I don't like being stuck in it. My concern with the Bigo AT is exactly that, its not terribly more aggressive than what I have on the truck already.

I'm really leaning towards the KM2's not overly aggressive, but aggressive enough that if I do find my self in a very wet environment I won't be "as" stuck

I am shopping for something not quite MT but not a totally lame duck AT.

Pretty much exactly what i'm in the market for

 

[TRD270]

Based on reviews, I would definitely give Duratracs a shot if the price was right..

The Duratracs are what they run on the field vehicles on the Dugway range (so my source has said). They seem to do good in most all of the snot covered and dirt roads of the west desert.

I'm glad you guys brought these up, I didn't really know about this tire. I really like that tread design seems to be a good happy medium between an AT and MT, also the only tire that i've looked at that is actually available in a load range C in the size i'm looking at and it's the cheapest to boot.