Tire Time

What tires do you think I should get?

  • Total voters
    17
  • Poll closed .
Airmapper

Airmapper

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Bowling Green, KY
Oh I love the smell of new tires in the morning. Kinda hurts not smelling my money anymore though. Looks like the first big money mod is going to be tires. A little over 31k on the stock junk Rugged Trails and they are so close to the wear bars I better start making plans for new rubber. I think tires make a huge impact on the look of the vehicle, so I'm sorta excited. Not to mention I absolutely HATE the stock tires.

I think I have my mind made up, but I like to talk tires so might as well chat about it some first. Maybe someone can give me ideas I haven't considered yet. I'll put up a poll as well just for fun.

Right now I'm thinking I'll stay stock size (P4X size) 265/75/16 with Goodyear Duratrac's, C load range. Thought about 285's but really want to keep my speedo accurate and MPG's in check for the time being.

Going to hit me at about $1000 worth, dang I wish I had sucked it up and gotten some last year on the treadlightly and GY $60 rebates. These are going to run me more than the 33" KM2's I put on the Bronco, that just doesn't seem right.

I'm trying to strike a balance between on road and off. 95% of the time I'm on pavement, but I still want a good tire for when I wheel and for winter in the unlikely event it snows.

Another option I considered was Firestone Destination AT's. Cheaper, and it's a good tire, but that P class doesn't sit well with me on an X. I had some on my Escape, but it was a little snot compared to the X, I think I'm going light enough just getting 6 ply C's.

Also thought about going on up to Duratrac E's. Really don't want the stiffer ride and MPG hit from heavier weight if I don't really think I'll need it.

Considered BFG KO's as well, but kinda think the tread is a bit mild compared to the Duratrac, and think they will ride harsh.

I looked at the Wal-Mart knock off Duratrac's, but I'm scared of a Wal-Mart tire, had a set before and they wore out in no time.

Anyway, thoughts, discussion, and suggestions are welcome. If I have a bad idea here maybe you can talk me out of it. :Big Grin:

Next OCD issue for me after this: White letters in or out.....
 
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NismoFire

NismoFire

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Smyrna, TN
luv2mud said:
White letter IN! There! One less thing to stress about. :)
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This. Black Xs deserve black sidewalls.




I tossed around the idea of the Duratracs last year before I bought tires. I, too, drive pavement about 90% of the time. My X is my DD/commuter and I put about 60mi a day on it round trip (just to work and back). That being said, I have KM2s. I actually saw my fuel mileage improve when I stepped up the size (but I'm a 1st Gen who increased tire size). If you plan on staying with the same tire size, I don't see any reason why you couldn't get KM2s. Part of the reason I never did any off roading was my tires. Of course, now that I have them, I'm too broke to wheel, but I'll go slop around at the farm to go to the pond on occasion.

My only negative to the KM2s is it's water/wet road handling. No joke, if I hit a puddle of water on the interstate at speed it feels like I slammed on the brakes. The tread is like a paddle wheel in the water. That may be great for creek crossings, but not during a monsoon on the interstate. I have to ride in the middle lanes (at the crown of the road) to keep out of the puddles so I don't kill myself or get rear ended. But, this is such a small portion of my driving (wet road) that it won't deter me from buying another set when these wear out.



That being said, EVERYONE has Duratracs. I wanted to be different, so I went with something different. I think I've seen only one Gen 2 with KM2s.
 
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drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
I'm in the same boat with our gen 2. I have the Duratracs on my gen 1 and they are a pretty good tire. my issues I have had with them are 2 blown side walls.. Both times it was a Dave issues not really the tires fault. They look aggressive.. But handle really well I. All types of weather.

KO's
I have ran these on some of my survey rigs and our old blazer. These are a great 50/50 tire. They look more aggressive vs stock tires. Handle all types of weather and well they are BFG. Pretty much the best tires in the world.

I'm also looking at more aggressive tires to. I love km2s
If you look at the weight of the tires most are in the 58lbs range. So other than the lug pattern the weight ratios are all about the same.
White letters have to go on the inside lol
 
Macland

Macland

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
SW OK & formerly Eastern NM
I'm going to get new tires this year too, duratracs are also on the top of my list but I'm going 285 because I can haha. I don't need it, but I want my rig to look as BA as I know it is, even if I don't hey to wheel often.
 
jmnielsen

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Love me some KM2's. Never driven through monsoon type rain, so can't comment on that. They do great in snow, not so great on solid ice (but what does?), and they do awesome in mud, sand, rock, etc. No complaints from me at all, not even bad road noise on the interstate.

hdrx.jpg

Old picture, but you get the point.
 
TKDx00

TKDx00

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
S.Subs of Chicago, IL.
95/5 onroad/offroad and a DD as well. I've decided on BFG AT's 33x12.5 on 15x7's. Getting a great deal on 5 for $802. Ever since GY stopped making or redesigned the MT's and BFG redesigned thiers into the KM2, I've not been real happy with tread designs of the tires I could afford. I've got a set of GY AT's now that need to be retired this year but the 33's cost more than the BFG's.
 
J Everett

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
I had load range E Toyo Open Country AT's on my last Xterra, and the ride is quite a bit harsher. I recommend sticking with C's.
 
Airmapper

Airmapper

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Bowling Green, KY
You guys got the wheels turning in my head now. I had to fight hard to get those KM2's out of there and darn it now they are back. I've heard they get decent lifespan on the pavement, but I've read so much I'm not sure what is accurate, hate to pay that much for tires only to wear them out fast on pavement. I do drive quite a bit in wet conditions, so I'm slightly concerned over that, but I can slow down. Snow isn't as big a deal, an average winter we only get 2 or 3 brief snows that amount to anything.

If it woulden't screw with my odometer I think I'd be more into upping the size. 255/85/16 KM2's would be sweet. (Pizza cutters FTW.)

Oh, and I was leaning toward white letters in ha ha! It's retro cool on some vehicles (I put them out on the Bronco), but I think you guys are right, would look cheesy on the black X.
 
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drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
You know the Xterras tach is about 3% off from the factory right? ;) and a Ultragauge will work if you need it down to the tenth ;)

I have never had issues with water on my Km2s.. and really what type of tire works well in a down pour.


Where are you pricing tires at? Seems like KM2s are about the same as Duratracs..

I like to play Discount tires vs Treadepot on pricing.. Discount will match online pricing..

My local discount knows when they see me pull up.. Im not paying their price
 
Xorro

Xorro

Test Drive
Location
Longmont, CO
Here's what sticks can do to 265/75/16 load "C" Duratracs:

IMG_0168.jpg


I upgraded to 285/75/16 "E" after that. I still am happy with them & will likely get another set when these wear out...they work well in everything I've encountered.
 
jmnielsen

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Airmapper said:
You guys got the wheels turning in my head now. I had to fight hard to get those KM2's out of there and darn it now they are back. I've heard they get decent lifespan on the pavement, but I've read so much I'm not sure what is accurate, hate to pay that much for tires only to wear them out fast on pavement. I do drive quite a bit in wet conditions, so I'm slightly concerned over that, but I can slow down. Snow isn't as big a deal, an average winter we only get 2 or 3 brief snows that amount to anything.

If it woulden't screw with my odometer I think I'd be more into upping the size. 255/85/16 KM2's would be sweet. (Pizza cutters FTW.)

Oh, and I was leaning toward white letters in ha ha! It's retro cool on some vehicles (I put them out on the Bronco), but I think you guys are right, would look cheesy on the black X.
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Everyone I have talked to has gotten 60K+ one their KM2's. I have the 255's, and they are freaking awesome. :) hope that helps your decision.

P.S. I got mine for $205 a piece at a local store, they'll work with you if you haggle them a little.
 
David Boland

David Boland

Bought an X
Location
Terre Haute, Indiana
Just for a quick 2 cents for the original question, I can't comment on the duratracs or the KM2s BUT, i do have the destination ATs on my X now and I have not done any kind of rock crawling or anything for any duration of time so as far as side wall integrity I cant say yes or no simply due to the fact i havent tested it, however as far as traction, ride, noise and all that is concerned i can say i am very happy with the performance of this tire. I have been through several very muddy trails and fields as well as 8 inch snowfall 2 weeks ago and the X never hesitated. The tire did well off road and exceptional on road.
 
Airmapper

Airmapper

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Bowling Green, KY
Xorro said:
Here's what sticks can do to 265/75/16 load "C" Duratracs:

I upgraded to 285/75/16 "E" after that. I still am happy with them & will likely get another set when these wear out...they work well in everything I've encountered.
Click to expand...

Ouch, I didn't really think I would have to worry about that, but the stick in your tire I could run across on pavement around here. KY is mostly trees. Makes me think a little.

jmnielsen said:
Everyone I have talked to has gotten 60K+ one their KM2's. I have the 255's, and they are freaking awesome. :) hope that helps your decision.

P.S. I got mine for $205 a piece at a local store, they'll work with you if you haggle them a little.
Click to expand...

That helps some, I have seen some report more like 20k, but who knows what they were doing to them. I still feel mud tires is a bit frivolous on a DD, but a good tire is a good tire....
 
jmnielsen

jmnielsen

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lincoln, NE
Mine is a DD. sits in the garage all summer because I ride my motorcycle but other than that I drive it every day, and still get 18 mpg around town and 20 on the highway.
 
Airmapper

Airmapper

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Bowling Green, KY
lbishop said:
Have you considered the cooper discoverer st maxx's??
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I have now, thanks. Not sold on them yet, but I do like the look.


drbandkgb said:
Road Venture MT KL71
I'm almost sold on these.....
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I looked at those for the '70 Bronco. Nice looking tire, definitely unique, almost blingy but not quite. I wasn't crazy about them being directional though, main reason I disregarded them. I do have the Kumho AT KL78's on my '66 Bronco, seems like a good tire, but on the '66 it doesn't see much use.

In case you all haven't figured it out, I'll over think this to death. :p
 
Airmapper

Airmapper

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Bowling Green, KY
A week since my last post, and you know I still haven't made up my mind.

But I think I narrowed it down.

265/75/16 Duratrac E load. The stick in the C load photo was sort of a nudge in the direction of more plys.

255/85/16 KM2. I called the local tire shop to quote the KM2's. Asked if they would have a used spare, no luck as the guy said I was the only one he could think of that ever asked for that size. He said he might get his hands on a 285 spare but I really don't like the mixing of all these sizes. I don't want to do a new spare as I don't have a matching wheel to do 5 tire rotation on, and that would totally screw with the TPMS.

But I might change my mind tomorrow. The 2 who voted I was crazy have no idea how true that may be.... :p
 
gorillamel

gorillamel

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Idaho!
I think going load E is a smart move. I have load E on my General Grabbers and am so glad I got them. A few off road trips involving going over fallen trees or bumping into tree stumps and other fallen trees ripped a few layers off my tires (holy wow, sticks are heck on tires, as Xorro proved).

Just FYI on load E tires, they are louder on pavement when driving than lower range tires. So you better listen to the radio loud, too hahaha!

Good luck on your choice. Sounds like you're going to make a well-educated one, no matter what brand you go with. :)
 
greentennx

greentennx

First Fill-Up (of many)
Founding Member
Location
Smyrna Tn
Airmapper

Airmapper

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Bowling Green, KY
Guys I made up my mind finally. Doing stock size Duratrac E's. Came down to not wanting to fool with the spare, and saving some money not going bigger, yet still getting an aggressive tread I think I can live with in all conditions. Hopefully I won't regret them.

Thanks for all the comments, even if I didn't directly respond I did try to take it all in.

Stay tuned, I got an appointment to get them put on Friday. I'll resist white letters out as well, much as it pains me.....:p
 
Xado89

Xado89

Skid Plates
Location
Ocala, FL
Roadwarrior said:
White letters in.. I didn't and I wish I had. Hope you love your new tires
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Aww, I like the white's out, I guess it depends on how your rig is themed, though.

Regardless, everyone I've talked to has great things to say about duratracs. My friend at Discount Tire says he sells a ton of em and everyone loves them.
 
Airmapper

Airmapper

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Bowling Green, KY
Well it's a done deal. Thanks again guys, I always like to chat tires before I buy, even if it has been hashed over before.

On the white letters, in this size & load apparently there is no white lettering, so it was black regardless, but now I see it I'm digging it all black. I like white letters but I'm sure I would have regretted it once they got old and mud colored.

The drive home I definitely could tell I had more aggressive tires, a bit more squirrely and louder. I hear they settle in after you put some miles on them. Even still I'm not disappointed with the ride, once I adjust to it I won't notice it.

I'm really liking the look, the X is starting to take shape looking like the off road truck it is. A guy in the tire shop even gave me a compliment, called my X a nice ride and said the Duratracs looked good on it. I believe he really meant it as he usually doesn't say much.


IMG_3421_800x600.JPG


IMG_3422_800x600.JPG

​
 
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drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Yeah I hate the white letters out on a black Xterra.
I regret having white letters on mine.


These tires match the Xterra so well
 
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