New (KO2) tire questions

[DUB]

Okay, here goes..

I currently have worn out Toyo M/T's and need new tires. Pretty set on KO2's after much reading here. My TJ has a 2.5" spring lift and a 1" BL on 33's currently. I am thinking of going between 12.5 and 10.5 with the 285/70 R17, especially because they offer this tire in a 2755 @ 50 PSI VS the 33/12.50 at a higher PSI. Would this be a good choice?

 

[SkylinesSuck]

What are you getting at with the psi? Is that supposed to be the max rating? 17s will flex less than a 15 (plus they look terrible with only a 33" tire).

 

[GPK03X]

KO2’s in that size are available in two different C and one E load rating. I believe he is referring to one of the C rated tires. Looks like the speed rating is the only difference in the two C’s. Might be a slightly different compound?

 

[HornedToad]

Ko2's are good tires and definitely go with the C load rated. E loads will make you sad every time you drive over any imperfection in the earth's surface. As for width, I would recommend always going with a skinnier tire. They are lighter, quieter, handle better, perform better in wet or icy conditions. I think they look nicer too but that is obviously subjective. I have been running either 10.5 or 11.5 tires for years on trails like the rubicon and in Moab and the width has never hindered me.

 

[DUB]

What are you getting at with the psi? Is that supposed to be the max rating? 17s will flex less than a 15 (plus they look terrible with only a 33" tire).

The PSI must be their lighter load C, which I assumed. The 33x12.50 is an 80PSI tire. Knowing that I'm going to run 26-30 PSI as a standard, I assumed the slimmer load tire would be a better choice...

 

[Good Hope]

I currently have the exact tire you are proposing (285-70-R17) C-range, and run them on the street at 28-30 psi. Very happy with them after about 3,000 miles. Rig is more for trail use than rock crawling so I don’t care that the rim size at 17” provides less sidewall to flex than a 15” rim would.

 

[DUB]

I currently have the exact tire you are proposing (285-70-R17) C-range, and run them on the street at 28-30 psi. Very happy with them after about 3,000 miles. Rig is more for trail use than rock crawling so I don’t care that the rim size at 17” provides less sidewall to flex than a 15” rim would.

Looks like they don't label these as "C", "E".... They offer 2 different tires in this size with a max inflation of 50 PSI??

 

[mwn]

From the descriptions on BFG's website (screenshot), I believe the 116 models are C rated and the 121 models are E rated. Vendor sites like Tire Rack, Costco, etc. typically indicate the load range in their listing (second screenshot is from Tire Rack). Others will know more, but looking at the C-rated KO2s in your size, it's hard to imagine speed rating Q vs. S mattering much in a TJ.

 

[GPK03X]

They are labeled as c rated.it will look like this. 116/113Q C BSW

 

[deadbeat son]

From the descriptions on BFG's website (screenshot), I believe the 116 models are C rated and the 121 models are E rated. Vendor sites like Tire Rack, Costco, etc. typically indicate the load range in their listing (second screenshot is from Tire Rack). Others will know more, but looking at the C-rated KO2s in your size, it's hard to imagine speed rating Q vs. S mattering much in a TJ.

View attachment 438936


View attachment 438938

I believe that usually when there's something minor different between two tires of the same load range and size other than the option of white letters, it's because one was specified a certain way for use by an OEM. I believe the 285/70R17 KO2 is available on the JL, so it's likely that either that was the 116 Q or 116 S.

@DUB - What do you not like about the Toyo MT you have now?

 

[DUB]

I believe that usually when there's something minor different between two tires of the same load range and size other than the option of white letters, it's because one was specified a certain way for use by an OEM. I believe the 285/70R17 KO2 is available on the JL, so it's likely that either that was the 116 Q or 116 S.

@DUB - What do you not like about the Toyo MT you have now?

PO had them on there, they are down to about 30% left, hard and loud. I just don't like them in general, I have had many back in the day on my diesel trucks and they last about 20K miles...

 

[DUB]

Just got a quote on the 285/70 M&B OTD $1,350.00, damn tires are getting expensive!

 

[GPK03X]

They have been expensive for quite some time!!!

 

[DUB]

They have been expensive for quite some time!!!

Agreed, I just haven't purchased them in a while!

 

[DUB]

Is this 285/70 going to look like $hit on a 9" wide wheel?

 

[deadbeat son]

Is this 285/70 going to look like $hit on a 9" wide wheel?

Sounds like a bit much stretch for my tastes, I'd prefer a 17x7.5, or maybe 8 if it saved from buying new wheels. But then again, poke and stretch isn't really my thing.

 

[DUB]

Just thought of this... Without knowing what they will look like, this could be a problem.

 

[thedustyboot]

@DUB

Ive got a 33/12.5R15 KO2 load range C on an 8" wide rim. Awesome tire, good all-rounder.

I usually run 20-25psi for the street and I like 10-12psi on dirt/trails. And about 8-ish psi for the snow. Paid $1345 CAD for four tires.

Also have 2" spring lift, 1" body lift. no clearance issues at all

 

[DUB]

So they ended up putting the load E on my rig by mistake and said drive them until Tuesday and we can put the C's on when they come in..

I'm not sure about the 285/70 on this 9" rim, maybe just go back to 33x12.5...? They drive so good though and they are 13 lbs lighter that the M/T's were.