Rain in Moab...Trail suggestions?

[Sweetums]

I haven't found a worse AT on or off road. Wet traction is as bad as most modern MTs on road. Mud and deep snow traction is atrocious. Sure they work in moab when it's dry, but so do car tires or even drag slicks when you're driving on 40 grit sand paper. Hopefully the KO3s are significantly better.

The KO2 was built with North American deserts in mind, it was never intended to be a deep snow tire. That being said, I ran three sets of KO2s over the years in the mountain winters and never had a problem getting around. They are not nearly as good as a dedicated snow tire - and no All Terrain tire will be. The tread compound is not optimized for temperatures below 40 degrees and the tread is made for off highway touring with the ability to do snow when asked.

They do great on the slickrock, but also in sand, over rocks, and in mixed conditions. The wet traction was acceptable to me, even in the desert cloud bursts unless you are driving like a maniac and going way too fast for conditions. It did a better job being planted in the wet than my Baja Boss tires do. There's also the question of tire size. Most people I know who say "Tire X is bad in the wet" have gone to a wider tire size, which gives more frontal area to the tire and makes it harder to evacuate water at speed. I ran three sizes of the KO2 over the years and the widest tire was the most prone to hydroplaning at speed, while the 255 width cut through deep puddles and stayed planted (but also had the poorest cornering at speed).

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[Zachanadandy]

The KO2 was built with North American deserts in mind, it was never intended to be a deep snow tire. That being said, I ran three sets of KO2s over the years in the mountain winters and never had a problem getting around. They are not nearly as good as a dedicated snow tire - and no All Terrain tire will be. The tread compound is not optimized for temperatures below 40 degrees and the tread is made for off highway touring with the ability to do snow when asked.

They do great on the slickrock, but also in sand, over rocks, and in mixed conditions. The wet traction was acceptable to me, even in the desert cloud bursts unless you are driving like a maniac and going way too fast for conditions. It did a better job being planted in the wet than my Baja Boss tires do. There's also the question of tire size. Most people I know who say "Tire X is bad in the wet" have gone to a wider tire size, which gives more frontal area to the tire and makes it harder to evacuate water at speed. I ran three sizes of the KO2 over the years and the widest tire was the most prone to hydroplaning at speed, while the 255 width cut through deep puddles and stayed planted (but also had the poorest cornering at speed).

I don't tend to run car size tires on trucks or Jeeps so they've all been at least 285s, but I've run both the 285 and 315 ko2s that come in JLURs and like I said they are all around unimpressive. We tend to wheel ours pretty hard so they generally get swapped to MTs, but I've seen no loss of traction on the road dry or wet and a massive increase in traction everywhere else across multiple different brands. Even the falken AT3s that came on the mojave were better on and off road both. Literally every tire works well on slickrock so that's not even a factor. Run a trail like cane creek were much of that slick rock is covered in mud and they are just as horrible as I've stated. Find me a worse AT especially when it gets used off road? Literally the last tire I'd ever but for a Jeep personally.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I don't tend to run car size tires on trucks or Jeeps so they've all been at least 285s, but I've run both the 285 and 315 ko2s that come in JLURs and like I said they are all around unimpressive. We tend to wheel ours pretty hard so they generally get swapped to MTs, but I've seen no loss of traction on the road dry or wet and a massive increase in traction everywhere else across multiple different brands. Even the falken AT3s that came on the mojave were better on and off road both. Literally every tire works well on slickrock so that's not even a factor. Run a trail like cane creek were much of that slick rock is covered in mud and they are just as horrible as I've stated. Find me a worse AT especially when it gets used off road? Literally the last tire I'd ever but for a Jeep personally.

I just never understood why these were such a popular choice. They’re just so blah.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I just never understood why these were such a popular choice. They’re just so blah.

A lot of OEMs have used them. If your 1st off road experience is in a Jeep on KO2s you'll be one of the many fans that just don't know any better. I imagine going from "I road in grandpa's CJ back when I was a kid" to a JLUR or JTR on KO2s and thinking "these tires are amazing in both ride and performance"... it's not the tires.

 

[WILDHOBO]

A lot of OEMs have used them. If your 1st off road experience is in a Jeep on KO2s you'll be one of the many fans that just don't know any better. I imagine going from "I road in grandpa's CJ back when I was a kid" to a JLUR or JTR on KO2s and thinking "these tires are amazing in both ride and performance"... it's not the tires.

Great explanation. And I agree. But the difference between ko2/3 and Baja boss at for example, is game changing. On road and off. And holy cow in snow and ice.

 

[Sweetums]

The KO2's big selling point is durability. Comparing it to the tires that were on the market for most of the KO2's lifespan bear that out. The Goodyear Duratracs got superior traction, but I saw more of them with punctures and ripped out sidewalls than anything else on the trail. The Coopers that competed with the KO2 didn't last nearly as long and were prone to chunking out large sections of tread. Almost none of the AT tires lasted as long with as good off road performance, or were as durable.

The KO2's biggest failing was BF Goodrich's failure to update the tire sooner, it was a full generation behind the rest of the industry when it was finally replaced with the KO3 - I believe it was the last AT tire to be updated to the latest generation of technology. I bought the Baja Boss because the KO3 wasn't out in my size yet and I didn't want a tire from the last generation of technology. I would have almost certainly bought the KO3 if was available in my size at the time - and that's after running Goodyear mud terrains, various Coopers, the KO2, and Falken AT3. Even after running the Baja Boss, I'd probably give the KO3 a try. The KO2 served me very well and tanked a lot of stuff that I know would have destroyed lesser tires.

 

[Zachanadandy]

The KO2's big selling point is durability. Comparing it to the tires that were on the market for most of the KO2's lifespan bear that out. The Goodyear Duratracs got superior traction, but I saw more of them with punctures and ripped out sidewalls than anything else on the trail. The Coopers that competed with the KO2 didn't last nearly as long and were prone to chunking out large sections of tread. Almost none of the AT tires lasted as long with as good off road performance, or were as durable.

The KO2's biggest failing was BF Goodrich's failure to update the tire sooner, it was a full generation behind the rest of the industry when it was finally replaced with the KO3 - I believe it was the last AT tire to be updated to the latest generation of technology. I bought the Baja Boss because the KO3 wasn't out in my size yet and I didn't want a tire from the last generation of technology. I would have almost certainly bought the KO3 if was available in my size at the time - and that's after running Goodyear mud terrains, various Coopers, the KO2, and Falken AT3. Even after running the Baja Boss, I'd probably give the KO3 a try. The KO2 served me very well and tanked a lot of stuff that I know would have destroyed lesser tires.

I'll give you the durability, especially when they were introduced. But like you mentioned, that was a long time ago. I stand by the statement you'd be hard pressed to find a less impressive AT CURRENTLY available (since they are still available and the KO3s aren't out in a lot of sizes).

 

[DanW]

The 35" tire package on the JLs is unimpressive anyway as the only option is the crap KO2s. 35s fit no problem on a stock rubicon or mojave and you can pick from the dozens of tires that are far better than the KO2. For what Jeep would charge you can easily swap in really good shocks and the 35s of your choice. I know a lot of people are hung up on factory options, but the aftermarket will almost always do it better in my experience. And even if you go all the way to 37s you don't have to give up a huge chunk of the bed space to the spare.

I don't disagree. But Chevy did it right on this one. Of course, what they did right was go to AEV, who set it up. It came with a Goodyear that had what I would call an aggressive AT tread, but is called a Wrangler MT or MTS, or something like that. It seemed to performed very well on slickrock, both dry and wet, sand dunes, and the terrible mud we encountered on Friday.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I pointed out recently that we go off topic no later than page 2.

Yep - seems legit

I liked the KO2's on my two door. That set rarely saw muddy conditions and mostly wheeled out west.

Strong chance I buy KO3's for my Gladiator. Truck doesn't see a lot of mud, doesn't go on wheeling adventures.

So. Works for me I guess.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I had brand new KO2s on my first Wrangler. Half ways through winter and I swapped them for Duratracs. Absolute worst performing tire on winter roads I have ever had. Straight dangerous in my opinion. I've had quite a few locals agree with me, they'll never run them again unless in the dry. No experience with the KO3, and honestly after running the 2's I'll never give them a try. Far better options out there that work well in all conditions.

I've got Toyo OC3's right now. Curious how they'll do on winter roads. Next tire will be MT Baja Boss in 37s.

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