Goodbye Milestar Patagonia, Hello Gladiator X-Comp A/T?

[drewkillsit]

In terms of noise, I think the RAZRs were about the same as the Patatagonia's honestly. They really did ride nicely. My husband drives a Volvo, and gets annoyed easily by noise. So riding 9000 miles in the Jeep without complaining means a lot :P (Granted, I have boom-matted my interior)

Worse snow I've been in with the RAZRs was two different circumstances:
Driving up the Ouray Pass into Silverton after a snow storm. Crews hadn't been in and if you've done that pass you know its a little sketch in areas. Never had a problem. I wasn't driving super aggressively, but they gave me plenty of confidence with the truck in 4H.

Driving the highway in a blizzard in VA (our snow crews suck - I used to live in CO). Frozen packed snow, running in 4 high between 50-60 mph. No problems slipping at all.

The interesting thing when switching between the Maxxis and Milestar tires was the differences in profile. The RAZRs give you a more connected to the ground feel, where the Patagonias are a bit more floaty. If anything the RAZRs are more likely to "grab" than slip I feel. When it is raining, I was more careful of the truck grabbing deeper water than hydroplaning like I've experienced with BFG KOs. Hopefully I'm explaining that well, the RAZR is the only tire I've felt that with.

Again, super helpful. Totally understand the “floaty” ride description. Also, I realized after replying that there’s actually a Patagonia MT 2.0 and I came across the XT by mistake. Ironically, the XT is pretty much exactly what I’m looking for. Supposedly available in 40x13.5R17 but non-existent with any dealers right now.

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[Kindafearless]

Again, super helpful. Totally understand the “floaty” ride description. Also, I realized after replying that there’s actually a Patagonia MT 2.0 and I came across the XT by mistake. Ironically, the XT is pretty much exactly what I’m looking for. Supposedly available in 40x13.5R17 but non-existent with any dealers right now.

Huh, I didn't see the XT, just thought you mistyped. I was referring to the MT 2. Does look more like what your after though :P

I'm glad we misunderstood each-other on that one, I'm going to keep those in mind now if I ever go through with buying "road" tires for my truck

 

[Blackjeepjk]

I’m right at 10k miles. First 5k was amazing! Got the vibration shortly after rotation. Really even wear on mine and unbelievably quiet. Vibration getting worse.
35-40 mph and again 60ish-68. 70-75mph still smooth at this point.
Really interested to see what future holds for 40’s.
watching this thread for updates

 

[drewkillsit]

I’m right at 10k miles. First 5k was amazing! Got the vibration shortly after rotation. Really even wear on mine and unbelievably quiet. Vibration getting worse.
35-40 mph and again 60ish-68. 70-75mph still smooth at this point.
Really interested to see what future holds for 40’s.
watching this thread for updates

Hate to hear you’re dealing with that, but also glad I’m not alone, haha. Took a closer look at my tires this evening and realized the ones that used to be up front wore incredibly unevenly on the inside tread. Now with those in the rear, I would imagine that’s causing the vibration. I can even feel it in the pedals.

Have you had any of the bounciness I’ve had on the highway? Only in certain areas, seriously like I’m driving through mini whoops. Still don’t understand that.

If I give those X-Comp ATs a try, I’ll report back. Same goes for the Patagonia XTs, but I’ll have to get in touch with Milestar first. Right now, if those XTs aren’t a majorly crowned design like the MT, I’d be ready to slap a set on right away.

 

[Blackjeepjk]

Hate to hear you’re dealing with that, but also glad I’m not alone, haha. Took a closer look at my tires this evening and realized the ones that used to be up front wore incredibly unevenly on the inside tread. Now with those in the rear, I would imagine that’s causing the vibration. I can even feel it in the pedals.

Have you had any of the bounciness I’ve had on the highway? Only in certain areas, seriously like I’m driving through mini whoops. Still don’t understand that.

If I give those X-Comp ATs a try, I’ll report back. Same goes for the Patagonia XTs, but I’ll have to get in touch with Milestar first. Right now, if those XTs aren’t a majorly crowned design like the MT, I’d be ready to slap a set on right away.

Same here. I was thinking it was due to colder weather on certain parts of the roads. Then thought it was just me.
Had the wife with me this weekend and she asked what was wrong with it due to the bounce. My daughter said the 2 dr jk lifted on 35’s now rides better than my gladiator.
Definitely not what the ride was like when tires were new or something I can tolerate much longer.

 

[drewkillsit]

Same here. I was thinking it was due to colder weather on certain parts of the roads. Then thought it was just me.
Had the wife with me this weekend and she asked what was wrong with it due to the bounce. My daughter said the 2 dr jk lifted on 35’s now rides better than my gladiator.
Definitely not what the ride was like when tires were new or something I can tolerate much longer.

Dude, we’ve been through literally all of the same stages here. I thought all of that. Even tried adding, removing, or shifting around weight in the bed, trying every combination of Falcon shock adjustments, etc. At one point I wondered if my axle tubes were bent slightly from my trusses being welded on, but that didn’t make sense relative to the symptoms. None of it made sense.

I don’t remember a time when it wasn’t bouncy, but I absolutely remember a time when it was hardly noticeable and far less frequent. In any case, they were better in the beginning.

 

[Bjeepz]

While I have never gone over 35's, I have tried a couple lower end tires and the ride quality, wear patterns and tread life are never great, if the tread does last the tires are like rocks and don't grab anything. Stick to high end brands with rubber. You're currently experiencing what 'cheaper' tires can do. My though process is that most driving is on the road for most ppl, road performance shouldn't be a 2nd thought, but a 1st priority. As for Duratracs woohoo to those sucking absolute shards! As for the KO'2, never had them, so many mixed reviews but if you liked yours in the past maybe going down an inch is the best all around move until Toyo, Falken or Mickey Thompson or similar high end tires come in 40 AT's.

 

[drewkillsit]

While I have never gone over 35's, I have tried a couple lower end tires and the ride quality, wear patterns and tread life are never great, if the tread does last the tires are like rocks and don't grab anything. Stick to high end brands with rubber. You're currently experiencing what 'cheaper' tires can do. My though process is that most driving is on the road for most ppl, road performance shouldn't be a 2nd thought, but a 1st priority. As for Duratracs woohoo to those sucking absolute shards! As for the KO'2, never had them, so many mixed reviews but if you liked yours in the past maybe going down an inch is the best all around move until Toyo, Falken or Mickey Thompson or similar high end tires come in 40 AT's.

I hear ya. On the KO2s, those usually measure about 1.5” smaller than stated, so it’s a sizable drop. So glad someone agrees with me on Duratracs!

It’s absolutely a fair point on the tire brand quality. I think my issue is that none of the top brands currently make what I’m hunting for and I’m wondering when they’ll come around. The hybrids popping up make me think it’s a possibility. For the Patagonia MTs, I’m convinced it’s the crown design (in addition to rubber compound and a few other typical MT things) that make them wear so funny.

All of that said, it blows my mind that so many people have adored their Patagonia MTs for tens of thousands of miles and I’m over here bouncing all over the place at 12k. I guess they’ve worked out for quite a few people.

The Toyo MT and Nitto Trail Grappler aren’t necessarily out of the running yet. Adding almost 30lbs per corner with Nittos initiates a spit take for me every time.

 

[NC_Overland]

I have nothing to add, but I’m curious as to your comment on Duratracs having poor snow performance. I had to ditch the OEM M/Ts on my JKU Rubicon because I moved to CO and they were scary on winter roads. Based on recommendations from CO friends, I bought Duratracs and they were night and day better. I thought they did great.

 

[drewkillsit]

I have nothing to add, but I’m curious as to your comment on Duratracs having poor snow performance. I had to ditch the OEM M/Ts on my JKU Rubicon because I moved to CO and they were scary on winter roads. Based on recommendations from CO friends, I bought Duratracs and they were night and day better. I thought they did great.

Welcome to Colorado! I grew up in Winston-Salem.

On the Duratracs, I wish I could explain the situation better. By all measures, the Duratracs should be great for everyone in snow. I’m not sure if the size or tire pressure or WK2 matchup or something else caused the problem for me. I took off my Toyo Open Country ATIIs and went with Duratracs. Those Toyos looked boring but were solid in snow and silent on-road. Instantly, friends started saying “geez these tires are loud” and I agreed. In snow, they seemed to constantly break free and I had some really scary I-70 drives that winter.

A friend back in NC texted a couple of years ago and told me he got Duratracs and I was hating on them. About a year later he told me he got rid of them because they were so loud. I wish I had an answer, but those things seem to be a love ‘em or hate ‘em type thing.

 

[NC_Overland]

Welcome to Colorado! I grew up in Winston-Salem.

On the Duratracs, I wish I could explain the situation better. By all measures, the Duratracs should be great for everyone in snow. I’m not sure if the size or tire pressure or WK2 matchup or something else caused the problem for me. I took off my Toyo Open Country ATIIs and went with Duratracs. Those Toyos looked boring but were solid in snow and silent on-road. Instantly, friends started saying “geez these tires are loud” and I agreed. In snow, they seemed to constantly break free and I had some really scary I-70 drives that winter.

A friend back in NC texted a couple of years ago and told me he got Duratracs and I was hating on them. About a year later he told me he got rid of them because they were so loud. I wish I had an answer, but those things seem to be a love ‘em or hate ‘em type thing.

I didn’t have mine long enough for them to get loud. Only about 20k miles.

I moved from CO to NC (Raleigh) in 2013. I lived in CO from 2009-2013.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

This is the main reason I stayed away from the Patagonia, I've heard from several people local to me that they develop a vibration at around the 15,000 mile mark that's pretty bad. I'd say out 7 or 8 people I spoke to, 3 or 4 had that to say about them. Also when I was at discount tire the guy down there who was a sales man told me that out of every 3 or 4 sets they mount they run into out of round problems to the point where the tire almost can't be balanced without a ton of weight. I was about to pull the trigger and the dude talk me right out of it. I'm not trying to down the tire because every person I talk to who, even the ones talking crap about the vibration said they still run them because of the off road performance and because they are cheap. That was at least a year ago, they aren't so cheap now so I wonder if they have changed their minds now.

 

[redrider]

Right, same here. I never chalk tested, but found that they rode "best" around 32psi. The bouncing is pretty much inescapable for me at this point. I think the crowned design is what is contributing to the odd wear, which might be more pronounced for larger tires.

"My hands tires felt like two balloons...."

 

[drewkillsit]

This is the main reason I stayed away from the Patagonia, I've heard from several people local to me that they develop a vibration at around the 15,000 mile mark that's pretty bad. I'd say out 7 or 8 people I spoke to, 3 or 4 had that to say about them. Also when I was at discount tire the guy down there who was a sales man told me that out of every 3 or 4 sets they mount they run into out of round problems to the point where the tire almost can't be balanced without a ton of weight. I was about to pull the trigger and the dude talk me right out of it. I'm not trying to down the tire because every person I talk to who, even the ones talking crap about the vibration said they still run them because of the off road performance and because they are cheap. That was at least a year ago, they aren't so cheap now so I wonder if they have changed their minds now.

I asked how mine balanced and the 4WP guy said they balanced fine. In hindsight, the dude I asked didn’t balance them and probably just made an assumption. The real answer was probably “ehh, they might be OK.” Never seen so many tire weights. Might’ve even lost some and that’s what got my bouncing started.

 

[JackalopeSean]

I have the 40x13.50r17 Micky Thompson Baja Boss MT and as of now have over 45,000 miles on them and I rotate every 5K
they have been great all round and surprised me on the slick rocks in OK trails when they were covered in mud and did Awesome in the 2021 Texas snow storm (I was out every day)

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