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Which and why

10K views 30 replies 12 participants last post by  USStrongman 
#1 ·
Considering these choices of tire and tread for my first upgrade on this jeep in 265/70R17: Dick Cepek Fun Country, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac, Mastercraft Courser CXT and Kenda Klever RT KR601. Want to stay with my mpg/tread inside the flares and I don't really need more clearance as my main use is highway and seasonal use roads where I live. I am going to take a three week trip to Colorado this August and take in the high peaks - Black Bear, Engineer, Yankee Boy, Imogene, Ophir. I'm a low range creeper type, non of that Baja racing stuff. No disconnect/low air type stuff either. Manual trans and 3.73, stock Willys Wheeler springs.
 
#4 ·
Out of the tires you listed I would go with the Dick Cepek Fun Country. They are made by Cooper Tires and I like them. You might want to also look at Mickey Thompson, also made by Cooper, or straight up Cooper tires.
I also think the BFG KO2's would be great for your stated usage. The BFG's run a little small, so you might want to go with one size up. But they work excellent on the street, and great off road in anything short of deep mud. We have been all over southwestern Colorado running BFG KO2's, and they worked great.
 
#5 ·
I would reconsider your size and go with 255/80-17 Falken at3w or a KO2 in 34x10.5-17 (both are really the same height)
I have done all those Colorado passes with the KO2 in that size and worked great.
 
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#6 ·
If absolutely staying with that size, and your conditions, the Duratrac is the obvious choice. The CXT and RT are good tires, but will be noisy compared to the DT...

I would reconsider your size and go with 255/80-17 Falken at3w or a KO2 in 34x10.5-17 (both are really the same height)
I have done all those Colorado passes with the KO2 in that size and worked great.
This is the correct answer. The 255/80R17 Falken AT3W is the best choice posted so far in my opinion. It does everything and is a direct fit snowflake rated tire.
 
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#7 ·
Good afternoon Casull454-

Wanted to toss in a few thoughts. All of those options, while fantastic tires in there own regard are not necessarily ideal for highway use, on the flip side a highway tire wont perform in some of the areas you are intending on going. Tires, by nature are a product of compromise, no tire will score 5 out of 5 in all performance attributes.

Narrowing down your specific intended purpose with the tire based on driving habits, road conditions, along with other factors can really help ensure you get the right tire.

We would be happy to assist further with this, sending you a PM
 
#9 ·
Out of those choices I would go Dick C. (Because of Cooper) or Duratrac. Like others suggested the Falken AT3 is a ridiculously great tire at a low price. I run these and they’re awesome on dry, wet, and slick surfaces. I live in the snow belt so this is important to me


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#10 ·
Yes, any of these tires would work. The Wrangler SRA that are on it stock are amazing but don't work in heavy rain. I naturally won't use them in mud. I will also travel the back roads along the border of UT/CO and up around Dinosaur Park. I guess in the end I'm more concerned on performance in sand, both wet/dry having no experience with that medium. I know that rounded shoulders are best for that. And I want more ability than BFG AT's in mud. I forgot that tires last much longer since radials, got into a brain fart remembering the bias monster mudders tread life. I was hoping some of the membership had tried some of them. I haven't read magazines since Four Wheeler decided to go racing. I do miss Granby and the back page tech forum and of course that pair of correspondents that sent in a story every month from the trail.
 
#11 ·
Considering these choices of tire and tread for my first upgrade on this jeep in 265/70R17: Dick Cepek Fun Country, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac, Mastercraft Courser CXT and Kenda Klever RT KR601. Want to stay with my mpg/tread inside the flares and I don't really need more clearance as my main use is highway and seasonal use roads where I live. I am going to take a three week trip to Colorado this August and take in the high peaks - Black Bear, Engineer, Yankee Boy, Imogene, Ophir. I'm a low range creeper type, non of that Baja racing stuff. No disconnect/low air type stuff either. Manual trans and 3.73, stock Willys Wheeler springs.
I have ridden these trails and many more across the USA. Disconnecting and using a lower air pressure is going to save your mental state.
Any passengers will appreciate the added comfort too.
Wished I could join ya!
 
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#12 ·
Well, after plugging in some more data, 3 ply sidewalls and tire weight, the mix has changed. And as always price is a determining factor too.
Kenda Klever RT 33x10.50R17E 32.76 10.47 47 lbs $173
Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx LT255 /80 R17E 32.8 10.2 51 lbs $228
The BFG KO2 34 is just too much $323
Kenda Klever R/T KR601 LT265/70R17E 31.9 10.8 43 lbs $166
Dick Cepek Fun Country LT265/70R17E 31.9 10.7 56 lbs $195
Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx LT265/70R17E 31.85 10.7 55 lbs $222
MT Baja MTZ P3 LT265/70R17E 31.9 10.7 55 lbs $241
 
#13 ·
The BFG you list seems out of place.
A BFG KO2 265/70 17 (like the others) would be $207. Same basic price range as the others.
The 34" KO2 is an odd duck. Overpriced compared to the others and undersized.

The 265/70 17 KO2 is also an original equipment size tire for a number of versions of JK / JKU. You might even be able to find some take offs cheap.
 
#15 ·
the BFG KO2 weighs about 51lbs and is 32.25 actual height. I have had them and weighed them. Great size for stockish rig.
 
#16 ·
Falken 255/80-17 and 34x10.5-17 are very close in size and weight.
 
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#17 ·
Per BFG website 265 is 31.7, 10.7 w, and 45.55 lbs, the 34 is 33.5, 10.6 w and 54.85 lbs. Much of the problem with researching the info deals with inaccuracies and leaving out some of the desired information. The Falken is 52.5 lbs, 33.1 x 10, I'm lead to believe the Falkens have a 2 ply sidewall which drops them from my list as does the Goodyear Duratracs. The price is what drives me away from the 34 BFG. Another detractor to the Falken for me is the snow tread spacing, that will load up with mud.
 
#20 ·
you will find the Falken has a tough sidewall. I live in Montana and all our wheeling is either sharp rocks/granite or sharp sticks from down trees.

If I remember correctly the ST/Maxx also has a 2 ply sidewall. regardless they are both E rated tires. My only beef on the ST Maxx is is it gets loud after 10-15,000 miles and that is with rotating every 3000 miles. I have had 3 sets in the last 2 years and currently have a set along with the falkens.

I can also tell you in the mud the Falkens are equal to the ST/Maxx's when it comes to loading up. Neither is a mud tire but both seem to do better than they would appear too. Both will do very well in Colorado but the Falkens will give you a quieter ride on the way there.I have done all the passes you are wanting to do at least 2X and neither tire will have any issues whatsoever.

Another tire to throw on the radar in 255/80-17 is Toyo if you want a superior mud tire look at the MT and if a tire to compete with the ST Maxx either AT2 or R/T I have had those too and really good tires. (dang I have had way too many tires it would have been cheaper to get hooked on crack)
 
#21 ·
I'm not a newbie. And I haven't left the room. I'm not finding all the info I'm looking for on brand websites either. My current list has changed again to Kenda Klever RT 33x10.50, Interco M16 33x10.50 and BFG AT KO2 34x10.50. I have yet to see opinions on this particular model of Interco tire. I realize it's labeled as a mud tire, but the center tread looks close enough together to be more of a hybrid such as the Kenda.
 
#22 ·
Some more reading today says the Interco M16 is a 2 ply sidewall. And some Toyo MT and some Interco M16 are hard to balance. I guess I should give up on looking for something to be good out west, I should just follow instructions. When in sand, air down. When done, air up. An air compressor is easily stashed.
 
#23 ·
Sounds to me like you're a perfect candidate for the Milestar Patagonia M/T. That tire is inexpensive, has excellent traction in ALL terrains, and doesn't make a lot of noise.

There's a guy with a popular YouTube channel who operates an offroad recovery business in the Utah sand dunes. He says the Patagonia M/T is the best sand tire he's ever used.

My set of Patagonias was amazing and I wish I still had them. Fantastic traction and great price tag.
 
#24 ·
Having had a few of these, my thoughts:

My 2017 came with 265/70/17 KO2's. Got 50k out of them but still had 8/32" left. Just got noisey. Did everything I threw at them really well except noise after 35k miles and ice. Mounted on 75th Anniversary wheels at 30psi they were 31.5" tall. Mine were OEM.

Milestar Pats in 285/70/17 were a tick under 33" mounted on AEV Saltas at 28psi and again, did everything really well. I never got a chance to run them in snow. For a budget tire, these were really terrific. Discount Tire price matched Wallyworld at $143 1 year ago. $160 at Wallyworld now. Have seen them on Cramazon at $134.

Just put Kenda Klevers on two weeks ago. 35/10.5/17 R/T. Can not believe how quiet they are. Snow the day after I mounted them was like driving on dry pavement. Tread feels and looks like an A/T, but corners and sidewalls look like M/T. On AEV Saltas at 32psi and on the ground, they are 34" on the dot. Discount does not carry Kenda. Bought 4 (5th on B/O) at Wallyworld for $722 w/ tax.
 

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#25 ·
Do you have any sort of lift on it? And could you post a pic showing how much tire or tread is outside of the fender?

Back in the 70's I ran Ground Hawgs in 14/35 with a 3" Burbank lift kit along with 10" aluminum Western Wheels. Never made contact anywhere with it. I had the soft top and Clifford 6 into 2 headers with Hush Thrush mufflers. The tires were really loud at highway speeds. I used a headset to listen to the CB and couldn't hear it at 65 mph. They still had more than half the tread after 40,000 miles. I used the stock steel wagon wheels and L78 Goodyear M & S tires in the winter months as the wide tires weren't too safe on snow covered roads. Oh, and it only weighed 2800 lbs, unlike the recent stuff that weighs 1000 more. I traded it at 85,000 miles. Whaa.
 
#27 ·
I've just about researched all I can on the subject. Now I only have to make up my mind with the finalists of: Kenda Klever RT 33x10.50R17, and though many BFG AT TA KO2s are on my list, I'm not convinced they'd work well in mud, Toyo OC RT 255/80, Cooper S/T Maxx 255/80, Dick Cepek FC 265/70 and General AT/X 275/70. The Kenda's are $40-115 cheaper than the rest. Warmer weather will get here eventually and I'll be more willing to check the frame/swaybar clearances to decide how wide I can go.
 
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