[Glockdoc]

I am currently awaiting my 2012 JKU Rubicon and anticipate making some changes. I can't decide between the BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2 or the All Terrains. My questions are as follows:
1) Are the Mud Terrains (if I get them siped) as good as the All Terrains on wet surfaces, ice, compact snow? This is my most important question.
2) Is the vibration of the Mud Terrains so noticeable that it makes it uncomfortable for a long road trip?
3) Are the All Terrains much more comfortable as far as DD is concerned? Is the ride much smoother than the Mud Terrains?
4) I'm not so concerned about noise level, but if anyone has input about the noise level of the Mud Terrains vs. All Terrains, it might be helpful.

I understand that you will want to know my driving habits and should decide based on things such as amount of time spent in the mud vs. DD vs. amount of time on ice or snow...etc. However, I pretty much want your experiences with the above mentioned situations. My main reason for the post was to find out how good siping of Mud Terrains is for winters, ice, and wet pavement...so those with experience in that department...Please advise. Thank you.

 

[rics1997]

1) MT are not siped and do not handle nearly as good on slippery surfaces/snow/ice even though many can deal with snow they aren't nearly as good as AT's
2) Not really any vibration if mounted correctly just a road roar. MT's can have balance issues over time and need rebalanced. Not often but it happens.
3)brand to brand AT's are more comfortable and smoother. Main reason people buy them over MT
4)Not at first. brand new MT's run fairly smooth for many MT's like the BFG and GY. Many others start out noisy but after they start getting older, they get louder for the most part no matter which brand. But even with the fairly quiet start they are still a lot more noisy then AT by far

 

[rics1997]

One of the big reason many buy Goodyear Duratracs besides the weight is because they are an aggressive AT. Looking a lot like a MT but actually more a AT

 

[Glockdoc]

Thanks for all of your input rics1997. I know the MT's are not siped when they come new. But, I was thinking of having them siped at Discount Tire. So, if I do get them siped...will they have similar traction to the AT's on ice and wet pavement? I will consider the Duratracs also, but for now I'm still thinking more about the BFG's.

 

[Comac90]

I am currently awaiting my 2012 JKU Rubicon and anticipate making some changes. I can't decide between the BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2 or the All Terrains. My questions are as follows:
1) Are the Mud Terrains (if I get them siped) as good as the All Terrains on wet surfaces, ice, compact snow? This is my most important question.
2) Is the vibration of the Mud Terrains so noticeable that it makes it uncomfortable for a long road trip?
3) Are the All Terrains much more comfortable as far as DD is concerned? Is the ride much smoother than the Mud Terrains?
4) I'm not so concerned about noise level, but if anyone has input about the noise level of the Mud Terrains vs. All Terrains, it might be helpful.

1. No - and siped MTs, in general, can lose chunks of tread if used in the rocks; one reason not to sipe the outer lugs if you go that route.
2. No - done it several times on trips up to 700 miles.
3. Yes and Yes - in fact, enough so that since I'm now driving my jeep more than i thought I would, I'm shelving the MTs and getting a second set of wheels with ATs for DD-duties.
4. MTs are noticeably louder. I can still use the stereo and the radio blue-tooth phone connect at 75mph, but there is a noticeable difference.

T

 

[Glockdoc]

Thanks Comac90. Do you think siping (of the inner lugs only) help at all? Would they even be close to the AT's on ice and wet surfaces?

 

[XJ Knight]

I know someone who loves his siped center lug KM2's to death and swears to not buying another tire ever again for his jeep.. I'll see if he will tell you about his overall experience with them

 

[darkproximity]

I know someone who loves his siped center lug KM2's to death and swears to not buying another tire ever again for his jeep.. I'll see if he will tell you about his overall experience with them

Yes XJ, i absolutely love my siped km2s.. snow has been a moot point with them.. i have specifically gone out to the really bad areas of town where people have been having issues getting around, just to help them out.. I pulled a full size chevy truck 3 miles up a hill that had yet to be plowed, then another mile to his house, and 2 blocks down a road with about a foot of snow on it that had only been lightly driven on.. I have yet to have any issues with snow or even ice.. they work amazingly and after this winter i will be running km2s until they decide to stop making them.. I could go on and on about them but i'll leave you with that for now.

Im running 35x1250r15 on 10 inch wide wheels running around my normal street pressure of about 17 psi front 15 rear.

 

[MarineHawk]

I've had both the BFG ATs and KM2s on previous 4x4s, and I though the ATs were a bit better than the KM2s on the ice and light snow, and thought the KM2s were a bit better in the deep snow. I'm sure the KM2s are somewhat louder, but both have very mild road manners and sound compared to most aggressive MTs. I doubt there are very many snowy conditions where you can't go with one versus the other, except, in my experience, you might be able to go a bit further in deep snow with the KM2s. These are just my perceptions based on my own experiences. You might get better MPGs out of the ATs, but the KM2s are tougher and more grippy on rocky terrain. (Of all tires I used to have, I miss my Cooper STTs most of all).

 

[suicideking]

I read this thread quickly, but don't think anyone mentinoed: AT's will last a lot longer than MT's.

I think the average MT lasts around 35-40K miles while the AT will last 45-60K miles.

I bought the BFG AT because I read many are getting around 60+ out of them. I do really like the looks of the GY Duratrac though. If you are considering MT mainly for looks, the Duratrac looks closer to an MT than most of the other AT. I also like the looks of the Nitto Grappler.

If your Jeep is mainly a DD, you're better off getting the AT.

 

[BHall1244]

i have 35" km2's on my rig. i love them. they are fairly quiet on the road. they have great traction offroad. i however can not comment on their performance in the snow and ice, i never used them in that setting.

 

[Daniel_M]

OP, out of the 2 I would go with the KM2 cause they are more aggresive. I personally do not like the BFG AT and they are not good in the snow either.

-Dan

 

[pkmcd99]

Depending on the winter setting BFG Ko outperform Km series tires and vise versa. Ko are severe weather rated and will far exceed expectation in slush, moderate snow and hard pack snow covered roads. The Km are substantialy better in deep snow and far exceed Ko in unbroken snow trails etc. Ive run both, but prefer an agressive Km incase I decide to break in a snow filled fire road in the backcountry. But if you are on looking for year round performance on a daily driver that may only see hunting trips and walmart, go Ko series.

 

[Glockdoc]

Great input from everyone...thanks! Please keep it coming, this is a difficult decision.

 

[C2U5H]

Unless you're going to be plowing through 12-36" of snow regularly, the AT wins hands-down. I lived out in Aspen, CO for the 2008/9 ski season and had my '99 TJ on 33x10.5" BFG AT KOs out there with me. That year was a record-breaking snowfall year (since 1983/4) with 10 feet of snow in December alone. I worked on Buttermilk at the top of Summit Express and had to be there at 6am before anything was plowed, and took back roads to get to work. I never got stuck the whole time I was there. As a general rule, MTs SUCK in the snow unless you get the center treads siped, but they're still marginal at best compared to an AT.

Now, if you're talking about busting through forested trails with the gnar-gnar pow-pow, then of course you're going to want an MT. On road, however, the AT will always take the cake.

That being said, I have a '12 JKR with the stock 32" KMs and have been pleasantly surprised with their white-stuff performance, even though we've had a pretty non-white season so far. Time will tell.

 

[clvnmcd]

I know you are deciding between two BFG brands, but My experience in snow and ice is that the Goodyear Duratracs are hands down better than my stock BFG MT's on 2012 jeep (unsiped). shortly after getting the jeep, we had a several inches of snow, the BFG MT's did fine, I was plenty confident in their ability to get through the snow, but on ice they were a big touchy. Once changing over to the Goodyear Duratracs, I was amazed how much better the handling was. They were more effective in the snow and ice. they had much better grip. I was shocked at the difference.
The onroad behavior is quite good, they are not noisy and handle very smooth.

 

[Comac90]

Thanks Comac90. Do you think siping (of the inner lugs only) help at all? Would they even be close to the AT's on ice and wet surfaces?

Speaking from first hand experience, yes it does help - a lot. As far as being close to ATs, I have only anecdotal experience; no hard numbers. But, with enough siping, I suppose they could come close. In my experience ATs were always better (assuming you're talking about ice/snow-packed/wet roads).

T

 

[kkeating]

Living and driving in San Diego, I don't have an opinion about which tires are better for snow and ice, but I can say that the KM2s are far quieter than I expected them to be--nearly as quiet as the stock M/Ts were. (I now have 35" KM2s.) The ride is comfortable over long distances, though the M/Ts probably would be marginally better since their tread is somewhat less aggressive.

I had A/Ts on my previous Jeep (a 2002), and my 2012 is far quieter; the tires are noisier than on the TJ, but the overall noise level is down tremendously. I can carry on a conversation without raising my voice, and I can hear all the notes in a Mozart polonaise without cranking up the radio's volume.

 

[Glockdoc]

I'm starting to lean toward the KM2's with siping...though I know the AT's would be more functional for me...decisions...

 

[the Kolector]

I have been partial to the AT KO's, had them on my 98 Wrangler and have the MT's on my 07. Granted those were on the rig when I bought her and I was thinking about switching to the AT KO's when the time comes, lately though, I have heard ALOT of good things about the Doodyear Duratracs. I am starting to lean toward those when the time comes, a little cheaper. May be worth looking at as well.