K02 initial impressions…

Lots of opinions re the KO2 tires- some swear by them, some swear at them…they're loud, zero wet traction, they're too stiff, they kill windshields with all the stones they throw, and more (on the haters side).

Living in the PNW gives us all 4 seasons, so a well balanced tire is important. When I got my truck, I took off the Mazama tires and replaced them with Yoko Geolandar G015 (p rated) to maximize the wet handling and comfort.

The Yokos are great tires that felt like marshmallows- super comfortable and quiet on road, but pretty iffy offroad.

So, after zero help from the internet (lots of subjective opinion passed off as objective fact), I decided to install a set of 275/70R18 K02s. Thus far, I find the tires to be quiet, comfortable, and very sure footed. The truck feels like a truck.

 

I put on my first set of KO2s last week. Rides great to me so far. Smooth and quiet. Only thing I'm chasing is getting them balanced well enough to rid of some vibrations on the highway. This isn't the tire's fault. It's getting the balancing weights in a good enough spot while clearing the front brake calipers since I'm running 17" wheels. On the road force balancer they balanced just fine but there's still a noticeable front end vibration that starts at about 50mph.

 

Since nobody is asking for more opinions:

They are ok driving around the city, fine for towing, meh on ice/snow covered roads.

In a snowstorm in the city I will take my wife's Honda Pilot on Blizzaks over the Tundra on KO2 anytime.

As soon as point towards a backcountry lake and go on a trail I dislike the KO2. They don't inspire any confidence when the going gets even a bit muddy.

Result: they will be my last set.

 

Old mans rig has KO2's he really enjoys them. Especially being lighter than most 37s

 

Maybe try a mud terrain if you’re in the mud? I think majority opinion on these tires would be a bit different if you asked on the race dezert forums.

 

I have had MTs on other trucks in the past. The BFGs are quite bad regular life - lots of wear when towing and they can be downright scary on ice.

Likely to back to the Cooper STT Maxx or similar for next tire. Better all around tire for a mixed need.

 

I always loved them, had many many sets on several vehicles. Back when they were called all terrain T/A’s. Only set I ever had an issue with was on a 15 Silverado (lots off issues with that truck). They wouldn’t balance. Discount tried several times, dealership tried a couple times, truck was a lemon so never figured out tire balance. GM bought it back with about 500 miles on those tires.
Otherwise have nothing but good things to say about the tires.

 

Great in the sand (aired down, of course). Horrible on wet asphalt.

 

Well I hope you got a good set because the balancing issue is real. My KO2 will balance at first, then go out with in 5k. I should also say that I rotate them every 5k. New they where perfect, now after around 28k, not so perfect. Road noise and not holding balance. I just redid my lift and I am not even going to align the truck yet till the crap KO2 wear out. I might not even wait, that how much I want to remove them.

 

It is the tires fault. I have balance mine twice. Once on OEM rims and once on SCS rims. The SCS took less weight but still had too much compared to other tire I have had. After 5k miles the balance is off once I rotate the tires. I have vibration at 60-65. It's a know issue the KO2 are horrible for balancing. Never again.

 

Anecdotally my first AT tires were Geolandar G015. Had a couple of "now I will die" moments on the gravel road, where Yokos proved to have no lateral traction whatsoever. They got me a few months later on the icy road in the woods and I totalled my battle wagon. The next reincarnation of the wagon got KO2s, and I could not complain about them. Yeah, on an unibody vehicle they are extremely loud around 45 MPH. But they took all the beating well, I even cracked a wheel once, yet nothing happened to the tire. In snow, and I mean snow, not the white dust on the paved road, they are fine. In AWD Volvo I was going as far in snow as ground clearance allowed.

On Tundra I have General Grabbers A/TX, which can be considered as KO2 knock offs. They are not loud at all, thanks to body on frame. In snow they are as capable, if you know how to navigate different kinds of snow.

 

I think KO2s are great in dry conditions. Most people with favorable reports over the entire life of the tire seem to live in the SW US. Just a general observation.

Their iconic tread pattern is very tight and is awful at clearing thick mud (and as you mention, good for throwing rocks), and wet pavement traction for me became terrifying at around 20k miles. It's like they got hard and brittle halfway through the life of the tire. I am far from alone in reporting this.

But let's be honest: most people's "off-roading" could be handled just fine by a set of Michelin Defenders.

 

I wore stock Michelin LT/X out first They are considerably worse than KO2 and alike, but take your time and you'll get there.

 

Yep. The stock Michelins on our trucks throw rocks like none other. Those tires don't come close to the Defenders in any way.

Every factory tire sucks.

 

I've had great luck with mine. They are starting to get a little squirrelly in rain but certainly not "terrible" as people claim. We get 50-60" of rain/year here.

I'll probably try a different tire next just to see how they compare.

 

Interesting that you bring up the squirrelly aspect of the K02s in the wet that is common complaint.

My previous tires (Yoko G015) would light up on command, wet or dry, and got sideways on occasion- because I was pushing the limits of the tire (driving too fast for the conditions).

It’s a truck- a vehicle that is usually very nose- biased due to the empty bed. Combine this with a penchant for most folks to drive with a lead foot in any conditions and I think that the tire isn’t so much the problem as the nut behind the wheel…

 

I agree. I drive pretty conservative. I don't think KO2's are as bad in the rain as people claim but who knows. They have lost some wet traction as they aged though. Mine are 5 years old now. Around 35k miles on them.

 

Poor in rain but, as stated earlier, a solid southwest choice. Not the best for extreme use (lots of rain, snow, mud, rocks at speed). They do everything decent while also being generally the lightest tire in their class. The Ford 37x12.50R17 is 64 pounds. Nothing else is close. Have plenty of friends and family with Gen 3 Raptors and they do just fine. I just drove a Gen 3 Raptor deep into mexico towing 4800 lbs with 6 hours of trailered dirt roads and all was well. I think a set of 37s is in my short term future