All terrain tires ride like crap ...change my mind

Super easy for me but that’s because the place I go to is actually a quality shop. They also have a 60k warranty (find that in another AT tire) and are made in the USA if that’s your thing too. I’ve had both the Cooper AT III XLT and the Toyo AT III and now on Toyo MTs. All 285/75R18. All of them are great tires.

 

My ST Maxx's balanced up quite easily.

 

Has anyone had any of the continental tires? How they ride ,handle any feed back on them.

 

I have no personal experiences with them but I have done a lot of research on them. What it seems is that they are excellent on road, very good in the rain, and very supple riding. The snow/ice ratings and reviews did completely turned me off. Not so good... I was close to buying a set for my 4Runner. The Michelin LTX were much better in the snow according to everything I read.

 

The biggest problem with installing AT on Tundras is the load range. Stockers are passenger tires, standard load. Put anything larger on and you are pretty much forced (due to tires available) to moving to an E load tires. E load tires on a Tundra are overkill and do ride significantly stiffer.

 

Not all. The TSS models come with BFG KO2s.

 

The factory LTX AT2 is a great tire for all kinds of applications. The only real issue people have with it is that it doesn’t look cool.

**CHANGE MY MIND**

Exhibit A: stock 2015 TRD Pro with stock Michelins tackles Moab, sand dunes, etc
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3vgvtx

Exhibit B: https://youtu.be/sXqx3as6SGY

That said I love my giant E load Duratracs. They’re incredible off-road. Yes, a bit noisier than the Michelins. Maybe they’ll get worse, I don’t know. The noise doesn’t bother me at this point. I got them installed for $760. For that price, I’m happy to run em into the ground.

 

You’re lucky! It took 3 different trips back to my off-road shop for them to get it right.

 

Same here. No issues with mine. I love them.

 

They should have got it right the first go around

 

do you happen to have a picture of your set up?

 

Thanks, that looks like the perfect size. Does 285/75r18 fit under the bed for a full sized spare?

 

I have 285/75/R18 Duratrac spare on the stock steelie tucked under the bed, fits fine but I don't think it will with a CB shackle.

Really digging Duratracs, went from stock Mich to 275/70/R18 KO2s (which I also have on my 4Runner) and while they perform great off road they are stiff.

I then tried 295/70/R18 KM3 and ditched them within a week, off road performance was not worth the ride on my daily commute. Compared to them, no AT tire is loud, braking distance was increased, handling/cornering sucked, did I mention they were loud?

I now have 285/75/R18 Duratracs, will be putting them on my 4R as well. I've been in dirt, beach sand, snow (on and offroad) and daily them on pavement and have no complaints.

 

Thanks @woofhauler I appreciate your insight. I'll probably go with this size but have been leaning towards the cooper at3 xlt. Is your suspension set up completely stock on your pro?

 

Yes totally stock 19 Pro minus front flaps. No trimming, no rubbing.

edit.

 

Yes it will fit. It also fits with coachbuilder shackles you just have to widen up a few spots with a hammer.

 

Where'd you widen out? This is only reason why I'm stuck between 295/70 and 285/75 but want the narrower tire. I'd get 285/70 but don't want a MT or ridge grappler.

 

PM sent.

 

can you post a pic of your new tire setup? Thanks

 

Sure! Here you go.
I like the 70's over the 65's because they fill out the wheel well better and ride even more smoothly.

 

Running E-rated KO2's in the stock 275/65-18 size and have zero complaints (with stock TRD Off-road Bilstein shocks) . Not loud on the highway, balanced fine, look good and so far have been great in the rain and snow (12"+ of snow so far). Any noise they might be generating is probably masked by the TRD exhaust and I'm sure they'll get a bit louder with more miles ... only have about 2,000 miles on them so far. I run them at 43psi (cold pressure recommended by BFG for the Tundra on their website) all around and I don't find them to be harsh or uncomfortable at all. Wife also drives the truck a bit and she's never complained to me about noise or the ride quality after I put them on.

 

Had KO2s in the past but love my ridge grapplers now.

maybe go up a sidewall size taller to put some rubber in place and play with the tire pressure.
My shop sent me out the door at 38psi and it was a soft ride. Max rating was 80 psi so made a few adjustments and found I like 42-44 for everyday commuting. Honestly a noticeable difference between 38 & 42 & 48. To each his own...

 

I found the KO2 to get stupid loud for an AT tire once you get some miles on them , like second half of the life

I Like the AT3 XLT much better overall both were same size load e

 

I’m running the cooper ATW, they wernt made for long and I got a smokin deal on them from America’s tire. But they are probably the noisiest a/t tire I have ever used. And I immediately noticed how much stiffer they were compared to the stock Michelin’s. It seems impossible to get a good riding 33-34” tire with an 18” wheel. Even E rated Michelin’s ride horrible compared to LT and C Michelin’s. I have been checking Craigslist every day for 17” wheels, but apparently covid made rock warrior wheels worth their wait in gold. The only set near me is 1900$ firm.

 

I know that trail, it's called Minden Hydro Trail, you can youtube it.

With stock tires and the truck will get stuck 1/2 way through, the Micheline tires are fine on most dry surfaces and little bit of wet, anything that involves mud or rocks are useless.

Be careful with the sidewall on Duratracs, I've seen several of them get puncture on the sidewall with sharp edges, I know if you compare by weight, they are one of the lightest LT tires out there, on 4Runner I think they'll be great, but once you are loading them to 6000+ lb, it gets bit iffy.

 

Weak sidewalls are why I went with ST MAXX on my last Tacoma

 

Just my personal experience, but I’ve run them on half ton pickups for almost ten years in some tough environments, and have not found them to be weak in the sidewalls.

 

You must be talking about the Truck King video. He runs all the trucks he reviews through the Hydro line. The stock Tundra not only did not get stuck, but it impressed him with how well it did on the stock tires with no locker.

 

I live near there, he filmed it around summer time when it wasn't very wet this year in Ontario, this is what it looks like when I drove it.





it seems "muddy" but it's relatively dry, and if he had gone further on the trail he would've gotten stuck, not everyone need more aggressive tires, but the stock Micheline are definitely not that great during offroad.