Cowboy has got new shoes BFG KM2's, first impression

[SavageSun4x4]

Dropped off my wheels sans bead lock rings at Discount today and picked them up about an hour later with MTR gone and KM2's on board. Took them home and spend the day cleaning up bead lock rings and inside/outside of the wheels. Then installing the lock rings and popping the bead, torquing down the lock rings and heading out for a drive.

I have been riding on MTR's on my Jeeps and truck ever since they have been out and I have gone thru 7 sets. Figured it was time for a change. I replaced the 37x12:50x17 MTRs with the same size in the KM2's.

I drove 9 miles and this is my first impression:

1) Softer ride than the MTRs. Some of this is not doubt the MTRs being a E rated tire and the KM2s a D rated tire.

2) Tires are more grippy. This may be because the MTRs were getting down toward the end of their useful life???

3) I took them back to Discount to have them balanced and after some discussion we decided to wait a few days. I have no vibes at all up to about 60 mph. I will do some freeway driving tomorrow and see how they drive at speeds about 60 mph. My MTRs HAD to be balanced with often more than 1 pound of weight. I balanced the MTRs every 3k miles and they always NEEDED it.

4) I am heading out to Moab next week so I will see how they do in the 'slickrock' up there.

[T.C.'S TOY]

Looks good Don.....T.C.

[SavageSun4x4]

Looks good Don.....T.C.

Thanks...;)

[Wayco]

Hope we see you up there Don, most of the HCR's will be at the Slickrock campgrounds next week.
They look like a good tire, and your WE beadlocks look MUCH better than mine do, even though I'm sure you have had them longer. I'm thinking that I will change all the bolts on mine next time I upgrade tires. I got to compare the Mickey Thompson "baja claws" to the MTZ's at AO today, the MTZ's have a thicker tougher sidewall, what does the KM2 have for a sidewall?

[SavageSun4x4]

Hope we see you up there Don, most of the HCR's will be at the Slickrock campgrounds next week.
They look like a good tire, and your WE beadlocks look MUCH better than mine do, even though I'm sure you have had them longer. I'm thinking that I will change all the bolts on mine next time I upgrade tires. I got to compare the Mickey Thompson "baja claws" to the MTZ's at AO today, the MTZ's have a thicker tougher sidewall, what does the KM2 have for a sidewall?

I will arrive there on the 17th I think and stay till the 24th.

I change all the bolts and washers everytime I change tires on my wheels and I strongly recommend it. They look good now by it soon fades. Here is a writeup and pics on doing maintenance on the WE wheels: http://www.savagesun4x4.com/enter/how_to_stuff/walker_evans_beadlock_manin.html

The KM2's are a D rated tire which is 8 ply rated. I doubt they are as tuff as my MTRs but time will tell...

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

Looks great Don....Welcome to the revolution:D

Jason

[Number 7]

Nice hoops! See you in Moab. George :cool:

[Teal-J]

Looks good! I want them in 35x12.5x15 though. :D

[Andrew F]

The KM2's are a D rated tire which is 8 ply rated. I doubt they are as tuff as my MTRs but time will tell...

But that really only applies to tread plys, not sidewall plies. If I remember correctly, the MTR had a 2 ply sidewall and the BFG has a three ply sidewall (the old one did also). The 2 ply MTR seemed to have a better reputation for sidewall strength, and lot of people seemed to have trouble with the BFG. But now the BFG is suppose to be 30% stronger, so hopefully that meets or exceeds your old MTRs.

[Silvacon]

After the last few outings I am NOT impressed with the MTR's. The last trip up upper scorpion all three of the jeeps on MTR's ended up smacking the wall and needed to be winched up. I have been running BFG's and there are several cuts in the sidewall with no problems, so I am looking forward to trying out the KM2's.

[CooL_DaD]

The sidewall strenght of the MTR is in my opinion , is Disgusting...I personally ,who wheels almost everyday on Arizona rocks and trails , 100% believe in Swamper TSL-SX tires Beacause of their sidewall strength and invunerablty...
My wife has pro-comp Xtterains ,and they stink...Like the MTR's their side wall strength has much to be desired. I've driven my TSL-SX's over almost any terrain this desert has to offer and I've had 0 Faliures...Lucky, I think Not..I abuse my tires like no-one else..

[Doba]

You can't compare SXs to any radial tire.

[SavageSun4x4]

The sidewall strenght of the MTR is in my opinion , is Disgusting...I personally ,who wheels almost everyday on Arizona rocks and trails , 100% believe in Swamper TSL-SX tires Beacause of their sidewall strength and invunerablty...
My wife has pro-comp Xtterains ,and they stink...Like the MTR's their side wall strength has much to be desired. I've driven my TSL-SX's over almost any terrain this desert has to offer and I've had 0 Faliures...Lucky, I think Not..I abuse my tires like no-one else..
I hear that alot and even I too have witnessed MTRs fail on several occasions.

That said when folks have looked at the sidewalls on MY MTRs they are drop jawed. Slashes, rips, tears, holes and many large enough to put fingers in. Most of them with exposed plys. Yet until my trip down to Mexico and two days of driving on the beach (sand) I NEVER in 7 count them SEVEN sets of MTRs EVER had a leak.

I attribute this to my frequently STUFFING the openings with various glues, cements and adhesives. Is this the answer, dunno, but it has worked for me and I have been running MTRs since '02.

I did a writeup/ pics on this and many poo-pood this idea, but just take a look as some of the pics and those were taken over a year ago. I will do it on my KM2 also!

In fact as we often do out on the trails talk turns to various Jeeps subjects and tires is one of them. Folks are simply stunned when they see my tires and I will put my tire trail rash against anything out there that rolls. Even the guys at Discount tire couldn't believe I drove in there on inflated tires...NOTE this ONLY applies to the 37x12:50x17 MTR I run.

http://www.savagesun4x4.com/enter/how_to_stuff/sidewall_repair_for_tires.html

[Twister_ems]

Nice lookin tires. I have run the BFG all terrains for years and honestly cant say enough about them. Even tho they arent agressive as what most of you run they have done well for what I needed them for. Now that my jeep is lifted Im lookin for somethin a little more aggressive. How would these km2s be on a daily driver? Whats the expected tread life? Also how much did they set you back and lastly do they come in a 33 10.50?

[SavageSun4x4]

How would these km2s be on a daily driver? Whats the expected tread life? Also how much did they set you back and lastly do they come in a 33 10.50?
Like tires of this type they do not come with any mileage indications. That said they are most likely on par with MTRs which are good for 25 - 35 k miles and lots of off road time.

MTRs have been my DD tire for nearly 80k miles on my current Jeep and it is my 7th set of them spread out on Jeeps and my truck. I am sure that they will compete very favorably with MTRs and I am sure that MTRs were used as design standards.

I got out the door for about $1500 for 4 which included a road hazard warranty.

I have current tire sizing charts for both MTRs and KM2s on my website here: http://www.savagesun4x4.com/enter/technical_specifications_do/

[Twister_ems]

Thanx man. Doesnt look like the KM2s come in a 33 10.50 15 but the mtrs come in a 32 11.50. I was thinking of maybe going with a 32 instead of a 33 just for tire clearance issues. My 31s almost rub in the front end as it is when fully flexed.

[4 Wheelers Supply]

Very nice Don. Glad you found a set. We are still on our last set of those. :eek:

Make sure you give us a tire report. :)

[KennethS]

Thanx man. Doesnt look like the KM2s come in a 33 10.50 15 but the mtrs come in a 32 11.50. I was thinking of maybe going with a 32 instead of a 33 just for tire clearance issues. My 31s almost rub in the front end as it is when fully flexed.

I recently bought a set of BFG MTs in 32x11.50. These are the old style, though, and I don't know what the availability is these days.

[skeeter]

Looks great Don. Me likey.

[jeepdude775]

Hey Don are those 3 or 4 ply sidewalls? Was looking closely at those before I picked up my krawlers.

[FrenchChili]

Finally Don, glad to see you didn't buy more MTRs.

You'll see, one day, MTRs will be considered the D35 of rubber.

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

The BFG KM2's are 3 ply sidewall with 30% stronger carcus than the old MT's

Jason

[joedokes28]

one day, MTRs will be considered the D35 of rubber.

That's a dumb comment.

For a daily driven rig that see's trail time, there aren't that many good tires out there and MTR's are a long way from being the worst.

[SavageSun4x4]

Hey Don are those 3 or 4 ply sidewalls? Was looking closely at those before I picked up my krawlers.
On the sidewalls it sez "3 Ply", it is a "D" rated tire which is 8 plys. That does NOT mean there are 8 plys, but it is "RATED" as 8 plys...

Now running 18 psi to get all the tread on the street.

[Crawldit]

Well after reading good things from multiple sources including Jason and now your initial input Don, I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a set of the 315/75/16's KM2's. I'm supposed to be getting them installed on Wednesday and can't wait to try them out this weekend. I have been researching tires for about a year now and it's nice to finally have something on order.

[SHNIPE]

That's a dumb comment.

For a daily driven rig that see's trail time, there aren't that many good tires out there and MTR's are a long way from being the worst.

thats why he said one day. cause some people will still be running them and slashing them when there are much better upgrades available.

[jeepdude775]

Don I'm sure those must be better on the street, the crawlers are ruff, but 4 ply sidewalls and pretty brutal construction. Let me know how those are I may get some later. I assume they are better on the street.

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

Don I'm sure those must be better on the street, the crawlers are ruff, but 4 ply sidewalls and pretty brutal construction. Let me know how those are I may get some later. I assume they are better on the street.

Not even comparable to Krawlers on the street!

Jason

[SavageSun4x4]

Headin out to Moab Sat for a week of leading runs on the more difficult trails.

So far they are showing very good manners on the street. I could say they are a bit noisy, but it is a different sound that what I am used to with 5 years of nothing but MTRs shoes. They are not loud, just different, bit higher pitched...BUT I am only running 18 psi in order to get a good tread patch on the street. More than that and I was not able to get a full contact patch across the tread.

More to come...

[SavageSun4x4]

UPDATE:

Got all buttoned up and drove around a few days, swung by Discount to get them balanced. The guy asked if there were any vibes or noticeable issues. No I said. Have you driven it on the freeway? No. He said drive it a while and bring it in.

It was my first trip on the freeway with a run up 101 N to I17 S to downtown after a couple of stops on to I 10, couple of more stops then 101 N to home.

I headed down Frank Lloyd Wright from my house and took a right to N 101 at the intersection. I hit the on ramp like I was petting a puppy...slow, steady and softly. 40 mph, 41 mph, 42 and I am watching the speedo tick off the mph like watching water boil. I hit 55 where my rig has always had a vibe and it was still there but barely noticeable.

I am heading toward 70 mph and as I have been climbing up the speed ladder I have been slowly making my way to the speedier lanes. Finally I am in the far left lane at 75, then I tick them slowly off as I get to 80, then finally 85 mph.

Now I am backing down and ticking them off till I land at about 62 where my comfort zone is. By now I am almost at I 17 and I hit the fly-over for I 17 S at about 65 and holding. My rig slides around the curve like its on rails.

I knock out nearly a 100 mile day and the Jeep feels as smooth as a hooker with a mouth full of pork fat from a BBQ sandwich she is munching on between Johns.

Guess I have to say that it is AMAZING that 4 tires mounted on bead locks and have not been balanced and DON'T need to be.

I do need to kick my adjustable shocks up a notch as these tires roll softer than the MTRs and the Jeep feels ever so slightly wallowly. My shocks are setting on '3' as I remember.

Heading out tomorrow am for Moab, look for another update when I return.

[FrenchChili]

Great update Don, keep 'em coming if the tires hold up or not, we need to know:)