Home > Wheels & Tyres > M/Ts on the road? |
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landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5788 |
I run BFG KM3s everyday, and have done for a while. Briefly tried the BFG KOs but didn’t find them any better, possibly worse, on road, and certainly not as good off road.
My mates want me to run “off road tyres”, such a Simex or the like, which are cheaper, but getting stuck in the mud is a pain, crashing on the road is nightmare. Just about to get another set soon. |
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20th Jan 2025 6:39pm |
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Joe22 Member Since: 28 Apr 2023 Location: North West England Posts: 29 |
Thanks everyone, and good to see so many enthusiastic & impassioned responses! There’s more to think about than I’d given it credit for. Just to answer some of the questions..
Broadly speaking.. I want the M/T ‘look & feel’ but without going deaf. I’m not super precious about the brand, and I don’t want to break the bank. There’re a few reference / inspiration images below which led me to this original post & questions. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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20th Jan 2025 8:57pm |
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34064 Member Since: 12 Dec 2023 Location: South Central Posts: 211 |
And because I like throwing a spanner in the works on these tyres debates I have recently fitted some of the new Goodyear Duratracs RT which I am very impressed with so far not used them in anger completely yet but been good in the cold conditions a hybrid tyre so cross of both worlds
Click image to enlarge 110 Td5 Ex Utilities slowly converting into a pop top camper one day Build thread:https://www.defender2.net/forum/post1024784.html#1024784 |
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20th Jan 2025 9:10pm |
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landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5788 |
Shame you’re not closer or you could have a go in my Td5 110. I have no soundproofing, not even carpets. Do about 6thou miles a year, longest drive will be 4-5 hours (wales off-roading), Demand exhaust fitted, and I don’t notice my muds (KM3s) over ATs. Unlike my mates who run Simex tyres, which sound similar to a Lancaster bomber, they are also “fun” in the wet, and proper scary in the snow/ice. Mine are 265/75/16s
Click image to enlarge |
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20th Jan 2025 9:16pm |
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MarkBrown Member Since: 03 Oct 2022 Location: Mid Wales Posts: 499 |
Nice 110. I don't think the OP will be disappointed in a set of MT tyres, so long as the extremely cheap and or extremely heavy treads are avoided. Personally I prefer the look of MT tyres on a 4x4 and am more than happy to compromise on perhaps a little extra noise and wear along with theoretically inferior wet road grip to get the benefits of extra traction when I need it. Most big name brands will be just fine, I like the idea of the RT though. 1983 110 automatic OM606
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20th Jan 2025 9:38pm |
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blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17539 |
I run 265/75x16 KM3s on my Disco2 and 255/85x16 KM3s on my Defender and have no noise or grip issues with either.
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21st Jan 2025 8:52am |
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Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 782 |
I'm glad you like them You are welcome to come to one of our RTV trials events if you want to see how they get on compared to other MTs. The National is at Stainby on the A1 this year, so not a bad drive from S. Yorkshire. Having been to hundreds of trials over the years and seen even more vehicles, as well as having had the Toyos on the vehicle and knowing 3 other people running them. They certainly lag behind other MT's. Even green laning the person running these has struggle with traction in Wales. Despite having an Ashcroft ATB while the other vehicles have been all open diff. |
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21st Jan 2025 5:57pm |
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Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 782 |
Unlikely to be an issue for the op, very rare to have crossply tres these days in the UK. They will, as in 99.9% of them be radial. |
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21st Jan 2025 6:01pm |
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Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 782 |
I like the KM3's, stupid money for them though. But back to back there is a very noticeable difference to AT's or even something like an MTR. You can "feel" the nobbles of the KM3's on the road, even in a straight line. And certainly in the corners. They also slightly blunt the performance. And there is a slight noise difference. In a Tdi, this won't really be perceptible. But in something like a Puma they are. Now I'm not saying they aren't acceptable. And if you need/want the off road performance, they are worth the trade off. But there really is a difference. If the op is not going off road, they probably wouldn't be the best option IMHO. If you'd asked me 10 years ago, I'd always have gone MT. But having now run a few good AT's I've shifted opinion slightly. I do have MT's on my p38 Range Rover, only mild MT's. But even with that level of refinement the are noticeable. My plan is to switch to more of an RT pattern or maybe even another set of Wormdrives. Just to add a little colour. Between my Uncle, brother & I we have 11+ Land Rover's and I would think 25 or more sets of tyres. Covering road biased to extreme remoulds and everything in between. We've run all sorts of tyres on all sorts of vehicles for varied use, including daily drives and weekend warriors. |
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21st Jan 2025 6:13pm |
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landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5788 |
I can’t say I noticed any increase of noise going from BFG AT to BFG MT. but as I said I’m running no soundproofing and have a Demand exhaust. What I did find was a much more consistent drive with the muds. I really didn’t like the AT in the wet. They would suddenly stop gripping, the KMs I find much more consistent and predictable.
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21st Jan 2025 8:33pm |
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custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20576 |
I went from General Grabber TR’s some years ago which I hated, road bias, skittish in the wet, useless off road. (Was to be expected) I could have gone ATR but didn’t see the point, I then went to 235/85 KM2, then over to 255/85 KM2.
That’s just a slightly different size but the same pattern. I did consider Cooper STT, which are a bit cheaper, but equally I think have a shorter lifespan compared to BFG so the two are kind of on par value, but I’d rather they last well. Noise is something I’ve never really noticed or worried about, but under inflation can be a part of increasing thar too, plus unwanted heat generation. KEEP CALM AND Drill ON 🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 |
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21st Jan 2025 9:01pm |
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Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 782 |
I think the AT's used to go "hard", although not so much with the KO2's, but there are different grades in the KO2. And looking about you get very mixed views on wet handling, some say great, some like you say not good. My brother's KO2s are 33.10.50R15's and have always been great all round. But his Ninety is a 200Tdi and he also claims the KM3 and my General Grabber X3's he's currently using are almost as good as the KO2 on road. Although a slight difference at speed. As said, I've always been in the MT camp.... My p38 for instance: Click image to enlarge But you do notice the Kumho MT51's over the road tyres. Here are the KM3's, they are in 255/85: Click image to enlarge It went well, but being brutally honest, the factory fit 235/85 Goodyear MTR's actually run smoother on road. Although the MTR's make a horrid harmonic sound, but the KM3 wasn't silent, more of a rumble than a harmonic and you could feel the large knobbles on round abouts or fast bends. I really wanted KM3's on my Jimny, but I was expecting to do lots of road miles pre covid. So I went with an AT. And I've been amazed at how good they are all round. Very nice on road in all weathers. And off road they have surpassed expectation. Working better than some MT's I've run. Click image to enlarge The Wormdrives impressed so much I have a set on the Ninety also now. In the tyre shed or on other vehicles we have these tyres currently: Yokohama X-MT in narrow 7.50 x 16 = these are one of the best MT's I've seen or used on grass, wet grass and mud in the home counties region. Very very impressive. Best "new" you can buy IMO for off road use. Not quite as good on road though and somewhat compromised, but amazingly good given their off road prowess. BFG KM3 BFG KO2 Maxxis Wormdrive AT980 Toyo A/T3 Cooper STT (original pattern, hopeless off road, probably the worst MT I've used. Not bad on the road though). General Grabber X3 - not as good off road as the KM3, but slightly nicer on it. They have Red side wall writing though! Toyo Open Country MT (2nd worst MT tyre I've used off road, better than the STT, good on road, but not quite as good as the STT on the road) Michellin XZL in 7.50 and 8.25 sizes (surprisingly capable and very tough, would be my go to laning or overlaning tyre) Goodyear MTR - loud, as poor in the mud as the Toyo MT, although worked surprisingly well on the rocks in Wales Ziarelli Brutal - remould, super super aggresive Insa Turbo Special Track Insa Turbo Sahara Kindpin Diamonds Blackstar Diamonds Blackstar Guyane in narrow 7.00 x 16 - aggressive remould. These are my go to competition trialling tyres. Although the Yokohama X-MT is a good match, really showing how good X-MT is, as these Guyanes wipe the floor with the 'new' MT's off road. Maxi 3D - the best off road tyre I've used ever! Malatesta Kougar - Interco Bogger copy Grizzly Claws Silverstone MT-117 there are others I'm forgetting, mix of remould and new MT patterns. Also had/used in the past: BFG Trac Edge BFG KO Kumho KL-71 Simex Jungle Trekker II - crossply and either joint first or close 2nd off road road. But not great on it. XCL Scorpions Never really had any of the modern RT patterns though. Maybe next time.... |
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21st Jan 2025 10:09pm |
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Julie Member Since: 07 Oct 2017 Location: Nantes Posts: 527 |
One week ago, I just came back from Morocco. Did the whole trip on BFG KM3 M/T Morocco army vehicles use them, too. Installed them in 2018 at 75000 and now 153000. Payed 122 € in 2018 and now they're at 200++ € After 3 years or so they become hard and very noisy. In this case, mind bad performance on wet roads. |
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24th Jan 2025 6:16am |
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Grouse Member Since: 16 Apr 2012 Location: on the hill Posts: 523 |
This is exactly my experience with BFG. They will do very high miles, but they go hard, noisy, perish and when they have gone hard they are horrid on wet roads or roundabouts.
I found Cooper STT and Toyo MT far better. The Toyos are quieter than all of them. And there is not much difference in tread pattern - if anything the Toyos seem slightly more aggressive. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge The Toyo is the top pic and the BFG bottom |
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24th Jan 2025 7:56am |
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