BFG KO3 in 265/60 R18 114
Submitted: Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 13:40
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Member - Warren H
I've had a very good run out of a set of KO2s, 80K km and probably at least another 10K km to go. Unfortunately they are now 7+ years old (fitted Sept 2018) and suffering from the fate of older tyres, noisy and not so good on wet bitumen. Because of the good experience, despite commentary about better options now available, I was going to go with the new KO3s. However diving in it seems that in my size and profile the load rating has reduced to 114 (from 119 in the KO2s).
Has anyone had any experience with KO3s with the 114 rating, particularly side wall damage? I'm towing a 1600kg camper and when loaded for remoter travel, probably pushing the rear axle loading of 1780kg. I would be unhitched or not towing when running deflated to say 18psi, towing on poor gravel deflated to 28psi.
If I go to 265/65 R18 it's 117. But that requires trimming my spare wheel cover and any extra height I something I don't need, with the notional 50mm lift and irs+ifs the vehicle is limited in the carparks it will fit already.
Reply By: RMD - Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 16:55
Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 16:55
Warren.
How does IRS & IFS make any difference to ride height? Have you had fitted, a LIFT of 50mm claimed?
The tyre size difference is only 13mm in ride height! IF THAT! Remove the wheel cover perhaps!
No experience with BFG KO!
AnswerID:
647921
Reply By: qldcamper - Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 17:36
Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 17:36
I had a great run out of my first set of KO2s that I believe were made in the USA so didn't hesitate getting a second set after about 105k km out of the first set but I think in the mean time their manufacture moved to Asia and they have been crap, not to mention the second lot were about 50% dearer.
I have recently emailed Goodrich about a strange ware pattern but they seem to have ignored it.
I'm not going to risk the expense of a set of KO3s when they don't respond to enquiries.
This set are noisy and slippery from the start and getting worse, not even going to keep any as spares.
AnswerID:
647922
Reply By: Member - Bigfish - Friday, May 16, 2025 at 09:44
Friday, May 16, 2025 at 09:44
Why not put the original size 17inch rims on? No trimming required, bigger selection of sizes and cheaper tyres. I,ve a 2014NW and can't see the point of going to 18 inch rims...more fuel usage, more power robbing and dearer tyres...for what?
AnswerID:
647926
Follow Up By: Member - Warren H - Friday, May 16, 2025 at 10:13
Friday, May 16, 2025 at 10:13
Thanks Bigfish, the 18"s are the oem on the NT RX, so I would be up for new rims. A lot more options in 18"s now than in 2018 when I purchased the vehicle, but yes still some limitations. There are about four other At tyres with a 119 load rating. I'm trying to balance noise and wet weather performance. My wife has a severe hearing loss so noise is quite an issue.
FollowupID:
929020
Reply By: Stephen L (Clare) SA - Friday, May 16, 2025 at 17:36
Friday, May 16, 2025 at 17:36
Have you thought about Toyo Open Country AT3 in LT construction?
I have the exact size 18” on my Isuzu and the load rating in 119
Quiet as and great in the wet
AnswerID:
647927
Follow Up By: Member - Warren H - Friday, May 16, 2025 at 18:28
Friday, May 16, 2025 at 18:28
Thanks Stephen, Just the feedback I was hoping to get. Yes it is on my list. Back in 2018 the AT2 was my pick, but it wasn't available in 265/60 R18.
FollowupID:
929023
Follow Up By: Stephen L (Clare) SA - Friday, May 16, 2025 at 18:49
Friday, May 16, 2025 at 18:49
The old AT2 were not available in that size, but definitely in the new AT3
FollowupID:
929024
Follow Up By: Member - Warren H - Friday, May 16, 2025 at 18:58
Friday, May 16, 2025 at 18:58
I got a price on the AT3 of $2200 for 5x. Probably my current pick as an alternative.
FollowupID:
929026
Follow Up By: Member - Happy Explorer - Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 05:20
Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 05:20
Hi Warren
I was running the Toyo AT2 LT and now AT3 LT on Prado and van. As Stephen said quiet and they are amazing on wet bitumen.
Apparently there are some Chinese ones that are not so good. I haven’t come across them or used them.
Just my experience.
Roy G
FollowupID:
929027
Follow Up By: Stephen L (Clare) SA - Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 08:51
Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 08:51
Hi Roy
I have heard that some are Chinese made, but my AT3’s are all 100% “Made in Japan”
FollowupID:
929031
Reply By: Sir Kev - Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 20:25
Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 20:25
Evening Warren,
I go through heaps of tyres due to the number of km's I do in my cruiser (430k kms in 6.5 years)
I have tried the following (all in LT) - Maxis Raza AT811, Dick Cepek AT, BFG AT, Toyo AT3, Toyo AT2 and now the Federal Xplora AT. (As
well as 2 sets of the Dunlop Grandtreks AT's they come with from factory)
IMHO the Federals appear to be pretty good compared to the others, they are reasonably quiet on bitumen, good grip in the wet and on dirt, throw mud everywhere and were easy to balance on the rims.
The others averaged between 55-75k kms per set, rotated and balanced every 10k kms. Rears wore quicker due to the weight and being the drive tyre.
Have done 25k kms on the Federals now and they appear to be holding up better than the others with minimal wear (Still 10+mm front and rear).
Cheers Kev
| Russell Coight:
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Follow Up By: Member - Ups and Downs - Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 09:34
Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 09:34
It took me 29 years to get 430,000 up!
FollowupID:
929058
Follow Up By: Sir Kev - Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 19:39
Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 19:39
I did 2500km Tuesday-Thursday last week, 650km Saturday and will do another 2000km on Monday and Tuesday.
Gotta love getting out and about
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Follow Up By: Sir Kev - Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 16:54
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 16:54
Warren,
Just had 5 of the Federal Xplora AT fitted to our Toyota Fortuner in the size you are looking at.
Drove it to
Brisbane today and I reckon it is quieter on the road than the Toyo AT3 that were on it.
Bugger all weights used to balance them on the Alloy rims and were about $450 a corner, supplied, fitted, balanced and old ones disposal.
Cheers Kev
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Reply By: Member - Warren H - Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 18:44
Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 18:44
Had a set of Toyo AT3s fitted by Tyrepower Tuggeranong this afternoon. Only 10km on the way home in heavy rain but quieter than the old KO2s and definitely felt like a better grip. Heavy traffic so I wasn't going to push it to find any limits. Heading to FNQ in a few weeks so will get a better feel for them. Thanks all for your contributions. According to the guy at Tyrepower, BFG couldn't get the desired improvement over KO2s while maintaining the load rating.
AnswerID:
647970