Colorado Tires Opinions

There are plenty of threads about tires on this forum. Most people do not qualify the terrain they are driving on when giving a glowing review. I am looking for local opinions on tires that you have had positive experience with. I would say in order of importance my preference is

Snow traction > Looks Rad > Relatively quiet > Good dry pavement traction > Loose rocks traction

I had General Grabber AT2s on my Jeep and they were great for all of those except they got very loud. I am wondering what your guys' experience is?\

Godyear Duratrac - Falkan Wildpeak - Grabber AT2 - Toyo AT2 - Discoverer AT3 are all tires I feel fit into this mold, with the Duratracs being the closest to something I probably don't "need".

 

DuraTrac

/thread

 

Hey Jer. That's my nickname.

I don't live in CO. Though I was born there. I'm up here in Montana though. We get winter. We have mountains. We have dirt and shitty roads.

That said - I like to off-road. Thus, after reading glowing reviews about how amazing Duratracs were I didn't buy them.

I bought Cooper ST Maxx instead. They have much stronger sidewalls. Look awesome. Were designed for off-road use. And... they did really well this winter on snow/ice. They're not very loud. However, they are typically Load E tires so they are heavy.

Traction on paved dry roads is great. I've never heard the tires groan taking corners. I don't like driving like grandpa and my truck is heavier than the average Taco.

Now - the Cooper Discoverer AT3's that you listed are very popular up here. I see them on a large percentage of trucks here in town - including all the 1/2 ton trucks my employer uses to haul trailers around with.

 

I would NOT put a load-E tire on my Tacoma. I'd take choices #2, #3, #4 & #5 in a a load-C before I ever took the best tire in a load-E. There's no reason to put a Load-E on a Tacoma and every reason not to. I know some people swear by them but I also know about as many people who swear the earth is flat.

Your truck though. Do whatever you want.

 

I agree with you - Not interested in E-load tire. I forgot to mention that in my initial criteria. I like the plush ride and lighter weight.

 

Listening...

Can't do an ST Maxx or STT Pro (serious off-road tires) on 16" wheels in anything other than E Load.

 

I'm on the hunt for tires as well, I just wish there were more options in C-load range with a decently strong and interesting sidewall. The Cooper AT3 is the tire I *should* buy, but damn if it's not more boring looking than the Rugged Fails on the truck now. Duratrac's are off the menu as I've heard their sidewalls are weak and I've driven next to a few to know how loud they are (or at least can get). I'm in the 'not sure I trust SL's to not fail me but really don't want to take the E-load milage and ride hit' no-man's land of tires.

 

There are plenty of reasons to go with an E load tire, stronger sidewall being one. I hunt in eastern Oregon, which is an ancient lava bed, so strong sidewalls are vitally important. to that point, it's why I will never own a Duratrac... they may be phenomenal in the snow but their sidewall issues are well known. Cooper ST/Maxx are my next tire, I know many people around here(Denver) that run them and love them for all seasons.

 

This is exactly why I got ST Maxx Load E tires. Sidewall construction.

 

If my truck wasn't a daily driver, I'd likely do the same, but A) it is a daily driver and B) it's a daily driver that's taking me on significant road trips including what I expect will be a close to 3000mi round trip later in the year over a 10 day period. If I'm honest with myself, I'm likely going to be going where no man has taken a truck before, or even too far off one would call a fire road, but on the flip side, some of those times I'll be solo and a flat in those conditions can be flat out dangerous. I'll probably end up with the Cooper AT3, there's even a set local for sale with 1k mi on them I really should jump on before someone else does. But the Geolandar AT G015 has my interest...

 

I daily drive my Taco with ST Maxx's...

 

I was very concerned about going E from stock Cs. But tire diameter and AT choice came before load range. My first set I managed to get 265/75 in a D, and it wasn't bad at all. No real difference in my mind. But they stopped making them, and now everything is Es, so I bit it. And yes, it's harsher but not terrible. Of course, I went skinny too (235/85) so...

 

I run true winters but I put my Duratracs on early every year and don't really stress about it.

Make sure to get a snow flake rated all terrain. All that you listed but the Toyo AT2 have snowflake rating, the AT3W, Duratrac, KO2, Grabber AT2 all do pretty good in the winter.

The Toyo AT2 is the quietest tire you listed, but they don't do well on snow/ice in our climates.

 

Understood. I do recall a number of times the Grabbers saved me from major body work on the Jeep - I was driving like an ass but the tires bailed me out. It is why I would consider them again despite the HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM on I-25/I-70.

 

I just want to drop reference to this thread here in case it helps anyone, it is what inspired me to make this thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-aggressive-at-c-load-range-265-75-16.483185/

 

Ha! You must be buddies with @aero3685

Why would you NOT get an E rated tire? Are you seriously so concerned with saving a few pounds that you wouldn't opt for the benefits of an E rated?

 

Duratracs are yesterdays news. If you like gashed sidewalls, then they are the tire for you.
Nothing wrong with E rated tires. I believe this thread was started to get an informed opinion from those who have actually driven the various brands and tried different sidewall flavors. Not just internet hearsay.
Cooper ST Maxx ftw
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-off-your-cooper-st-maxx.346956/

 

My KO2's did great no matter what anyone says. They did get a little noisy after 40K miles but I didn't really notice because it's a gradual transition. I have the st maxx now and they're pretty new, but loving them so far.

 

I lived in Colorado for 28 years combined and all I ever ran were the BFG All Terrains, but you may end up with the same problem that you have with your AT2's. The Duractracs would be a good option I would imagine. I've owned 2 sets of those, but I never used them in Colorado.

 

people laugh but with 4lo, atrac, and locker I go on smeary, wet, mossy rock, up steeps all damn day...and mud and roots
and get by fine on Michelin LTX. you don't need a tire to look aggro to actually function and do things like logging and tote roads

yes of course it doesn't have paddles so I don't seek mud pits, just saying
if you want to get from point A to B and have only a few mud holes...