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KO2’s Continue to impress me


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Here are a couple pics of two of my tires i just changed at just over 65k ...rotated them regularly...probably had some life left in them, but going on a trip to the mountains,  so didn't want to risk anything...clearly some cracking and wearing , but for a true all-terrain tire, 65k miles was enough for me to buy another set....large.790710823_tire2.jpg.4f191f351802044249ee3015372a44dc.jpglarge.688936061_tire1.jpg.498038c3add28a0e45b714034b53c61f.jpg

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10 minutes ago, 2kwik4u said:

I 100% agree with that statement. The few times I've been off pavement and into mud/grass/streams/etc. The KO2's have done well. Always come out thinking "this doesn't seem that slippery", and then get out of the truck to see mud all over the side of the truck. They work off road for certain.

 

My usage doesn't take me far off highway very often though. It's far more the exception than the rule. 4WD was only purchased for slippery, and sometimes unimproved (gravel) boat ramps. It's a nice to have for winter, but we're on our second season without snow or ice, so that isn't really a great excuse for the 4wd.

 

75% of my time is on highway, unloaded. Put just over 20k miles on the truck last year. 7k of those were loaded with a boat in tow, the other 13k were commuting to/from work. I would guess less than 30 miles off road, but lots of time in the rain or on wet pavement. So for me to say that KO2's aren't a great tire......should really have been qualified better. They aren't a great tire for me.

 

The KO2's have terrible wet traction once worn beyond 50% IMO. So, despite the amazing look, they gotta go. I don't need to heavy sidewall, weight, load rating, or off road traction. If I was on a construction site every day, or farming and out in the fields every day, then they would most likely get a much better review from me I suspect.

I also agree with your statement...

 

you probably don't even need the AT version of Continentals...you could go straight HW tires and probably get a little better wear out of them...not sure what the cost difference is?  but if you do venture off form time to time, the AT's might be worth a little reassurance...4wd in itself makes a huge difference on the light slippery stuff...

 

I always put Michelin's on my wife's vehicles...they look like plain jane tires, but they are the best (IMO) and she doesn't give two hoots about the looks...and she rarely if ever even goes on a dirt road...

 

great conversation and clarity!

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Snapped this picture of my KO2's at lunch. 58k miles in. Still some life left, but they're significantly loud and slippery now. Also showing some signs of general aging. Didn't pull the date code off them, though I should probably check that. Hoping these last me through the summer, and I'll replace them in the fall with some Continental AT's that are better suited to my use. These were brand new on the truck when I purchased it October 2017 @ 36k miles. Sitting just over 94k miles now.

 

IMG_20200310_122431.thumb.jpg.996ff604821cf35122ee8aff324dced1.jpg

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5 hours ago, 2kwik4u said:

The KO2's have terrible wet traction once worn beyond 50% IMO.

I'm down to about 1/2 tread and mine are just fine in the rain on the highway.  How much air are you running in them and what are you driving?

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1 hour ago, swathdiver said:

I'm down to about 1/2 tread and mine are just fine in the rain on the highway.  How much air are you running in them and what are you driving?

Driving a 4WD 2015 Sierra SLT+, 4dr/Short bed. 5.3/6L80E/3.42 gear.  Z71 suspension and 20in wheels. Tires are 275/55/20 around 40-45psi. Tried as low as 30psi and as high as 55psi. No real difference in traction but ride suffers with increased pressure. Only mods are Bilstein 5200 shocks, (silver ones) at stock height in front, and a low profile bed cover. Truck is all stock otherwise. Driving in the Louisville, KY Metro area.

 

Drizzling rain is worst, pouring rain isn't a ton better. Left hand turns across traffic result in a 4 wheel drift without much effort. Entrance and exit ramps at 10 under posted limit with any surface bump will slide the back end around and at speed will pull the front too.

 

I suspect the overly stiff shocks and overly heavy tires aren't doing the driving dynamics any favors. Drove an '18 Z71 Silverado LT with 18in wheels and street tires and it rode SIGNIFICANTLY better, but I didn't drive it in the rain to compare traction.

 

Have several friends in town with these tires. One on a Wrangler, one with an older explorer. They all report crap traction in the rain with these. Guy with the Wrangler won't drive it in the rain it's so bad, takes his Audi if the weather is wet.

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Driving a 4WD 2015 Sierra SLT+, 4dr/Short bed. 5.3/6L80E/3.42 gear.  Z71 suspension and 20in wheels. Tires are 275/55/20 around 40-45psi. Tried as low as 30psi and as high as 55psi. No real difference in traction but ride suffers with increased pressure. Only mods are Bilstein 5200 shocks, (silver ones) at stock height in front, and a low profile bed cover. Truck is all stock otherwise. Driving in the Louisville, KY Metro area.
 
Drizzling rain is worst, pouring rain isn't a ton better. Left hand turns across traffic result in a 4 wheel drift without much effort. Entrance and exit ramps at 10 under posted limit with any surface bump will slide the back end around and at speed will pull the front too.
 
I suspect the overly stiff shocks and overly heavy tires aren't doing the driving dynamics any favors. Drove an '18 Z71 Silverado LT with 18in wheels and street tires and it rode SIGNIFICANTLY better, but I didn't drive it in the rain to compare traction.
 
Have several friends in town with these tires. One on a Wrangler, one with an older explorer. They all report crap traction in the rain with these. Guy with the Wrangler won't drive it in the rain it's so bad, takes his Audi if the weather is wet.

Happens with each and every tire once you get past 50%


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Driving a 4WD 2015 Sierra SLT+, 4dr/Short bed. 5.3/6L80E/3.42 gear.  Z71 suspension and 20in wheels. Tires are 275/55/20 around 40-45psi. Tried as low as 30psi and as high as 55psi. No real difference in traction but ride suffers with increased pressure. Only mods are Bilstein 5200 shocks, (silver ones) at stock height in front, and a low profile bed cover. Truck is all stock otherwise. Driving in the Louisville, KY Metro area.
 
Drizzling rain is worst, pouring rain isn't a ton better. Left hand turns across traffic result in a 4 wheel drift without much effort. Entrance and exit ramps at 10 under posted limit with any surface bump will slide the back end around and at speed will pull the front too.
 
I suspect the overly stiff shocks and overly heavy tires aren't doing the driving dynamics any favors. Drove an '18 Z71 Silverado LT with 18in wheels and street tires and it rode SIGNIFICANTLY better, but I didn't drive it in the rain to compare traction.
 
Have several friends in town with these tires. One on a Wrangler, one with an older explorer. They all report crap traction in the rain with these. Guy with the Wrangler won't drive it in the rain it's so bad, takes his Audi if the weather is wet.

Happens with each and every tire once you get past 50%


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4 hours ago, 2kwik4u said:

Driving a 4WD 2015 Sierra SLT+, 4dr/Short bed. 5.3/6L80E/3.42 gear.  Z71 suspension and 20in wheels. Tires are 275/55/20 around 40-45psi. Tried as low as 30psi and as high as 55psi. No real difference in traction but ride suffers with increased pressure. Only mods are Bilstein 5200 shocks, (silver ones) at stock height in front, and a low profile bed cover. Truck is all stock otherwise. Driving in the Louisville, KY Metro area.

 

Drizzling rain is worst, pouring rain isn't a ton better. Left hand turns across traffic result in a 4 wheel drift without much effort. Entrance and exit ramps at 10 under posted limit with any surface bump will slide the back end around and at speed will pull the front too.

 

I suspect the overly stiff shocks and overly heavy tires aren't doing the driving dynamics any favors. Drove an '18 Z71 Silverado LT with 18in wheels and street tires and it rode SIGNIFICANTLY better, but I didn't drive it in the rain to compare traction.

 

Have several friends in town with these tires. One on a Wrangler, one with an older explorer. They all report crap traction in the rain with these. Guy with the Wrangler won't drive it in the rain it's so bad, takes his Audi if the weather is wet.

I guess she's just too light in the back for those tires.  Don't have any traction problems whatsoever with my wagon.

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13 hours ago, swathdiver said:

I guess she's just too light in the back for those tires.  Don't have any traction problems whatsoever with my wagon.

I suspect that is the case. The driving dynamics of this wheel/tire/spring/shock combo aren't great in general. The wheels are overly heavy without enough sidewall. The sidewall that is there is overly stiff for the springs that are on the truck. Combine that overly stiff setup with a less than ideal tread compound and you get a slippery condition.

 

Upon some more research, my buddies all have lighter vehicles with "overwide" tires. I'm guessing there is a contact pressure minimum to get the tires to work well in the rain, and some have and some don't. Had the same problem when I put 275's on my tiny little S10. That thing was downright dangerous to drive in the rain due to the light weight rear end, rear wheel drive, and overly stiff wheel/tire setup.

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11 minutes ago, 2kwik4u said:

I suspect that is the case. The driving dynamics of this wheel/tire/spring/shock combo aren't great in general. The wheels are overly heavy without enough sidewall. The sidewall that is there is overly stiff for the springs that are on the truck. Combine that overly stiff setup with a less than ideal tread compound and you get a slippery condition.

 

Upon some more research, my buddies all have lighter vehicles with "overwide" tires. I'm guessing there is a contact pressure minimum to get the tires to work well in the rain, and some have and some don't. Had the same problem when I put 275's on my tiny little S10. That thing was downright dangerous to drive in the rain due to the light weight rear end, rear wheel drive, and overly stiff wheel/tire setup.

Mine are smaller with a taller sidewall, over 7 inches.  265-70-17.  I've hit 2 inches of standing water at 80 MPH like butter in a torrential downpour but my rig also has near 50/50 weight distribution too.

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50 minutes ago, 2kwik4u said:

Upon some more research, my buddies all have lighter vehicles with "overwide" tires. I'm guessing there is a contact pressure minimum to get the tires to work well in the rain, and some have and some don't. Had the same problem when I put 275's on my tiny little S10. That thing was downright dangerous to drive in the rain due to the light weight rear end, rear wheel drive, and overly stiff wheel/tire setup.

Yes, I run a 12.5" section width on my 6.2L it is a handful in the rain, and I park it in winter. The tires displace too much of the truck's weight and cant transfer it to traction. They will grip like a Camaro when it's dry though. 285 is about as wide as I will go in the future. Not to mention I lost 4-5mpg. Around 20mpg on OEM P rated SRA's, about 15-16mpg now on LT E's. 

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