Which M/T tyre for the Grenadier? 285/70/17

[Matt P]

Hi All,

I'm looking for a little advice if you'd be so kind. I've narrowed down the choice to the following (see below) but I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially if you've got a lot of experience with the tyres below. Honest pros and cons.

We're looking for:

• A good all-rounder
• All seasons ideally
• One that is particularly focussed on off-road capabilities in a variety of terrains (Around 75% of overall use will be off-road)
• Strong side walls (Min 3 ply)
• Good longevity

I'm aware there's various A/T tyres out there but we feel we need something a little more aggressive for what we generally do. So a M/T tyre is what’s been decided.

With all that in mind, please feel free to add your thoughts on which one is the best and why. If I've missed one you strongly recommend, I'm keen to hear what and why. Thanks so much in advance!

Here's the options we're looking at:

• General Grabber X3
• Falken Wildpeak M/T
• BF Goodrich KM3
• Toyo Open Country M/T
• Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ P3

I look forward to seeing what people think!

Matt

 

[globalgregors]

This is a very good point. Saying that, someone that has used a certain tyre over many years, in many different environments will have valid input I’d like to think. Pros and cons to consider at the very least. More so if they’ve then done the same again in the same vehicle but using another tyre and are able to make a direct comparison. Still not perfect but useful to take note of, especially if others support what’s being said with their own experiences. Unless of course we suffer from groupthink but I’d like to think that won’t be the case here.

Matt we’ve been very pleased with the KO2s as a ‘general purpose’ option, and have seen no punctures. We tend to move along pretty quickly though, keep the vehicle reasonably ‘light’ and don’t have a trailer.

For South America we’re about to move to the KO3s with a view to improved wet weather on road performance and longevity. Also moving up from 285/70 to 285/75 anticipating occasional jungle mud.

Sticking with the BFGs, I reckon if we were doing something more like your itinerary with a trailer I’d be looking at the HD-Terrains, which I’m just not quite over the line on for our expedition. Will be interested to see what you go with, whatever the choice!

Are you guys still in Kazakh? Safe travels!

 

[mcdoogs]

Just got BFG HD-Terrain in 285-75/17. Similar tread pattern to MT... I'd just google them for more info, a tire expert I am not. Pretty quiet (it's only a couple days since mounted, full disclosure), maybe a tad more than KO2's. On road feels better than KO2's. We shall see.

View attachment 7877478

Sorry for the necro, any major rubbing with those tires so far?

 

[IslandFalconer]

Sorry for the necro, any major rubbing with those tires so far?

Hey,

I’m running 35x11.5R17 no lift, factory wheels no rubbing, and my tires are almost 3/4” taller than the 285x75

 

[mcdoogs]

Hey,

I’m running 35x11.5R17 no lift, factory wheels no rubbing, and my tires are almost 3/4” taller than the 285x75

That sounds promising! I think 285/75/17 is about the perfect size for the Grenadier since it seems they tend to clear stock suspension, give a much needed boost of more than an inch to ground clearance (and improved approach/departure/breakover angle), and also still look good on slightly taller springs (I will need to install heavier springs in front before mounting a winch).

Also I'm tolerant of slight rubbing, I'll gladly trim some plastic/rubber

 

[wolftimj]

Sorry for the necro, any major rubbing with those tires so far?

None, zero. And I have the steering stops adjusted all the way down too.

 

[jert]

Running the Falken MT 285/70r17 for 15.000 kilometres now and happy w/ it.

 

[abbeyroad]

Anyone running the 33" Toyo MTs on stock steelies, no lift with zero drama? Thanks!

 

[Tom109]

I am planning on the Toyo Open County MT’s in 255/80R17. Modern RT-style tires are too AT (in a mud clogging way) and I don’t like them at all. One possible exception, that I need to see in person, is the Toyo Open Country RT Pro

 

[Tom D]

FYI the Falken Wildpeak MT in 33” is not actually 33” and is in fact 32.7 which is the same as the 285 70’S.. Often the imperial sizes are cheaper… Falken are good tyres BTW.

A little update we’re still in the Balkans, the Wildpeaks have held up well, very comfortable off road when lowered to around 20 psi. No issues so far and they dont seem to be wearing much. I’m impressed.

 

[parb]

I'm planning to go to Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires. Have them on another vehicle and i really like them

 

[abbeyroad]

I'm planning to go to Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires. Have them on another vehicle and i really like them

I'm trying to decide between the Japan made Yokos and the Toyo MTs both 295/70/17s. I'll pull the trigger if someone has verified they don't rub at all on a bone stock IG running steelies.

 

[Tom109]

I'm trying to decide between the Japan made Yokos and the Toyo MTs both 295/70/17s. I'll pull the trigger if someone has verified they don't rub at all on a bone stock IG running steelies.

Post impressions when you drive them in the thick-n-slippery stuff.

 

[DoubleDoom]

I am still on the K02s on my Grenadier but I don't rate them in the mud. I had Wrangler MTRs on my previous Defender (2 sets over 10 years). They surprised me at how good they were on wet tarmac. Indeed, within weeks of fitting the first set, I had to do an emergency stop, and they pulled up far better than I expected and that gave me a lot of confidence in them as I thought I was taking a trip into the side of the car that pulled out.

On the wet clay (which is my main off-road surface), they did the job for me. In 10 years of a range of UK winters pulling 3.5T trailers into fields to dump the muck, I never once got stuck or needed assistance. That was British winter wet on soft clay full of horse wee and shit (and often cow muck thrown in). Sometimes relatively flat. Sometimes on a field on a hill.

I did get one puncture at that time, from a king-size nail on the road. It couldn't be repaired. The Wranglers would sing in the wet, but not in an intrusive way.

Ironically, since getting the Grenadier, I haven't had to test it on the real heavy stuff, as last year's muck field had a hard surface for dumping, and the field for this winter also has a hard surface. So, I have stuck with the K02s for a bit longer but I wouldn't hesitate going back to the Wrangler MTR. However, when going across wet ploughed fields and tractor tracks, the K02 doesn't bite well enough. Good enough for now but the minute a field with no hard surface is allocated, off they come and Wrangler MTRs will be put on.

 

[AWo]

A M/T just for the look? Or is it about serious (and often) offroad driving?

For normal driving, tracks, bad tracks and most situations even offroad an A/T is absolutely better than needed most of the time. But it has a better performance on tarmac. Even an All-Road tires suits for most jobs and are even better on tarmac. You really feel the difference when it comes to braking. on wet or icy roads. Measures like reducing the pressure give you far more grip than M/T like treads.

It is often claimed, that an M/T is better in mud because it cleans itself better. For that you need a certain wheel speed, what ist often not the case. So it also keeps clogged.

A M/T wears faster than an A/T or A/R.
A M/T is less save (on wet or icy roads and while braking).
A M/T is more expensive.
A M/T is louder.
A M/T gives a less accurate steering and driving experience.
A M/T gives always a wobble, espcially when slowing down or it has become old and stiff.
A M/T is not needed in 99% of normal driving and travelling situations.

Nevertheless I drive M/T tires. Actually the Maxxis Creepy Crawler. They really perform well in mud but they are p.i.t.a. onroad. Loud, vibrations, grip, etc. When they are done, I switch back to the Toyo Open Country, these are not as harsh as the Creepy Crawlers. The reason why I drive that one is mainly the size. For my car there are only very few in 255/85 R16. But that car is our offroad-sacrifical-anode, so I'm fine with that.

Our family 4x4 always receives A/T tires, we're very happy with the General Grabber ones. The Hilux, which is our fastest car has Maxxis A/R tires. Better safe than sorry...

AWo

 

[Tom109]

Measures like reducing the pressure give you far more grip than M/T like treads.

I ordered my Gren with stock Bridgestones as I really dislike the KO2. What you said above is fine for greenlaning, or even some sand, but on the US East Coast (particularly the Mid-Atlantic region) AT’s will fill up and be worse than street tires. Also, modern RT tires have AT-like voids and are not much better, unlike originals like the Dunlop R/T.

 

[AWo]

I ordered my Gren with stock Bridgestones as I really dislike the KO2. What you said above is fine for greenlaning, or even some sand, but on the US East Coast (particularly the Mid-Atlantic region) AT’s will fill up and be worse than street tires. Also, modern RT tires have AT-like voids and are not much better, unlike originals like the Dunlop R/T.

So you drive with the M/T at a certain speed? The it will free up its treads, that's fine.

AWo