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John Shotts (shottscruisers)  > Vehicle Specs and Modifications > 2001 UZJ100 > Tire Change: BFG MT KM2 (315/75-16...35-inch...same size...no more AT KO) 7/01/09
After 4 sets of BFG AT KO tires I figured I'd take a chance and try those new MT KM2's that everyone is bragging about. So I did take the plunge. They look sweet for certain! They rumble and feel rough at VERY low speeds (like idling through a parking lot). Once you get going things smooth out though they are noisier. On highway though the added noise is easily tolerable as the Land Cruiser is so quiet in the first place. They do rub more than the same size AT model at full turn left. We'll re-adjust the turn-stops to fix this. Ride quality is also still "good". You do feel the bumps more compared to the AT though again, very livable. We'll report back after some off-roading. OK, TIME FOR THE REVIEW: After 6-days of wheeling in Arizona and Colorado, I've drawn my conclusions on the new KM2's. Here ya go.............

ON-ROAD:

*Slightly bothersome around town at slow speeds. You can feel the large lugs.
*Somewhat noisy, even inside the 100 as quiet as it typically is. Was not bothersome however.
*With the windows open...BOTHERSOME. :)
*They actually handled quite well and gripped even better around tight corners compared to the years with my old AT KO's.
*Small bumps were a bit more pronounced compared to the AT's.

OFF-ROAD:

*Simply AMAZING!
*At full 35PSI in the dirt and rocks the things just never slid or slipped. I couldn't believe it. And I wasn't nuts. Becky noticed this as well. In fact...the ride is quieter as though you never lose traction or ever slip in the dirt.
*They are on the stiff side ride-wise at 35PSI.

When aired down in Colorado the ride compared quality-wise to the AT's. I ran 20PSI on all the trails including Poughkeepsie Gulch. I thought I might have to air down more on The Wall...nope. These things just hever slipped.

I was extremely impressed in that they just don't want to slide or slip sideways off a rock or in uneven areas. I was used to my truck slipping and sliding some, especially the rear-end, when the road pressure begged to move the rig sideways. Simply put, the lateral support and stability are greatly improved. I credit this to BFG's claim that the "Krawler" part of the tread is extremely flexible allowing it to conform to road surfaces and rocks. I am SOLD on this fact.

In the end...I consider the higher cost of these tires as an exceptional value. Normally I'm not a driver who will put up with the extra on-road noise. Considering I don't daily-drive the 100 much any more, this has become a non-factor. For a daily driver I highly recommend the AT KO. The KO's never let me down for over 7-years. From here on out the KM2's will carry Roklimo through the trails. I recommend them HIGHLY to anybody that demands the best possible performance on the trails. I'll say it again..."THESE THINGS ARE AMAZING IN THE ROCKS, THE DIRT, AND THE WET. If you have a dedicated TRAIL VEHICLE...so out and get a set!
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John Shotts (shottscruisers) > SONY DSC
John Shotts (shottscruisers) > SONY DSC
John Shotts (shottscruisers) > SONY DSC
John Shotts (shottscruisers) > SONY DSC
SONY DSC
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SONY DSC
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