Jeep xj- 255/85/r16 tire options (e or d)

[srmitchell]

Hello everyone. You might have seen my "all around" xj build.

Im looking for a tall, skinny 33. I run jeep moab rims. (16x8)

I now run Treadwright 265/75r16 At's. They are nice, but SUPER heavy. They weigh 59.5 pounds each. Gah. They are load D. I am geared to 4.56, but the power is lacking.

Im looking at 2 options. (These are the 2 treads I like)

Maxxis Bighorn, 255/85/r16 Load D- Weight is 52.85 lbs. I've seen them for $167 each.

BFG KM2, 255/85/r16 Load E- Weight is 55 lbs. I've seen these for $166.

I went to a tire shop today, and I was able to put some weight on the 255/85 KM2, they actually feel softer, and easier to compress than my spare unmounted A/t. (I was using my hands to put weight on them, you can see how much the bulge in the sidewall.) The same km2 in 265/75 was very hard to compress.

Are these load E km2's pretty soft? I had some mt/r's, 245/75, in load E, and it was AWFUL for the ride quality.

My debate is between the load ratings. My jeep has armor all around, and it's curb weight it just over 4100 pounds.

I can get the tires for pretty much the same price. (I'd prefer the km2, but the load E might suck)

Thanks for the advice!

-Sean

[mdnky]

I've run those KM2s on my JK for just under a year now and I saw little change in ride quality (smoothness) over the stock 225/75-16 Goodyear Wrangler ST that came on the Jeep. This is particularly interesting considering Baton Rouge's roads suck. I can run all day on the roads down here and the noise level is also just slightly higher than the STs were. These are some quiet MTs and they do well in the rain so far. Had many a person in the Jeep with the top down who commented on that. A favorite was a friend who said "I thought you had mud tires, where's the roar?"

I run them at 35 to 38 PSI at the moment, so they're a bit stiffer than when I first put them on at 30PSI, but nothing terrible. I seriously doubt you'll feel much difference between a D and E anyways.

[Rockjock]

I've run the Toyo M55 255x85r16 on my Chevy 2500 durmax. They are tuff as nails and wear like iron, balanced well, did well Offroad and onroad, and very well in snow and ice. I got 65k miles out of them. I'm now running Toyo Open Country M/T 255x85r16 and they have done well so far, but i've only run them for 600 miles or so.

[Fargo]

Sorry I'm no help. I've considered those same tires for my LJ. I have also found them to be similar in price. I hope to hear some more input as to how stiff the KM2s load range e are.