Chorky
Observer
Hey all. So looking into what tire to get before winter hits.
I currently have 31x10.5 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro. They are about 4 years old, and must be near their end. Plenty of tread left, but lugs are warping in a weird way.
Anywhoo, I wanted to get a different tire anyway considering having relocated to MT - and these tires don't do the greatest in ice - as experienced last winter. Here is what I have gathered thus far.
Option 1 - Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac
Option 2 - BF Goodrich T/A KO2
Notes
I currently have 31x10.5 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro. They are about 4 years old, and must be near their end. Plenty of tread left, but lugs are warping in a weird way.
Anywhoo, I wanted to get a different tire anyway considering having relocated to MT - and these tires don't do the greatest in ice - as experienced last winter. Here is what I have gathered thus far.
Option 1 - Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac
- Either 31x10.5 or 33x12.5
- Currently have some on my truck, and work truck - they perform very well on both, work truck sees about 75% off highway in all seasons
- Common 'old' discussion of weak sidewalls - never personally experienced, used hard on work truck
Option 2 - BF Goodrich T/A KO2
- either 31x10.5, 33x10.5, or 33x12.5
- Have heard good reviews especially in icy conditions. Unknown performance in mud/clay
Notes
- I would prefer to not go with a 12.5 width tire if stepping up to 33's, so that shys me away from the Duratrac. Although, not entirely sure I want to go that large on the Jeep anyway, would require re-gearing at some point, so for now I likely would stick with the 31's.
- It would seem the Duratracs would do better in icky nasty slippery clay, and less as good as KO's in ice? Unsure of performance of KO2's in those situations
- I really want to stick with a 3 peak tire (winter rated). Do not have the ability to have a dedicated summer/winter tire at the moment.
- Reality is I no longer do significant off road - mostly exploring unmaintained dirt roads, FS roads/reservation roads, so a true MT is not needed, but something good in clay surfaced sections and ice is more important anymore (also considering letting my dad take the Jeep for a while, and he never goes off road other than to hiking trails or camping)
- I posted this here instead of the tire section as I figured the handling dynamics of tires on a Jeep is significantly different than that of a full size, or other vehicle.