New BFG K03s on the Yukon

[RhondaHonda]

The OEM Goodyears were getting pretty worn at 36,000 miles in my wife’s AT4 Yukon XL. Being that she may need to climb a curb or two in the Starbucks drive-thru she needed a more off-road oriented tire.

I went with the K03s as I liked the K02s a lot on my Raptors. This was my first time purchasing at Discount Tire and would highly recommend. She said the customer service was great at installation and the whole thing took 20 minutes!

I’d read some reviews on balance issues with these but they feel fine at 75 mph. They are load range D and a tie pressure calculator is recommending 48 psi vs the OEM 35 psi. I’m currently running them at 38-39 psi which is right about 2,000 pounds per corner. If we ever had the whole family and were towing something I’d run higher pressures but feel I’m fine given the Yukon weighs 6,000 lbs. I’m open to hear your opinions though.

So far very happy with how they did in the snow, I’ll rotate them every 10,000.

 

[hemitom]

You may want to experiment with the pressures when summer rolls around !
In the last pic the tread looks like it rolling perfectly across the tread so 38-39 psi looks good for winter.

 

[BobsArmory]

I was thinking of getting either those tires or mickey thompson baja boss for my truck this summer. What size are those?

 

[RhondaHonda]

I was thinking of getting either those tires or mickey thompson baja boss for my truck this summer. What size are those?

Just the stock 275/60/20s. I’d like to have gone up a size or two but would never hear the end of it if it rubbed.

I’m hoping these last 50,000+ but we’ll see. The stock Goodyears wore the shoulders of the front tires quite a bit on both this Yukon and the Z71 Suburban that preceded it (RIP). I don’t know if it was a tire issue or an alignment issue. I’ll keep an eye on these as they wear.

 

[WeyounDS9]

So you went away form "P rating? Are these LT tires? did that do anything to the ride? How much heavier are these than your OEM tire?

 

[edyvw]

The OEM Goodyears were getting pretty worn at 36,000 miles in my wife’s AT4 Yukon XL. Being that she may need to climb a curb or two in the Starbucks drive-thru she needed a more off-road oriented tire.

I went with the K03s as I liked the K02s a lot on my Raptors. This was my first time purchasing at Discount Tire and would highly recommend. She said the customer service was great at installation and the whole thing took 20 minutes!

I’d read some reviews on balance issues with these but they feel fine at 75 mph. They are load range D and a tie pressure calculator is recommending 48 psi vs the OEM 35 psi. I’m currently running them at 38-39 psi which is right about 2,000 pounds per corner. If we ever had the whole family and were towing something I’d run higher pressures but feel I’m fine given the Yukon weighs 6,000 lbs. I’m open to hear your opinions though.

So far very happy with how they did in the snow, I’ll rotate them every 10,000.

View attachment 322274

View attachment 322275

Do you off road regularly?

 

[BobsArmory]

So you went away form "P rating? Are these LT tires? did that do anything to the ride? How much heavier are these than your OEM tire?

Very interested in any difference in ride quality. Hows the noise?

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

BFG ATs tend to age out unless you drive a lot. I liked the KO2s but the KO3 price was too high for how little I drive. The price went up like 25% a couple months after release. I did not expect that. I ran KOs and KO2s for many years. The "balancing" issue is usually people clueless about inflation.

 

[RhondaHonda]

They are LT tires. The noise isn’t any different to my ear, the K02 version was quiet on my trucks too. I would think the ride will suffer a bit with a heavier tire running more air pressure but my wife hasn’t complained. It’s her daily driver so I don’t have much seat time in it in the last week or so. It does have air suspension and rides pretty nice with a long wheelbase and IRS.

So you went away form "P rating? Are these LT tires? did that do anything to the ride? How much heavier are these than your OEM tire?

Do you off road regularly?

No, not in this thing. This was purely a vanity and hopefully treadlife decision. We have the Bronco for off-roading, although it hasn’t been off-road yet.

Very interested in any difference in ride quality. Hows the noise?

 

[RhondaHonda]

BFG ATs tend to age out unless you drive a lot. I liked the KO2s but the KO3 price was too high for how little I drive. The price went up like 25% a couple months after release. I did not expect that. I ran KOs and KO2s for many years. The "balancing" issue is usually people clueless about inflation.

She was putting about 20,000 on it a year but that will go down now with the addition of the Bronco to the stable.

 

[edyvw]

No, not in this thing. This was purely a vanity and hopefully treadlife decision. We have the Bronco for off-roading, although it hasn’t been off-road yet.

I am trying to figure out why you would give up the most important performance aspect of a tire, wet traction, for a vanity project? KO2 were bad in wet, KO3 are not any better. For a vehicle like that, Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 or Continental TerrainContact H/T. I mean, I do light off-road on Defenders in Sequoia. But when I need to stop in the rain, I know they will deliver. Not sure they will last any longer than those two I mentioned.

 

[RhondaHonda]

I am trying to figure out why you would give up the most important performance aspect of a tire, wet traction, for a vanity project? KO2 were bad in wet, KO3 are not any better. For a vehicle like that, Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 or Continental TerrainContact H/T. I mean, I do light off-road on Defenders in Sequoia. But when I need to stop in the rain, I know they will deliver. Not sure they will last any longer than those two I mentioned.

Had LTXs on the Suburban after the original Goodyears wore out, they were fine. You act like I bought some Chinese retreads trying to be cheap, not a $400 tire. If I hate them I’ll swap them out for something else.

 

[edyvw]

Had LTXs on the Suburban after the original Goodyears wore out, they were fine. You act like I bought some Chinese retreads trying to be cheap, not a $400 tire. If I hate them I’ll swap them out for something else.

They are exceptional off road tire. That is why I asked that question.
I mean yes, they are $400 but $150 cheaper Continental will stop 40ft shorter in wet conditions.

 

[The Critic]

Had LTXs on the Suburban after the original Goodyears wore out, they were fine. You act like I bought some Chinese retreads trying to be cheap, not a $400 tire. If I hate them I’ll swap them out for something else.

@edyvw isn’t wrong - historically, off-road tires such as these tend to be mediocre in the wet and become absolutely atrocious in the wet once they’re 1/2 worn.

 

[userfriendly]

@edyvw isn’t wrong - historically, off-road tires such as these tend to be mediocre in the wet and become absolutely atrocious in the wet once they’re 1/2 worn.

Do you have a message for GM that offer KO3s as an option on light trucks and SUVs?

 

[The Critic]

Do you have a message for GM that offer KO3s as an option on light trucks and SUVs?

OE tires generally use a different compound than the aftermarket version. They’re tuned to the platform’s priorities.

Also, OE tires have traditionally been very lacking for wet traction. They generally prioritize fuel efficiency (rolling resistance), handling and ride comfort.

 

[Danno]

Just the stock 275/60/20s. I’d like to have gone up a size or two but would never hear the end of it if it rubbed.

I’m hoping these last 50,000+ but we’ll see. The stock Goodyears wore the shoulders of the front tires quite a bit on both this Yukon and the Z71 Suburban that preceded it (RIP). I don’t know if it was a tire issue or an alignment issue. I’ll keep an eye on these as they wear.

Does she drive highway miles? While I was a fleet manager, I found front outside wear to be an issue. After up fitting, I would get the trucks aligned. But same issue. Tried putting a 2 000 lb load in, when going on the alignment rack, behind the rear axle, to simulate a nose higher highway speed profile. That helped alot with the issue.

 

[CarbonToast]

Do you have a message for GM that offer KO3s as an option on light trucks and SUVs?

They offer them because it sells trucks and makes money. They look cool and capable! Offroad style is booming right now.

Just becuase something looks good and is expensive doesn't mean it actually is good.

A normal highway tire would perform better in the application and also be able to do any offroading a Yukon is capable of doing.

 

[RooflessVW]

Only on Bitog will you catch flak for a $2,000 tire purchase.

 

[brandon9715]

I’m still running KO2s on my F150. A little over 29,000 miles on them right now and I’m at 11/32”. Great tire all around, and the wet traction flak is unwarranted imo. Marginally worse, but not like people claim. You’ll love the KO3.