New Member Question

Hi all! New to the group. Been doing lots of reading and researching about tires and it’s time for me to get new ones.

I'm in between the General Grabber ATX, Toyo Open Country AT III, and the Falken Wildpeak AT3W in stock P size 265/70R17. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've owned any of them or which you'd prefer. This will be my daily driver that is also a work truck. I am in KY and we get a fair mix of weather. I need some off road capability for work purposes (mostly farm fields) but I’m primarily on the road. I would prioritize wet weather and winter traction over mud traction.

Anyways thanks I’m advance for all the help.

 

Welcome, I'd recommend checking out the new Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T. MT is offering a $100 rebate and you can get a set for around $1000 currently. They (along with the Falkens) are Three Peak Mountain snow rated and have a 60,000 mile tread life warranty.

 

I went with the BFG KO2, also a three peak mountain snow rated tire. Being in
Buffalo I also need a great winter tire. I also found the KO2 to be quieter on pavement than my other favorite tire, Goodyear Duratrac.

 

Have ToyoOpen Country ATIII on my 2023 Off Road. So far I really like them. They are 3peak rated... snow will be here any day now (Canada).

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! We run Cooper AT3's, excellent in snow and wet road. We've had good luck with them on our last 3 or 4 vehicles. Tire 'siping' is the thing that will bring out the best in tires for the wet, and help in the snow also.

 

I don't know anything about the tires you're looking at, but I got Continental Terrain Contact ATs (stock size) a few months back, specifically as a next-step tire from the OEM Duelers. One deciding factor for me was the large rain channeling grooves. I don't need serious off-road capability, and these have been really good on pavement and in rain. Haven't had them in snow yet.

 

I have also looked at these tires. Consumer Reports calls them the top AT tire. The one thing that makes me hesitant on these is that it said something to the effect of they didn’t recommend them for my area or for winter driving or something like that. Otherwise they look like a nice step up from stock.

 

Hmm, didn't see that. I'll find out, that's for certain. Tread is a little more aggressive than the duelers, so I expect at least some improvement in snow. That's all I'm after - Duelers weren't horrible IMO.

 

Welcome from Arizona! I like my Wildpeaks.

 

How do they do in the rain and snow? They look great!

 

Have you had any issues in the rain and or ice? That is the only complaint I have read about them.

 

I think maybe it was an email from them but I can’t find it now. I think I asked if they have any 3 peak tires and maybe they made that statement? I can’t remember. If I find it I will post it.

 

How are they in the rain? Several say the ATII wasn’t good in the rain but I’ve read these are much better.

 

I will get you a complete review by the spring. I don't have enough miles on them to give my personal opinion, yet!

History of tires...
Nitto Ridge Grappler
Falken Wildpeak AT3W (favorite so far)
BFGoodrich KO2
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac
Cooper Discoverer A/T

 

Hello, also from KY. You didn't mention them but I put a set of Pirelli Scorpion AT Plus on mine and I've been very happy with them. Good wet weather traction and very quiet road manners.

 

I have a bit of a related question. Jerry if this a derailment I apologize. I used to run the old style KO2’s, before the addition of the side biters, or sidewall treads, or whatever you want to call them. Are there any AT tires made today with a decently aggressive lug but without the sculpted sidewall?

 

Welcome to the forum!

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of those. I hear almost nothing negative about any of them. If I were deciding, I'd get whichever ones looked the best to me. Or, go by price.

 

If you specifically want wimpy sidewalls, I'd go with the Toyos. They're a great all terrain. They just don't have a very aggressive sidewall.

 

I appreciate it. Full disclosure I have tried the Cooper AT3 4s. No issues at all other than the first set never could be balanced and after 3 attempts they replaced them at Tire Discounters. The second set were fine. Seemed good overall. We got a new work truck that needed better tires so I swapped tires with them because I was wasn’t out in the field as much and couldn’t justify throwing away a perfectly good used set of tires.

Same story with Falken Wildpeaks. I had a set that seemed fine but when we got another work truck that needed better tires I swapped with them and ran those until they were shot. I always take the leftovers and take care of my guys. Now it’s time for me to get a good set of tires and I wanted to see if there was anything else I should try. Always trying to find the best combination of road manners and field capabilities for my trucks.

 

I don’t disagree at all. I actually tried a couple of the ones I listed and thought I might like to try something new but tires are expensive so I’m trying to make a good choice. I have bought a couple sets for my Tundra that I had to ditch pretty quickly because I hated them. Nitro Terra Grappler was one of them and maybe the original Cooper AT3. Neither had very good winter traction and the backend would break loose way too easy. Trying to avoid the same mistake with the 4Runner

 

They definitely seem less aggressive looking as far as the sidewall goes.

 

Do the sidewalls look better in person? They seem almost nonexistent in the side biter tread. I know they aren’t as bold as the Falken but they don’t seem to have much

 

Too early to tell! Great on dry pavement. Awesome on gravel roads

 

When you say "the original Cooper AT3" are you referring to the AT2? Because, when I bought the AT3, Cooper was saying that winter traction was one of the things they improved with the AT3 over the AT2. I think the AT3s are pretty good in the snow, but not the best I have used in the snow.

 

Hey Card fan! We certainly cheer for different teams but I support the Cardinals when they don’t play UK! Tire Discounters said they put a lot of the Pirelli on 4Runners. Consumer Reports didn’t give them the best reviews, but they are sometimes suspect and never review the tires I really want.

 

You might be right. I remember there was a W version of whatever it was but they didn’t have it locally. I took what they had and regretted it.

 

Another option is Michelin AT 2’s. I’ve used them and they don’t have as aggressive a thread pattern and do better in rain or snow than regular AT tires.

 

I like my Nitto Ridge Grappler’s but probably not the best choice if you encounter heavy rain fall or snow on a regular basis.

It barely rains in my location 2-3 times a year, so I’m happy with the tires for dry desert running. Plus they are actually a hybrid thread design so they are very quite on paved roads.

 

KY is on the rise for rainfall. I think on average for the last 5 years we have received more rain than normal. For snow….sometimes we can get a lot and sometimes very little and more freezing rain. Depends on the year.

 

Haven’t had these long enough to form much of an opinion, but these seem pretty solid. Smooth comfortable ride. Not much noise at all. Firestone Destination XT