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Complete 9 A/T Tire Test. Nitto fans will not be pleased

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Overland WT, Sep 20, 2022.

  1. Sep 20, 2022 at 8:06 AM
    #1
    Overland WT

    Overland WT [OP] Grumpy Old Guy

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    Since everyone has an opinion based on their experience of whats best on these 5th Gens... this is one of the most complete tire comparisons I've seen on YT yet. Wet and dry handling, wet and deep water braking, gravel, dust, noise, rolling resistance and more. Great video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hwYCc6YvYM
     
    4runGirl88 likes this.
  2. Sep 20, 2022 at 8:22 AM
    #2
    Texoma-Brad

    Texoma-Brad OK Yota

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    That's a great test. They used an F150 as the test vehicle. So, the way those same tires behave on a 4Runner will probably be different. Just saying.

    But thanks for sharing! Good info!
     
    travelinscout, Math1840 and LuLu like this.
  3. Sep 20, 2022 at 9:23 AM
    #3
    Captain Spalding

    Captain Spalding . . .

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    Thanks for sharing. I liked his methodology. Although I think the road noise test should have added an objective measurement.

    His tire choice was interesting. He said he was comparing “mild off-road” tires, hence the BFG Trail Terrain instead of the KO2. But He definitely had some more serious tires in the mix. It could have been a more apples-to-apples test.

    There’s a performance category that he left out completely that is very important to me: construction and durability. Getting stuck is one thing - A puncture can be repaired on the trail, often without even unmounting the wheel. But getting stranded by a cut sidewall is worse. I’ve changed a tire on the trail, and it’s no fun. And after the tire is changed you’re sweating bullets for the rest of the trip because now you’ve got no spare. We all play along with the assumption that a higher load rating means a sidewall that’s more resistant to cuts, but there’s nothing substantiating that, especially these days when a high load rating may be achieved with special compounding rather than extra plies. And comparing similar load ratings across brands tells you nothing about relative resistance to cuts. While traction and noise and ride are important to me, what I really want to know is which tires are most resistant to sidewall cuts.

    Resistance to cuts. That’s a test I’d like to see. A comparison across brands, and across load ratings within the same brand. (I for one would like to see the KO2 C vs E debate put to rest.)
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2022
  4. Sep 20, 2022 at 10:04 AM
    #4
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    With my experience I would agree Nitto Terra Grappler are very poor tire.

    It is sad BFG KO2 Load C and Falken Wildpeak AT3W standard load is not included in this test as those 2 seems to be the most popular in 4Runner world, almost useless for the 4Runner forum. BFG KO2 Load C been the factory tire for Raptor and Wrangler 35 tire package its valid for lot of groups.

    I might look at Yokohama Geolander AT G015 285/70R17 SL when the Falkens are done for my Limited.
     
    Desert Dawg and travelinscout like this.
  5. Sep 20, 2022 at 10:15 AM
    #5
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    I had a set on my '03, which was also full time 4WD. They were probably the best tire I've ever used in the snow, aside from an actual snow tire.

    I have actually been considering a set, if I continue to run two different sets of tires. The Yokohama's would be the fall/winter/spring tires, and I would use the mud tires in the summer like I have been.

    Some of the guys on Tacomaworld use them for off-roading, as well. Aside from looking like Granny tires, they are a very good all-around tire.
     
    kmeeg[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Sep 20, 2022 at 11:49 AM
    #6
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

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    +1,

    I’ve been running RG’s for 4 years now and I’m happy with them. Very quite on paved roads.
     
    ddnc599 and Nano909[QUOTED] like this.
  7. Sep 20, 2022 at 12:34 PM
    #7
    Overland WT

    Overland WT [OP] Grumpy Old Guy

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    He stated the RG was quiet, but lacked safety in all forms of braking and understeer was significant on dry testing.

    He also states there were several others he would like to ahve included but availability was a challenge.

    As for long term testing it just wasn't in their ability due to cost. You have to dedicate a person, a vehicle, the same traveling conditions/roadway and all of the data collection for each set of tires. It was clear they were a wheel/tire shop and not a consumer reports type org. I felt it went above the usual suspects who pick 4 ouf their best selling brands and only give you their limited objective and fully subjective opinions.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  8. Sep 20, 2022 at 2:48 PM
    #8
    Agent_Outside

    Agent_Outside A Guy A Girl and A Trail

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    Nitto fans don’t care about Terra Grapplers, those are well known to be trash
     
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  9. Sep 20, 2022 at 2:52 PM
    #9
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    Probably why Toyota use them on TRD Pro. "Let's find the cheapest A/T tire and put them on, so we can make more money. No don't bother about the spare tire." :p:p
     
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  10. Sep 20, 2022 at 7:33 PM
    #10
    GrantA

    GrantA Enjoying God’s creation

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    I have the trail grapplers and they seem fine in the snow, ice, rain, and sand. Granted you won’t see me tailgating the vehicle in front of me. I drive smarter than that but I would argue they are not up there with the best stopping power. However, they do me well off-roading. I might consider a different tire in 40k more miles. ~$2500 was a chunk of change.
     
  11. Sep 20, 2022 at 9:10 PM
    #11
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

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    Agree, you should take product reviews on YouTube with a grain of salt and keep in mind they probably have an agenda (endorse a product for capital gain) or if it’s an individual who just spent several thousand dollars on new shocks, they’re probably not going to admit that the ride sucks.

    There are a few honest brokers on YouTube if your patient enough to seek them out.
     
    Nano909[QUOTED] and 2Toys like this.
  12. Sep 21, 2022 at 6:09 AM
    #12
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

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    Been telling you bros about the Firestone Destinations this whole time.

    Looks like they did pretty damn good. :cool:

    This coincides with my real world experience as well.

    70,000 miles on them and still going. :mudding:
     
    karmatp likes this.
  13. Sep 21, 2022 at 6:51 AM
    #13
    Kilo Papa

    Kilo Papa New Member

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    Curious, has your good experience with Firestones been with the AT, the AT/2 or their XT? Also which size and load range?
     
  14. Sep 21, 2022 at 7:40 AM
    #14
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

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    Original A/T's.

    285/70/17 P-rated.
     
  15. Sep 21, 2022 at 8:05 AM
    #15
    Overland WT

    Overland WT [OP] Grumpy Old Guy

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    Everyone has different experiences. My KO2's in hot, dry and cold winter (3,300' elevation) were rockstar awesome. Nitto RG's in Phoenix were dogshit. Got maybe 35k miles out of them. KO2's I sold to someone when they had 50k miles and still had at least another 15-20k miles to go. They were getting noisy though. I felt this guy had no ax to grind, and he was a tire/wheel salesman. And I liked he used a proper track for testing. No one tire did he glow about more than another. Its stores that "test" 4 tires, and they don't have anything bad to say about any of them and there is no clear cut winner... unless he happens to have a sale on them at the time.
     
  16. Sep 21, 2022 at 8:12 AM
    #16
    Daddykool

    Daddykool Photography enthusiast

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    I bought Continental Terrain Contact A/Ts maybe 3 months ago as replacements for the OEM Duelers, at about 92k. Glad to see the good ratings they got. Personal experience has been good as well.
     
    Overland WT[OP] likes this.
  17. Sep 21, 2022 at 8:41 AM
    #17
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Complete 9 A/T Tire Test. Nitto fans will not be pleased, but Firestone Destination fans will :)
     
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