Tire Question

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by ovrlnd, Mar 20, 2016.

  1. ovrlnd

    ovrlnd Full Access Member

    Posts:
    69
    Likes Received:
    37
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2016
    On all of Ford's media shots of the new Raptor, the tires are the LT315/70/R17E 121S KO2's.

    However, at least one of the trucks circulating around the show circuit and also Foutz' racing Raptor have 35x12.5R17LT 121R's installed - also the new KO2's.

    Apart from a gnat hair's difference in size, all the specs on the BFG website for these two tires are the same, with the exception of the speed rating - R vs S.

    So, forgive me if I'm being stupid, but 1) why does BFG even make two tires so similarly specced, and 2) why would they put the tire with the lower speed rating on the truck, much less the race truck?

    Both are LT's. Load ratings are identical. There's nothing to indicate that the sidewall is any different.

    So what gives? What's the advantage of the conventional sized tire over the metric?
     
  2. matt33

    matt33 Active Member

    Posts:
    25
    Likes Received:
    18
    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2016
    I noticed the same and had the same question.
     
  3. KaiserM715

    KaiserM715 Kaiser Söze Administrator

    Posts:
    30
    Likes Received:
    31
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    The tires used on Gen 1 were a Raptor specific tread compound and had a different speed rating. The Raptor tires were softer, wore faster and were more prone to chunking. That being said, the KO2 is a better tire in all regards over the KO. Wonder if the tread compound is a little different.
     
    AHQVegas likes this.
  4. Jimbo

    Jimbo ROGUE RACING Supporting Vendor

    Posts:
    258
    Likes Received:
    121
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    WAY too prone to chunking. This was after 100 miles of desert running in Nevada. Granted, I was constantly kicking the ass-end out and romping it, but I'd expect some wear to occur, not like this though.

    [​IMG]
     
    KaiserM715 and ZaneMasterX like this.
  5. Trick_Raptor

    Trick_Raptor Member

    Posts:
    21
    Likes Received:
    16
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    This was after 520 miles of desert running from Reno to Las Vegas. Granted, right after I got my participation sticker and two selfies I put my Raptor back on the trailer and brought it down to Las Vegas.

    IMG_2475.JPG
     
  6. Jimbo

    Jimbo ROGUE RACING Supporting Vendor

    Posts:
    258
    Likes Received:
    121
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    I think a lot of it was Burro Wash - rocky as shit.

    http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/Burro_Wash
     
    Trick_Raptor likes this.
  7. Trick_Raptor

    Trick_Raptor Member

    Posts:
    21
    Likes Received:
    16
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    I am actually surprised how well the KO2's do in the dirt. We had about 350 miles of dirt roads that were nothing for the Raptor but the rest was some of the nastiest rocky sections I have ever seen along with some other rough roads.

    One person on the radio summed up the nasty sections and what's a better choice... the rocks/whoops or slamming his car door on his dick? Which lead us to next years run... Dick Door '17.
     
    Jimbo likes this.
  8. Wilson

    Wilson Full Access Member

    Posts:
    135
    Likes Received:
    37
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    Location:
    South Dakota
    didn't you break them in first?
     
  9. Trick_Raptor

    Trick_Raptor Member

    Posts:
    21
    Likes Received:
    16
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    Did I? About 1000 miles of driving (including 850+ to Moab) before going off-road with my tires and the picture above shows them with about 6k on them including the Silver State run.
     
    Wilson likes this.
  10. Wilson

    Wilson Full Access Member

    Posts:
    135
    Likes Received:
    37
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    Location:
    South Dakota
    no Jimbo's them sucked anyhow lol I changed them at 1k to duratracs
     
  11. ZaneMasterX

    ZaneMasterX Full Access Member

    Posts:
    218
    Likes Received:
    100
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Love Duratracs, especially in snow.
     
  12. Jimbo

    Jimbo ROGUE RACING Supporting Vendor

    Posts:
    258
    Likes Received:
    121
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    I had DuraTracs as my winter tires, setup on the stock wheels. I was running these until they were toast and was going to upgrade, but traded it in like that instead, lol.
     
  13. ovrlnd

    ovrlnd Full Access Member

    Posts:
    69
    Likes Received:
    37
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2016
    I sent an email to BFG asking this same question and they wrote back saying that there definitely is a difference between these two tires. But according to them, the metric sized tire is better for sand and soft dirt, which seems backwards to me. I mean, why would Foutz swap out the metrics for conventional if the metric is better for sand? I've asked them to confirm that and also to give me more info on why exactly one is better than the other for certain situations.
     
    KaiserM715 likes this.
  14. Trick_Raptor

    Trick_Raptor Member

    Posts:
    21
    Likes Received:
    16
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    I had good luck with my OEM KO's. They went 31k with off-road use and it just got to the point where they would not hook up at all in the dunes. They had maybe 7-10k street use but were useless for off-road.

    They were also nowhere near as chunky as @Jimbo either.... must have been driver error.
     
  15. Jimbo

    Jimbo ROGUE RACING Supporting Vendor

    Posts:
    258
    Likes Received:
    121
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2016
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    If you call driving it properly, driver error, you'd be correct :driver:
     
    Trick_Raptor likes this.

Share This Page