Better street type tires if hardly ever going off road?

[HyperM3]

I'm in the same boat. Heard how bad the KO3's were so I've been looking. (I'm placing an order for a Ranger Raptor in the next few months.) I went and tested a used RR with 8,000 miles and was surprised how well it handled with the OEM tires! It felt more sure-footed than my 2005 Tundra with Michelin Defender LTX's in 265/65R17's. (Size of both trucks are pretty close) Granted the technology is light years ahead of my Tundra, but I just expected worse handling on the RR tires from all I've read. I'm still looking at putting on a set of Falken Wildpeak AT4W's, but don't think I'll be in nearly as big a hurry!

For you, and anyone who found this thread, I have updated my OP after driving 14k miles on the KO3. TL/DR: I love them.

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[Pic-N-Stick]

For you, and anyone who found this thread, I have updated my OP after driving 14k miles on the KO3. TL/DR: I love them.

Sweet! Great to hear! Glad you posted back. I saw this was an older thread, but someone had revived it and it's still relevant.

 

[Tailwagger]

To be clear (and fair) the K03 lateral grip is fine. Its the linear grip (accel in 2wd and braking) on pavement where they the come apart. On dirt they're really quite good AFAICT. Some of the problem might have to do with the Raptor's ABS calibration which seems more set up for gravel than street.

 

[Lion77]

I have 16.5k on my K03's and generally like them. Off-road they are stellar. Went to an OHV park in the sand and there were Jeep Wrangler Sahara's and other non-Rubicon variants barely getting moving in the sand.

In fact, several of them got stock and had to back up and floor it to get up a mild 15-degree incline in the sand pit. My RR never had to do that; it just went no matter what. Now the Rubicon's didn't have issues either, but they also run KO2's, which is basically the same tire as we all know, just a slightly louder / less durable variant (but lighter).

Now on the road, sure, the K03's aren't amazing, but they are decent enough. Given the nature of my truck and what I want to use it for, for now I'll at least run the K03's out until I need a new tire and then see if I want to go with them again (at this point, I'm thinking that I will most likely stick with them or a variant of the KO series).

And for those complaining about 2WD traction on the street....that's what 4A is for! Anybody running the 1/4 mile doing drag launches is uses 4A. Period. They are fine in 2WD for normal acceleration and even hard acceleration on dry pavement in a straight line (not a drag launch, but merging onto highways etc.).

 

[Lion77]

Also, consider your frame of reference here. I think people become unrealistic / spoiled in their expectations. I rented a Hom Depot flatbed, Dodge Ram 2500 HD, RWD to get a piano for my wife (old school, oak, 500+ lbs).

I didn't have the raptor at that time. I backed up in their driveway but had to turn the truck around and the back tires went into their grass. Their yard was completely flat, hard packed dirt (not muddy) with short grass as they had just cut their lawn. So, no sinking in mud, maybe just a tiny bit of dampness.

It almost got stuck, no hill, nothing, just the rear tires in the grass with a little bit of due left form the morning. I couldn't believe it was that bad. And those tires were new; the truck only had like 11k miles on it.

My raptor would never have spun on that, not even close. I also drove my parents F-150 and had it in 2WD, on dry pavement, that rear end would spin all the time even going straight from a dead stop, I had to be gentle with the throttle (they have the 5.0, not even the EB 3.5L that has more low end).

And that was a newer set of tires (truck had around 60k at the time, they had recently replaced the factory tires).

 

[Kenbike]

Have 1500 mikes on the stock KO3's and they are a good tire for the RR.
Have KO2's on a 2 door Jeep Rubicon and also a good tire.
Just installed a pair of Continental Terrain Contact A/T on a 2023 Ford Expedition Timberline and really like the ride, wet traction and cornering. Still waiting to try out in the snow.
Once the first set of KO3's wear out will consider a few options for the RR.

 

[Texas Ranger]

Here I am patiently waiting for c rated 315 k03's, hopefully they come out january 2026.

 

[John E Davies]

I really like and will keep my KO3s, but after 14000 miles they definitely ride rougher and louder on pavement, the original softness is long gone. And they no longer trap and sling gravel like a machine gun, that seems to be a big problem only with brand new ones….

I just mounted my Nokian non-studded snow tires, those have zero road feel and are dead silent and soft as jello.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Kenbike]

Which Nokian tire did you go with?

 

[John E Davies]

Which Nokian tire did you go with?

Hakka LT3 in the stock RR size. Mounted on 17x7.5” Bronco wheels (24 pounds per wheel). Lots of curb rash protection and snow chain clearance, easy to clean.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

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