BFG-AT, Terra Grappler, Cooper LTZ, others - Comments

[Kmceuen]

With so many owner looking to upgrade their tires & wheels, its worthwhile to comment on my experiences. Hopefully, others will add to the thread with the end result a useful resource.

First, I drive 36k plus a year, unfortunately to many on the highway. When I'm off road it could be anything, snow, mud, rocks etc. AT's make the most sense for me, but a compromise off road.

Two weeks after I took delivery of my 06' taco (4dr 4wd) I had a 3" lift underneath. It wasn't untill 11k that I finally decided on the tires and wheels. 18" Helo Xplode - 285/60r/18 excellent wheel and look great.

Terra Grappler - Won't use them again. I know there are a lot who like these tires, so here's my reasoning. This was first tire that went on my 06 Taco and 2nd set I've owned. They are great when they're new, but wear out fast. At about 50% I started noticing traction was starting to go. At 40% I had to be careful on wet roads. They'd spin easy from a stop and were loose in the turns. At 30% tread left (29k) I dumped them. It was the same on my Z71. They caused another problem on my Taco too. On most roads they were fine, but when the roads got rough the road walk was really bad. It was to the point I was going fabricate a bracket for a steering stablizer. There were a couple of spots on the roads I reguarly travel that I'd grab the wheel with both hands knowing how bad it was going to pull.

BFG-AT- I've had countless sets, just not on my Taco. Good tires all around, they just happen to be pricy too.

Cooper LTZ - These are fairly new to the market. Just put these on, great tire so far, at least on the road. Haven't taken them off road so I can't comment on that yet. First, they are much quieter than the Terra Grapplers. Tread is aggresive for an AT and work well on wet roads. Second, they ride excellent, again better then the Terra Grapplers. Third, the wheel walk I had with the Tera Grapplers is gone. Finally, they cost less than both the BFG's and the Tera Grapplers. Since the're new I'll have to hold comment on durability and off-road ability, but I'm on my way to Colorado and will learn something soon.

There are a lot of offroad tires out there and I'd be interested in others experiences and comments. K-

Update: March 17, 2008
Just returned from a week in Colorado (3000 miles) with plenty of snow. For an AT the Coopers do well in the snow. Equal or somewhat better than the Terra Grapplers. They have a much better ride and are quieter than the Tera's too.

[TundraSurfBum]

17k on my grapplers and they look as new as the day I got them. still have teets on em. I think I will go back to BFGs next but for the $$$ can't beat Nitto

[mtcheral]

I agree with the grapplers- had to throw them out at 30,000 before this hunting season because I knew I couldn't get through the bad stuff I would encounter. Got the BFG AT's. Can't speak of tire life yet, but they made it like a champ through stuff I would've been very afraid to go through alone with the grapplers.

[TundraSurfBum]

you'll like the bfg ats... I got 60k out of a set on a Jeep. MTs are just as reliable.

[DirtyFraz]

Originally Posted by TundraSurfBum

you'll like the bfg ats... I got 60k out of a set on a Jeep. MTs are just as reliable.

What air pressure are you running your BFG ATs at?
(normal driving, not hauling)
I've noticed my dealer keeps airing them down to 35 psi everytime I go for an oilchange/maintenance, but I get noticeably better gas mileage at 40-45 psi. The only thing is the ride is a bit bouncier at the higher pressure.

[Kmceuen]

I had the same problem with the air pressure. I had to either rember to tell them prior to service or check them after I got home. I usually run 42 to 45 psi when I'm not off road. K-

[TundraSurfBum]

I used to run them right at 40psi

[zero_chances]

i only have a few hundred miles on my coopers but i love them!

[CHARLESHALL1]

How do you like the Cooper Zeon now... Looked at your photos...I have a silver Tundra and am wanting to put some 275/55/20 Cooper Zeon on my truck as well....

Yours look really sharp

[hyperspd7]

I had the cooper LTZ 305/50/20 on my Dodge Mega Cab. LOVED them... Everything Kmceuen said were my observations well. My buddy has them on his Ford F150 lifted and he is really happy as well.

[zero_chances]

Originally Posted by CHARLESHALL1

How do you like the Cooper Zeon now... Looked at your photos...I have a silver Tundra and am wanting to put some 275/55/20 Cooper Zeon on my truck as well....

Yours look really sharp

I still love them. I get compliments on them all the time. I really dont think that they are any louder than the Eagle GT2's that i had before. But i have a loud exhaust and audio system, so on a bone stock truck, road noise may be more apparent. They seem to always have good traction, in any weather and even when i speed through turns where i could break loose all 4 of the GT2's, the LTZ's stick to the road.
Deffinitely worth the $600 shipped to my door price. I would buy them again without hesitation

[OntheRox]

I love these Terra Grapplers...I have about 10 k on them and they are doing great, way less noisy than the stock tires. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next 20k miles though....may have to check out those Coopers...thanks for the heads up.

[kaukris1]

those BFG A/T's...
i thought the max tire pressure was 35?
dont the tires run down faster in the middle? and how long do they last you guys?