Picked up a screw in a spot that I am not willing to run a plug. I was hoping to get another year out of these tires but the screw has kind of pushed the hand.
Was hoping by then the BF Goodrich AT KO3s would have been out in many more sizes and some real use reviews.
I have Michelin LTX A/AT2s and they have been an absolutely phenomenal tire but am looking for something more aggressive this go round.
These Mickey Thompsons seem to be the Bees Knees.






The runner up is likely the Cooper Rugged Trek but I really like that Mickey Thompson has 3 ply sidewall since I don’t run E rated tires.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Black92LX,

Yes I do on my 21 4Runner and they are fantastic. Very quiet for the aggressive look they have, are great in rain but I have only taken them mild off roading, but they did fine. I have about ten thousand on them so far and they are holding up great. You cannot go wrong with them.

I have them on my Wrangler, they’re fantastic. I’ve got 22k miles on them and they look like new. Just got back a few weeks ago from 10 days of wheeling out west in Moab and CO. They worked great over every obstacle and rode great the 1700 miles each way.

I HIGHLY recommend them.

Looks like only the LT versions have 3-ply constructuon:

"Powerply™ XD adds heavier denier cord to the angled third ply providing better puncture resistance, quicker steering response, and greater stability (LT-Sizes Only)"

What's the difference between the D-rated 33x12.5r17LT that weighs 68lbs and the E-rated LT305/65r17 that weighs 67lbs and is the same size otherwise?

I've got no experience w/ their A/T Tires, but you might want to consider Nitto Ridge Grapplers as well. They get excellent ratings and they're Made in the USA! Within the last 6 months I've purchased Nitto NT555 G2 Ultra High Performance Summers for two vehicles and I'm extremely happy with them. Nitto has expanded their production capacity in the US and has a reputation for producing tires that both perform AND meet their customers needs/wants/desires! Worth a look...

I had MT Baja ATs on my truck for a few years but not the Boss ATs. Extremely loud. Especially compared to Nitto Terra Grappler and G2s.

But that’s been a few years so maybe these are better. They did have pretty good tread life.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Looks like only the LT versions have 3-ply constructuon:

"Powerply™ XD adds heavier denier cord to the angled third ply providing better puncture resistance, quicker steering response, and greater stability (LT-Sizes Only)"

What's the difference between the D-rated 33x12.5r17LT that weighs 68lbs and the E-rated LT305/65r17 that weighs 67lbs and is the same size otherwise?

Missed that blurb in my reading. Still should be alright with the added side biters.

Not sure the difference.
I prefer skinnier tires and am going 285/70/17s not fallen into the 12.5” wide tire marketing waste of money nonsense.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
I've got no experience w/ their A/T Tires, but you might want to consider Nitto Ridge Grapplers as well. They get excellent ratings and they're Made in the USA! Within the last 6 months I've purchased Nitto NT555 G2 Ultra High Performance Summers for two vehicles and I'm extremely happy with them. Nitto has expanded their production capacity in the US and has a reputation for producing tires that both perform AND meet their customers needs/wants/desires! Worth a look...

Their wet traction is not very good which is paramount for me around here.
They also get pretty loud after 25k miles or so.

Mickey’s are made in the US as well.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
I had MT Baja ATs on my truck for a few years but not the Boss ATs. Extremely loud. Especially compared to Nitto Terra Grappler and G2s.

But that’s been a few years so maybe these are better. They did have pretty good tread life.

These newer Baja Bosses are supposed to be a completely different animal from most aggressive A/Ts

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
I've got no experience w/ their A/T Tires, but you might want to consider Nitto Ridge Grapplers…

I was going to suggest a similar tire. Nitto Trail Grapplers MT will be my next tire, without question.

Oddly enough, I do look at tires on off road vehicles, a lot. I like to see what others are running, and what the tires look like. (I know there are a million factors to the wear…)

Unfortunately I don’t know anyone that runs Mickey’s. We are on very different terrains, but there isn’t a single vehicle I have seen with Mickey’s around here. That may say something about those tires, if no one runs them.

Aside of the expected Nitto, BFG, and Toyo, I see a lot of Milestar Patagonia tires. The thing is, they have great review, but I have yet to see one that doesn’t look like a second hand, POS tire. That said, everyone seems to love them. (I wonder if this is in part due to Matt’s Off Road Recovery always promoting the Milestars).

Anyways, give a second thought to the Nitto’s. If you go with their less aggressive tread pattern, the Ridge Grappler, the wet road traction is pretty goood.

^^^Nitto also has the Recon Grappler A/T rounding out their off-road line. The Ridge Grappler falls right between the Trail Grappler M/T and the Recon Grappler A/T. Honestly, from what I read/seen, all three get excellent reviews!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nhracecraft,

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
I've got no experience w/ their A/T Tires, but you might want to consider Nitto Ridge Grapplers…

I was going to suggest a similar tire. Nitto Trail Grapplers MT will be my next tire, without question.

Oddly enough, I do look at tires on off road vehicles, a lot. I like to see what others are running, and what the tires look like. (I know there are a million factors to the wear…)

Unfortunately I don’t know anyone that runs Mickey’s. We are on very different terrains, but there isn’t a single vehicle I have seen with Mickey’s around here. That may say something about those tires, if no one runs them.

Aside of the expected Nitto, BFG, and Toyo, I see a lot of Milestar Patagonia tires. The thing is, they have great review, but I have yet to see one that doesn’t look like a second hand, POS tire. That said, everyone seems to love them. (I wonder if this is in part due to Matt’s Off Road Recovery always promoting the Milestars).

Anyways, give a second thought to the Nitto’s. If you go with their less aggressive tread pattern, the Ridge Grappler, the wet road traction is pretty goood.

Ridge Grapplers are awful in the rain on the street here. I know a few folks that have them and dislike them.

The Terra Grapplers are a bit better but not as aggressive as I want.

I look at tires all the time as well. I see the Mickeys on occasion and have only had the chance to ask one person about them and he loved them.
My buddy has the Baja Legend EXP and likes them a lot.

BF Goodrich is certainly the most popular around here followed but a bunch of crap noisy tires.
Toyo is probably #2 of the big names.

As for Patagonia they are not popular here but have seen them when we travel and I would guess it’s because they are stupid cheap for the big sizes and that BoobTube Jeeper Lightbrighy or whatever her name is touts them.

Grrr. You have me rethinking my decision and thinking Toyo and BFG. They had a bad run of tires a couple years back that were miserable in the rain and make me nervous.
However their tread pattern is still the greatest

No one around here runs MT Baja Boss’s either.
BFG’s used to be the king of AT tires but quite a few people around here (me included) are now running TOYO AT3’s with great results. We ran a set up the Alcan Highway and didn’t get any flats on that notoriously tough road, although I did bring 2 spares!

My Gladiator needs new shoes and I’m going with the 35-11.5-17’s.

Nitto Ridge Grapplers were good for me. Just got 55K on a 3/4 ton towing heavy 1/4 time. Went back with Falken Wildpeak A/Ts, mainly for the price. The Nittos would’ve been $1,650 this round. The Falkens were $1,300. Liking them great so far. Friends had them so I didn’t buy in the dark. I’ve also ran Toyo Opencountry A/T II which were good too. They weren’t in stock and cost prohibitive as well. 295/70/18.

Tire prices have gone absolutely BANANAS!!!!!!

In 2019 I paid $165 for Falken Wildpeaks in 275/70/18 those tires are now $340
In 2021 I paid $200 for Michelin LTX A/T2s in 275/60/20 those are now $305

I liked the Falken Wildpeaks a lot but there are so many comparable priced tires from the states I don’t want to buy them again.

I have about a years life left in my current tires but took a screw right where the sidewall meets the tread and not willing to run a plug in that.
So figure just get new tires. My factory wheels are in bad shape and I want 17s and more aggressive tire anyway.

17” Tires are a bit cheaper and more sidewall will be welcome for when I air down. Had planned on switching next year but ohh well.

I was dead set on the Mickeys but you all are making me waffle.

Love the KO2s but so many reviews talk about how bad they are in the rain now.

Toyo Open Country AT IIIs are $290 to Mickeys $275 May have to go with the Toyos.
Wildpeaks are $275 so not even close to enough saving to have me look at them.
Toyos have a 65k mile tread wear warranty so the is a plus.

I had a bad experience with wear issues on Toyo Proxies on my Mustang years ago and I have been a bit grumbly about that ever since.

I am a Michelin guy. They just make hands down the best highway tires.
I have their LTX A/T2s and they are absolutely phenomenal tires. They just aren’t aggressive enough. I sure wish Michelin would make a true off-road or hybrid tire.

Tire prices have changed. I have a new set of DuraTracs waiting to go on my truck because the tires I would have put on went from $175 to $275 which put the $300 DuraTracs in play.

Black like you, I am a Michelin guy and have them on all our other vehicles but as you said they just don’t make an aggressive AT tire.

Regarding your screw hole and not wanting to plug it let me relay a situation that I used to encounter with some frequency. Being in construction it was not uncommon to run over a nail etc while on a job site. My tire guy suggested that instead of plugging the tire to take the tire off the rim and install a patch on the inside of the carcass. I did this several times without an issue. It cost a few dollars more than plugging the hole but was way cheaper than buying new shoes. Of course the location of the hole may influence if this is feasible or not.

Michelin probably can’t produce an aggressive AT tire that lives up to the Michelin name and reputation, hence the reason they purchased BFGoodrich.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:

Regarding your screw hole and not wanting to plug it let me relay a situation that I used to encounter with some frequency. Being in construction it was not uncommon to run over a nail etc while on a job site. My tire guy suggested that instead of plugging the tire to take the tire off the rim and install a patch on the inside of the carcass. I did this several times without an issue. It cost a few dollars more than plugging the hole but was way cheaper than buying new shoes. Of course the location of the hole may influence if this is feasible or not.

It is right where the tread and the sidewall meet. When I air down it is right at the area that flexes so I am not willing to risk it.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Michelin probably can’t produce an aggressive AT tire that lives up to the Michelin name and reputation, hence the reason they purchased BFGoodrich.

Likely so.
I did not realize the purchased BFG.

Since it happened in 1989, you were probably really young.

I know this does not help about M/T but it is worth looking at when looking at A/T tires.

Being that we get a ton of rain and many many of them are freaking gulley washers rain/wet traction is pretty much paramount for me in this truck.
That video pretty much solidified why I am staying away from Nitto and BFG. I so very much love of the BFGs look.
But everyone around here gripes about wet traction especially when they get some mileage on them.

I was pretty much narrowed down to Mickey Thompson then you all had me weighing the Toyos again.
So I watched every video possible on them again for the hundredth time. Being that Mickey Thompson beat the Toyo pretty much across the board in the wet and snow tests on TireRack I ended up pulling the trigger on the Mickey Thompsons.
Also they just started a $100 mail in rebate so in the end the Mickey’s are $300 cheaper than the Toyos.

There was a bit of a snafu with an Amazon seller that kept canceling my wheel order then relisting the wheels at a higher price. I said screw it and shortly after the second cancelation and 3rd price bump. SSW Off-road dropped a 25% off sale on their 5 lug wheels. Unfortunately my first 2 choices were sold out so I had to go with my 3rd choice because unfortunately due to the screw I need to get this handled sooner rather than later.
Color choice is not my 1st choice but I do like them and can powder coat them down the road if I feel like it.
But I saved over $200 on the set of wheels so I am good with that.


Hope to have everything mounted up next Monday.

I’ll certainly keep you all updated on the Mickey Thompsons. I had a thread like this was back in 2019 about the Falken Wildpeaks and ended up liking them a lot.

Quick preview. Granted my truck will have smaller tires. I may get a bumper down the road. We shall see and of course these are wrapped in many of your alls favorite Nittos. Mine won’t be this cool but that is Ok.