Hankook, BFG, or Mickey Thompsons?

[Jimmylats JL]

Looking for opinions on tires. I am in the market for 37 ATs or hybrids. I have narrowed it down to BFG KO2s which I am very familiar with and have on my other 2 wranglers, Hankook dynapro XTs or Mickey Thompson baja legend EXP. I live in KY, and I do not see that much snow, but it does get icy during the winter, and we occasionally get a lot of rain. I have 37 baja atzs on it right now and they are worn and sliding very bad on patches of ice, even going at slow speed. I am only looking at these 3 due to my intended usage and weight of the tires. Looking for opinions on the Hankooks and MTs.

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[2016XLVIII]

I'm sold on MT's...I have Baja Boss' on my 2dr Willys...

 

[Nokones]

There is nothing wrong with the BFGs. I was a BFG contract driver in racing many years ago and I am loyal to the Michelin and BFG products, but I do love my Mickey Bajas LT315-70-70 Load Range Es on my 23 Wrangler Rubi 2 Dr with the Method 106 Beadlocks. They are very street and trail worthy and not as loud as I envisioned them to be on the highway. I will definitely buy them again.

I run them at 37 pounds on the road and 10 pounds on the trail.

 

[Reinen]

FYI, no AT tires are good on ice. For that you need a 3PMSF & Icy Peak rated Winter Tire. It's a night & day difference but it's up to you if it's worth having winter tires in KY.

For the AT tires you listed, go with a KO3 if they released the size that you're looking for. They're widely reviewed as an all around improvement of KO2s. Mickey T's are also an excellent tire. You won't go wrong with either. The Hankooks would be the lesser of the three.

 

[Squibbles]

KO2 is an older design and I’m not sure the KO3s are out yet in 37s. The dick cepek tire you’re looking at is again an older design regardless of whether they updated the tread compound and is still a 2 ply sidewall. The hankook I haven’t heard much about but the hankook mud terrains I saw some complaints about the sidewall being weak. As far weather the ko2 and hankook are 3 peak rated but they’re not enough for ice. I slid into a ditch a few weeks ago on some freshly plowed snow with the KO2s. I’m sure the hankook and KO2 will do better than the ATZs you currently have in bad weather.

I think the Toyo AT3 is another AT that’s relatively lightweight. Seems to fair somewhat well on snow. It’s a 2 ply but the 35s are like 59 pounds.

the Baja legend used to be sold under dick cepek until Goodyear acquired cooper and got rid of dick cepek and chose to keep one tire and incorporate it into the Mickey Thompson line. It’s close a 20 year old design

 

[Ratbert]

For the AT tires you listed, go with a KO3 if they released the size that you're looking for. They're widely reviewed as an all around improvement of KO2s. Mickey T's are also an excellent tire. You won't go wrong with either. The Hankooks would be the lesser of the three.

Unfortunately BFG is still saying the 37" KO3 won't be out until sometime in 2026. Basically up to two years away.

 

[cseaman]

I ran the Hankooks in 37” on my previous JLURD. They are quiet and light. I drove it from Little Rock to Moab (and back) in March 2023 and did Fins and Things and Top of the World with light snow with zero issues at all, during any part of the trip, including the 2000 miles of I70/I40.

I purchased them at that time because they were cheap and light, and I was brand new to Jeeps. I’m currently on 37” KO2s and they aren’t markedly better (they are lighter) nor need another paragraph written about them. Just figured I’d share some positivity on the XT.

 

[Jimmylats JL]

I ran the Hankooks in 37” on my previous JLURD. They are quiet and light. I drove it from Little Rock to Moab (and back) in March 2023 and did Fins and Things and Top of the World with light snow with zero issues at all, during any part of the trip, including the 2000 miles of I70/I40.

I purchased them at that time because they were cheap and light, and I was brand new to Jeeps. I’m currently on 37” KO2s and they aren’t markedly better (they are lighter) nor need another paragraph written about them. Just figured I’d share some positivity on the XT.

Thank you, that’s what I was wanting to know. I have many years experience with the bfgs just wondering if there is something else I might like. Would love to give the ko3 a try but can’t wait for them to come out in a 37.

 

[Jimmylats JL]

KO2 is an older design and I’m not sure the KO3s are out yet in 37s. The dick cepek tire you’re looking at is again an older design regardless of whether they updated the tread compound and is still a 2 ply sidewall. The hankook I haven’t heard much about but the hankook mud terrains I saw some complaints about the sidewall being weak. As far weather the ko2 and hankook are 3 peak rated but they’re not enough for ice. I slid into a ditch a few weeks ago on some freshly plowed snow with the KO2s. I’m sure the hankook and KO2 will do better than the ATZs you currently have in bad weather.

I think the Toyo AT3 is another AT that’s relatively lightweight. Seems to fair somewhat well on snow. It’s a 2 ply but the 35s are like 59 pounds.

the Baja legend used to be sold under dick cepek until Goodyear acquired cooper and got rid of dick cepek and chose to keep one tire and incorporate it into the Mickey Thompson line. It’s close a 20 year old design

I did know they were sick cepeks but did not know it was that old of a design. I’m not worried right now about so much side wall protection as I know the lighter tires have less protection

 

[Chief Toby]

Looking for opinions on tires. I am in the market for 37 ATs or hybrids. I have narrowed it down to BFG KO2s which I am very familiar with and have on my other 2 wranglers, Hankook dynapro XTs or Mickey Thompson baja legend EXP. I live in KY, and I do not see that much snow, but it does get icy during the winter, and we occasionally get a lot of rain. I have 37 baja atzs on it right now and they are worn and sliding very bad on patches of ice, even going at slow speed. I am only looking at these 3 due to my intended usage and weight of the tires. Looking for opinions on the Hankooks and MTs.

I have the KO2's on my High Tide, and the Hankooks on my 4Runner TRD Off Road. I think the Hankooks are better on the ice and snow we have here in central Washington.

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