Is it just me or are those Freaking KM2's on my Troll!!

[Russ Kellermann]

After much anguish and agonising i made a choice. After years with the unbelievable Kumho KL71's mudds i had, i decided to throw caution to the "directional tread" wind, and fit these bad boys. I was unsure how the size would work but i'm more than chuffed now.

With the group buy on the LCCSA forum i was almost in for a set of 255x85x16, but i decided against and went for this due to 3 factors.

1:I dont like maxxis bighorns , ....at all. (dont worry chaps, its just a personal thing, i've never heard a bad thing about them, just personal)
2:I was worried that sould i destroy more than one tyre i could find myself in a bit of poo. (i would have ordered 6 but still)
3:I was concerned that with the added OD i would get the dreaded "flat spot" at the usual 80-90km/h ,and as this is vehicle is my daily drive and those are common speeds, i didn't want to risk it for an extra 0.4" OD. (as the 255x85x16 are around the 33.4" mark)

Anyway, here they are, 285x75x16 on 7j steelies (no offset) in all their 3ply glory!!!

[Saltman]

Looks really good!
Let us know how they perform, particularly on road. I would be interested in its braking and cornering performance as well as the road noise.

They are on my wish list once the GY MTR's have done their job!

What alternatives would you suggest for tar road / AT use?

Enjoy
Herbie

[Russ Kellermann]

Herbie,

Road noise is , as far as i'm concerned, non existent. I would compare the noise to that of an all terrain. However, i am running the 4.2D not the 4.8 like yourself, and perhaps that might make all the difference,...although i dont think this is the case. My Kumho's did have a more agressive tread in my opinion (and they were directional tyres) with huge lugs in a TSL type configuration, which naturally meant lug slap, but truthfully it was only noticeable when cornering slowly.I got great wear out of them and they wore eveny. they were also great in wet weather tar driving conditions as far as muddies go, and i believe,better than most (i've heard horror stories with other brands), but then again, i do think with the power of the 4.8, one must take this factor into account when its decision time.

You have mud terrains on your wagon but now it looks like you on the search for an AL Terrain? If this is the case i must say the following. I am not one to follow the troops with this kind of stuff,and often there are great products out there passed by simply due to a few "catch words" flying around,which starts a purchasing frenzy over a few months or so on,however there is certainly one product worth the frenzy (which is still on going duly so) and perhaps you should consider this . i would only recommend the use of BFG AT. They have been proven in every which way to be the undisputed king of AT tyres. this can be backed up by the hundreds of thousands of cruisers and pickups using this tyre around southern africa and beyond. It really is amazing.

I'll keep you posted as far as this KM2 is concerned, i'm expecting great things........

[Saltman]

Thanks Russ

Sorry, forgpt to mention that I have 2 sets of rims, the std steel jobs on which I run the MT's and a set of 4.5 GRX alloys that currently sport Dueller HT's that are nearing the end of their life. I am looking for a AT and more road biased tyre for those rims. They are the rims I run during the year and the MT's go on when it is play time or holiday time!

Yes I have been running BFG AT's for years on my Rnage Rover and Hliux bakkie. Average for me has been 80 000 km, but that is normally limited due to wheel alignment problems or write offs.

Thanks for the response
Herbie

[Family_Dog]

Russ, your truck and tyres look just great! Very nice,


-F_D

[G-MAN]

Now you need to come out and use them!

[Russ Kellermann]

Herbie, you answered your own question then, go for the BFG At again, ...you know you want to!

F_D , thanks mate, i really love this truck man, best decision yet!

G-Man, you right, with work always getting in the way on weekends though i often find that i must go off alone during the week, which is cool too, but it gets boring sometimes, but yes definately wanna get out there! (luckily i use my vehicle off road alot for work , talk about job satisfaction!

[Stefan]

Awesome!

[JG Shields]

I agree...It looks very good! For some reason the Patrol bakkie looks 200% better with the big tekkies and a suspension lift. On the Patrol wagon it does not make that much of a difference...as seen through my goggles.

[Russ Kellermann]

thanks Stefan!

JG, its so weird yoiu say that cause i think the wagons always look so much bigger! hahaha. you made me feel alot better now, thanks JG!

i do need those rear wheel spacers though cause, just like the cruiser, the rear axle is shorter than the front, and it doesn't track in the same spoor, also, it looks weird. just gotta measure how much and then have them made up.