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Stacey007



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3696

United Kingdom 
tyre choice at 18"
Hello


My tyres I feel have needed changing for a while but with lack of miles on the car little point... My car is 90% Road

I have been looking at

BF Goodrich AT K02 in 265/65/18 although these 'look' the best the reviews seem to suggest they are not the best in the rain... so in the UK not sure I'm happy with that.

Cooper Discovery AT3 Sport, Still seem to look good and the reviews are good.

Pirelli Scorpion AT Plus Tyre As the coopers... seem very similar and a good all rounder.



I will admit I love the 'look' of the BF ones but I do (even though its a farm, truck) like to move swiftly sometimes in the country lanes... and I prefer grip over looks at that point Smile


Any one run either of these 3, I would be interested in any pictures of the Cooper AT3's fitted as I can find load of the BF and a thread about the Scorpions (which seem to look less aggressive than the manufactures picture)



Thanks


Thumbs Up
Post #916661 13th Aug 2021 9:23am
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pj2106



Member Since: 20 Dec 2012
Location: Huntingdon AKA The Shire
Posts: 1500

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
I won’t ever buy bfg ko2 again aweful in the wet

I’ve got 265/65/18 Cooper discoverer at3 4s so the all season version with snowflake mark and they are superb all round esp in the wet and snow

16k in and still like new and very quiet

Hope this helps 2008 110 2.4 XS Utility (Hagrid)
2002 90 TD5 Hardtop (Sully) Sold
1998 300TDi D1 (Billy) Sold
Post #916666 13th Aug 2021 9:42am
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pj2106



Member Since: 20 Dec 2012
Location: Huntingdon AKA The Shire
Posts: 1500

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey

Click image to enlarge
 2008 110 2.4 XS Utility (Hagrid)
2002 90 TD5 Hardtop (Sully) Sold
1998 300TDi D1 (Billy) Sold
Post #916667 13th Aug 2021 9:43am
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Co1



Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3618

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Loire Blue
I’ve got KO2’s now and I’ve had AT3’s as well and to be honest i haven’t had an issue with either in the wet. The KO2 is a lot better off road, but the AT3 is noticeably quieter on road. Horses for courses!

Last edited by Co1 on 13th Aug 2021 2:17pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #916680 13th Aug 2021 10:35am
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7875

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
Never had an issue with KO2's in the wet either, great tyre IMO. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #916705 13th Aug 2021 12:02pm
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TimX



Member Since: 13 Aug 2021
Location: Scotland
Posts: 4

Scotland 2003 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rimini Red
Thank you PJ!

i have had my '53 plate 110 for 5 or 6 years, it now has 240,000 miles and is going on well.

And for all that time it has run on BF Goodrich A/Ts - Superb! Long lasting. grippy in all conditions, totally reliable, no degradation of road handling as they wore.

So when it finally came to changing I stuck with them and went for the current version (KO2).

OK in the dry, but in the wet, well, about the only word I can use on this forum would be 'nervous'?

I have talked to a number of people and it really does seem to be polarised - some like PJ and myself somewhat rattled by the wet weather handling, others completely happy. I don't now whether it is a batch issue or just a lottery, but I will be dumping them for a different make before the autumn - that's an expensive decision but I am not going to live with a twitchy vehicle up here in Scotland once the weather turns.
Post #916736 13th Aug 2021 2:06pm
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Co1



Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3618

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Loire Blue
I think PJ’s is a 110, as is yours. My experience of them is only on a 90, perhaps the shorter wheelbase has something to do with it?
Post #916738 13th Aug 2021 2:19pm
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pj2106



Member Since: 20 Dec 2012
Location: Huntingdon AKA The Shire
Posts: 1500

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
As CO1 says it does seem to be a difference between 90/110 had ko2 on my previous 90 when first came out and were no where near as dicey but on the 110 I only ran them for 6-700 miles as 2p10p moments were to frequent 2008 110 2.4 XS Utility (Hagrid)
2002 90 TD5 Hardtop (Sully) Sold
1998 300TDi D1 (Billy) Sold
Post #916740 13th Aug 2021 2:32pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7875

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
I'm guessing BFG changed the compound or had a bad batch? As I say my KO2's on a 110 with 170BHP no issues whatsoever. They are now 4.5 years old (June 2017) and 40k miles. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #916743 13th Aug 2021 2:53pm
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Stacey007



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3696

United Kingdom 
PJ those coopers look good,


I'm tempted by looks for the BF, but the wet weather reports (not just on this forum) put me off..

I would rather have a safe tyre than a nervous one, its odd as I see Twisted use them with the 6.2's... Maybe you only take them out on dry days?

Interesting views..
Post #916745 13th Aug 2021 2:55pm
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LR Sam



Member Since: 08 Nov 2012
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 226

England 
Stacey007 - from my experience BFG KO2's don't last anywhere near as long as the original KO's. The new KO'2 are fantastic and I haven't had issues in the wet but I am on my second set and before I swapped them out (probably 30k miles), they had gone harder, were noisier and definitely worse in rain so I'd say they start off well and then get worse with wear.

I didn't like the look of the Discoverer and so on my non Defenders (RRC and Disco 4) I went General Grabber AT3's and these have been fantastic in all conditions - I am not sure whether they do an 18 inch size suitable for a Defender though. Worth looking at.

I'd be really interested to see the Pirelli AT's in the flesh as I wanted to try them last time but didn't know anyone who had fitted them.
Post #916750 13th Aug 2021 3:20pm
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pj2106



Member Since: 20 Dec 2012
Location: Huntingdon AKA The Shire
Posts: 1500

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
I really wanted to go for Goodyear wrangler duratracs but you just can’t get them in a decent size here in the uk

I’ve run those on several vehicles and outstrip the ko2 in every aspect and look awesome

Thinking of going to 19/20” just to have them back on the landy

Or I’ll keep to cover and go for 285/60/18 like my old hancooks

Click image to enlarge
 2008 110 2.4 XS Utility (Hagrid)
2002 90 TD5 Hardtop (Sully) Sold
1998 300TDi D1 (Billy) Sold
Post #916755 13th Aug 2021 3:32pm
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90 Dreamer



Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2055

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
I had a similar choice recently and decided on the new(ish) Pirelli Scorpion........



Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge
Post #916801 13th Aug 2021 8:13pm
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BogMonster



Member Since: 05 Feb 2008
Location: Stanley
Posts: 389

Falkland Islands 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
I had the original AT KO on my Discovery 2 V8, then KO2 on the Shogun for five years, KO2 on my Ranger for most of the last ten years and I've just put KO2 on my new L200. I haven't tested the latter but I've never found them in any way wanting on the others and I used to drive the Discovery quite enthusiastically. My only complaint in the L200 is that the 18s are quite hard in the sidewall and the ride quality is more jiggly than I feel it should be. I've mostly solved that one by dropping the pressures to 25psi, which I can get away with here due to our low road speeds. ---
2006 Defender 110 SW 300Tdi • 2011 Ford Ranger XLT crewcab • 2015 Defender 110 Station Wagon Utility TDCi
Post #916904 14th Aug 2021 12:51pm
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TimX



Member Since: 13 Aug 2021
Location: Scotland
Posts: 4

Scotland 2003 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rimini Red
Must admit that I don't understand the 'lottery' aspect.

I have gone from a set of KO's that were, frankly, absolutely superb, and in which I had total confidence to set of KO2's that corner very noticeably in the wet with a 'jelly' moment (Which to me as a complete tyre ignoramus feels like weaker sidewalls rather than strengthened ones?) which kind of makes one's heart pound (Excitement I don't need at my age!), the twitch/wobble/sway? is so similar to the start of a big moment that it is constantly disconcerting.

That does not inspire confidence.

OK, my venerable 110 has a Disco transfer box and 190bhp courtesy of Allisports and an intercooler the size of Wales - but before you all wade into me, I'm a grandfather approaching retirement who grew out of boy racing last century.

Mostly.....

The only thing that has changed are the tyres from KO to KO2 - I haven't changed shock absorbers, wheels, geometry, tyre size, anything.

And there are people like PJ having similar experiences and others having great performance and complete faith in the KO2s

And as Stacey noted, Twisted exclusively use KO2s, and they know their stuff.

Whether it is 90 vs 110, QA/QC or a batch issue I have no idea, but on my 110 this is real - have to say that for BFG to go from being - IMHO! - the gold standard with a rock solid product to one that promotes discussions like this is disappointing.

But for me, looks like goodbye KO2s, hello Pirelli or Coopers (Yeah I know, re-arrange the following words in a well known phrase or expression;- rat, ship, sinking, leaving) but as I emphasised above, at my age I just want simple confidence, not unpredictable white knuckle excitement.
Post #917034 15th Aug 2021 9:08am
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