I have run a bunch of different tires, the KO2s that came stock were the worst, poor traction, punctured easily and worse mileage than a MT tire.
I live in Central Oregon, home of the high desert with more than the continents fair share of basalt lava rock, with a great combination of hard and sharp, high heat in the summer and freezing-snow in the winters. With tire tread compound, just like with my dirt bikes, you want a softer compound tire, as harder compound tires will chunk just like see in your KO2s. The softer compound will adhere better to rock with less slippage and conform to the irregular and sharp points. Usually the trade off is mileage, as on pavement they will wear down faster.
I have run 3 sets of BFG KM and one set of KM2s (the KM3s are only slightly different tread siping than KM2s) and really like them. Also, really like the TOYO MTs, which I have as my winter tires on my 2018 SCREW, along with a recent set of General Grabber X3 mud tires, they are working great. I have run Maxxis Big Horns, they are a bit harder compound and don't grab the rock as good. I had a couple of pair of Goodyear MTRs and liked them, but in 35s they now only offer them in 8 ply or 6 ply.
I always run 10 ply, as the ply rating is on the tread, not the sidewall-most MTs are 3 ply sidewalls and ATs are usually 2 ply sidewalls. I actually punctured the stock KO2s right through the middle of the tread when they were nearly new on a rock road (like a 3"-minus gravel road). So, once they got close I got rid of the KO2s.
Good luck.
I live in Central Oregon, home of the high desert with more than the continents fair share of basalt lava rock, with a great combination of hard and sharp, high heat in the summer and freezing-snow in the winters. With tire tread compound, just like with my dirt bikes, you want a softer compound tire, as harder compound tires will chunk just like see in your KO2s. The softer compound will adhere better to rock with less slippage and conform to the irregular and sharp points. Usually the trade off is mileage, as on pavement they will wear down faster.
I have run 3 sets of BFG KM and one set of KM2s (the KM3s are only slightly different tread siping than KM2s) and really like them. Also, really like the TOYO MTs, which I have as my winter tires on my 2018 SCREW, along with a recent set of General Grabber X3 mud tires, they are working great. I have run Maxxis Big Horns, they are a bit harder compound and don't grab the rock as good. I had a couple of pair of Goodyear MTRs and liked them, but in 35s they now only offer them in 8 ply or 6 ply.
I always run 10 ply, as the ply rating is on the tread, not the sidewall-most MTs are 3 ply sidewalls and ATs are usually 2 ply sidewalls. I actually punctured the stock KO2s right through the middle of the tread when they were nearly new on a rock road (like a 3"-minus gravel road). So, once they got close I got rid of the KO2s.
Good luck.
even though the 2021 thing to do is blame BFG
)
^^^
