Stock Wheels/New Tires

[baptizo]

I have put just over 15k miles on mine in 6 months of ownership and have zero complaints with the stock KO2's. I've been through snow, ice, mud, rocks, and of course, plenty of pavement driving - they simply get the job done when and where I need it done. As for pavement noise, they started to make a little bit just before 15k miles but it's hardly noticeable compared to the Mastercraft M/T's on my Super Duty.

 

[baptizo]

I always felt that way as well, but I've been reading other members complaints about them and I was starting to think that some of my handling issues are stemming from the tires. I've reduced pressure to 36 front and 34 rear so I'm going to try to stick it out and see what happens.

I run 38 all around and I drive through some of the most scenic and twisty roads in NW and central PA - the truck handles awesome.

Keep in my mind I traded a 2018 Focus RS for it and the Raptor is more enjoyable to drive plus it can go anywhere and mine has been off-road quite a bit. Mine is typically covered in mud on a weekly basis outside of the wintry mess we have up here.

 

[Raptor Rollin]

RAG13, I was following your wheel hop thread, too. How low have you tried in the rear tires? I ask because I didn't notice any real difference on my 2019 until I went all the way to down to 32 PSI cold in the rears. At 34, I was still getting wheel hop all over the place, pretty bad bump steer in corners, even when I wasn't pushing the truck that hard. So I just went down to 32 a few days ago and noticed an immediate improvement in ride quality around town. Then today had the chance to push the truck a bit on the highways and on/off ramps and again, much improved. I have the fronts at 38 PSI cold, still. It was hot ambient today, not sweltering but definitely on the warmer side... after flogging the truck a bit, it settled in at 39 front / 34 rear HOT and felt quite good from a handling perspective.

I've spent a fair amount of time in racecars, so for better or for worse have become kinda sensitive to tire pressures, damping, etc. Love my Raptor, but the ride quality on pavement was driving me a bit batty until I went down to 32 in the rears. Just felt like there was no harmony between front & back, from a "flat ride/fast settling" perspective, as the tuners call it.

 

[RAG13]

RAG13, I was following your wheel hop thread, too. How low have you tried in the rear tires? I ask because I didn't notice any real difference on my 2019 until I went all the way to down to 32 PSI cold in the rears. At 34, I was still getting wheel hop all over the place, pretty bad bump steer in corners, even when I wasn't pushing the truck that hard. So I just went down to 32 a few days ago and noticed an immediate improvement in ride quality around town. Then today had the chance to push the truck a bit on the highways and on/off ramps and again, much improved. I have the fronts at 38 PSI cold, still. It was hot ambient today, not sweltering but definitely on the warmer side... after flogging the truck a bit, it settled in at 39 front / 34 rear HOT and felt quite good from a handling perspective.

I've spent a fair amount of time in racecars, so for better or for worse have become kinda sensitive to tire pressures, damping, etc. Love my Raptor, but the ride quality on pavement was driving me a bit batty until I went down to 32 in the rears. Just felt like there was no harmony between front & back, from a "flat ride/fast settling" perspective, as the tuners call it.

Thanks for the info, I've gone down to 34 in the rear and 36 up front. It is a little better, but on certain bumps at highway speeds the truck definitely seems to want to kick out to the side. Part of the problem is that the pressure in the tires fluctuates by 3-4 pounds depending on the temps and when they get heated up after driving a bit. It makes it tough to keep any consistency in tire pressure over a prolonged period of time. I am learning to live with the ride a little more though. I dont know if its just me, but I definately felt more "planted" in my 14 Raptor. I'm not saying it didnt have its moments, but it felt more secure on rough pavement.

 

[pfred]

We had a pretty snowy winter here in the Midwest and the tires were great. I was coming off duratracs on a super duty, so was concerned about the KO2s. But it was a non issue. I towed a few sleds on a trailer in a snowstorm and it was rock solid.

as someone else mentioned they will burn up in 30K anyway....mine are still looking new after 10k

 

[costnsg]

I have 37k on my original tires (17 Scab) and they will for sure go to 45k. I think they have performed well, but I haven't tried anything else on my truck. I think the are relatively quiet and I really like that. I run 40 psi all around and rotate every 5k. I do get some bounce occasionally in the rear, but I haven't found it to be too bad.

 

[rtmozingo]

Well at 27k mine are done. This happened in 36 miles of offroading today. Was really hoping I'd get a bit more time out of them...but it explains why my traction seemed really bad the last few laps.

 

[costnsg]

Damn! I agree those are done. From the look of it, they could have started brand new and they'd still be done. Were you doing a lot of tire spinning over rocks or how did you tear the tires up so badly?

 

[rtmozingo]

Damn! I agree those are done. From the look of it, they could have started brand new and they'd still be done. Were you doing a lot of tire spinning over rocks or how did you tear the tires up so badly?

Couple laps of this:

Mostly dirt, some gravel and rocks, with brush scattered throughout. A friend had the same thing happen at TRR but not today, while he was fine today and I was not.

To be fair I was running hard, but a few others were too, and nobody else wore out like mine.

Credit where it is due, tho - other than the hum, it would have been hard to tell they were decimated on the drive home. They tracked same as before and only had a bit less grip.

 

[costnsg]

Thanks for the video. I wouldn't have have expected that to use up the tires so completely, but obviously it did. I've had my truck in some rougher terrain, but I'm not tearing through it the way you are. I'm just poking along in comparison. I hope your next set, whichever ones they are, hold up better for you.