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WK2 Overland- What tires should I buy

66K views 68 replies 30 participants last post by  Ramiro_237 
#1 ·
I have the original Goodyear Fortera 265/50-20 with 50K miles and am shopping for new tires. I don't like the original tires and am looking for advice and experience from folks who bought tires for this Jeep. I know that tires can be a personal preference but I would like to hear opinions and ideas. I don't do any serious off road, but would like a tire that can still handle some snow and very mild trails. Tires for the 20" rims seem kind of limited and more expensive. I would rather have 18 inch rims and a little more sidewall on the tires, but I don't think I can afford rims and tires right now.
 
#2 ·
And I have read good and bad reviews of all of them, In the end I'm gonna buy what has the biggest rebate card and change them at 30 K and start all over again.
Mileage claims are over rated, Some rubber is too soft... Some is too hard... LT/ Passenger....Sipes.. No sipes, Slippery in snow.. loud on the highway? Nothing is perfect. Read enough reviews to Barf....
 
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#3 · (Edited)
sail902, I was not happy with the OEM Fortera tires & replaced them with the Nitto Terra Grappler G2. These have been excellent tires in the rain, mud, snow & ice! I believe the Nokian is a better snow & ice tire, but for off road & mud, not so much! :lol: I would highly recommend the Nitto! :thumbsup:
 
#67 ·
sail902, I was not happy with the OEM Fortera tires & replaced them with the Nitto Terra Grappler G2. These have been excellent tires in the rain, mud, snow & ice! I believe the Nokian is a better snow & ice tire, but for off road & mud, not so much! :lol: I would highly recommend the Nitto! 👍
Would you mind sharing the size you went with for the Nitto and what the rim sizes are as well? I am looking to setup my 2013 JGC OVerland 5.7i with new wheels. I have the 20" rims and looking to size down to aftermarket 18" and as large a tire as will work well with Quadralift and the stock Jeep. Thank you!
 
#4 ·
I agree with Hemi2, that the Forteras weren't exactly an ideal tire. Sure they're probably fine for fair weather states, and someone who will never leave the pavement. I certainly don't do any heavy off-roading, but I still want some grip when I'm going back to a trail, hunting, etc. Another biggie that you mentioned was snow/ice. We get A LOT of that up here near the lake.
The two I would currently recommend are the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac, and BFG T/A KO2. I had the Duratrac on my Ram and loved them. Very well mannered on the road, and handled snow, ice and dirt like a champ. The KO2's that I currently have on my Jeep are also well mannered on the road and handle light trail use well. No experience with snow/ice with them yet, but I'm optimistic based on how they handle water, and soft terrain. Only time will tell I guess.
I can't speak to the Nitto, since I have no experience with them, but they seem to get pretty good reviews.
 
#5 ·
Based on your parameters, I would highly recommend the tires I have on mine...Michelin Defender LTX. Smooth, quiet, mild off-road capability, long wearing, great in rain, and almost snow-tire-like in the snow. Some form of the LTX as been around for more than 20 years, and is well proven. It really is the perfect all-around SUV/truck tire for those that don't need a true All-Terrain tire.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for the replies- keep them coming! I really appreciate hearing experiences of others with what they bought. It takes me in a totally different direction than what I was thinking and confirms to me that I'm not the only one that's not happy with the Goodyear Fortera's- but since I got this Jeep with 50K miles I couldn't know how they were when new.
I know that this topic has probably been beaten to death and folks are probably sick of it, but tires are constantly changing and so are opinions as time moves on. It helps me a lot and I'm sure it helps others too since there are so many choices out there and tires are an expensive decision to have to make. There is nothing like tapping into experiences that others have already had and that's what this forum is all about- helping fellow Jeepsters. Thanks again to all for helping out with my new/used Jeep. Jeff
 
#10 · (Edited)
Weeeeellll, we're just gonna glaze over that, to keep the thread from getting way off topic. :slapfight:

Back on point.
..... I got this Jeep with 50K miles I couldn't know how they were when new.
I know that this topic has probably been beaten to death ..... ...... and tires are an expensive decision to have to make...
You can generally assume the tires used on production vehicles aren't going to be ideal for any one specific location/condition. Most cars/trucks are expected to be sold all over the country (or even world), so they use tires that can handle the rain in Seattle, snow in Buffalo, hills in West Virginia, the sun scorched surface of Nevada, and every state in between each with their unique climate. One tire that can do "okay" on a given vehicle in that broad of a market isn't going to be great in any one category. So you end up with people in each area looking for different things, which is why you get so many opinions on forums. It's a good way to find what will fit YOUR specific preferences/needs.
As for the topic being beaten to death. Meh, sure it's been discussed. Go to any automotive enthusiast forum, and tires will likely be one of the most discussed topics. Lets face it, you can only do so much to make a noticeable change to the handling/performance of your vehicle without breaking the bank, or getting into serious modifications that many people don't want to delve into. Tires are one thing you can change with no special skill or tools, and no lasting effect on the vehicle if you don't like the choice. It makes sense that they're talked about a lot.
Also as you noted, they are expensive so you want to make the right choice the first time. Most people won't spend hundreds (or over a thousand) dollars on modifying their car/truck. However, we're all forced to replace tires at some point if we keep it long enough. Nobody wants to drop a grand on tires, only to learn they dislike them. You either face dropping more money to replace perfectly good tires, or dealing with the poor choice for a few years (possibly ruining the driving experience) until they wear out. Neither of those are appealing options, so people like to talk about their options before they pull the trigger.

Anyway, long story short. Keep looking, and keep reading. You'll find the tires that are right for you.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I went with the Bridgestone Dueler Alenza Plus, 800 Tread wear, Temperature A, Traction A ( I have them in 265/50-20 on factory Overland wheels). It ranked 4th in its category and I do believe that you will get all of the 80K out of them as long as you keep them rotated, balanced and you keep your vehicle aligned. When I purchased mine the Michelin LTX Premier wasn't out or I may have went with them. I know Cadillac puts Bridgestone's on the Escalade. They are a good tire and they balance very well, wear very well and fair well on the Tire rack scale. I have around 17k on them and they look like new.



Consumer Survey Results By Category
 
#9 ·
Good research will bring you to the Michelin LTX. Have used eight or ten sets over the years on vans, trucks, suv's (yes, Jeeps). None better if the tread fits your use, or maybe even if it doesn't. Many cross-continent miles, towing, crappy weather, all seasons, all temps, good and bad roads, hard and soft. Not mud, not all terrain, but good for all else. Just put another set on my 2014 Summit after finally justifying dumping the Goodyears. They're really good in the OEM 20 inch size. Go for it.
 
#12 ·
On the other forum they move your post right to the tire and wheel section as soon as you post to limit the discussion and cluter in the general discussion section. There is so much discussion about tires and in my opinion a lot of tire discussion is subjective. One person may like the ride of a particular brand one may not, one may say they handle good in rain and one may not ect.ect.ect. There is so much different terrain across the United States and varies from state to state and county to county. A lot of owners are brand loyal and would not use another brand if there life depends on it. I relate which tires are best to which oil is best and the discussion is endless. You could try tireracks web site and select your vehicle and it will pull up all tires for your vehicle and reviews but I warn you it will be overwhelming. Once again some like tireracks reviews and some don't. Good luck with your decision.
 
#15 ·
We currently use Goodyear Assurance Triple Treads on our current JGC and have used this tire and the previous version - Aquatred - for years. It is an excellent tire for rain, does well in the icy snow that we get in the DC area and the tread has worn well.

I intend to get the same for the new JGC we will purchase within the next week or so - either an Overland or Trailhawk. Will have to confirm that I can use 255/70/18s. If not, then I will be happy to have the other recommendations on the forum - good information on here!

While we do occasionally drive on farm roads, through fields and washes, we don't do it often enough to really need a true off-road tire. These are definitely all-season - not off road truck tires.
 
#17 · (Edited)
....... - either an Overland or Trailhawk. Will have to confirm that I can use 255/70/18s. If not, then I will be happy to have the other recommendations on the forum - good information on here! .....
I can confirm 255/70/18 will fit without modification. Mine is a '14 Overland, with OEM Jeep rims from a 2016 Sahara (JKU). The tires are 255/70/18 BFGoodrich KO2. I have no spacers, and originally mounted them with the suspension unaltered.

Here is a photo, though this is at OR1 (which no now my "Normal" height with the use of custom links).


And a trail shot for fun. Doesn't really show of the tires, but just because it's the "luxury model" doesn't mean you can't have fun too. I don't do anything extreme, and certainly don't beat on it, but with the suspension at OR1 or OR2 they can even handle the unevenness of the trail without rubbing. :thumbsup:


And a little bonus info for you. The 255/70/18 WILL fit in the spare tire well, under the floor. With very little trimming you can also adapt your spare tire caddy and storage bins to also fit in the well with bigger tire. Just an FYI
 
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#19 ·
I got good life out of the Forteras--no real complaints, honestly; replaced them with Nitto NT421Q and recently replaced those with Pirelli Scorpion Verde Plus tires...which I'm truly enjoying. They are not as "harsh"/hard as the Nittos were and are of a much better design than the Forteras.
 
#25 ·
I just went with the Scorpion Verde+ after a couple decades of the variants of the
Michelin LTX M/S series. They are much quieter than the Michelins were and I'd give the Scorpions the edge in cold/wet water traction as well.

I haven't taken them into moderate off-road where the Michelin were quite good--not hard core possibly but they always got me back ON the road.

Have you tried them on slick wet deep grass, moderate trails with boulders up to about 4-6 inches, and such? If so, how'd they do?

[Getting a bit old to be walking out of some of the places around here]
 
#22 ·
I changed the Forteras out at 40K miles and 6/32". I don't really like going below that because of the highway driving I do and the increased issue of hydroplaning at that point...no matter what the tire in general. And we had a very long driving vacation planned with the JGC fully loaded with four people plus luggage. I felt safer going with new tires prior to that; otherwise, I would have waited a few more months.

The Nittos that replaced the Forteras were wearing fast and were at 5/32" after only about 30K miles. And forget about the "tread life" warranties...they are almost impossible to benefit from due to the "fine print". I loved the Nittos at first for their "grippiness" and tread pattern, but the ride was not as good and I really did feel the grip lessening toward the end of their life with my JGC. They also had a propensity to flat spot at cold temps, making for a noticeable bumpiness until they warmed up from road friction. They were good in the limited snow we get here, but so were the Forteras in comparison. (I know that some folks don't share that view)

The Pirellis so far are making me very happy. I like the ride and since I spend a lot of time on the highway (for work), that's important.
 
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#21 ·
Greetings,

I am looking for the perfect tire. Can somebody help me please? :eek:



Hold the press!!!

If you can answer that question, I will be a monkey's uncle. :lol:


Best for now.:)
 
#26 ·
lstowell, I kinda don't really go off-road, other than driving across my lawn to get to one of my trailers. (utility and horse, respectively)...so I unfortunately cannot give any guidance. That said, the tread on the Pirellis does look pretty versatile and I wouldn't worry about it in mild off-road "once in awhile" type conditions probably...
 
#29 ·
Please remember that the OEM full size spare and wheel are narrower than the OEM wheels on the four corners. Be sure that the tire you choose for your spare is ok for the wheel width...in the specifications for the tire, there should be a wheel width range listed. You can use a narrower tire for your spare if need be. It just has to be the same diameter as the four regular tires for a 4x4 JGC.
 
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#30 ·
Good point, though 255/70/18 is wider than the stock spare tire (245/60/18), so it will fit the rim fine.
Certainly something to keep in mind when shopping for a spare tire though.
 
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#31 ·
Great thoughts on tires and sizes on this thread!

I didn't realize that Jeep added a different size spare. I just need to shake my head... that never would have entered my mind.

On the subject of size comparison:

While I logically understand what the tire numbers represent and how changing the width and ratio will impact the size, sometimes it's helpful to have a visual.

For those like me that are visual, the link below takes you to a size comparison chart that provides a visual display of the comparison between tires of two different sizes - just plug in the ratios of each tire:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=265-60r18-255-70r18
 
#32 ·
I didn't realize that Jeep added a different size spare.
It's narrower, but the exact same diameter as the OEM tires on the four corners...so that it fits under the cargo lid. It also has the same weight rating so that it's safe to use when towing, etc. (I'm talking about the "full size" spare that comes with "most" JGCs, but some do get a "compact" spare that's the same diameter, but is for emergency use only and not suitable for towing or high speed/long distance)
 
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#34 · (Edited)
When you consider that 800-1000 JGCs come off the line...daily...and the vast majority are going to folks who don't off road, drive mainly to work and back and don't want/need a full roof rack (I frankly could be very happy with a full delete of even the channels myself...), there's little incentive for a factory-orderable OEM roof rack and cross rails just due to demand volume. Even Subaru, which pushes all kinds of roof-top gear, pretty much offers only third party products for this and they are not installed on the factory production line. SUVs have become the ubiquitous ride instead of station wagons and even minivans and that contrasts significantly with what the market looked like a couple decades ago for vehicles like JGC and similar.

Of course, all of that has nothing to do with tires... :D :D :D
 
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#35 ·
Of course, all of that has nothing to do with tires... :D :D :D
Yes, back to the subject of tires.

How have the Pirelli's handled in wet conditions/ standing water on roadways with hydroplaning potential? Any snow experience yet?
 
#38 ·
They handle great on wet roads. I haven't had them through the winter yet, so I don't have any experience with them in the snow yet, but I'm optimistic. They do carry the mud and snow designation (mountain/snow flake), and they've got siping so they should handle the ice well (as based on experience with other tires that have them).
 
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#39 · (Edited)
They handle great on wet roads. I haven't had them through the winter yet, so I don't have any experience with them in the snow yet, but I'm optimistic. They do carry the mud and snow designation (mountain/snow flake), and they've got siping so they should handle the ice well (as based on experience with other tires that have them).
Thanks! We commute on the highway and hydroplaning is always a concern - that's why I love the Triple Treads so much.

Looks like by your location that you are likely to get snow much sooner than we are - would you mind sharing your experience with the KO2s in snow/wintery mix/ice experience once the weather comes in?

Your help on this subject so far has been greatly appreciated!!
 
#40 ·
Glad to help, and yeah, I'll give an update when the snow starts, which will likely be soon. I'm in the snow belt, so we get lake effect snow in addition to what we'd just get for being north. IIRC the average annual snowfall around here is between 60-105 inches. That's a pretty broad range, but due to the lake effect a few miles one way or the other really makes a difference. I used to work a few counties south of my house, and I'd leave home with a foot or two of snow on the ground, and get to work where there was only an inch or two. Crazy. Anyway, yeah, I'll be seeing some snow, so I'll keep you posted on how they handle it.
 
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#41 ·
Yikes! Well, sounds like you will be able to provide the best-ever snow handling of the KO2s review!!

The fact that you even left home in a foot of snow will make quite a few of us in the DC area chuckle and even stand in awe ... even if we do own the very capable Jeep! ;-)

But getting into our area's reaction to snow will REALLY get us off the tire topic.

Thanks in advance to your review of the tires.
 
#42 ·
Ha ha. Yeah, it certainly could. On that note though, the Goodyear Duratrac were amazing in the snow. Even in the deep stuff, there were times I could get around without using the 4wd in my Ram. I was generally just trying to see if I could, and would turn it back on after a bit of experimentation. They did grip well enough and clear the lugs easy enough to get moving in 2wd. Looking at the tread design, siping, and overall feel of these KO2's, I suspect they will act similarly since they look/feel similar to the Duratrac. They seem to handle all the other conditions about the same, so that's why I'm optimistic about their snow capabilities.

FWIW, I currently have Mickey Thompson MTZ's on my Ram. They handle mud, and trail great. They're pretty good on the road, though they're a little louder than I prefer. Not deafening but you can certainly hear them. No real issues with hydroplaning thanks to the open tread pattern. They've got heavy side walls so they corner pretty good and don't bell out when you add a load. They handle snow okay. Not the best tire I've had in the snow, but not the worst either. I don't regret the purchase, and I'm not going to rush out to replace them, but I'd buy something else instead of the MTZ if I was doing it again.
I'd probably go with the KO2, or Duratrac. I would say hands down KO2, but their winter capabilities are still an unknown, so if I had to buy today, I'd still consider the Duratrac because I know how they do in all conditions. If a few months reveals that these do as well as the Duratrac, I'd buy KO2's for my truck (if I was buying tires again).
 
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#44 ·
Dealer installed a new set of Michelin Premier LTX 265/50r20's on my 2014 Monday. I haven't hit the highway yet but the ride difference between the stock Goodyears and these Michelins are night and day so far.

Also, Mopar was running a buy 3-get one free deal so I paid $239 per tire (x3) with installation. I will say my dealer tried to increase the price per tire to $263 with installation to "cover" the free tire. I raised a stink and after a lot of back and forth with the parts department, they honored the deal. They came out and told me if I were to buy just one tire separately, it would be the lower price...As a marketing guy, I despise a bait and switch.
 
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