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Truck tires: new KO3s?

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2.8K views 61 replies 29 participants last post by  StrawberryMTN  
#1 ·
Time for new shoes on the Tundra, replacing a set of Toyo A/Ts. As mentioned on other tire threads, i’ve kinda moved on from Schwab since they’re really not the same company anymore, so been eyeballing the BFGs now instead. Of course all the current marketing is about the KO3s replacing the KO2s, but I’m sure we can all think of cases where ‘New & improved!’ was actually a step back. So the question is whether anyone has any first-hand experience w/ the new KO3s yet? (Bonus points if you’re comparing them to having KO2s before, but still interested in whatever else you’re comparing against.)
 
#3 ·
I know you weren't asking for comparisons, but I really like the Falken WildPeak AT3W's I'm running on my Tundra. Nice ride, pretty quite and they're The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rated. So far tire wear has been good as well. I do see that they are starting to phase out the AT3W's moving forward with their new AT4W's. Looks like the AT4W's have a better sidewall lug design and they are also a 65,000 mile tire compared the the AT3w's at 55.000 mile.

Just some food for thought......
 
#5 ·
I put KO3’s on My Tundra last year and love them. Never had the KO2’s. best all around tire I’ve ever had. Quiet. Great off road capability. Great performance in the snow. I tow a 21’ super bee with them. No complaints yet.

I too am done with much less Schwab. Terrible service now and garbage guarantee.
 
#10 ·
I’ve been running the KO3’s on my F-350 for 2 years and about 30k miles in everything you can throw at them, from trips to the ski hill in the worst of the worst ice to some pretty white knuckle off roading during hunting season. I’ve been really happy with them and will defiantly purchase again, they’re nice and quiet on the highway too. I had Toyo AT3’s previously and they were loud, and in my limited experience (living in a dry climate) the KO3’s are far better in the rain than the KO2’s. With a hard 30k miles, there’s still quite a bit of tread left, in fact I kind of wish they were more worn so I could justify the 35’s I’d like for my next set 😂
 
#14 ·
Hanging out with a fella that manages a large chain tire shop in the PDX area this weekend, and we chatted about tires a bit. I currently have Falken AT3W on my Tundra and have been pleased with them. I asked how his feedback is on the newer AT4W, as I’ll need tires eventually. He said nothing bad about the AT4W and they appear to be performing on pace with the older variant that I own. Cool.

In his next breath, he mentioned that they have more troubled customers with the KO3 than the other tires in the same class. He would not recommend. He’s been managing that store for several years and I’d consider him a reliable source of information on this subject since they sell both brands, as well as many others in the same class.

Obviously, not everyone will share the same opinion!
 
#16 ·
I am also considering the Falkens for my '21 Tundra. Camper sits on it full time so need the A/T4 with E load range... $343/tire.

Currently runningGeneral Grabber A/TX. Moved them over from my old truck and generally happy with them on and off road. Couple hundred $ savings so might get another set of them.

My big financial decision is whether to get 5 new tires and rotate spare through. Wheels are all the same so would make it easy. Any of you doing this?
 
#19 ·
I am also considering the Falkens for my '21 Tundra. Camper sits on it full time so need the A/T4 with E load range... $343/tire.

Currently runningGeneral Grabber A/TX. Moved them over from my old truck and generally happy with them on and off road. Couple hundred $ savings so might get another set of them.

My big financial decision is whether to get 5 new tires and rotate spare through. Wheels are all the same so would make it easy. Any of you doing this?
I run 5 matching wheels and tires on my Tundra and rotate all of them through. The worst part is our TPMS will only accept 4 sensors so I have to rewrite the sensor ID’s with my Techstream software each time I rotate.
 
#22 ·
There's a lot of bashing on Schwab here, but they have a lot of stores, and they honor their guarantees. That 'lot of stores' is significant, if you are far from home and have a tire or battery problem. 3 weeks ago I was on 395 headed south and I got a TPS warning of a low tire. I googled and went right to Schwab in Hermiston, explained my problem (it was 94 degrees and I had 2 dogs in the car), and they put me right into a bay. They found a screw in the tire and I was back on the road in 20 minutes. Last week, my battery died. I used the jump box and went right to Schwab. The battery test showed 'replace', and they did. A 16 month old battery and the charge was $13. 2 years ago I ran over a box knife blade and trashed a tire with 5000 miles. Schwab replaced it and the charge was $38.
Beat that!
 
#25 ·
There's a lot of bashing on Schwab here, but they have a lot of stores, and they honor their guarantees. That 'lot of stores' is significant, if you are far from home and have a tire or battery problem. 3 weeks ago I was on 395 headed south and I got a TPS warning of a low tire. I googled and went right to Schwab in Hermiston, explained my problem (it was 94 degrees and I had 2 dogs in the car), and they put me right into a bay. They found a screw in the tire and I was back on the road in 20 minutes. Last week, my battery died. I used the jump box and went right to Schwab. The battery test showed 'replace', and they did. A 16 month old battery and the charge was $13. 2 years ago I ran over a box knife blade and trashed a tire with 5000 miles. Schwab replaced it and the charge was $38.
Beat that!
I was a Schwab guy ever since I moved to Forest Grove, Oregon in 2000. Tolerated the hard-sell of the tires they wanted to sell vs the ones I wanted for several years, but they lost my business for good when he used the line "don't you care about your family's safety?" to get me to relent. That same guy was promoted to manager. I have been super loyal to local businesses my whole adult life... but there are limits.
 
#24 ·
There's a lot of bashing on Schwab here, but they have a lot of stores, and they honor their guarantees. That 'lot of stores' is significant, if you are far from home and have a tire or battery problem. 3 weeks ago I was on 395 headed south and I got a TPS warning of a low tire. I googled and went right to Schwab in Hermiston, explained my problem (it was 94 degrees and I had 2 dogs in the car), and they put me right into a bay. They found a screw in the tire and I was back on the road in 20 minutes. Last week, my battery died. I used the jump box and went right to Schwab. The battery test showed 'replace', and they did. A 16 month old battery and the charge was $13. 2 years ago I ran over a box knife blade and trashed a tire with 5000 miles. Schwab replaced it and the charge was $38.
Beat that!
I hear you. I’ve personally rolled into a Schwab in Enterprise, Madras, Lewiston, Oakridge, and MtShasta City during various trips over the past 30-odd years, either for a repair/replacement that popped up out in the sticks or just due for a rotation and didn’t wanna put it off for another 500+ miles until I got home. Even before the Interwebz, you could just roll down the main drag in whatever town that was big enough to have a couple traffic lights and be confident you’d find the Schwab easily enough.

But they’ve been withdrawing from that bank of loyalty for the last several years, to the point that i’m not nearly as confident anymore about giving them close to $2 grand again. That and over time I’ve also gotten better at avoiding those kinds of remote problems; both better maintenance at home and not driving quite as rambunctiously in some of those eastern OR canyons. All my good examples came from before my more recent run of less favorable impressions.
 
#26 ·
I really like the KO3 so far but....I did puncture a sidewall on dry cut Manzanita. Was able to pull over a couple times and use my portable compressor to keep it above 45psi until I got home. A first for me. Just put them on in May so haven't done a winter drive with them but I'm sure they will do great. Discount tire for my purchase, $434 per tire. 285/75R18 replaced the punctured tire under warranty.
Quieter than I expected. Rears at 80lb fronts at 60lb
 

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#27 ·
I really like the KO3 so far but....I did puncture a sidewall on dry cut Manzanita. A first for me. Just put them on in May so haven't done a winter drive with them but I'm sure they will do great. Discount tire for my purchase, $434 per tire. 285/75R18
Quieter than I expected. Rears at 80lb fronts at 60lb
Lucky it’s only flat on the bottom 👍🏻🤔