Best 33' AT tires

I'll be following this thread, as I'm boning up. I have the Goodyear Territories (a.k.a. Wranglers) MT, but had flats with them on improved & graded unpaved roads in Utah, those rock-chuckers. Grabbed stones which worked through the ply. Funny how they handled harsh trails in Moab, only to fail in rather stable & flat roads in the west Utah desert. Really curtailed my back country plans!

I'll ask people with experience and informed opinions to include their ride and the type of road & wheeling they do, as the driver's needs are paramount. I gather the Goodyear Territories are pretty good for an OEM all-around tire, competent but not excelling on city & highway, not too noisy, and okay for fairly aggressive trail and rock crawling. According to various posts here and elsewhere, they're very good for snow but not so much for mud. So that's my take for what's on my Badlands 4-door Sasquatch, Lux package.

Looking forward to more input, folks!

You are going to get so many different answers to this depending on who you ask. As far as popularity BFG KO2s, Falken Wildpeaks, and Toyo Open County AT3s will always be mentioned. If you are looking for a really good budget tire you can't go wrong with Kenda Klever AT2s or RTs. They aren't as expensive as others. But they are still a good quality tire.

I’m not a tire expert but I asked my dealer the exact same question. I was looking for a more aggressive stance, dive ability and off road performance (mostly beach sand and some mountain off roading). He recommended General Grabber AT. I am very pleased with them.

ok, I’ll play. What about the best gas mileage 33” tires for the mall crawlers? Inquiring minds and all.

BFGs are proven and been around for decades. Hence their popularity.

As far as a budget option. Cooper makes some that look and ride well and don’t brake the bank.

radar3d

ok, I’ll play. What about the best gas mileage 33” tires for the mall crawlers? Inquiring minds and all.

P rated will give you the lightest weight and the best gas mileage. Several 285/70-17s are available in a P rated. They will range anywhere from around 42-50 pounds. Where most LT rated in the same size will range from probably 52 into the high 60s.

JWBest

I’m not a tire expert but I asked my dealer the exact same question. I was looking for a more aggressive stance, dive ability and off road performance (mostly beach sand and some mountain off roading). He recommended General Grabber AT. I am very pleased with them.

I had The Genrals as well. They are very good for icy roads. I might consider NITTO's or GY Duratrax (Dura somethings).

Garemlin

You are going to get so many different answers to this depending on who you ask. As far as popularity BFG KO2s, Falken Wildpeaks, and Toyo Open County AT3s will always be mentioned. If you are looking for a really good budget tire you can't go wrong with Kenda Klever AT2s or RTs. They aren't as expensive as others. But they are still a good quality tire.

those are Chinese made
try COOPERS USA

I like my General Grabbers.
Comparable to KO2s, but less money.

KO2s lasted 3 years and about 10k miles, on another vehicle, before getting really noisy and cracking on the sidewalls.
Haven’t done any snow driving yet.

BFG A/T KO2 is the best all-terrain tire. It's popular for a reason, not because everyone uses and likes them for their intended purpose, but because those that really needed a good all-terrain chose the BFG AT KO and then the poseurs saw what the "pros" used and copied it. Now, they are still the best AT, but they are very expensive...as all tires have gotten, but you pay a premium for the BFG.

There are other "good" AT tires out there, depending on what you need (not all AT are the same), but if you want the best AT, it's still the BFG.

The General Grabber is the "generic", or a knock-off of, BFG. The pattern is pretty close.

As already stated, you just can't go wrong with BFG AT's. Best in that category.

I just put Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT's on the wife's Jeep. So far they are handling good on road, both dry & wet pavement. That's where she had issues with the Nitto's, slid all over in the rain. Hopefully we'll get some snow in NJ this year and I'll be able to let you know how the Mickey T's handle the snow as well (3 peak rated).

I know everyone hates the Goodyear Territory MT's, but they are lighter and handled snow just fine for me last year. Never been a Goodyear fan myself, but a set of 315's are cheaper (by a mile) than the other brands mentioned already.

Speed Devil
Simply put, if this were a street car, I'd be looking at Michelin Pilot Sports A/S3's or Conti ExtremeContact DSW06+, but since I'm not familiar with AT tires, which are the best of the best, and why?

Ya never skimp on Tires, Brakes and Mattresses, though the other 2 aren't a concern right now. More thinking ahead for when I need them instead of now, thanks in advance

Mike

BFG:
BFG KO AT (all terrains)... owned several sets on my early '75 Bronco.

#1 reason.... they are quiet....

#2 they work well off road

#3 they support racers and

#4 are reasonably priced

#5 OEM (on the non SASQ) 33" Bronco's.

IMO.... the best "overall" off road AT tire.

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GOODYEAR:
I have the OEM Goodyear MT (on SASQ package on my '21 then later my '22 Bronco)
*****not mud terrain but rather "maximum traction" ... I had a Goodyear engineer explain how MT (mud terrain) tires have a distance between the treads... this makes overwhelming road noise and ability to grip in the mud.... The Bronco Goodyear tires sipe distance on the BRONCO OEM is way to close, therefore should have never been designated as a MT (as pointed out by Goodyear engineer I met)....

Regrettably....they are glue to rocks and sling these projectiles like bullets.. they will damage your paint and sling rocks in windshields behind you. (NOT COOL)

Also, at the Off Roadeo in LV my rig that I was assigned a new Badlands SASQ with Goodyears... suprizingly one of the tires had a chunck missing in the tire. (they lower the pressure to 20 lbs.) Still, when I showed the chunk missing to the staff they got a big smile... as if I was was the last to know about these tires.... Not saying they don't work off road,,, because they do... very well in fact.. However this rock magnet thing is very real and a pain in the AXX!!!

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NITTO:


EVEN IF NITTO TIRES ARE BY FAR THE BEST PRODUCTS!!!!! (which they are)...
🇺‍🇲 Ford's 🇺‍🇸 Loren Healy🇺‍🇸 🏁 ....NITTO Tires.... Yes (RIGHT horse on RIGHT cart) GOAT IMO!!!!
🏁 Gooo!!!! Loren!!!!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------just my 2 cents
🏁 🏁 Loren Heally (GOAT) IMO🏁 🏁 🇺‍🇸 🇺‍🇸 🇺‍🇸 🇺‍🇸 !!!!

So it looks like Open Country's, K02's, Wildpeaks and Grabbers.

After winter of '20 in my Ram with Yokohama Geolander mud's, I'm avoiding Muds until I move west where it doesn't snow (South west, like the desert).

As far as LB, mods know they're a touchy subject here, but to cut to the chase, I'm with you; If they like something, I don't

BFGs are the Iphone of AT tires. they are a great tire but I wouldn't say they are the best. and yes I do have an Iphone (7 plus)
Tires are a weird sort of upgrade. Each tire is going to give you a little something different like one will give you better traction than another but you will be replacing it more often. Weight (as mentioned above) can be important this could change your unsprung load and affect your ride.
I think with tires you have to find a brand that works for you and that is the one you go with. My Family and I, for instance, can never own Firestone tires. Back in the day rangers came with Firestones and every Ranger we owned (5 of them Dad, two brothers and me) would develop a bubble in the side wall after about 6-9K miles so we swore off Firestones several years later we bought our Suburban and it came with Bridgestones 3 moths later I was switching those out because of a bubble in the side wall.
I have owed lots of tires on many different vehicles and what I can tell you is this. Don't get the chepo no name brand tires unless you are trading the vehicle in soon. Now there are exceptions to this rule but if you never heard of them might want to steer clear.
For me My list of tires goes like this.
1) Hankooks- Best tires I have ever owned. Found them by accident or 2008 Malibu came with them. I have put Hankooks on every vehicle but my F250 since. If they made a 37"x 17" I would be putting them on my Everglades
2) Falkens - Another happy accident went to get tires for my cobalt and they did not have Hankooks I have been please with them.
3) Michelins- have them on my 20 Equinox good tire but could wear better and the car needs more traction, I have owned several sets of Michelins
4) Coopers - I have the Evolution MTs on my F250 Good tire. For an aggressive tire they are rather quite but hard to tell with that 12V diesel.
5) BFGs - they were a good tire but for me they were Meh. If the Price was better they would move up.
6) Toyos - Open country ATs this was a good tire, a little slippery when wet and they wore out pretty fast. They smell funny too, at least the ones I had.
7) Yokahama - Geolander ATs good enough tire, had a few sets on my 1st F250 Nothing special or wrong really.
8) Nitto - Terra Grappler ATs OK tire nothing really wrong with them but I just didn't like em. not a fan of the look.

Also I am lumping road tires into this list because if I had good luck with them I would try their AT tires as well.
There are lots of tires that are not on this list and that is because I have never owned any I am thinking of putting Generals on the Bronco but I will have to see what I think of the GoodYears I know they are rock throwers and I live down a gravel road so these might need to be replaced in short order. Plus my wife saw my Brothers BaseSquatch with 2.5" lift and 37" and she asked if that is what mine will look like and I said no it will have 35" and she said you need the 37"s she hasn't even seen the 35" yet. But who am I to argue.

again this is my opinion your results may vary.

FrankenRodz

I like my General Grabbers.
Comparable to KO2s, but less money.

KO2s lasted 3 years and about 10k miles, on another vehicle, before getting really noisy and cracking on the sidewalls.
Haven’t done any snow driving yet.

I rode the KO's on at least 10 different 4x4s, loved the look, ride, low road noise & great in sand. Unfortunately, just like FrankenRodz, the last three sets I owned developed cracks in the sidewalls around 10k miles.

Speed Devil

So it looks like Open Country's, K02's, Wildpeaks and Grabbers.

After winter of '20 in my Ram with Yokohama Geolander mud's, I'm avoiding Muds until I move west where it doesn't snow (South west, like the desert).

As far as LB, mods know they're a touchy subject here, but to cut to the chase, I'm with you; If they like something, I don't

This may be a stupid question but, what or who is lite brite, what's their deal & why should I be hating on them?

Folks often overlook Discount Tire's house brand AT tire, the Pathfinder, made by Kumho. The SL comes in at just 43 lbs for a 285/70r17 and runs $188 a tire so it's a much more affordable option. According to the reviews on their website, pretty much everyone is more than happy with its performance. I'll let you know more as I'm picking up a set for my Big Bend on Monday.

Ran Kumhos on my jeep. Excellent road to dirt tires.

Jakob1972
...but I will have to see what I think of the GoodYears I know they are rock throwers and I live down a gravel road so these might need to be replaced in short order.
again this is my opinion your results may vary.

Thanks for your detailed post (and others). I pay careful attention to them.
I posted elsewhere, and will repeat here, my disappointment with the Goodyears on my BL/Sas/4DR in Utah. After several days doing #3-#5 trails in Moab, no problem I was touring (solo) the west Utah/Nevada area and got 3 flats in 5 days. Had to replace 1 (RR), 50 miles to get to Toelle, then (RR on #2 & #3 flats), each needing a drive to West Wendover (40-50 miles) for repair. There was no weird surface here at all: only graded & maintained unpaved dirt/clay/rock surface. Major disappointment, as I wanted to get to Snake Valley UT and the Confusion (mountain) Range to research for my novels.
"El Jefe" in West Wendover (does trucks only, but looked after me, twice) repaired flats #2 & #3 (RR all 3 times!), said rocks were working their way through the ply. His recommendation was to air down. But on flat surface? What do you guys think?
So I'm interested in your experience with that gravel road, Jakob.
My current plan is to run the GYs down, and protect my truck with Mabett mudflaps (installed) and a full-length IAG removable step. Don't know if I can trust the GYs on another trip to the west Utah/Nevada backroads again. Maybe I'll load up a cheap 2nd spare.
(Now you know why I'm following these tire threads so carefully!)

PS Anybody know a literary agent, I have a couple of page-turners which will sell--much of the story is set in Utah. And I do have a character named Jacob!