What's new
By:
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Let's talk tires

PhishWagon

PhishWagon

New Member
Messages
28
Reaction score
24
Points
3
Location
PNW
The Nitto Ridge Grapplers on my PW are low on thread after 35k miles. Pretty disappointed in the performance of these tires. I get it's a heavy truck but I've been diligent about rotating every 5-6K miles and they still wore out this quickly. They've been off-road in mud, snow and mostly PNW rainy roads and highways.
So, with the holidays around the corner I'm hoping for some deals on new tires for the winter. I've had good luck with KO2's on other trucks. anyone have KO2s on their PW? I don't know much about KO3s but I see those are also available these day. Any recommendations are appreciated. Tire specs: LT295/65R 20
 
I put BFG KO2's on mine at 18K replacing the "transforces" that rode like round rocks and were already losing tread. The KO2's were the new ones with the 50K warranties verses the older no warranty ones I've previously had. The new ones do dramatically better at maintaining tread vs the first iteration of KO2's. And vs the Transforce OEM's, the ride is dramatically better. Eventually, I'll get the new KO3's when these give way... I've got about 10K on them so far. The old ones were done at 30K miles always with hydroplaning the first indication...
 
Redfour5 said:
I put BFG KO2's on mine at 18K replacing the "transforces" that rode like round rocks and were already losing tread. The KO2's were the new ones with the 50K warranties verses the older no warranty ones I've previously had. The new ones do dramatically better at maintaining tread vs the first iteration of KO2's. And vs the Transforce OEM's, the ride is dramatically better. Eventually, I'll get the new KO3's when these give way... I've got about 10K on them so far. The old ones were done at 30K miles always with hydroplaning the first indication...
Click to expand...
Yep, I almost did a full 180 hydro plane on a busy offramp the other day. Yikes! Looks like the KO2's might not come in my size tire. KO3s might be the way to go.
 
I bought the KO3's for my PW this summer, so I can't speak to how well they wear in the long term (or how they handle snow and ice yet), but I'm very happy with them so far. Got them in 315/70R17 as 35x12.5R17 was not an available size yet - though based on KO2 sizing, those two sizes measure the same diameter (34.5"). They're very quiet tires, as AT's go. No regrets.
 
Tire rotation doesn’t make tires last longer. It doesn’t add tread - it just evens out the wear. I only rotate when there’s actual uneven wear happening, like the rears wearing quicker than the fronts. If the tires are wearing evenly, rotating them adds no mileage at all. Also, make sure your alignment is good. If you have too much toe-in or out, and wear the edges on the fronts, then yes, rotate them to the rear. I have seen very consistent wear on my Rams, so the need for rotating the tires has been minimal...
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2025-11-06 080636.png
    Screenshot 2025-11-06 080636.png
    2.8 MB · Views: 22
johanh13 said:
Tire rotation doesn’t make tires last longer. It doesn’t add tread - it just evens out the wear. I only rotate when there’s actual uneven wear happening, like the rears wearing quicker than the fronts. If the tires are wearing evenly, rotating them adds no mileage at all. Also, make sure your alignment is good. If you have too much toe-in or out, and wear the edges on the fronts, then yes, rotate them to the rear. I have seen very consistent wear on my Rams, so the need for rotating the tires has been minimal...
Click to expand...
This. The very first NEW truck i ever bought was a 1500 warlock v6 2wd. I bought the truck and put on toyos.... i ran them to 60k with no problems and rotated them once at 30k, tread was even and never had an issue with alignment. Same with my last 1500 i had before upgrading to the HD i have now... bought the truck new and put on toyo at3s immediately, ran the truck to 30k without rotating at all. Before selling i did a rotation, same thing.... tread was even and alignment was still perfect.

Edit: i do not condone anyone doing this, was just pure laziness on my part, however just a input. TBH ill probably do it with this truck as well unless i need a reason to rotate. Unsure it being a HD changes things.
 
Last edited:
Slutzk said:
This. The very first NEW truck i ever bought was a 1500 warlock v6 2wd. I bought the truck and put on toyos.... i ran them to 60k with no problems and rotated them once at 30k, tread was even and never had an issue with alignment. Same with my last 1500 i had before upgrading to the HD i have now... bought the truck new and put on toyo at3s immediately, ran the truck to 30k without rotating at all. Before selling i did a rotation, same thing.... tread was even and alignment was still perfect.

Edit: i do not condone anyone doing this, was just pure laziness on my part, however just a input.
Click to expand...
For reference, my Toyo AT3 35x12.50R17 E-load tires currently have 12,000 miles on them and still show 12/32" of tread front and rear (tread is perfectly flat front and rear, I have not and do not plan on rotating unless I see a reason to). Since they started around 17/32", that means I’ve only used about 5/32". At that wear rate, I’m on track for roughly another 19,000 miles if I replace at 4/32", or about 24,000 miles if I run them to the legal minimum of 2/32". In other words, even with no rotations so far, the tires are wearing evenly and still have plenty of life - proving rotation doesn’t create more miles; it just spreads the wear if one end starts wearing faster.
I drive mostly empty, with some short distance heavy towing. Is anyone getting more miles than my projected 31,000 to 36,000 miles? This is supposed to be a 50,000 mile tire, I am OK with ~ 35,000 miles....
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2025-11-06 080410.png
    Screenshot 2025-11-06 080410.png
    2.4 MB · Views: 35
  • Screenshot 2025-11-06 080800.png
    Screenshot 2025-11-06 080800.png
    1.6 MB · Views: 35
johanh13 said:
For reference, my Toyo AT3 35x12.50R17 E-load tires currently have 12,000 miles on them and still show 12/32" of tread front and rear (tread is perfectly flat front and rear, I have not and do not plan on rotating unless I see a reason to). Since they started around 17/32", that means I’ve only used about 5/32". At that wear rate, I’m on track for roughly another 19,000 miles if I replace at 4/32", or about 24,000 miles if I run them to the legal minimum of 2/32". In other words, even with no rotations so far, the tires are wearing evenly and still have plenty of life - proving rotation doesn’t create more miles; it just spreads the wear if one end starts wearing faster.
I drive mostly empty, with some short distance heavy towing. Is anyone getting more miles than my projected 31,000 to 36,000 miles? This is supposed to be a 50,000 mile tire, I am OK with ~ 35,000 miles....
Click to expand...
I gotta get a tread measuring tool. Would like to do this and keep track myself. For me, my truck for the most part only turns on when im hauling my boat, other than that not uncommon it will sit on a battery tender for 5-6 weeks without ever turning on, so curious as to how long the tires will truly last from a milage stand point; only because since my truck sits so much, it feels like i have the same tires for a much longer time than usual. Let alone without rotating them. So curious since i dont drive dry weight and mostly towing 75% of the time how much long they would last
 
I think offering advice of 'don't bother rotating your tires because I've been lucky with the alignment on my trucks' is generally not good advice. Most advice people offer re: maintenance is trying to diminish unforeseen costs; regular alignments and tire rotation are both good ways to maximize your tire life. Can you skip them? Absolutely, and it's more fine if you are the type of person who regularly checks things like tire wear across all 4 tires with a depth gauge. But most people won't do that.

Regular rotations and alignments are never a bad idea. And yes, they won't ADD miles, but it does help to maximize them. And if you do have one bad wear corner, regular alignments and tire rotations would have kept you from needing to replace 3 tires with life left along with the one that doesn't.
 
I did sort of - but Johan was agreeing with you too and I wanted to offer a contrarian opinion in case someone was reading and their take-away from the thread was 'the message boards say tire rotations and alignments on my new 2500 aren't necessary'.
 
Totally fair points - and I agree that for most people, regular rotations and alignments are a safe bet. I’m not saying nobody should rotate tires; I’m just sharing what works for me because I keep a close eye on tread depth and wear patterns. If someone doesn’t check their tires often, then yeah, sticking to a rotation schedule is the better choice. My main point was that rotation doesn’t magically add tread life - it just evens things out when one end or corner wears faster. But you’re right, if someone has a bad wear corner or alignment issue and isn’t paying attention, rotations can save them from killing a tire early. I appreciate the thoughtful responses.
 
johanh13 said:
For reference, my Toyo AT3 35x12.50R17 E-load tires currently have 12,000 miles on them and still show 12/32" of tread front and rear (tread is perfectly flat front and rear, I have not and do not plan on rotating unless I see a reason to). Since they started around 17/32", that means I’ve only used about 5/32". At that wear rate, I’m on track for roughly another 19,000 miles if I replace at 4/32", or about 24,000 miles if I run them to the legal minimum of 2/32". In other words, even with no rotations so far, the tires are wearing evenly and still have plenty of life - proving rotation doesn’t create more miles; it just spreads the wear if one end starts wearing faster.
I drive mostly empty, with some short distance heavy towing. Is anyone getting more miles than my projected 31,000 to 36,000 miles? This is supposed to be a 50,000 mile tire, I am OK with ~ 35,000 miles....
Click to expand...
What wheels are those?
 
johanh13 said:
Totally fair points - and I agree that for most people, regular rotations and alignments are a safe bet. I’m not saying nobody should rotate tires; I’m just sharing what works for me because I keep a close eye on tread depth and wear patterns. If someone doesn’t check their tires often, then yeah, sticking to a rotation schedule is the better choice. My main point was that rotation doesn’t magically add tread life - it just evens things out when one end or corner wears faster. But you’re right, if someone has a bad wear corner or alignment issue and isn’t paying attention, rotations can save them from killing a tire early. I appreciate the thoughtful responses.
Click to expand...
Amen to that! We, (aka the type of people who are likely to post on vehicle-specific message boards haha) are definitely more likely to keep an eye on stuff like that for sure. :)
 
I've ran KO2s, Baja Boss, and currently have Kenda Kevelr on my '21 PW. All 35X12.50R17.
Put the KO2s on at 200 miles.
All have been good tires in rain, mud, snow, dirt.
All wore well except when I had balance and suspension issues.
I've got 100K miles on the truck now. And i'd use any of those tires again.
 
johanh13 said:
Tire rotation doesn’t make tires last longer. It doesn’t add tread - it just evens out the wear. I only rotate when there’s actual uneven wear happening, like the rears wearing quicker than the fronts. If the tires are wearing evenly, rotating them adds no mileage at all. Also, make sure your alignment is good. If you have too much toe-in or out, and wear the edges on the fronts, then yes, rotate them to the rear. I have seen very consistent wear on my Rams, so the need for rotating the tires has been minimal...
Click to expand...
Rotating does not add life, necessarily, but if you replace all 4 at the same time based on the worst single tire…

There’s not much you can do with alignment on the rear of these trucks, and limited amount on the front. Generally, the fronts wear quicker/have more edge wear since they have more weight over them and get scrubbed from low speed turning.
 
I know this forum doesn’t like Goodyears but I do … I run 2 sets. Summer Goodyear Duratrac & winter studded Goodyear WinterCommand … works well for me on & off road , deep mud, snow … I’ll do highways to remote winter roads all year long with my setup … only thing sketchy is I permanently removed my front sway bar cause I go from pavement to off roading in the blink of an eye and need the articulation
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top