This is not about which brand is better, nor about what will or won't fit. I know what size I am looking for. What I don't know is which will be better suited for my use. I am going to be getting 33x12.50R15 tires in the near future. But that is a hefty investment on my stressed income; I don't want to spend $8-900 tires and then wish I'd got something else.

So what I'd like to see is what you guys are running (MT or AT) and the driving habits you have for the tire. Also tell me if you regret not getting the other style tire.

(I don't really care what make or model tire on which Toyota, just praise/rants-pros/cons for mud terrain versus all terrain tires.)

 

$800-900 tires for all 4? i have MT but they are much more than that, my next tire will be the KM2's and the cheapest i have found for them for 4 locally is $1180 for some 285/75/16 what kinda tires were you finding that were that cheap?

 

I had a set of mt's when I bought my truck, they held up to all sorts of hell but when it came to just all around driving I hated them. plus my brother in law is wished he had never put them on.

I got a set of AT's on it now that have MT type tread and they do everything I need. I do some trail riding and a good measure of mud. I do a lot of road running too. The biggest disappointment with the MT's is the lack of snow ability. The mudkings were awesome at one thing, MUD. So as much as you are looking at not getting info on specific tires and brands it really comes into play.

My younger bro-in-law has a set of MT's on his Chev, and they handle wonderful on all terrain. but it's a different brand and size then I ran.

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe....5&diameter=15

Here's where I see $800-900.

 

I have AT's on both my trucks, 33's on one, 31's on the other. Both drive to and from the trails, no trailer queens. Very decent road manners, low noise, good grip. They work good in rocks, sand, and dirt. Not so good in snow and mud. The lugs pack up pretty quick and don't self clean very well. Also loose shale type surface is challenging. I usually air down to 10-12psi, no beadlocks.

I went with AT's because for the cost they are a pretty decent all around tire. Also I drive my trucks and enjoy conversation in the cab and listening to music. Tough to do with howling tires at 60mph.

 

10% of drive time or less offroad on a budget get ATs

:wabbit2:

 

Got mt's for my last two sets, loved them for a while but the fast wear on the highway, rougher ride, and howl are starting to get old, so I would say go with at's

 

AT's is my vote... chains and lockers will get you further when you hit snow anyway. I drove in 4' of packed snow on forest roads with a set of AT's, no chains when I first bought my truck (pretty stupid now that I look back...), bone stock. Tires were sinking in almost a foot and it still kept going in 4lo. (snowmobiles had packed the snow, got some confused stares from some snowmachine guys as I was passing them in a truck! hahaha

About 0.1% of the time I wish I had some aggressive mudders but that's it; AT's will do you right I think day to day on or off road

 

ATs are cheaper and last longer and and there are some pretty aggresive looking ATs out there and Im so glad I work in a tire store, just bought a set of 31x10.5 Mastercraft ATs for $520

 

if your desires point your toward MT, but your brain says get ATs, then why not just go with an aggressive "hybrid-style" AT tire? Today, these get pretty good teadwear and are a nice cross-platform tire. Ones that come to mind are GY Duratrac, Cooper ST MAXX or ST, etc; then you've also got your typical ATs - Nitto Terra Grapplers, or BFG AT, Silent Armors, etc.

yes, tires are cheaper online from places like Tire Rack - but when I priced out tires last, the shops tend to charge more to mount those because you didn't buy them from them. in the end, i think you're going to be spending more like $1k on your tires and not $800.

 

Tough choice, I'm in the same boat.

 

^ I got my 33 KM2's shipped for $800 from discount tire direct. They had a sale going on along with a rebate. I spoke to one of the sellers there and got him to knock an additional $20 off.

Prices have gone up since then though. And now i'm wanting 35's! $80 more would have gotten me them; now i'm kicking myself for not doing it.

MT vs. AT? Go KM2s!! These tires are awesome! I drive 95% pavement everyday and they are practically still brand new; the little rubber hairs have yet to wear off. . Quiet, awesome road manners, great traction, aggressive looks, I'm SOLD!

BAM!!!

 

You should check out wrangler duratracs they seem to be in the middle of the two!

 

^ Yeah, those too are great tires. I saw them in person on a nissan armada and was impressed. Duratracs & KM2s were my top choices. I went KM because my dad said go for them.

 

$860 for duratrac's from walmart in 33x12.5r15

 

I've had a lot of different tires on several different Toyota trucks - BFG Mud Terrains, Cooper Discoverers, Hankook Dynapro MTs, Super Swamper TSL (DEFINITELY NEVER GET THESE!!!), Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs and some other insignificant cheapies. But I recently just got a set of tires that takes the cake for me... Falken WildPeak A/Ts!

Now tire preference ALWAYS depends on driving habits and conditions. My truck with the Falkens on it is a 1983 Pickup that I use as a daily driver. On the weekends, I drive about 200 miles to baseball tournaments, I drive about 8 miles to and from work during the week and I live a moderate climate. The tires are extremely quiet on the road-no tire whining at all. We don't get much snow here, but this winter I got the pleasure of playing in 18 inches of snow with these Falkens and I was incredibly impressed with how they gripped the snow. I don't go off road a whole lot, but I have been know to stray off the road into the new development behind my house for a little fun. The tires don't get caked up with mud and grab loose dirt well. They perform great on the beach and great in the woods and fields where I hunt.

I bought my 31x10.5 R15 Falken WildPeaks for $670 shipped from discounttiresdirect.com

I would recommend them to anybody on the market for new tires that drives similar to the way I do.

Bottom line is, GET WHAT WORKS FOR YOUR DRIVING STYLE! Don't get M/T's if your truck is a daily driver and you're on the road 90% of the time. On the opposite side, don't get A/T's if your truck is a trail king and isn't even street legal. And NEVER get a tire because it looks good on your truck! Function comes first, you will be cussing yourself if you get those hot looking M/T's and then have to deal with the noisy whining tires every day you drive 20 miles to work.

 

yeah it comes down to the preference.
I actually love the howl of loud mud tires with the windows down, but thats just me.

 

He gets a chubby every time he drives on the highway... LOL

 

I don't have mud tires, but my Sport Kings whine a bit and it sounds great! Quiet is boring!

 

I must admit that I do recall the first time I drove with M/T's on the highway... the numbing hum and vibration damn near made me fall asleep at the wheel!! It can be rather relaxing