have both BFG AT's and Nitto's
Nitto's on my 967 f150 and BFG ATs on my 93 4rnr
both good tires BUT the BFG ATs tend to get clogged up in light mud and I wasn't real pleased the Nitos seems to clean out better
that said..
I plan on getting the BFG MT's or some super swampers just for ▓▓▓▓s and grins!

 

Whats with the MT discussion? I thought this was/is an AT thread. So, I would assume the BFG AT's would be discussed against similar tread designs.... In my opinion, those interested in MT's aren't primarily interested in tire wear, noise, or daily driveability.

I've had 4 sets of BFG ATs on 4 different trucks. Never a sidewall issue. Great treadwear and very reasonable roadnoise levels. Wheeled them in mud, rocks, snow, and sand. The only time I ever hydroplaned was with some worn Goodyears, so I can't comment there.

Anyway. I have yet to see anyone post "I got 70k out of my Nittos". I just sold a set of BFG AT's with 65k and 50% tread. Yes, 50%. 8/32" left on 265's. I could have kept them longer, but I lifted and went to 285's. So, how many offroad oriented tires are good for 80k? If BFG's are 15% more costly than a tire that goes 40k miles, how much are you saving at the end of your second set of (less expensive) tires?

AT. All terrain. I have a DD, I need one tire to cover it all. I wheel in rocks, sand, and loose dirt primarily. So far, my tire selection has not limited my ability to go where I want/need to go. In AZ, the AT's seem to love the dry rocks. Can't comment on "weak sidewalls", that hasn't been an issue for me.

I seriously considered Nittos this last time around. But I've had such good luck with BFG's that I couldn't bring myself to go with something else to save $150. Not a lot of money in the big picture.

 

Not everyone gets 70k out of a set of BFGs ATs and I've read about problems with balancing and being out of round more than other tires from what I've read on this board.

Nittos have such better dry and wet/snowy on-road manners I rather have a set of them that goes for 45k than a set of sub performing BFGs for 70k.
My truck is a DD and I only put about 11k a year on my tires so if my Nittos go for 4 years or so that works for me.
The Nitto's tread compound also didn't seem to get as hard as the BFGs did when the temps were near zero.

I've yet to have any issues with my Nittos on or off road in two years and I'll never go back to BFGs;I spend 90% of my time on-road so I need a tire that going to be safer on a day to day basis.
Nittos have been out for a while now and I've yet to read anything that is showing a big discrepancy vs a set of BFGs.

BFGs are the popular choice and have been for over 15 years and alot of people buy them based on popularity considering how many Tahoes and Expeditions I see that will barely see gravel sporting them.

BFGs are great ATs off road (probably a bit more durable than Nittos) but on-road they are quite mediocre when put up against some of the competition.
If you off road nearly every weekend and don't see too much wet weather (like in AZ) the BFGs probably have the edge in what you need but in Colorado the last couple of set of BFGs I've driven on were so-so in the slushy,cold stuff.

 

I've had 4 sets on 3 different vehicles all ended up being sold early, due to out of round or could not balance. There was always one tire in the set that would do that. I rotated every 5000 miles and still ran into the issue. My 34" Interco SSR's rode smoother than when a BFG AT was out of round or could not be balanced. I went with Nitto Terra grapplers and will NEVER put another BFG AT on my truck. The MT's are good but we are talking about AT's.

Aaron

 

Interesting observations. I haven't had any tire based balance issues... now shops with balancing issues are a different story.

I'm equally surprised with the comments about on-road manners with BFG's. You guys must have had some crappy experiences, but I really couldn't ask for better on-road performance for an AT in my experience. And this is coming from an ex-east coaster, winters and summers in Ohio and DC, and now been in the desert for a year. I was just thinking, I've probably put over 240k miles on 5 separate sets of BFG ATs on 4 different 4x4's. Guess I've been lucky.

 

Have you tried anything else other than BFGs?

I ran on a couple sets in the '90s and figured Nittos would be worthwhile experience due to some early buyers opinions (Bamachem was one of them) and the price was $200 cheaper out the door.
Compared to the BFGs the Nittos easily have the wet weather control and in the snow the Nittos keep the rear in line better.
Look at teh BFG's tread pattern vs the Nittos. The Nittos have two distinct water evacuation channels where the BFG doesn't really have any,it's all interlocking tread and a design that been pretty much unchanged since the early '90s.

I think if you drove just one winter on the Nittos you'd be easily impressed if you think BFGs are good.

I know Nittos have only been around for about 4-5 years but I don't read too many negative comments on them the way I see with BFGs.

 

Although X-AWDriver addressed the subject fairly, logically and from years of actual experience, I'd like to add one more observation.

My experience is limited to one set each of Nitto Terra Grapplers and BFG A/T's on identical FJ Cruisers except for color. During braking tests on the same roads in all weather conditions, ABS engages during moderate braking with the BFG's where the Nittos never engaged it except during heavy simulated panic braking.

I'm very disappointed in the BFG's. I know they have the rep, but it seems like a David and Goliath story from my limited experience. I'd gladly give up 20K miles of treadwear for the extra NTG grip.

 

Exactly plus I saved $200. The other reason i like Nittos is the fact that everybody and their mom doesn't have them.

One thing to note is if you want high mileage tires then neither the Nittos or the BFGs is a good choice. Now if you want decent mileage on road manners and decent off road capabilities then both are solid choices but the Nittos are easier and a safer tire to live with on a daily basis.

Right now I've been on my TGs for 21 months and 21k miles and yes they do show a bit of wear on the edges but I don't brake for corners as much as I should.
The Nittos rarely squeal when turning hard compared to the BFGs which squealed at the first hint of traction loss.

I fully expect to see another 25k before I will need to replace them.
They see alot of snow and are a decent tire and have good turn in manners on ice and have good factory siping.

Here's a shot with about 6 miles on 'em



Here's a couple from less than a month ago





This is a shot from 5 minutes ago....





I'm hard on these tires and they see the trails (intermediate) about 10-12 trips a year and I don't mind sacrificing a bit of mileage for better performance for it's entire albeit shorter life.

BFGs seem to get hard at around 40k thus they seem to last longer but at the cost of grip in the dry and the wet.

 

Yep I love mine!



Aaron

 

i have had BF- AT's before and wasnt all that please with them other than they last a long time. BUT they arent that great in RED mud which most of you know clings on and is hard to come off and they are very hard tires with slack wet road grip
- ill be going with

terra grapplers or kumho AT (KL-78's) i have heard great things about the kumho's esp the price. you can find them cheaper than grapplers thought the jumhos in my size 265/75/r16's only come in 4 or 6 ply. i can get 4 of that size in a 6 ply put on my truck for 508$... not too bad

 

I would highly Recommend the Firestone Destination M/T's . That tire is just simply amazing, there is nothing that it couldnt handle and on road performance is brilliant, plus they come pinned for #17 studs for winter time. That was the best choice I ever made, staying clear from the mainstay of BFG's

 

because when you go into thick mud they ball up in a few turns and leaves and everything stick to them. That's my two cents. But in the snow, they are great and for moderate creeks they do fine. For anything other than soupy mud, go more agressive, like dunlop mud rovers.

 

if ntg's came in 33x10.5x15 id prolly think about em...but there more expensive than bfg at's or am i looking at the wrong tires?

tires are expensive for a studetn with a parttime job...

 

Check the load rating. When I first looked up Nittos I got the E load rating and it was a bit more pricey.

 

Search Trail Mark or Dunlop Mud Rovers. May not be popular, but they are great in mud and are very cheap. When i swapped my BFG all terrains for the mud rovers, i almost never use 4 hi anymore. With the BFG all terrains, i was always in 4 hi

 

And there was only fifty percent tread on the rovers. They still do better. Gas Mileage is the same if not better than the BFG all terrains.

 

Out of curiosity, what is the sidewall rating on the Nittos?

I guess it just comes down to personal preference.

I like the MT/R's a lot, but the lack of sizes in my range is tough.

I drive like a grandma so onroad performance is moot for me, only thing i care about is offroad. I like the tread and sidewall on the BFG's, and though there are better offroad tires out there, i've yet to be held up by a tire tread on the trail.

 

Then you might consider a Walmart tire. I had the Wild Country RVT's onmy last truck and they were ok and cheap.

Aaron

 

Edit: Deleted cross-post.

 

what?