Need help deciding on tires
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 191
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From: Texas
MTR w/Kevlar are not directional. They are asymmetrical (link to tires on GY's website http://www.goodyeartires.com/tire/wrangler-mtr-kevlar/). Both tires are good. As it was mentioned, the KM2s run small and the MTRs tend to run more true to size. The MTRs are slightly heavier than the KM2s but that may be partially due to the smaller diameter of the same "sized" tire.
I have had the opposite experience as the poster above noted about KM2's walking up areas that Kevlars did not. Around here (and Moab type conditions), the MTRs outperform the KM2s. If it's not the same Jeep with the same driver, there are really two many variables to take into account. Your primary wheeling area is something to take into consideration. Perhaps one is a better fit for the type of wheeling you do.
I can tell you that the MTR w/Kevlar on conditions like Moab, Texas granite, Colorado rocks, etc...works very well. I have no personal experience with the KM2s but I do have one wheeling friend that runs them on his JKU. He's happy with them. I have not heard one negative thing about the MTRs. I've spoken to other people that have run both tires and the general consensus is that the MTR w/Kevlar conforms better to the rocks and had higher grip in the areas I mentioned above. Furthermore, regarding tread life, any tire like this isn't going to be a long wearing highway tire and I would imagine that both would get about the same treadlife. In the end, I think you'll find that both tires are very good in all conditions.
Lastly - I have done brief 100+mph runs with my Hemi JKU on 37 MTR K's. I have also driven several thousand highway miles with the MTR Ks and I can't say that I've had accelerated wear or weird wear patterns. I've wheeled them in many conditions and I think they're a great tire. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
I have had the opposite experience as the poster above noted about KM2's walking up areas that Kevlars did not. Around here (and Moab type conditions), the MTRs outperform the KM2s. If it's not the same Jeep with the same driver, there are really two many variables to take into account. Your primary wheeling area is something to take into consideration. Perhaps one is a better fit for the type of wheeling you do.
I can tell you that the MTR w/Kevlar on conditions like Moab, Texas granite, Colorado rocks, etc...works very well. I have no personal experience with the KM2s but I do have one wheeling friend that runs them on his JKU. He's happy with them. I have not heard one negative thing about the MTRs. I've spoken to other people that have run both tires and the general consensus is that the MTR w/Kevlar conforms better to the rocks and had higher grip in the areas I mentioned above. Furthermore, regarding tread life, any tire like this isn't going to be a long wearing highway tire and I would imagine that both would get about the same treadlife. In the end, I think you'll find that both tires are very good in all conditions.
Lastly - I have done brief 100+mph runs with my Hemi JKU on 37 MTR K's. I have also driven several thousand highway miles with the MTR Ks and I can't say that I've had accelerated wear or weird wear patterns. I've wheeled them in many conditions and I think they're a great tire. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
Last edited by thebigtman; Jun 10, 2011 at 05:04 AM. Reason: added link
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 464
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From: north dakota