Seems any time there is a tire thread, these two tires get the most recommendations, with fans on both sides. I posted most of this on the TTMB board, buried on page three of another tire thread, and thought I would post it over here to make it easier to find for anyone that is looking at these two tires.
On my '10 F150, I have 2 BFG KO and 2 Nitto Terra Grapplers. Truck is a super-crew, short bed, 4x4, stock ride height.
The TG were put on my truck @ 55k miles, the BFG KO's @60k. As of this morning, I have 108k on the truck. I rotate the tires every 15k-20k. BFG are quieter, roll smoother at low speed, and don't seem to cup as easy. TG's have worn better overall - have more tread left. At low speed, when they are on the front, I could feel the lugs bumpbumpbump on the pavement. Above 10mph, I don't really notice it, and I don't notice it when they are on the back. When they are on the front, I can hear them at speed, but they are not loud, just noticeable.
Off road - I only do beach / bay trails, not tough stuff, and I avoid places that look like stuck, - no tough stuff. Both do good, the truck feels solid and in control over hard and soft sand, light mud, and turf. I have not noticed any difference between them front vs rear i.e. this one better at steering, that one better at powering. I was satisfied with both, in the light off roading I do. They are much better than the stock OEM Pirrille "AT" Scorpions - which felt like they were skating any time I left the pavement.
Gas mileage - went down about .5 mpg with the first two Nittos, and another .5 with the two BFG KO's.
Size is 285/55r20, up a hair over the stock 275/55r20. Looking at the truck, the BFG's looked bigger. When I put a tape on them, though, the NTG measured out about a 1/4" bigger - go figure. Also, the Nitto is wider. 285mm = about 11.22 inches. The BFG measured out right at 11 and a quarter. the Nitto was also right at 11.25", across a single row of tread blocks, but each row of tread blocks is offset 1/2" from the next - one in, one out. So across one row of blocks, the tire is the true 11.25", but if you measure across two rows at the wide points, you get about 11.75". I don't know if this "extra" half inch will add anything to rolling resistance, or off-road performance, but it seems worth noting.
BFG's are about to be replaced, one tire as a cut and a nail, so has to be replaced, and with almost 50k on them, and about a 1/4" of tread left, I don't want to only replace one. That cut - I found a razor blade stuck in my tire when it was almost new. It was an old utility blade, stuck mostly point in, back 1/3 of the blade ground off by the road. Buried about 3/4" at the point, with about a 1.5" long cut in the lug. I pulled the blade, cut off the leading edge of the lug it was in, and drove it for another 45k miles. Now it is leaking a bit - plus the cut is starting to open up, plus a nail, well, it is time to go.
After this "experiment", if I had to chose between the two, I would be tempted to buy the Nittos based on price. If the extra money for the BFG's is no issue, they do run a bit quieter on the road. Neither would be a bad choice, IMHO.
Jerry
:texasflag
