Kumho KL71's still cut the mustard?

[Hereward]

I need a set of 265/70/17 MT's for my Touareg.

I know the Kumho's were well regarded when they came out, but are they still worthy? Any suitable alternatives worth considering? Thanks.

[Sarge 4x4]

BFGoodrich KM2 also work well, better sidewall than KL71 but more money.

[100SRV]

No problems with the ones on my 100" Bowler, I've covered about 30,000 miles and found them excellent in all conditions whether working hard on green lanes or making progress on twisty tarmac. They are about half worn.

100SRV

[geeks]

I know plenty of people who use nothing but KL71's and love them, still a very highly rated tyre for most people!

[100SRV]

A big part of tyre selection is down to looks and user opinion. After getting the dampers revalved on my Bowler I was told to be careful because the car would be more capable (certainly much faster around corners) and the tyres might not be up to the job. The suspension chap was 100" correct - I was using some Greenway Chacos - great green laning tyres but not brilliant on tarmac. What to replace them with?

Fashion for "off roaders" seemed to be that if it hasn't got BF Goodrich on the sidewall then it wasn't worth having...their tyres, whilst good are also expensive. You may get what you pay for but there are differing degrees of excellence - mud, wet tarmac, gravel, snow and ice, rocks etc.

Around about that time LRW magazine had run a test of ten mud terrain tyres so I dug out the magazine and re-read the test article; Kumho KL71 came joint 1st with BFG mud terrain and were also cheaper - decision made.

A green-laning friend swears by Cooper tyres, IIRC they finished about seventh in that test article but review well in an Australian 4x4 journal.

As I said before I consider my money well-spent on the Kumhos, I've never tried BFG or coopers but you can get stuck/into trouble with any tyre brand if you aren't using it and the vehicle correctly!

[Hereward]

Cheers, all. Sarge is fitting a set of KL71's for me this Saturday so I'll upload a pic.

[Sarge 4x4]

KL71 is on par with BFG without a shadow of a doubt.

A little different here with the tyre tests I get involved with, if you tell porky's you loose respect.

[Hereward]

Good service from Sarge and the tyres have already been put to use.

Here's a pic from just before I headed out into the woods:

[Sarge 4x4]

Nice meeting you this morning and many thanks for using us for your tyres.

Does look a monster on the 265/70x17 KL71's.