@@RyanRKJ while that is also stupid I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s less dumb. You’ll spend more money on the ZR2 Bison package over a regular Z71 than you will on a lifetime of tires.
I'd prefer the Colorado for off roading and daily driving. The Silverado, like all full size trucks, has gotten pretty massive over the years. That's not great for hitting narrow trails or shelf roads (as seen on your all's latest No Payment Needed episode). Big trucks have their place, but for off roading, they're not the best.
Full size seems good if you drive with family/friends all the time, and don't live in tight urban areas. I drive alone 90% of the time and commute daily in the city and the Colorado is great for it.
I own a full size Silverado and a brand new Tacoma , I prefer driving the midsize better, it just feels better! I’m selling the Tacoma and buying the new GMC Canyon AT4 I like the 310 hp over 400 pounds of torque better!
He's an amazing idiot. Especially for going to TFL. My guess is that he really doesn't go off roading hardly ever ( poser) and then he either couldn't afford some decent off road tires OR he worries about MPG. My guess is he's a off road poser like the guys that buy Raptor as a pavement princess.
Agreed and he isnt wrong though about the wrangler duratracs they are good tire but they should not advertise them as a 50,000 mile tire at about 30,000 mine were basically cooked
They're actually Michelin Defender LTX. Putting more road-biased tires on for the day-to-day makes sense. I hope he kept the Duratracs for when he does go off-roading, though.
Blasphemy! Street tires and side steps on the Bison?! Should have kept asking around for a different test rig. If I was still in Colorado I would have brought you mine.
It really depends on what you need/ want. I currently own a 2021 Colorado ZR2, absolutely love it. Came from a 2500HD, big change for sure. Fuel mpgs are better with the midsized truck for sure. On the trails the Colorado will always do better due to its size… it really comes down to what you need and like. For me the Colorado for the win.
I almost got a Silverado 2500 instead of my Wrangler but I chose not to because I figured dailying a massive truck would get tiring after a while. I got a buddy who has a crew cab F350 and he has trouble finding parking spots that will fit that thing.
Its amazing how just a set of tires can change the appearance of a truck. Those tires look ugly on that truck but with gas prices I can understand not putting something as aggressive on.
@@GeorgeSawtooth gas prices affect everyone regardless. Yes you should understand that it won’t be Prius like but that doesn’t mean you can’t try to minimize the hit. I enjoy my Tacoma and still do what I can to minimize the fuel economy hit with in reason to what I want the truck to do.
Keep the Goodyear duratracs or go BF Goodrich KO2's (pricey) would be what I'd keep/put on it?! Heard the Cooper tire line was good? I have Duratracs on my Silverado and no complaints really. Have served me well so far (roughly 30K miiles).
Just FYI the off road mode in the Colorado zr2 also changes throttle response. It’s for high speed off-roading if you’re crawling around you may not feel it. Speaking as an owner, it’s a VERY noticeable difference when used properly.
Second this. Off road mode is very noticeable and honestly all you need. If you can't notice a difference, you're not driving the way the truck is built for.
It also allows you to use the rear locker up to 100mph instead of the regular 30mph when not using offroad mode. No idea why you would want to do that, but it can do that
I'm always surprised how poor the Colorado V6 fuel economy is. I have a '19 ZR2 with the diesel, and admittedly I don't drive past 65-70, but I consistently get 27-29mpg. Although diesel these days is thru the roof so it remains to be seen if it makes much difference. At least I get about 600 miles to a tank.
Good review. However, maybe next time Andre should increase the vehicle's capability sequentially. We know when all lockers engaged, all vehicles are very capable. It would be more interesting to engage one of the lockers only till the vehicle reaches the limit after which the 2nd set of lockers are engaged and the vehicle pulls through whatever obstacle set.
I have been watching TFL for years and this was terrible. "Pick a winner" you didn't even do that. The "off road" Test was a joke and the Colorado had street tires 😳. The obstacles would be perfect if you were testing Subaru's. Total let down on what the potential of this video could have been.
Totally agree. This “off road” course is a joke. You’ve heard the saying “my Honda Civic could do that.” But literally most awd sedans could do most of if not the entire course. You got chevy’s 2 most capable trucks they offer from factory so why not actually test the capability past a few hill climbs and dirt roads and rolling over some tiny logs. It’s similar to a course that manufacturers make to make their trucks look good and know for certain their trucks won’t get stuck or actually tested.
That guy destroyed 2 of the good parts of a ZR2. The tires and ground clearance. Pointless having this truck on TFL. These new off road videos are weak, bring back cliffhanger 2.0 and compare 4-5 trucks at once.
Nice work Andre. I wish I lived in Colorado with my Colorado ZR2 for more trail time. But I have 2 things to point out. Off-Road mode in the Colorado plays with the shifting and with the throttle response. The other thing it does is very important, if you're locked it will disengage the locker over 25mph but in Off-Road it will not disengage. Second, the rear locker CAN be engaged in 2WD. There is an optional front camera (I have it) it is a little finicky in that an long time over 8mph the camera shuts off. I don't know how long but if you stay slow it stays on. Also you have to turn the vehicle off for a few minutes to get the camera back on. If you're consistently crawling not a big deal but many trails have faster bits. My '18 ZR2 non-bison is leveled using the chevy performance kit with higher angle upper control arms. I have 33" Duratracs with the AEV kit for cutting back space to fit 33s. Bison skid plates from the transmission, transfer case, fuel tank, and rear diff. I have the better front approach angle and most of the bison protection. I also wonder why no one has a receiver skid plate to keep from draggin the bumper horribly.
I will respectfully 100% disagree with what he said about the Duratrac tires. I got 44000 hard miles out of my originals and they still had plenty of meat on them. However, after about 25000 miles they do lose some road handling ability, especially in the wet weather
I got duratracs on my 21 Trail boss with 20k miles. I've found them to be pretty quiets and don't show a lot of wear yet. Got a Zr2 Silverado on order!
I had a set of 255/75r17s on a ‘15 Tacoma for over 50,000 miles with off road hunting, towing, etc. included. I suppose they got a little loud but no worse than any other mud terrain, which they practically are, performance wise. Except they are much much better in snow and ice. I’ll take that. I have some on an F150 now that is used heavily off road and for towing and they do seem to be wearing more quickly.
I love my 18 ZR2 but the biggest issues I have is you can't see anything over the hood and even as a mid-size it is wide enough to get tons of pinstriping when out on the trail. The Silverado makes both of those things worse for twice the cost.
They don't in the North American market because of CAFE regulations. The larger the wheelbase for the light trucks the less fuel efficiency is required. This is why all pickup trucks and SUV's (which are classified as light trucks by EPA) are getting wider and longer.
I still have my '95 regular cab short bed ZR2. It's weight and size are ideal for offroading. I average 17-18 mpg driving around town and can get 22 mpg on the highway. It came stock with 31" tall BFG KM all terrains, limited slip rear end, bilstien shocks, and several stout aluminum skid plates. Even the gas tank has a steel skid plate. You barely notice the hood while driving due to its aggressive downward slope. It has followed my '12 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon through some pretty tough trails. I've considered buying a new Chevy ZR2 but the new ones, even the Colorado, are too big for where I go offroad. I'd probably have a new one if they offered a regular cab short bed configuration.
I'd go with the Colorado ZR2 as well. The Silverado is way too big for most off-roading. I own a '21 Ram 1500 Crew 4x4 with 35s on it. It does great in the desert, but is too big in the mountains. I may consider a Colorado ZR2 in 6 months or so.
I loved my Colorado ZR2... Such a nice commuter and very capable off road! Comfortable, reliable as hell, and just such a great truck! I liked the Diesel I had on mine. Got wrecked though due to a teenager running a red light. Everyone was fine (with minor scrapes) but I was sad to see that truck go.
Those Michelin LTX Tires are awesome, I bought those for my Taco and got out of every sticky and stupid situation I got in. Didn't the quiet ride and 25mpg return as well!
Might use his truck for mostly commuting but for a lot of people It’s better to have and not need then to need and not have, plus they live in Colorado where it snows!?
Yeah, I stopped watching it 1 minute in when I saw those. There's no way to compare an off road truck with with Michelin street tires on it. Normally love TFL, but this shouldn't have been done. Any true obstacles these trucks may face (again I stopped watching so I don't know) the Colorado is so hamstrung, it isn't a fair comparison from the start. To bad, was really looking forward to this. Thanks TFL for trying and I understand you use what you can get. But there really should be some in minimal criteria. Especially with a video that COULD HAVE BEEN SO EPIC!!! 👎👎👎
@@ericfromflorida5146 although I don’t like the look of the street Michelin’s, In all the dry terrain they were tested in this video they did as good or better than the GY territory tires.
@@northerntoyota7584 If it was all dry, then how much did they really push either truck to compare thier abilities? Would love to see this type of comparison on the Canadian guys (truck king I thing). I'll just never understand buying a 4x4 and putting street tires on it. But those that do, I don't judge either. But to do a comparison that didn't even challenge the street tires?!?!? 🤦
Off-road mode is the fun mode! 1. Turn on off-road mode. 2. Turn off StabiliTrak 3. Lock rear diff. 4 mash that long skinny pedal and rip some sh!t up!!! Yeehaw!!! 🤟🤟
"We're stuck" As the truck continues on w/out a tow. In these videos the owner should drive their own rig. And how about that, "street tires" can conquer the same terrain as the aggressive tires. 😉
Ya steps on these trucks are pointless cause the seat to lower body distance is to close. When I owned my zr2 and the Duratracs got worn the rear end got super lose. I can only imagine how that one drives with street tires.
I enjoyed this review. Both are extremely capable trucks. It'll be interesting to see a ZR2 in the next generation Colorado as I'm not a fan of the current interior. The Silverado could definitely benefit from a few more skids plates, I'm shocked the gas tank doesn't have one.
You know what? I miss my 2011 ram 2500 diesel with everything deleted five in exhaust and chipped Same fuel mileage twice as powerful. Just felt so good.
The only other things I wish the 2020 Colorado ZR2 that I bought would have come with....are a decent 360 Trail Cam system, LED lights, and a less depressing interior than the SOLID BLACK HOLE....How Chevy could not of just spent a couple of hundred more at the most to include these features is beyond me. That being said, I didn't want a 4 door station wagon for the trails and the Tacoma TRD PRO only came in a 4 door cab. No real regrets on my purchase. Noticed the guy took off the rock sliders too and lost a little ground clearance with those side steps....I get decent wear out of my DuraTracs and LOVE THEM for their all weather capabilities, they are someof the BEST! Mud, Snow, Rain....The DuraTracs always give me great response and traction, They average 40-50K miles for me on my rigs.
I've heard a lot of bad things about the Colorado, engine issues, transmission issues is any of this true? I really like the Colorado and I'm tempted to get a ZR2 but I don't want a lemon.
Go with the diesel, they will be discontinuing it soon. ( I heard) The Duramax gets insanely good mpg has plenty of torque and power, on top of an exhaust brake for towing. Solid truck wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Avoid the V6 that comes with the 8spd transmission. On going class action lawsuit over that transmission. If you have to have a Colorado, like the others here said, get the diesel as it comes with the 6spd transmission that isn’t plagued with issues.
Both trucks are amazing... I saw a Colorado ZR2 on the road and I could not stop to look at it. When they update the interior I will consider to get one. (and when this crazy market settle down too)...
Doesn’t make sense why you go all the way up to a hardcore bison zr2 and then throw on street tires. It’s just funny seeing a rig with sliders all around the bumper and a winch and skidplates and nice shocks and then you see tiny little street tires….he did say his truck is mainly a commuter and you do get slightly better mpg but it’s not a big difference compared to a good aggressive AT tire like a Falken wildpeak or ko2 which are super capable in all conditions yet still very good on road. Those Michelins have zero off road profile. But hey it’s his money his truck, if he wants to spend all that money on a bison for a commuter then not tryna hate. Zr2’s aren’t my favorite but they are def capable and awesome that they come with front and rear lockers. This off road test was absolutely pointless tho, they should’ve took it to their harder course or hit the real trails in the mountains like they used to do.
If I lived closer to deserts, I'd probably pick the silverado. But I live closer to mountains, so the smaller and more maneuverable colorado just makes more sense. I love my ZR2. I've gone everywhere my jeep and toyota buddies have gone. Very few of those places could a full size follow. The city driving us a clear win for the colorado. Parking lots and garages are no contest at all. Towing, cabin size and acceleration are about the only clear wins for the silverado.
Deserts doesn't mean endless wide open spaces. Narrow canyons, narrow shelf roads with tight switchbacks, and (yes) vegetation. I've taken my Colorado ZR2 to places in the California desert I wouldn't want to attempt with a full size.
I have cooper stt pros on my Silverado and they are at around 25,000 miles and look like they did when I got them. Really good tires, will be trying the cooper rugged trek next
Have the st Maxx on my Superduty. 47k and just starting to show some un even wear. Probably get another 10k out of them. Even with towing they have held up great
I have Duratracs on my Silverado, no complaints so far, they have been quite good as far as my experience/needs. That said, I've heard really good things about the Cooper line. Might give those a shot next time, in my opinion, the BFG KO2's are just too expensive for what your get?! Looking for a good AT tire, not a dedicated mud/snow tire. Cheers...
@@irishkelly654 what would u say ur mpgs are with those A/T tires? I get 13 mpg highway with the M/T's and am curious if it would make a difference. I might add that I have the range on my truck so its always V8. Still please tell me on ur experience.
@@VIVACRISTOREY- Hey...not really sure, I don't really pay that much attention, to tell you the truth?! The factory tires gave me great milage but were obviously just street tires. I could go roughly 600 kilometers and use about 62-63 liters of gas on the highway (5.3 liter engine, 6spd auto with 3:42 diff), 26ish MPG - I'm in Canada, as I'm sure you know, our "gallons" are roughly (I believe) a fifth or so larger than US gallons. I just checked - there is 1.2 US gallons to one Canadian, so 6 US gallons would be 5 Canadian Gallons. Anyway, once I put these tires on, I knew my milage would drop, so didn't really pay attention, silly I know, I should do an actual comparison, just for interests' sake. The factory tires were 265/65R18's, the Duratracs are 275/65R18's, not much bigger. They are definitely noisier, for sure. I want to get one of those Range devices, hate that 4V crap. A lot of the time (city driving or short highway trips) I keep it in 5th so it won't go to 4V mode. In Canada we don't go by MPG, being metric, we go by how many liters used per 100 kilometers. One kilometer is equal to roughly .6 miles. I just checked my window sticker (from when I bought the truck), it says 14.4 liters per 100 kilometers or 20 MPG city and 9.5 liters per 100 kilometers or 30 MPG highway. Of course, that is under optimal conditions, you know all downhill with a tail wind, LOL. Anyway, sorry for the novel, all the best, cheers...
I just put 285 70 17s on my colorado zr2. Now it looks like it is supposed to. The new one should come with that size standard or at least make the wheel wells to fit them with no trim.
The size is the biggest off-road advantage of the Colorado over a full-size pickup. The front locker on the Colorado ZR2 is a plus. That is pretty much the end of the good news. The 3.6 gas engine and the 8-speed automatic transmission in the Colorado are junk--two of the worst things GM has built for trucks in the last few years. The diesel and the 6-speed automatic is better, a long way from perfect but better, but the cost of the diesel option and, now, the cost of diesel fuel vs. gasoline pretty much makes the diesel cost-ineffective (and I say that even though I'm a diesel lover). For an off-road "premium" 4WD, the Colorado has mediocre ground clearance, and the interior of the truck is cheap and dated. The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor will eat the current generation Colorado ZR2 for lunch--even the Ranger Tremor will challenge it if one adds an aftermarket locking or limited slip front differential. And, for me, none of these new 4WD's are worth what they cost in today's market.
@@madcratebuilder Save the snarky remark. Three different fleet mechanics that I know who work on plenty of GM vehicles say the 3.6 is one of the worst engines that GM has ever built. Same with the 8-speed. These guys are not GM haters, either. All 3 own GM trucks and one is a former Chevy/GMC mechanic. They collectively maintain hundreds of vehicles, including plenty of 3.6 and 8-speed equipped models. How about you?
@@rockymountainjazzfan1822 The 1st gen high feature engines had timing chain issues, well known fact. The 2nd and now 3rd Gen high feature V6 is one of the best engines GM has made. Speaking with 20+ years as a GM tech/ service manager.
Dude put on street tires and took off rock sliders and put on running boards on a Bison😂😂tell me your truck is a street princess without actually telling me
Guys are sleeping on those Michelin Defenders, they are actually great off road. Only surface they somewhat struggle with is mud and that's even a stretch. They wear great and have an amazing ride
I do not like the look of those Michelins on the Colorado ZR2, ya they are good for street driving but they take away from the cool off-road rig look/performance. I’ve found that happy balance in my Falken Wildpeak AT3W’s. I have 33/12.5 on my Ram and 37/12.5 on my Jeep. Both sets have been awesome on and off-road, wear life seems decent but only have about 15k miles on them so we’ll see. As of now though for a 70/30 split commuter/off-road use rig they are my pick.
When are you guys going to figure out the Bison is just a over weight ZR2 with less approach angle. The Silverado ZR2 would be a good desert truck, not so much on tight trails.
I don't get the tire choice for this kinda truck. It's insane and looks crazy awkward. Would you buy a corvette and put Michelin Primacy Eco tires on it? 🤣 if you're so worried don't buy a truck like that , buy a Jeep Compass Trailhawk or something. Lol 😆
Who comes up with all the background music on these videos?? Did they buy a Korean CD of the MOST GENERIC music they could find, without having to pay royalties?? I'm sure you don't have your own music composer...
25K more for a Silverado. Not worth it over the Colorado. Especially with gas prices these days. My 6.0 Vortec in my 2013 GMC 2500HD guzzles. I can imagine the 6.2 isn't much better hahaha.
Homeboy buys ZR2 Bison and proceeds to put a street tire on it. 🤦🏼♂️
That's less dumb IMO than homeboy who commutes on mud tires 50mi /day and drives in the mud 10 mi /year.
@@RyanRKJ while that is also stupid I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s less dumb. You’ll spend more money on the ZR2 Bison package over a regular Z71 than you will on a lifetime of tires.
Dude has a bison with a winch on it. Why get that truck and use street tires, I'm thinking this video is the only offroading that truck had ever done.
@@RyanRKJ then buy a regular Colorado 4x4 and put a $500 lift on it.
@@xXJBrutalXx the ZR2 suspension rides much nicer, even on the road.
I'd prefer the Colorado for off roading and daily driving. The Silverado, like all full size trucks, has gotten pretty massive over the years. That's not great for hitting narrow trails or shelf roads (as seen on your all's latest No Payment Needed episode). Big trucks have their place, but for off roading, they're not the best.
1
No one cares about your opinion
Full size seems good if you drive with family/friends all the time, and don't live in tight urban areas. I drive alone 90% of the time and commute daily in the city and the Colorado is great for it.
I own a full size Silverado and a brand new Tacoma , I prefer driving the midsize better, it just feels better! I’m selling the Tacoma and buying the new GMC Canyon AT4 I like the 310 hp over 400 pounds of torque better!
Why would you put such non agressive tires on a ZR2? At least you could put on the good year trail runners instead of just SRAs.
He's an amazing idiot. Especially for going to TFL.
My guess is that he really doesn't go off roading hardly ever ( poser) and then he either couldn't afford some decent off road tires OR he worries about MPG.
My guess is he's a off road poser like the guys that buy Raptor as a pavement princess.
Agreed and he isnt wrong though about the wrangler duratracs they are good tire but they should not advertise them as a 50,000 mile tire at about 30,000 mine were basically cooked
Agreed... At least go with something like a pirelli scorpion all terrain which is a highway/ fuel efficiency biased all terrain
Cooper AT3 XLT's would've been a perfect tire for what he wants.
They're actually Michelin Defender LTX. Putting more road-biased tires on for the day-to-day makes sense. I hope he kept the Duratracs for when he does go off-roading, though.
Blasphemy! Street tires and side steps on the Bison?! Should have kept asking around for a different test rig. If I was still in Colorado I would have brought you mine.
No kidding!
It really depends on what you need/ want. I currently own a 2021 Colorado ZR2, absolutely love it. Came from a 2500HD, big change for sure. Fuel mpgs are better with the midsized truck for sure. On the trails the Colorado will always do better due to its size… it really comes down to what you need and like. For me the Colorado for the win.
I almost got a Silverado 2500 instead of my Wrangler but I chose not to because I figured dailying a massive truck would get tiring after a while. I got a buddy who has a crew cab F350 and he has trouble finding parking spots that will fit that thing.
Fancy suspension with tires that look like they belong on a Prius....nice!
Its amazing how just a set of tires can change the appearance of a truck. Those tires look ugly on that truck but with gas prices I can understand not putting something as aggressive on.
Yeah I thought the same, but it’s certainly understandable.
If you buy a truck like that gas prices shouldn't affect you and no one with balls would buy a set of tires like that for a truck like that.
He should have went with a 265/70/17 at least. A true 32” tire vs a 30.5. Would help off road a lot.
@@GeorgeSawtooth gas prices affect everyone regardless. Yes you should understand that it won’t be Prius like but that doesn’t mean you can’t try to minimize the hit. I enjoy my Tacoma and still do what I can to minimize the fuel economy hit with in reason to what I want the truck to do.
Keep the Goodyear duratracs or go BF Goodrich KO2's (pricey) would be what I'd keep/put on it?! Heard the Cooper tire line was good? I have Duratracs on my Silverado and no complaints really. Have served me well so far (roughly 30K miiles).
Just FYI the off road mode in the Colorado zr2 also changes throttle response. It’s for high speed off-roading if you’re crawling around you may not feel it. Speaking as an owner, it’s a VERY noticeable difference when used properly.
Second this. Off road mode is very noticeable and honestly all you need. If you can't notice a difference, you're not driving the way the truck is built for.
It also allows you to use the rear locker up to 100mph instead of the regular 30mph when not using offroad mode. No idea why you would want to do that, but it can do that
Both are great trucks. Andre has become in my opinion your top automtive journalist. Keep up the awesome work Andre.
I'm always surprised how poor the Colorado V6 fuel economy is. I have a '19 ZR2 with the diesel, and admittedly I don't drive past 65-70, but I consistently get 27-29mpg. Although diesel these days is thru the roof so it remains to be seen if it makes much difference. At least I get about 600 miles to a tank.
Good review. However, maybe next time Andre should increase the vehicle's capability sequentially. We know when all lockers engaged, all vehicles are very capable. It would be more interesting to engage one of the lockers only till the vehicle reaches the limit after which the 2nd set of lockers are engaged and the vehicle pulls through whatever obstacle set.
We all know that. Sometimes they do it. I guess it depends on how much time they have to make the video.
I agree, this trail did not put the trucks to the test at all. The Colorado had street tires which makes no sense for an off-road truck with a winch.
11:30 André trying the one pedal mode: "See, I am not pushing the break...", while showing us free hands in the air. LOL.
Just some advice, they make safety caps for rebar to prevent them from injuring people. Someone tripping could be seriously hurt by the rebar.
This has been bothering me, too!
I have a nice scar on my forehead from 11 stitches that agrees with this comment
I have been watching TFL for years and this was terrible. "Pick a winner" you didn't even do that. The "off road" Test was a joke and the Colorado had street tires 😳. The obstacles would be perfect if you were testing Subaru's. Total let down on what the potential of this video could have been.
Agreed. The new "home" course is OK but this is not why I follow this channel...take this comparo to the mountains!
Totally agree. This “off road” course is a joke. You’ve heard the saying “my Honda Civic could do that.” But literally most awd sedans could do most of if not the entire course. You got chevy’s 2 most capable trucks they offer from factory so why not actually test the capability past a few hill climbs and dirt roads and rolling over some tiny logs. It’s similar to a course that manufacturers make to make their trucks look good and know for certain their trucks won’t get stuck or actually tested.
That guy destroyed 2 of the good parts of a ZR2. The tires and ground clearance.
Pointless having this truck on TFL.
These new off road videos are weak, bring back cliffhanger 2.0 and compare 4-5 trucks at once.
Nice work Andre. I wish I lived in Colorado with my Colorado ZR2 for more trail time. But I have 2 things to point out. Off-Road mode in the Colorado plays with the shifting and with the throttle response. The other thing it does is very important, if you're locked it will disengage the locker over 25mph but in Off-Road it will not disengage.
Second, the rear locker CAN be engaged in 2WD.
There is an optional front camera (I have it) it is a little finicky in that an long time over 8mph the camera shuts off. I don't know how long but if you stay slow it stays on. Also you have to turn the vehicle off for a few minutes to get the camera back on. If you're consistently crawling not a big deal but many trails have faster bits. My '18 ZR2 non-bison is leveled using the chevy performance kit with higher angle upper control arms. I have 33" Duratracs with the AEV kit for cutting back space to fit 33s. Bison skid plates from the transmission, transfer case, fuel tank, and rear diff. I have the better front approach angle and most of the bison protection. I also wonder why no one has a receiver skid plate to keep from draggin the bumper horribly.
I will respectfully 100% disagree with what he said about the Duratrac tires. I got 44000 hard miles out of my originals and they still had plenty of meat on them. However, after about 25000 miles they do lose some road handling ability, especially in the wet weather
The Duratrac are loud that’s the biggest negative but they are amazing in snow!
I'm 12k miles into my set and they still look great and are not any louder. And price wise they are reasonable.
I got duratracs on my 21 Trail boss with 20k miles. I've found them to be pretty quiets and don't show a lot of wear yet. Got a Zr2 Silverado on order!
I had them a few years ago and after about 15k they started to get loud.
I had a set of 255/75r17s on a ‘15 Tacoma for over 50,000 miles with off road hunting, towing, etc. included. I suppose they got a little loud but no worse than any other mud terrain, which they practically are, performance wise. Except they are much much better in snow and ice. I’ll take that. I have some on an F150 now that is used heavily off road and for towing and they do seem to be wearing more quickly.
I love my 18 ZR2 but the biggest issues I have is you can't see anything over the hood and even as a mid-size it is wide enough to get tons of pinstriping when out on the trail. The Silverado makes both of those things worse for twice the cost.
Have you looked into bush barriers? Or a PPF (Paint protection film).
Imagine if they offered these in a standard cab short bed.
They do in the middle east! I saw a reg cab short bed trail boss in a Dubai video and want one offered here so badly.
They don't in the North American market because of CAFE regulations. The larger the wheelbase for the light trucks the less fuel efficiency is required. This is why all pickup trucks and SUV's (which are classified as light trucks by EPA) are getting wider and longer.
There was also a Chevy S-10 ZR2. I coincidentally seen one at the golf course yesterday in mint condition. I should of taken a picture.
I still have my '95 regular cab short bed ZR2. It's weight and size are ideal for offroading. I average 17-18 mpg driving around town and can get 22 mpg on the highway. It came stock with 31" tall BFG KM all terrains, limited slip rear end, bilstien shocks, and several stout aluminum skid plates. Even the gas tank has a steel skid plate. You barely notice the hood while driving due to its aggressive downward slope. It has followed my '12 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon through some pretty tough trails. I've considered buying a new Chevy ZR2 but the new ones, even the Colorado, are too big for where I go offroad. I'd probably have a new one if they offered a regular cab short bed configuration.
I'd go with the Colorado ZR2 as well. The Silverado is way too big for most off-roading. I own a '21 Ram 1500 Crew 4x4 with 35s on it. It does great in the desert, but is too big in the mountains. I may consider a Colorado ZR2 in 6 months or so.
Homie got a bison with a winch and put street tires on it hahaha.
I'll take the Colorado ZR2.
A true off-roader.
I loved my Colorado ZR2... Such a nice commuter and very capable off road! Comfortable, reliable as hell, and just such a great truck! I liked the Diesel I had on mine. Got wrecked though due to a teenager running a red light. Everyone was fine (with minor scrapes) but I was sad to see that truck go.
Those Michelin LTX Tires are awesome, I bought those for my Taco and got out of every sticky and stupid situation I got in. Didn't the quiet ride and 25mpg return as well!
Both trucks did very well. On tight trails the Bison would be better. Never really knew the Bison has front/rear lockers ! Nice comparison for sure 👍.
That poor Colorado Bison with street tires :(
Might use his truck for mostly commuting but for a lot of people It’s better to have and not need then to need and not have, plus they live in Colorado where it snows!?
I thought that was the crossover/SUV course? Maybe the colorado owner didn't want to take it into the rough stuff?
Why that Bison got highway tires?? This comparison is moot without even factory tires
Because 50 miles a day of highway commuting. The owner clearly states this.
What the heck is he doing with those tires on the Bison?
Yeah, I stopped watching it 1 minute in when I saw those. There's no way to compare an off road truck with with Michelin street tires on it. Normally love TFL, but this shouldn't have been done. Any true obstacles these trucks may face (again I stopped watching so I don't know) the Colorado is so hamstrung, it isn't a fair comparison from the start. To bad, was really looking forward to this. Thanks TFL for trying and I understand you use what you can get. But there really should be some in minimal criteria. Especially with a video that COULD HAVE BEEN SO EPIC!!! 👎👎👎
@@ericfromflorida5146 although I don’t like the look of the street Michelin’s, In all the dry terrain they were tested in this video they did as good or better than the GY territory tires.
Any vehicle that has higher than 6 in of ground clearance can clear this.
@@northerntoyota7584 If it was all dry, then how much did they really push either truck to compare thier abilities? Would love to see this type of comparison on the Canadian guys (truck king I thing). I'll just never understand buying a 4x4 and putting street tires on it. But those that do, I don't judge either. But to do a comparison that didn't even challenge the street tires?!?!? 🤦
He doesn't need off road tires because he has a winch!
Why put street tires on a ZR2?
Off-road mode is the fun mode! 1. Turn on off-road mode. 2. Turn off StabiliTrak 3. Lock rear diff. 4 mash that long skinny pedal and rip some sh!t up!!! Yeehaw!!! 🤟🤟
"We're stuck" As the truck continues on w/out a tow. In these videos the owner should drive their own rig. And how about that, "street tires" can conquer the same terrain as the aggressive tires. 😉
Buys a zr2 for offroading, puts total street tires on it 🙄
Ya I turned it off after I saw that. He should have just got a z71 and let someone else get the bison.
The lack of any scuff marks seems to indicate not much off road activity.
He doesn't need off road tires because he has a winch!
and he took off the rock sliders and put steps WTH
Ya steps on these trucks are pointless cause the seat to lower body distance is to close. When I owned my zr2 and the Duratracs got worn the rear end got super lose. I can only imagine how that one drives with street tires.
I have the zr2 colorado. The shocks are overhyped but the thing will go anywhere with real tires on it
Those Michelin Defendes are awesome for highway miles. Got like 50k miles on my prius
70k Silverado VS 45k Colorado. Insane difference.
You couldn’t find a Colorado ZR2 with stock tires? You HAD to use the only one with tires borrowed from someone’s minivan?
I enjoyed this review. Both are extremely capable trucks. It'll be interesting to see a ZR2 in the next generation Colorado as I'm not a fan of the current interior.
The Silverado could definitely benefit from a few more skids plates, I'm shocked the gas tank doesn't have one.
You know what? I miss my 2011 ram 2500 diesel with everything deleted five in exhaust and chipped Same fuel mileage twice as powerful. Just felt so good.
Video suggestion: Ford F-150 tremor vs Silverado ZR2?
The only other things I wish the 2020 Colorado ZR2 that I bought would have come with....are a decent 360 Trail Cam system, LED lights, and a less depressing interior than the SOLID BLACK HOLE....How Chevy could not of just spent a couple of hundred more at the most to include these features is beyond me. That being said, I didn't want a 4 door station wagon for the trails and the Tacoma TRD PRO only came in a 4 door cab. No real regrets on my purchase. Noticed the guy took off the rock sliders too and lost a little ground clearance with those side steps....I get decent wear out of my DuraTracs and LOVE THEM for their all weather capabilities, they are someof the BEST! Mud, Snow, Rain....The DuraTracs always give me great response and traction, They average 40-50K miles for me on my rigs.
Colorado's great truck!!..much prefer the Silverado thou.. Great video!!🙂
I've heard a lot of bad things about the Colorado, engine issues, transmission issues is any of this true? I really like the Colorado and I'm tempted to get a ZR2 but I don't want a lemon.
the diesel has been fine the v6 has had complains of transmission but not all
The 2.8L Duramax Colorado with the 6 spd. transmission has been dead reliable.
Go with the diesel, they will be discontinuing it soon. ( I heard) The Duramax gets insanely good mpg has plenty of torque and power, on top of an exhaust brake for towing. Solid truck wouldn’t trade it for anything!
I've had zero issues with my diesel ZR2. The 8 speed transmission that the V6 gets is garbage.
Avoid the V6 that comes with the 8spd transmission. On going class action lawsuit over that transmission. If you have to have a Colorado, like the others here said, get the diesel as it comes with the 6spd transmission that isn’t plagued with issues.
Much better audio mixing this time, thanks!
Thanks for the video guys!
S10 pickup was the first ZR2 FYI also those tires on the Colorado look like shit on a ZR2
Both trucks are amazing... I saw a Colorado ZR2 on the road and I could not stop to look at it. When they update the interior I will consider to get one. (and when this crazy market settle down too)...
Why didn't you run the Pond course? I thought the upper course was for crossovers? I am just curious 🤔
Michelin H/T tires on a ZR2 Bison? Did I just see that?
I’d definitely get the Silverado ZR2 over the Colorado, for me it’s just much nicer even compared to the 2023 Colorado ZR2
Doesn’t make sense why you go all the way up to a hardcore bison zr2 and then throw on street tires. It’s just funny seeing a rig with sliders all around the bumper and a winch and skidplates and nice shocks and then you see tiny little street tires….he did say his truck is mainly a commuter and you do get slightly better mpg but it’s not a big difference compared to a good aggressive AT tire like a Falken wildpeak or ko2 which are super capable in all conditions yet still very good on road. Those Michelins have zero off road profile. But hey it’s his money his truck, if he wants to spend all that money on a bison for a commuter then not tryna hate. Zr2’s aren’t my favorite but they are def capable and awesome that they come with front and rear lockers. This off road test was absolutely pointless tho, they should’ve took it to their harder course or hit the real trails in the mountains like they used to do.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love a Silverado zr2 but I doubt I can get one for 37k I paid for my zr2 Colorado
Amazing how you guys think the bed cover on the bison is nice looking
If I lived closer to deserts, I'd probably pick the silverado. But I live closer to mountains, so the smaller and more maneuverable colorado just makes more sense. I love my ZR2. I've gone everywhere my jeep and toyota buddies have gone. Very few of those places could a full size follow. The city driving us a clear win for the colorado. Parking lots and garages are no contest at all. Towing, cabin size and acceleration are about the only clear wins for the silverado.
Deserts doesn't mean endless wide open spaces. Narrow canyons, narrow shelf roads with tight switchbacks, and (yes) vegetation. I've taken my Colorado ZR2 to places in the California desert I wouldn't want to attempt with a full size.
@@markbour never said there wasn't. But there is far more full size friendly options than there is in the rocky mountains.
I have cooper stt pros on my Silverado and they are at around 25,000 miles and look like they did when I got them. Really good tires, will be trying the cooper rugged trek next
Have the st Maxx on my Superduty. 47k and just starting to show some un even wear. Probably get another 10k out of them. Even with towing they have held up great
@@cooverbennett4383 good to know. Something about these American made coopers
I have Duratracs on my Silverado, no complaints so far, they have been quite good as far as my experience/needs. That said, I've heard really good things about the Cooper line. Might give those a shot next time, in my opinion, the BFG KO2's are just too expensive for what your get?! Looking for a good AT tire, not a dedicated mud/snow tire. Cheers...
@@irishkelly654 what would u say ur mpgs are with those A/T tires? I get 13 mpg highway with the M/T's and am curious if it would make a difference. I might add that I have the range on my truck so its always V8. Still please tell me on ur experience.
@@VIVACRISTOREY- Hey...not really sure, I don't really pay that much attention, to tell you the truth?! The factory tires gave me great milage but were obviously just street tires. I could go roughly 600 kilometers and use about 62-63 liters of gas on the highway (5.3 liter engine, 6spd auto with 3:42 diff), 26ish MPG - I'm in Canada, as I'm sure you know, our "gallons" are roughly (I believe) a fifth or so larger than US gallons. I just checked - there is 1.2 US gallons to one Canadian, so 6 US gallons would be 5 Canadian Gallons. Anyway, once I put these tires on, I knew my milage would drop, so didn't really pay attention, silly I know, I should do an actual comparison, just for interests' sake. The factory tires were 265/65R18's, the Duratracs are 275/65R18's, not much bigger. They are definitely noisier, for sure. I want to get one of those Range devices, hate that 4V crap. A lot of the time (city driving or short highway trips) I keep it in 5th so it won't go to 4V mode. In Canada we don't go by MPG, being metric, we go by how many liters used per 100 kilometers. One kilometer is equal to roughly .6 miles. I just checked my window sticker (from when I bought the truck), it says 14.4 liters per 100 kilometers or 20 MPG city and 9.5 liters per 100 kilometers or 30 MPG highway. Of course, that is under optimal conditions, you know all downhill with a tail wind, LOL. Anyway, sorry for the novel, all the best, cheers...
Why does the colorado have street tires and not duratracs?
I just put 285 70 17s on my colorado zr2. Now it looks like it is supposed to. The new one should come with that size standard or at least make the wheel wells to fit them with no trim.
The size is the biggest off-road advantage of the Colorado over a full-size pickup. The front locker on the Colorado ZR2 is a plus. That is pretty much the end of the good news. The 3.6 gas engine and the 8-speed automatic transmission in the Colorado are junk--two of the worst things GM has built for trucks in the last few years. The diesel and the 6-speed automatic is better, a long way from perfect but better, but the cost of the diesel option and, now, the cost of diesel fuel vs. gasoline pretty much makes the diesel cost-ineffective (and I say that even though I'm a diesel lover). For an off-road "premium" 4WD, the Colorado has mediocre ground clearance, and the interior of the truck is cheap and dated. The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor will eat the current generation Colorado ZR2 for lunch--even the Ranger Tremor will challenge it if one adds an aftermarket locking or limited slip front differential. And, for me, none of these new 4WD's are worth what they cost in today's market.
You're clueless, the LGZ engine is a great power plant, the 8l45 is great if you fix the GM TCM programing.
@@madcratebuilder Save the snarky remark. Three different fleet mechanics that I know who work on plenty of GM vehicles say the 3.6 is one of the worst engines that GM has ever built. Same with the 8-speed. These guys are not GM haters, either. All 3 own GM trucks and one is a former Chevy/GMC mechanic. They collectively maintain hundreds of vehicles, including plenty of 3.6 and 8-speed equipped models. How about you?
@@rockymountainjazzfan1822 The 1st gen high feature engines had timing chain issues, well known fact. The 2nd and now 3rd Gen high feature V6 is one of the best engines GM has made. Speaking with 20+ years as a GM tech/ service manager.
Who TF spends extra money for a Bison then castrates it’s off road capability by putting all seasons on it?
Dude put on street tires and took off rock sliders and put on running boards on a Bison😂😂tell me your truck is a street princess without actually telling me
Guys are sleeping on those Michelin Defenders, they are actually great off road. Only surface they somewhat struggle with is mud and that's even a stretch. They wear great and have an amazing ride
They do better than most realize.
What in the hell is going on with the tires on the Colorado? All seasons?
I’d take the ZR2 Bison all day long.
Those lighter small trucks are just so nimble off road..
I'd choose the Colorado if I had a HD at home for other uses
I'd like to see you guys take the colorado zr2 through some mud and rock trails. Make the course harsher so we can see more of what it is capable of.
That particular Colorado wouldn’t do well with that street tire
I don't blame the guy for putting street tires on his commuter.
Y’all should get a ford tremor and take it through the course and compare the ZR2 Silverado to the f150 tremor
No water crossings? They are the toughest tests on this course.
The all new Colorado looks so much better, that front end was ran into the dirt!
agree on the duratrac we never install themat the shop since they don't last at all
Good side by side comparison. Now lets see that with an F150 Tremor and Ranger Tremor 😁
Colorado ZR2 Bison...and it's got all season tires. 🤬🤬🤬. Yet the Silverado ZR2 has proper all terrain tires.
I own a ZR2 Colorado 2018 and it’s a off-road beast I don’t like the Silverado rather have the Colorado
I do not like the look of those Michelins on the Colorado ZR2, ya they are good for street driving but they take away from the cool off-road rig look/performance. I’ve found that happy balance in my Falken Wildpeak AT3W’s. I have 33/12.5 on my Ram and 37/12.5 on my Jeep. Both sets have been awesome on and off-road, wear life seems decent but only have about 15k miles on them so we’ll see. As of now though for a 70/30 split commuter/off-road use rig they are my pick.
I totally bought the best off-road Colorado available to put these soccer mom tires on it…
Rumor on the new Zr2 bison is the tires are going to be even smaller!
And no more diesel engine
I really liked this review and Both Men's comments. If it was my Colorado I would be fine with a tire just one size larger diameter.
Zr2 silverado witj the 3.ol diesel or the supercharger engine from the Caddy
would be better comparsion if the colorado had a set of tires on it. like the stock duratracs
It would be awesome if you found the original ZR2 and dio the harder course with all three.
When are you guys going to figure out the Bison is just a over weight ZR2 with less approach angle. The Silverado ZR2 would be a good desert truck, not so much on tight trails.
I love to see this comparo! Too bad this guy geezer-fied an awesome Colorado ZR2 Bison: tires - lame, running boards - lame, folding topper - meh.
I would like to see you take the easy obstacles at higher speed for a real world comparison.
Why’d you guys even do a test with this guy with street tires on
Weird that the Colorado had street tires...
Colorado, imo.
Nokian Rotiva AT
I don't get the tire choice for this kinda truck. It's insane and looks crazy awkward. Would you buy a corvette and put Michelin Primacy Eco tires on it? 🤣 if you're so worried don't buy a truck like that , buy a Jeep Compass Trailhawk or something. Lol 😆
The Colorado should have the 33" inch tires. The Silverado needs 35" tires...
Who comes up with all the background music on these videos?? Did they buy a Korean CD of the MOST GENERIC music they could find, without having to pay royalties?? I'm sure you don't have your own music composer...
I sure thought they were gonna use the real offroad course. This was boring
Drive them into Tommy's favorite mud pit
25K more for a Silverado. Not worth it over the Colorado. Especially with gas prices these days. My 6.0 Vortec in my 2013 GMC 2500HD guzzles. I can imagine the 6.2 isn't much better hahaha.
I have 21 Trail boss 6.2. I get 18-20 at best on highway. Avg prob 16
@@hollywood21639 Whoa. So they must of tuned it pretty good. I get on average about 12-13 hahah
@@OIFIIIOIF-VET it's that 10 spd transmission. 80 mph and it's not turning 2k RPM
I wish you would have put the Colorado through some real testing. Slam those skid plates and move it across the trails at more than a crawl.
And mess up his nice truck.. yeah right
Moab > Tumbleweed
Why would you buy a Colorado ZR2 and put soccer mom tires? 🤦🏼♂️
Silverado.
good one