BFGoodrich
All-Terrain T/A KO3
All-terrain off-road tire
The successor of the most successful BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO2 is here with better grip, stability, and noise. This BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO3 launched in the second quarter of 2024 in America and has undoubtedly been doing so great since then. Let’s find out how its performance improved from its predecessor.
Table of Contents
Quick highlights
| Tire type | All-Terrain Tire |
| Price range | $188-$633 |
| Run-flat | No |
| Vehicles type | SUVs, Jeep, Pickup, and Light trucks |
| Driving conditions | Dry, Wet, Mud, and Snow |
The all-terrain tires have always been of great importance for SUVs and light truck drivers, as they are much more versatile for different road conditions. For a long time, this category has been dominated by 3-4 tires and if anyone were looking for high-quality off-road tires, they either go with BFGoodrich, General, or Falken tires.
The previous version of this BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO2 was one of the most popular tires of this brand. It was a go-to tire for anyone looking for rugged off-road and smoother city road drives.
With time and the discovery of advanced technology, everyone has to move on; if BFGoodrich waits and won’t work on further improving their tires, the more advanced and recent tires like Kumoh Road Venture AT52 and Falken Wildpeak AT4W will take the game.
That is why the development of BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO3 was very much needed. This tire will keep the company competitive with new all-terrain tires, and their customers will also benefit the most from the changing technology and advanced performing tires.
Pros
- Perfect traction and grip in wet and dry road conditions, whether it city road or off-road extreme conditions
- The 3PMSF-certified tire is also a superb performer in extreme winter seasons.
- Much more durable and reliable than its predeceasing tire
- Improved sidewalls and tread design to deal with damaging off-road conditions
- Aggressive looks and noiseless performance all year round
Cons
- Heavier tire drops MPG by 2-3 miles
- Not rated on treadwear, traction, and temperature ratings
- Very expensive tire
Tread Design and Improvements
The tread design of this tire is a little different than its previous version. The high void ratio, separate blocks, tread notches, and sipes are something found on both of these tire treads. Both of the tires also have symmetrical patterns and contain chip and cut-resistant compounds.
The differentiating point among these tires is that the tread blocks have different designs, and KO3 features a more optimized pattern for a stable and quieter ride in all seasons. When it comes to 3D sipes, the new tire is also superior in this area and delivers far better traction and grip in snow and wet conditions.
With that, CoreGuard technology is introduced in this new KO3 tire, which protects the sidewalls and shoulders from taking damage in troubling conditions. Alternating shoulder scoops and mud-phobic bars are another innovative change that can be found in this tire; the purpose of both of these features is to improve extreme mud, gravel, and off-road performance.
Durability and Tread Life
On paper, there are no such improvements in the tread life of the newer BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tire; both newer and older version comes with a 50K miles treadwear warranty and have no treadwear ratings. So, based on these facts, we can not expect much more than what KO2 delivered in terms of durability metrics.
Not many of the drivers have completed as many miles to conclude how it performs after 50K miles; however, looking at the other improvements and technology involvements, this tire will be a far more reliable tire than its predecessor.
Specifications of the Tire
| Speed rating | Q-S(100-112)MPH |
| Load Index | 100(1764 lbs) – 129(4079 lbs) |
| Manufactured in | United States |
| Wheel diameter | 15-22” |
| Ply rating | 6 to 12 ply rated |
| Treadwear, Traction, Temperature | N/A |
| Noise Reduction | Yes |
Tire Performance
Dry city roads
The BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A Ko3 is much more supportive on dry road conditions than it is on wet roads. The best thing about this tire, which might be absent in other top all-terrain tires, is its noiseless performance. The tire has as much weight and is known for an aggressive drive; delivering such a quiet performance is very hard to find, even in 2024.
The traction, grip, and smoothness on dry roads and highways are also exceptional, even with heavy weights. As this tire can carry heavy loads, you can carry and travel longer routes with no worries of wear and tear with this tire.
Driving this tire on dry roads can give you the benefits of other categories of tires. You will get the comfort of touring tires on city streets, the carrying ability and smoother rides of highway all-season tires, and the traction and grip of summer performance tires, so with one set of tires, you will get the benefits of 3 different tires.
Wet Traction and Grip
The improvement in tread design, void ratios, and deeper tread measures a greater difference in this KO3 wet road performance. The tire grips strictly deliver tractions and provide safer experiences in heavy rainfall and deeper watery conditions.
The interlocking sipes and open channels of shoulders and tread properly control the flow of water and keep the tire rolling without experiencing hydroplaning. With that, the separate and optimized tread blocks deliver quicker brakes in these conditions for a safer and more reliable driving experience in wet road conditions.
Snow and Winter terrains
The interlocking 3D sipes, snow notches, and open shoulders provide a smoother drive in snowy conditions. On light snow conditions, this tire is very competitive with winter terrain tires, as they both perform similarly and deliver high-quality rides in winter terrains.
One advantage of this tire over conventional winter terrain tires is that you can carry weights over this tire; however, due to its tire weights and the weight of your vehicle, the mileage per gallon will drop immensely.
When it comes to deep snow and icy conditions, this tire is still great; however, when compared with specific winter tires, it comes short in traction and grip performance. So, the tire is excellent in winter terrain, and no snow conditions will reduce its tread wear; however, for maximum performance in extreme winter seasons, proper winter tires will be recommended.
Mud Terrains and gravels
The BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO3 is much more supportive on mud terrains compared to winter terrains. The tire is also designed for the purpose of achieving higher results in off-road mud conditions, and that is why it does so well in those conditions.
This rugged-looking tire features mud-supportive tread blocks, with tread and shoulder guard technologies that resist damage from extreme off conditions. So whether it is gravel roads, sandy tracks, or extremely muddy conditions, this tire tackles all of that without taking any damage on tread life.
Overall the tire performance in off-road conditions is best, which is why enthusiasts like myself prefer this tire who have to drive on city streets and muddy conditions of the far-off roads. This all-terrain tire, when it comes to performance, is a really impressive and much more improved version of the BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO2 tire.
Comparison with competitive Tires
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 vS. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
As we mentioned previously the new GFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO2 is a better tire in almost every aspect and performance metric compared to KO2. The KO3 is better in wet and dry highway streets, reliable in mud and snow terrains, and much quieter and more comfortable than its previous version.
The difference in performance is not that you would feel unless you notice every aspect of the tire or you are an experienced tire reviewer; any normal driver might not feel all of these improvements.
When it comes to durability, both of these tires are very similar and come with the same treadwear warranty. The only supportive point of the older tire is that it is 3.2% less expensive than this newer tire. So, if you want to save some money, you can still 2024 go with the BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO2 tire.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 VS. General Grabber AT3
General Grabber AT3 is a great all terrrian tire and a direct competition of BFGoodrich ALL-terrain T/A KO3 tire. This general tire, unlike BFGoodrich, is more toward extreme off-road conditions and disappointing when it comes to on-road and all-season conditions.
It is perfect for extreme terrain situations; however, the comfort and noise results are not as good as those of the KO3 tire. In comparison both of these tires have some good points and some bad points comparatively.
The general Grabber AT3 tire is better at affordability, has more rugged performance, and has extreme mud terrain rides. On the other hand, BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 is more suitable for all-terrain rides, with a quieter experience and more durable treadwear. So based on these facts, pick the tire that best defines your driving style.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 VS. Falken Wildpeak AT4W
Another excellent all-terrain tire for all year-round SUVs and light truck drivers. The Falken Wildpeak AT4W, just like KO3, is a successor of the very successful Wildpeak AT3W tire. Both of these, KO2 and AT3W, were well known when it comes to all-terrain tires.
Now, these newer versions are better than their predecessors and are very competitive with each other. The performance in off-road, winter, and all-season conditions is very competitive and similar. The difference between the two is that, Falken Wildpeak AT4W is a cheaper and heavier tire, meaning it will consume more gas and drive slowly.
On the other hand, BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO3 is a more expensive and lighter tire, meaning better speed and fuel mileage. Other than that, nothing distinguishes these tires; they are perfect for all terrains and all seasons, and they are comfortable and reliable rides.
Finals Words
The BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO3 is one of the best tires in the all-terrain tires category as of 2024. Its reliable and quieter rides make it a great companion for all-season and highway rides, and its rugged and aggressive performance makes it a supportive pal for driving through extreme off-road situations. Advanced technology and innovative tread design make it a durable tire that will last for many harsh years.
