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The BFG KO2 tire is without doubt one of the hottest, best-selling, and extensively praised all-terrain tires of all time, but by some means it nonetheless has its justifiable share of critics. We determined to resolve the KO2 debate by mounting up a set on our test truck and taking them via each kind of terrain we may discover. Under we reply all of the web’s hottest questions and most infamous rumors concerning the KO2.
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Q&A: All of your questions concerning the BFG KO2 tire, answered
Should you’re planning on taking your car off paved roads, swapping out your OEM tires is each the only and the only most impactful improve you may make. With that being stated, any first rate set of recent tires is an enormous funding, and doing all of your analysis earlier than pulling the set off is essential. You requested, and we delivered: Listed here are the most typical questions we discovered concerning the KO2, and our tackle every after placing a set via its paces.
Are BFG KO2 tires good on the street?
Imagine it or not, street manners are literally one of many sturdy fits of the KO2. Our take a look at tires truly felt extra assured cornering on each moist and dry pavement than the street-focused OEMs, which we chalk as much as the elevated contact patch in addition to the broader shoulders and stiffer sidewalls of the KO2. We pushed our luck on many a curvy backroad and interstate on-ramp, and by no means managed to interrupt traction as soon as (until we had been deliberately hooning round, which is hard to keep away from with a handbook transmission and switchable traction management).
From a experience high quality perspective, we are going to observe that the heavier/stiffer building of the BFGs translated to a barely rougher/bumpier experience than the inventory tires. You’ll really feel bumps, tough pavement, and potholes way more immediately when you’re coming from a freeway terrain tire, however the KO2 was on level with different all-terrains we’ve used up to now just like the Falken Wildpeak and Cooper Discoverer.
Are they loud on the freeway?
Any time you enhance the spacing between the lugs of your tires, they’re going to make extra noise on the pavement. A part of that’s because of the taller and wider tread “squirming” round below load, and a part of that’s the sheer quantity of air being caught between the lugs.
With that being stated, we had been pleasantly stunned at simply how quiet the KO2 is in comparison with different AT and MT tires we’ve examined. Granted, they positively have a low audible “hum” that’s extra noticeable than the outdated freeway tires, however they’re not at all loud or obnoxious. We by no means felt the urge to crank up the stereo to drown them out, which is greater than we will say for others we’ve used up to now.
Is the BFG KO2 higher than the KM3?
This is without doubt one of the most typical questions we see from of us on the lookout for a extra aggressive off-road tire. Finally the choice all comes right down to your supposed use, so right here are some things to contemplate.
First, until you’re planning on taking your car rock crawling or via deep mud regularly, likelihood is you’ll be higher served by the BFGoodrich KO2. Don’t get us fallacious, the KM3 (aka Mud-Terrain T/A) is a unbelievable tire for aggressive off-road use, however its tread sample is specialised for extra “hardcore” conditions, and as such, it doesn’t carry out in addition to an all-rounder.
Second, KO2s have unbelievable off-road prowess and are insanely robust (they share the identical CoreGard sidewall know-how because the KM3), however in addition they profit from improved street manners and higher all-weather traction in moist or wintery circumstances (we drove ours in each rain and snow). Should you’re on the lookout for one off-road tire that does all of it and does all of it nicely, you’ll be a lot happier with the KO2.
How lengthy do BFG KO2 tires final?
We haven’t run our present take a look at set right down to the wear and tear bars but, however we are going to say they’ve been “getting old gracefully” for the 5,000 or so miles we’ve had them. Up to now, our present set has misplaced slightly over 1/32″ of tread. Assuming we preserve common rotations (between 6,000 and eight,000 miles) and keep on prime of our air strain, we anticipate the KO2 to ship a stable 50,000 miles or so of enjoyment. Sometimes with all-terrains you’ll need to swap them out earlier than they attain the “authorized restrict” of two/32 for perfect off-road efficiency, however when you’re seeking to get your cash’s value, we belive they’ll go the gap.
Reality verify: Frequent complaints about BFG KO2 tires
If ever there have been a dependable place to search out somebody with a opposite opinion, the web could be that place. Someplace lurking inside the swamp of each YouTube feedback part is at the very least one one who doesn’t agree that 1+1=2. As such, it ought to come as no shock that even a tire as common because the KO2 has its naysayers. We examined every of the most typical gripes about BFG’s hottest all-terrain, and right here’s what we discovered.
“They’re manner too heavy.”
Any all-terrain tire goes to be heavier than its highway-only equal, and there’s a cause for that. Tires just like the BFG KO2 (and any AT value shopping for) make use of thicker and stronger supplies all through their building to make them competent and dependable when the pavement ends. Thicker tread, bolstered sidewalls, and more durable tire beads all work to extend a tire’s functionality off-road, however they add weight as a consequence.
With that being stated, the one truthful comparability to check this grievance is to match the KO2 to different common ATs in the marketplace of the identical measurement and see how they stack up. For the aim of this take a look at, our tire is a measurement 265/75/16 with a heavy-duty “E” load score.
- BF Goodrich KO2: 53.6 lbs
- Goodyear Wrangler Journey Kevlar: 48.0 lbs
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W: 55.3 lbs
- Toyo Open Nation AT III: 50.0 lbs
- Cooper Discoverer ST MAXX: 54.0 lbs
- Common Grabber AT: 58.4 lbs
Now clearly, not everybody wants an E-rated tire (we actually don’t on our little Tacoma), however so far as goal information goes, the BFG KO2 matches proper in with the competitors by way of weight. Actually, the one tire that weighs considerably much less on this listing is the Goodyear Wrangler Journey, which we solely included as a result of it’s the manufacturing facility tire specced on the Tacoma. In real-world phrases, the Wrangler doesn’t even evaluate performance-wise with any of the opposite tires on the listing above because it’s designed to favor gas financial system over traction for regulatory functions, which brings us to our subsequent grievance.
“They’ll kill your gasoline mileage.”
A tire’s impact in your gasoline mileage is dependent upon a number of elements. Tire measurement, weight, tread sample, and even tread compound all play a job in your closing MPG. After we hear house owners complain about their gasoline mileage after switching from OEM tires to devoted all-terrain tires just like the KO2, nevertheless, there’s one issue that’s nearly all the time responsible: Greater tires.
Look, we get it: Half the enchantment of shifting as much as all-terrains is the look of the tire, and getting a bigger and/or taller tire that fills up the wheel nicely provides curb enchantment to any truck. Maintaining that in thoughts, we outfitted our take a look at truck with the most important KO2 that might match on our inventory suspension and evaluated the outcomes.
After operating a number of full tanks of gasoline via our take a look at car on a mix of highways, metropolis visitors, and off-road terrain, we discovered that we misplaced a mean of 1.2 mpg over the earlier tires. That’s notably spectacular contemplating the street-oriented Toyo Open Nation A31 tires we pulled off the truck had been smaller, narrower, and over 20 kilos lighter than the KO2s.
We’re gonna go forward and name BS right here, all issues thought-about. Take into account although, that the larger you go, the tougher your engine has to work to keep up the identical speeds as earlier than. Anticipate to lose extra mpg’s the additional you drift from inventory sizing (particularly when you aren’t regearing your car to match a bigger diameter tire). Had we caught with the OEM measurement, the mpg distinction would have been even much less, however even with a considerably heavier and bigger tire, we didn’t expertise any drastic change in gas financial system with the KO2.
“KO2 tires aren’t definitely worth the cash.”
It is a grievance you’ll hear from of us who’ve bought and loved extra budget-friendly all-terrain choices just like the Common Grabber AT talked about above. Whereas tires like this may actually be an enchancment over OEM tires off-road, you’ll need to take into account the opposite tradeoffs that sometimes include price range ATs. These tires are inclined to lack essential metrics like moist stopping distance, all-weather dealing with, and chip/tear resistance on off-road terrain. We received’t dig into the specifics of every, however right here’s a fast rundown of present costs for a similar tires/sizes talked about above:
- BF Goodrich KO2: $231
- Goodyear Wrangler Journey Kevlar: $301
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W: $247
- Toyo Open Nation AT III: $257
- Cooper Discoverer ST MAXX: $265
- Common Grabber AT: $220
Once more, the KO2 matches in proper alongside different common manufacturers by way of value, and is barely marginally costlier than budget-friendly favorites just like the Grabber, which, reality be instructed, borrows closely from the BFG tread sample. Contemplating that the KO2 is a well-documented and confirmed performer in rattling close to each surroundings on the market, price doesn’t appear to be a related sticking level to us.
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