- A side note here: As a former Bridgestone engineer, I strongly recommend checking DiscountTire - Treadwell out. This is a tool that DiscountTire dealers use in the store. You can get recommendations based on value, performance, and local favorites.
TRIED & TESTED!
BF Goodrich KM3 and Cooper STT Pro are both mud-terrain tires that can be used for highway driving. Most people prefer these tires to obtain an aggressive look on their vehicles. Yet, an aggressive appearance comes up with some cons. Let’s see which will meet your expectations.
At a Glance
| BF Goodrich KM3 | Cooper STT Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Off-road adventure, lifted vehicles owners who wanna put aggressive appearance, great on-road manners for a mud terrain tire, winter traction | Squishy regions, hauling & towing, commercial usage |
| Pros | Insane off-road traction, tough sidewalls, long-lasting rubber for a mud-terrain tire | Insane wet and dry traction, mild & severe off-road traction, |
| Cons | A bit noisy | Limited winter performance |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, BF Goodrich KM3 offers a slightly smoother and less vocal tire. BF Goodrich KM3 and Cooper STT Pro are both solid picks for wet and dry grounds. Furthermore, both have exceptional off-road performance. While BF Goodrich KM3 performs better in muddy conditions, Cooper STT Pro handles slightly better in rocky conditions. However, BF Goodrich KM3 lasts longer.
I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:
- DiscountTire Deals:
https://www.discounttire.com/promotions - TireRack Deals:
https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers - SimpleTire Deals:
https://simpletire.com/tire-deals
Table of Contents
Dry Performance
The dry performance consists of 3 different dimensions.
The first dimension is dry traction that’s not an issue for mud-terrain tires. These tires are also known as maximum traction tires. Well, dry traction is the easiest part for them.
Secondly, steering response. Steering response’s a huge game-changer in my point of view. It’s hard to reach for huge tires but not impossible.
Lastly, cornering stability. This part is tricky. These tires need flexible sidewalls due to increasing their air-down performances. Yet, manufacturers should balance this flexibility with sidewall durability.
Let’s compare them for each sub-sections.
Dry Traction
Let’s keep this part short. These are premium brand maximum traction tires. So, they’re both extremely trustworthy options regarding dry traction.
If have to pick one, I would go with BF Goodrich KM3. Its divided center section lugs will increase the biting edge area and offers slightly better traction.
Steering Response
Steering response is related to the contact patch. If your tire steps the ground completely then it’ll provide a solid steering response. Think about racing tires. They’re almost bald due to improving steering response.
In that case, our tires are close rated. Yet, if you check them closely, you can clearly see that BF Goodrich KM3 has a very well optimized and slightly less void area. Its center section almost steps the ground in whole and that’s a huge plus for quick steering response. On the other hand, bigger and differently sized center section lugs. These kinds of designs generally have an issue with steering response and balance in the latest tread life. Because they tend to wear unevenly.
BF Goodrich KM3 has a quicker steering response. Yet, Cooper STT Pro has a decent steering response. It’ll satisfy you at least %70 of its tread life.
Cornering Stability
Cornering stability is important when you’re driving at high speed. Though worth reminding, I don’t recommend using these tires at high velocity. Especially, if you’re not paying attention to your inflation pressure.
Regarding our comparison, I prefer BF Goodrich KM3 every day of the week. Its optimized sidewalls are robust and flexible at the same time. However, Cooper STT Pro has tough sidewalls. Yet, unlike BF Goodrich KM3, Cooper STT Pro is only designed for off-roading. Therefore, its sidewalls aren’t optimized for high-velocity driving.
I recommend BF Goodrich KM3 if you’re likely to use your vehicle at high speeds. Otherwise, Cooper STT Pro will meet all of your expectations.
Wet Performance
Mud-terrain tires generally struggle on wet grounds. Due to their less notched tread patterns, they have huge grip issues on wet ground. However, their water evacuation ability makes them a reliable tire regarding hydroplaning resistance.
Wet Grip
Wet grip is kinda challenging for these two. But, no worries. Both can handle it very well.
Due to their soft compounds, both have an average wet grip ability. However, Cooper STT Pro is one step ahead due to its better-notched rubber.
Cooper STT Pro is a better pick if a wet grip is your priority.
Hydroplaning Resistance
I don’t think that you’ll have an issue with hydroplaning with these tires. Yet, in case it’s important for you, here is the comparison.
Due to its narrower horizontal shoulder grooves, BF Goodrich KM3 can evacuate the water with a higher pressure. As a result, it can throw the water out of the pattern zippier.
BF Goodrich KM3 has better hydroplaning resistance.
Note: Hydroplaning is vital for a safe ride under the pouring rain. However, it might occur even with the best tire. Maybe you can’t prevent it but if you know what it is and how to deal with it, you can easily stay on the safe side.
Here is an extremely efficient guide about ‘How to Deal with Hydroplaning?‘ –> https://www.discounttire.com/learn/hydroplaning
Off-Road Performance
Off-road is where these two are shinning. Yet, they’re experts on different surfaces. Let’s evaluate them one by one and which one is better.
Before starting to read this section, check this article out to what to expect from mud, rugged or all-terrain tires –> https://tireterrain.com/off-road-tire-tread-patterns/
Dirt and Gravel
This section is for those who’re using these tires for appearances. So, you guys mostly face dirt or gravel.
Regarding dirt, both tires can perfrom perfectly. Due to their unique rubbers, they can grip like no others. Let’s say draw for this time.
Regarding gravel, both tires are trustworthy. Yet, I prefer Cooper STT Pro because its wider shoulder grooves can grip the loose ground better. On the other hand, these fellows have stone ejectors which provide consistent traction through the gravel terrains.
Just close your eyes and pick one for this section. They’re both unstoppable.
Mud
Mud performance is strongly related to water evacuation capability. In that case, shoulder biters have also had a huge impact on performance.
BF Goodrich KM3’s shoulder design promises a lot more than Cooper’s. Its shoulder grooves continue to its sidewalls. Therefore, its water evacuation ability is superior. Moreover, its sidewall biters are specially designed for loose grounds. They increase its traction ability a lot.
BF Goodrich KM3 is a better tire for mud driving. Yet, Cooper STT Pro is also a solid pick for this section.
Sand
Let’s keep it short. Less aggressive design always works better on sand. In that case, BF Goodrich KM3 is the winner of this sectiion.
Rock Crawling
Rock crawling is the expertise of BF Goodrich. Due to their robust compound selections and 3-ply sidewall addiction, BF Goodrich tires always my best picks for rock crawling. Yet, they have a tough competitor for this time.
BF Goodrich KM3 and Cooper STT Pro are equally great tires for rock crawling. While Cooper’s combine Armor-Tech3 construction with a 3-ply sidewalls, BF Goodrich has 3-ply sidewalls built with CoreGard technology. Both are beast for this section. You can confidently go each way.
Comfort and Road Noise
Unlike other tire segments, comfort and road noise aren’t aligned with each other for mud-terrain tires. These tires should have superior grip and flexible sidewalls due to perform properly off the road. So, they’re generally smooth tires. However, their huge void areas and big lugs make them the noisier tires in the market.
Regarding comfort, both are quite comfortable tires. They can absorb the reaction force on bumps with ease. Well, that’s expected. These tires should absorb rock crawling forces. Bumps are nothing for them.
I have to admit that, if you’re expecting a deaf ride, you can stop reading this article right now and start searching for all-terrain tires instead of mud. Mud-terrain tires are noisy. Yet, here is a perfect tip for you. If you’re looking for the quietest one you should pay attention to their pattern. A less void area on the center section always makes less noise.
Both offers smooth ride. Yet, BF Goodrich KM3 is a less vocal tire due to its optimized void area.
A side note here: Even though some tires tend to make noise because of their tread patterns, it’s still possible to keep your tire noise down.
I’m leaving a perfect explanation below from DiscountTire for those who need it;
How to Keep Tire Noise Down? –>
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise
Winter Performance
Winter performance is where most mud-terrain tires are failed. Well, expect deep snow. Due to their lug-type patterns, these tires aren’t able to perform in icy conditions. Their contact patch is very limited for a decent performance on the ice. Therefore, I don’t recommend using these tires in icy conditions.
Light snow performance is highly similar to wet grip. Due to its softer compound and more siped pattern, Cooper STT Pro is a better pick for light snow. Though worth reminding, both tires have an absence of snow-biting sipes. Expecting perfect performance is nothing more than imagination.
Deep snow performance is strongly related to tires’ traction capability. In that case, shoulder biters and lugs are crucial. Due to more aggressive sidewall biters and higher void areas, Cooper STT Pro is a better pick for compact snow. However, BF Goodrich KM3 is a bit wider tire. Furthermore, its tread grooves are deeper than Cooper STT Maxx. Well, the difference is minor.
Tread Life
Tread life is the weakest point of mud-terrain tires. Due to their application range, they should grip better than other tires on the market. Hence, they have relatively soft and sticky compounds.
In that case, I’m going back to my comment in the previous sections. BF Goodrich KM3 has an optimized contact patch, which makes it a superior tire for highway usage. For this reason, its tread life is longer than Cooper STT Pro.
Due to uniform and optimized contact patches and stiffer compounds, BF Goodrich KM3 tends to wear more evenly. Thus, it will last longer than its competitor.
Getting maximum wear life from a tire is related to you as well as your tire,
If you’d like to learn how to get maximum tread life:
Warranty
Cooper and BF Goodrich don’t offer tread life warranty for these products. Yet, uniformity warranty at first 2/32” of wear is valid for both of them.
You can click here to see Cooper’s warranty document.
You can click here to see BF Goodrich’s warranty document.
Specs
| BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain KM3 | Cooper STT Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mud-Terrain Tire | Mud-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ |
| Weight | 37 – 89 lbs | 42-94 lbs |
| Made In | Opelika, AL, USA | USA |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | No (Only M+S) | No (Only M+S) |
| Warranty (P-metric) | N/A | 45 Days Test Drive |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | N/A | 45 Days Test Drive |
| Prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible prices |
Price
The tire market has a dynamic price policy. Hence, in my point of view, sharing tire price is pointless.
Though, I’ve analyzed the top 10 brands of most popular tire brands.
Here are the dealers with a reasonable price range,
DiscountTire
- Biggest dealer in the US. Founded in 1960
- 1000 stores in 35 states. You most probably find one on your parallel street
- Free rotation and balancing
- 5% off for DiscountTire cardholders on online purchase
- Highest rated online tire dealer in Consumer Affairs
- Almost all brands are available
- Delivery takes 2-4 days (30% shorter average waiting time when you book online)
- Frequent discounts and promotions
BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-mud-terrain-t-a-km3
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-stt-pro
TireRack
- Fast and Free shipping
- Usually delivered in 1 day
- Joint venture with DiscountTire(their installers and dealers are on your service)
- Tons of installer options, they also help you to choose the best one
- Mobile installers in many areas, your tires will be replaced while you’re working in the office
- Tire test results and comparisons can be found on the most product page
- 4.6/5 points on Google rate
BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/bfgoodrich-mud-terrain-t-a-km3
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/cooper-discoverer-stt-pro
SimpleTire
- Free shipping
- Delivered in 2 days
- Verified shops near you(for mount and balance)
- Mobile installation option
- 7 million customers since 2021
- 4.7/5 points on Google rate
- Top-notch customer service, you may even request a price match
BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3: https://simpletire.com/brands/bfgoodrich-tires/mud-terrain-t-a-km3
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro: https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/discoverer-stt-pro
While choosing dealers, I especially pay attention to reliability. All of the dealers on this list have 15-20 years of experience in the online tire business. Therefore, I can guarantee a smooth and fast tire buying process.
Conclusion
These tires have a tight battle. Moreover, they have a very similar application range. Well, I can confidently say that you can go both ways. Yet, the below table will help you to make the best selection.
| BF Goodrich KM3 | Cooper STT Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Off-road adventure, lifted vehicles owners who wanna put aggressive appearance, great on-road manners for a mud terrain tire, winter traction | Squishy regions, hauling & towing, commercial usage |
| Pros | Insane off-road traction, tough sidewalls, long-lasting rubber for a mud-terrain tire | Insane wet and dry traction, mild & severe off-road traction, |
| Cons | A bit noisy | Limited winter performance |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
Take-Home Points,
- LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
A side note here: If you’d like to get local advice and find the best fit for your driving habits, location, and road conditions DiscountTire – Treadwell Tire Guide can give you masterpiece recommendations.
If you’ve any further questions, please leave them below. I will answer ASAP!
Guide Me Bruh!
This section contains my research and top picks. Depending on your need, you may choose a category and easily find the best fit for yourself. Remember, nobody knows your driving conditions and requirements better than yourself. You’re in the charge out here.
Start Here:
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