Real test data, off-road insights, and daily-driving impact — from a former Bridgestone engineer.
The BFGoodrich Trail Terrain T/A is a unique entry in BFG’s lineup — a comfort-first On-Road A/T tire designed for CUVs, SUVs, and ½-ton pickups. Unlike the brand’s more aggressive Off-Road A/Ts like the KO2 or KO3, the Trail Terrain caters to daily drivers who want an all-terrain look and light dirt-road confidence without sacrificing quiet highway manners. Its P-metric focus, road-friendly tread design, and winter-ready 3PMSF rating make it especially appealing for crossover and SUV owners who deal with rain, snow, and long commutes more than rocky trails.
From our testing and driver reports, it delivers strong wet and winter traction, stable handling on pavement, and a smoother ride than most A/Ts in its class. The trade-off is limited off-road depth — it’s not built for heavy towing, sharp rock, or extended trail abuse.
In the sections ahead, we’ll break down how the Trail Terrain performs across dry, wet, snow, and light off-road testing. You can also compare it against KO2, KO3, and other options in our All-Terrain Tire Decision Tool for quick recommendations by SUV, CUV, or truck class.
Quick Look
BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A
In my assessment, the BFGoodrich Trail Terrain T/A offers a compelling package, combining long-lasting rubber with a well-judged balance of comfort, handling, and road noise. While it may lag slightly in wet grip and mud traction compared to stronger competitors, it performs impressively in light off-road use within its segment. For drivers who want refined on-road manners but still value the durability expected from an all-terrain tire, the Trail Terrain T/A stands as a smart choice — offering a smoother, quieter alternative without straying far from the toughness of the legendary KO2.
Shop Smart: Compare Deals
Limited Time Offers – Updated Weekly
Technical Features
Tire construction involves the intricate optimization of tread design, internal structure, and compound composition. To gain a comprehensive understanding of a tire’s performance, several key metrics should be considered. Let’s delve into these metrics for a closer look at the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A:
Tread Depth
The BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A boasts a consistent tread depth of 12.5/32 inches across all sizes.
Sidewall
While the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A offers both black and white lettering options, it’s important to note that it lacks the 3-ply sidewalls commonly found in more rugged tires. This characteristic is due to its availability exclusively in p-metric sizes.
Weight
The weight of the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A varies depending on the tire size, ranging from 29 lbs to 45 lbs. Among its on-road all-terrain counterparts, this tire stands out as one of the heaviest, surpassing options like the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail and Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S.
UTQG Rating
The BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A boasts a UTQG rating of 660 A A across all available sizes.
Tread Design
Featuring a symmetrical tread design, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A prioritizes on-road performance, making it well-suited for everyday driving.
BF Goodrich also realeas the production process of BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A : https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/auto/garage/tires/creating-the-bfgoodrich-trail-terrain
Road Noise
Road noise in tires is primarily generated by the air trapped within the tread pattern and the presence of aggressive, caviated (hollowed or indented) shoulder blocks. Interestingly, on-road all-terrain tires tend to favor a variable pitch design over interlocked lugs to help mitigate this noise issue.
In the case of the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A, its center section features a 3-3 pitch design, which contributes to a quieter on-road experience. However, it’s essential to note that compared to other on-road all-terrain tires, this tire’s center lugs are relatively more aggressive and possess a slightly larger void area, enhancing its traction on loose ground.
Additionally, the shoulder design of the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A may appear quite aggressive at first glance. Still, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that it lacks open shoulder blocks, a feature that aids in reducing road noise.
In summary, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A offers road noise performance similar to that of other on-road all-terrain tires. However, if you’re transitioning from all-season tires, you may experience a slight increase in road noise due to the tire’s inherent off-road capabilities.
Note from the Expert: For years, choosing all-terrain meant accepting noise—a true compromise for off-road grip. That’s why the question, Are All-Terrain Tires Louder than Highway Tires?, used to have a simple “yes” answer. Now, with the rise of on-road models, the core issue has shifted from noise to overall refinement. To fully understand which side of the comfort spectrum you’re buying into, you need to determine Are All-Terrain Tires Good for Daily Driving?—a question that depends entirely on the tire’s construction, not just the name.
Ride Comfort
Ride comfort in tires is primarily influenced by factors such as the tire’s internal structure and tread pattern. Responsiveness, on the other hand, is closely related to the design of the tire’s center section, with a continuous rib design being particularly effective in this regard.
Responsiveness
When considering the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A, its variable pitch design is a significant advantage, even though its tread is wider compared to competitors. However, the tire’s compound is quite stiff, preventing it from squirming like some other options. As a result, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A offers reliable responsiveness, making it a suitable choice for more aggressive drivers who want to enhance their vehicle’s aesthetics. It’s worth noting that this tire is available in high-speed ratings, further catering to the needs of spirited drivers.
Wandering/Vibration
Wandering and vibration issues in tires are closely tied to uniformity. To address these concerns, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A features a two-ply polyester casing that is reinforced with an additional ply. However, it’s essential to recognize that these tires primarily focus on on-road driving, which means their sidewalls are relatively softer. Consequently, they may experience some wandering when used in loaded applications.
In summary, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A offers a comfortable ride, particularly for drivers who don’t frequently carry heavy loads. Its responsiveness is commendable, making it a suitable choice for those looking to enhance their vehicle’s performance.
Wet Traction
Wet traction can be a complex aspect to evaluate in on-road all-terrain tires due to the critical factor of hydroplaning resistance.
Hydroplaning resistance is essentially a tire’s ability to evacuate water efficiently. When a tire fails to do so and traps water within its treads, it loses contact with the road surface, resulting in a loss of vehicle control—a sensation we’re all familiar with, often described as a floating feeling.
On-road all-terrain tires, particularly in wider sizes, tend to face challenges in providing a satisfactory level of hydroplaning resistance. These tires often lack sufficient void area to effectively combat hydroplaning.
In the case of the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A, it lacks open shoulder blocks to facilitate water evacuation. However, it compensates for this limitation with a circumferential groove design that features angled grooves on the shoulder sides, aiding in water redirection.
Tire traction on wet surfaces can be maintained if hydroplaning is effectively prevented. BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A utilizes a stiff compound with siping. While it may achieve an A rating in wet traction on UTQG rating tests, it’s essential to note that these tests do not encompass hydroplaning resistance.
Overall, the wet performance of the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A remains somewhat uncertain. It’s advisable to consider this tire only if you have a more conservative driving style, and it’s crucial to pay attention to its speed ratings.
Note from the Expert: When it comes to rain, I always emphasize two things: compound grip and water evacuation. You can see the full details in my analysis, but if you take just one thing away, remember that an AT tire’s stiff nature makes achieving top-tier wet performance a constant battle. This is why the question, Are All-Terrain Tires Good in Rain?, requires a nuanced answer that balances tread design against rubber stiffness.
Snow and Ice
In comparison to all-season tires, all-terrain tires typically offer superior snow performance due to their abundance of biting edges.
The 3PMSF marking serves as a guarantee of medium-packed snow performance. However, it’s important to understand that this test primarily evaluates acceleration and is related to the tire’s compound rather than its traction. Essentially, it indicates that the tire’s compound remains consistent at temperatures as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Unlike wet traction, snow traction doesn’t involve factors like hydroplaning resistance. In this context, wider and siped patterns are highly effective.
From my perspective, the compound of the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A appears to be somewhat too stiff for optimal winter performance. This applies regardless of whether it bears the 3PMSF marking or not. However, its multitude of biting edges can handle light snow conditions.
However, when facing more challenging winter conditions such as ice or deep snow, the lack of shoulder slots in this tire may result in reduced traction on deep snow and slush.
Overall, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A can manage occasional snow, but it’s essential to recognize that the winter performance of on-road all-terrain tires generally falls behind that of off-road all-terrain tires. These tires are best suited for mild winter conditions.
Note from the Expert: Our discussions often boil down to the core tradeoff. On one hand, you must understand why all-terrain tires are truly effective in deep snow, but not on ice. On the other hand, you face the 3PMSF Paradox—the hidden cost of that badge. The short answer is: The 3PMSF badge certifies traction, but it costs you durability. Dive into our full analysis on the critical 3PMSF rating for severe winter and off-road service, and its hidden costs, before you risk your rig on the trail.
Tread Life
The BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A boasts a 660 UTQG rating, which is higher than that of its competitors in the same segment. This metric essentially indicates the tire’s wear rating, but it’s important to note that the test for this rating is conducted under locked brakes.
Tread life discussions can be somewhat challenging, as they depend on various factors such as driving conditions, the type of vehicle, and individual driving habits. However, I can provide some general insights.
Firstly, if you frequently drive on gravel or unpaved roads, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A is likely to offer a longer tread life compared to its competitors. However, for highway driving, while the tire still has the potential for a long lifespan, failing to regularly rotate the tires can lead to uneven wear, particularly on the shoulder blocks.
In summary, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A stands out as the top choice in its segment, especially for more demanding conditions, as long as you pay attention to regular tire rotation. I recommend doing this during every oil change or every 5,000 miles.
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:
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency is influenced by several factors, including the weight of the tire, sipe density (the number of small channels or slits in the tread), and the stiffness of the tire’s compound.
In reality, assessing fuel efficiency should be done in a comparative manner. Here’s the important part: the impact on your MPG (miles per gallon) depends on your current tire type.
If you’re switching from all-season tires to the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A, you can expect a noticeable decrease in your fuel efficiency. If you’re coming from off-road all-terrain tires like the BFG KO2 or the Toyo AT3, the drop in MPG will be significant. However, if you’re transitioning from other on-road all-terrain tires like the Cooper Discoverer AT3, the difference won’t be substantial, but this tire does lag slightly behind due to its robust and heavy compound.
Towing
On-road all-terrain tires are typically not the top choice for towing applications. However, it’s worth delving a bit deeper into this topic.
In comparison to other on-road all-terrain tires, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A boasts several advantages for towing. It has a lower tread depth and a stiffer compound, making it better suited for towing tasks. Additionally, its sidewalls are more robust and thick.
For those who engage in light towing, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A emerges as the superior option among on-road all-terrain tires. However, it’s essential to calculate your loads accurately, and if necessary, opt for XL (extra load) sizes to ensure the tire can handle the weight.
Off-Road Performance
The BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A, with its shallow tread depth, numerous sipes, and cut-and-chip resistance, stands out when it comes to rocky terrain performance. While it may not be suitable for extreme rock crawling, it excels in gravel performance, surpassing similar tires in its segment.
Additionally, its siped pattern allows it to handle dirt or light mud quite effectively. However, in deeper and more challenging muddy conditions, the tire’s limited evacuation capability becomes evident.
In summary, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A is an excellent choice for mild off-road conditions, particularly on gravel terrain.
Note from the Expert: Every successful day on the trail is about preparation and physics, because tire longevity is earned, not given. Before you even start, you must master the critical link between tire pressure and load range for every rig to maximize your contact patch. Once moving, remember your ultimate off-road armor is your sidewall protection against the inevitable pinch flat. And finally, your traction on the obstacle is dictated by choosing the right aggressive vs hybrid tread pattern for your terrain. Master those three steps, and your rig will be ready for anything.
Price/Performance
The BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A stands as the most expensive tire within its segment. When evaluating its overall performance and characteristics, the higher price tag is justified primarily if you frequently encounter rocky terrain and prioritize long-lasting durability.
Tire Size Selection: The Basics You Can’t Skip
Even the best tread design can’t rescue a tire that’s built too weak. Back when I was testing tires at Bridgestone, I saw all-terrain models that should’ve performed but fell short — simply because the basics (size, load strength, and speed rating) weren’t matched to the vehicle.
P-Metric vs. LT (Light Truck) Tires
The first step is knowing whether you need LT or passenger tires. LT (Light Truck) tires are built with extra reinforcement and stiff sidewalls, designed for towing, hauling, or off-road use. Passenger (P-metric) tires are lighter, smoother, and tuned for daily comfort and fuel efficiency — but they’ll flex more under load.
Understanding Tire Load Range: XL vs. E-Load
Then comes the tire load index and load range — essentially your tire’s strength rating. Here’s where things split between passenger XL and LT E:
XL (Extra Load) is a passenger tire with reinforced sidewalls. It can handle a bit more pressure (~41 PSI) than a standard SL tire and is perfect for SUVs, crossovers, or light trucks that carry extra gear, passengers, or small trailers. XL tires ride softer and quieter than LT options, making them ideal for daily use.
E Load Range is an LT tire class built with a much thicker casing. E-rated tires can handle far more pressure (up to ~80 PSI) and heavier loads, which makes them essential for ¾-ton and 1-ton trucks towing trailers or hauling close to max capacity. The trade-off is weight, stiffer ride, more road noise, and a small drop in fuel efficiency.
Put simply: XL is for “extra luggage and family,” while E is for “truck bed full of bricks or a car trailer.”
Why the Tire Speed Rating Matters for Safety
Finally, don’t overlook the tire speed rating. It’s not just about top speed — it measures how well a tire handles heat and stress at highway pace. Lower ratings (like S) tend to ride softer and last longer, while higher ratings (H, T) feel more stable and responsive under sharp maneuvers. Heat build-up is the silent killer of tires, and speed rating is your safeguard.
Bottom line: Match your tire’s construction (LT vs P-metric), load range (XL vs E), and speed rating to your vehicle’s demands. Get those right, and everything else — off-road grip, winter traction, comfort — will finally perform the way it was designed to.
Conclusion
From my perspective, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A can be seen as a decent tire, especially if you’re skilled at handling hydroplaning situations. I would recommend this tire primarily for those who prioritize long-lasting durability. While its wet and winter performance may not be exceptional, it can handle occasional conditions.
| BF Goodrich Trail Terrain TA | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Daily driver who don’t see wet often, %70 on, %20 off, %10 winter driving |
| Pros | Long-lasting rubber, Handling capability, Rock performance, Sidewall durability |
| Cons | Wet traction, Loose ground performance, MPG increase |
| Vehicle | CUV, SUV, 1/2 ton trucks |
| Available Sizes | 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”, 22” |
| Made In | USA |
| Warranty | 60,000 miles, 60-days trial |
Critic User Reviews
”Heavy tire, good on dry pavment, spun easily on wet pavment, snow traction was just fair.”
Sep,2023 – 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4wd – 18,000 miles
”These are a worthy successor to the discontinued BFG Rugged Terrain. They have all of the good manners of a passenger or LT tire, but have plenty of capability when you do manage to venture off the pavement. I put these on my daily-driver F150 because, well, it’s my daily-driver and I live in the suburbs. However, I have been able to go off-roading on gravel, dirt, sand, mud, and even wet rock, and BFG left nothing on the table. The Trail-Terrains don’t have the beefy extra layers that the AT3’s do, so they have less puncture-resistance and less load-carrying capability, but they have great grip. Because they are lighter than AT or MT’s, they also are much nicer on the road, quieter, and more efficient. If you have a light truck/SUV and want to be prepared for occasional off-road or rugged conditions, then these are absolutely a great choice.”
Sep, 2023 – 2011 Ford F150 XLT 4wd Super Crew – 10,000 miles
I hope the article was helpful. If you need any further support, please leave a comment below. Have a safe ride!
For those who prefer to see whole market analyze:
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires-for-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-1-2-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/
- https://tireterrain.com/on-road-all-terrain-tires-highway/
A couple of popular size analyses:
- https://tireterrain.com/best-35x12-50r20-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-285-70r17-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-275-55r20-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-275-65r18-all-terrain-tires/
Want to learn more about all-terrain tires:
- https://tireterrain.com/highway-tires-vs-all-terrain-vs-mud-terrain/
- https://tireterrain.com/all-season-vs-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/tire-load-index-and-load-range/
- https://tireterrain.com/lt-tires-vs-passenger-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-for-daily-driving/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-loud/
- https://tireterrain.com/how-long-do-all-terrain-tires-last/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-rain/
- https://tireterrain.com/off-road-tire-pressure-load-range-for-every-rig/
Leave a Reply