- 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 is a maximum traction tire that is often referred to as a mud-terrain. On the other hand, BF Goodrich KO2(review) is an all-terrain tire that can perform on and off-road voluminously. Even though these two have similar product ranges, they offer slightly different things to the customers. Let’s see which one is more suitable for you!
At a Glance
| BF Goodrich KM3 (Mud-Terrain) | BF Goodrich KO2 (All-Terrain) | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Off-road adventure, lifted vehicles owners who wanna put aggressive appearance, people who are looking for a mud-terrain tire with the best on-road manners | Snowy and squishy regions, smooth and quiet ride, towing & hauling, working trucks |
| Pros | Insane off-road traction, tough sidewalls, long-lasting rubber for a mud-terrain tire | Insane winter traction, unique handling mild & severe off-road traction |
| Cons | Noisy and stiff ride, poor winter and ice performance | A bit noisy |
| 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 KO2 has better on-road manners compared to KM3. It is quiet. Moreover, it has longer tread life than KM3. It overperforms BF Goodrich KM3 in wet and winter conditions. On the other hand, BF Goodrich KM3 has exceptional on-road manners compared to other mud-terrains. Moreover, off-road performance is phenomenal.
Before starting to read this article, I’d recommend watching this awesome video. It explains the difference between mud and all-terrain tires perfectly. Moreover, if you are stuck between Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac and Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar MT. Here is your rescuer:)
All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
Finding the most suitable one for you among thousands of tires is very difficult.
My team & I have analyzed 100 different tires and generated this ‘Quick Answer Sheet‘ for those who don’t wanna spend too much time during tire selection.
Before we start, here are the incredibly helpful articles I highly recommend to take a look at;
- How to keep tire noise down?
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise - How do all-terrain tires do in the snow?
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/all-terrain-mud-tires-in-snow - Correct tire inflation pressure improves fuel economy
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/air-pressure-fuel-economy - Tire Safety Practices
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-safety
Below the table, you can find my favorite tires that I have classified according to your needs.
If you’re in a hurry, here are the tires worth every penny;
- Toyo Open Country AT3 – Best All-Round & Longevity
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W – Best All-Round & Squishy Regions
- BF Goodrich KO2 – Best All-Round & Off-Road Adventure
- Falken Wildpeak AT Trail – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Severe Off-Road
- Nitto Recon Grappler – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- General Grabber ATX – Best All-Round for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac – Best On/Off Road tire for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Cooper Discoverer 4S XLT – Best Commercial All-Terrain Tire & Hauling and Towing
If you’re looking for something at a bargain price;
- Vredestein Pinza AT – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- Kenda Klever A/T2 – Best All-Round for Medium & Light Duty Usage
- Kenda Klever R/T – Best All-Round for Heavy-Duty Usage
Depending on your needs, also the below articles might help;
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-mud-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/
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
Durability
BF Goodrich tires have a good reputation due to their exceptional durability. In that case, durability consists of sidewall strength and puncture resistance.
BF Goodrich uses ‘Traction-Armor Sidewall Sculpture’ technology to increase sidewall durability. Well, it works. This tire is highly resisted against punctures. Obviously, that’s what you should expect from a mud-terrain tire.
On the other hand, BF Goodrich KO2 has a 15% stronger sidewall than the previous version. 3-ply sidewalls guarantee sidewall protection. Facing punctures is very unlikely with it.
Either BF Goodrich KO2 or KM3 is a very reliable preference. You can confidently put them on tough surfaces
Tread Life
Compering tread life of these two is not logical and also not fair. These tires were built with different intentions. So, expecting tread lives are also quite different from each other.
While mud-terrain tires generally last 40,000 miles, this number scales up to at least 60,000 miles at all-terrain tires. So, I will take these numbers into consideration.
Let’s start with BF Goodrich KM3.
BF Goodrich KM3 has a softer compound than most off mud-terrain tires. Well, that might horribly decrease its tread life depending on your operation. If you don’t be tough with it, you can use it for around 40,000-50,000 miles.
On the other hand, BF Goodrich KO2 has an average tread life. Well, this tire is focused on performance. So, expecting an impressive tread life is kinda unrealistic. It won’t last less than 60,000 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:
Road Noise
This section is easy peasy.
BF Goodrich KM3 as a mud-terrain tire has a heavy block tread pattern. That feature increases road noise significantly. Well, it is a common feature of mud-terrain tires. Yet, BF Goodrich KM3 is exceptional comparing other mud-terrains. It is not quiet but the noise is not that annoying.
BF Goodrich KO2 produces less road noise than KM3. Well, it is what we all expected. But compared to its competitors, there are better options to go with. Here is the one them.
BF Goodrich KO2 is the winner in this section.
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
Comfort
These two are decent due to comfort.
BF Goodrich KO2 has an aggressive design for an all-terrain. Well, it is built to perform on severe surfaces. Not highways. So, the comfort level is not as good as highway-focused all-terrain tires. Yet, it won’t disappoint you.
On the other hand, BF Goodrich KM3 has opposite features. It has not that aggressive tread design for a mud-terrain tire. Moreover, its compound is not hard as other mud-terrain tires. Well, comparing the mud-terrains, it is exceptional.
In short, BF Goodrich KO2 is a smoother tire. Yet, if you need a mud-terrain tire that provides a smooth ride, BF Goodrich KM3 is your tire.
Dry Performance
I evaluate dry performance under 2 different dimensions. Dry traction and steering response. Let’s dig into them.
Dry Traction
Mud-terrain and all-terrain tires are built for maximum traction. If you buy a premium brand like BF Goodrich, it’s improbable to face poor dry traction.
Both have trustworthy traction on dry ground. You can go either way.
Steering Response
The steering response mainly decreases when the tire gets bigger. The reason behind it is tire weight. When the tire gets heavier, you need more force to give it a direction.
BF Goodrich KM3 is a heavier tire. Hence, steering response is not as quick as BF Goodrich KO2. Yet, compared to other mud-terrains, it is legendary.
BF Goodrich KO2 has a slightly better steering response. Yet, if you want an aggressive tread design, you can confidently go with BF Goodrich KM3.
Wet Performance
Wet ground is where most mud-terrain tires are failed. There are two reasons for this. The first stiff compound can’t produce enough grip. Second, wide gaps between lugs decrease contact patches and cause hydroplaning.
I use BF Goodrich KM3 on wet ground. Well, it is way ahead of my expectations. They are not perfect but marginal. I never felt unsafe.
On the other hand, BF Goodrich KO2 is decent on wet surfaces. This tire has stiffer compounds than most all-terrain tires. So, it might lose its grip from time to time.
In summary, BF Goodrich KO2 is a better tire on wet. Yet, BF Goodrich KM3 has exceptional wet performance for a mud-terrain tire.
Here are my favorite wet ground tires for the above 3/4 ton pickups and SUVs. This list is also dedicated to the best diesel truck tires –> https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
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
Winter Performance
As expected, BF Goodrich KM3 doesn’t have severe snow labeling. On the other hand, BF Goodrich KO2 is rated for severe winter conditions.
BF Goodrich KO2 can handle light and deep snow easily. While aggressive sidewalls ensure deep snow traction, the well-siped tread can handle light snow grip easy as apple pie. About ice, it is better than BF Goodrich KM3. Yet, there are better options.
On the flipside, deep snow traction is BF Goodrich KM3’s expertise. Deep grooves can overcome the packed snow and provide tons of traction. Light snow is not where it shines. Yet, it has quite an impressive performance compared to the other mud-terrains. Ice… Don’t use mud-terrain tires on ice. That one also has very satisfying manners on ice.
Off-Road Performance
Off-road performance is where these two come to the boil. They are head to head on almost every surface. Let’s classify them due to the surface.
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 will fulfill your need if you aren’t an overlander.
First of all, both are very trustworthy options. These tires are built to produce traction. Dirt and gravel are like shelling peas to them.
About dirt, nothing much to discuss. They are great! In that case, I would like to give some information about KM3. This tire has a phenomenal self-cleaning ability. Moreover, notched shoulder design has a significant effect on dirt grip.
About gravel, these two have powerful sidewalls. So, a puncture isn’t an issue. Moreover, BF Goodrich KO2 has a specific compound that prevents cut and chipping issues. On the other hand, BF Goodrich KM3 is performing flawlessly on gravel. Well, it can’t resist cutting and chipping as well as BF Goodrich KO2.
Mud Performance
Most all-terrains fail on mud. Yet, BF Goodrich KO2 is not one of them. It has really aggressive design that can handle muddy surfaces easily.
On the other hand, BF Goodrich KM3 is a mud-terrain tire. Of course, it overcomes KO2 on mud. But, let me tell you something. These tires are unbeatable on mud. Spinning is not an issue. You have to worry about how to wheel these tires in the mud. They are sticky as hell!!!
Rock Performance
Rock traction is not a problem for mud-terrain tires. Well, KM3 performs yummy on the rock.
In that case, BF Goodrich KO2 is the exceptional one. In my point of view, it is the best all-terrain tire for rock driving. Its ability to crawl under air-down conditions is unique.
Both options are trustworthy.
Specs
| BF Goodrich KO2 | BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain KM3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-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 | 34-78 lbs | 37 – 89 lbs |
| Made In | Opelika, AL, USA | Opelika, AL, USA |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | Yes | No (Only M+S) |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 50,000 Miles | N/A |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 50,000 Miles | N/A |
| 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,
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 All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2
BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/bfgoodrich-mud-terrain-t-a-km3
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 All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2
BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-mud-terrain-t-a-km3
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 All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://simpletire.com/brands/bfgoodrich-tires/all-terrain-t-a-ko2
BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3: https://simpletire.com/brands/bfgoodrich-tires/mud-terrain-t-a-km3
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
BF Goodrich KO2 and BF Goodrich KM3 are reliable options for off-road lovers. The right conditions to use them are detailly explained in the above sections.
| BF Goodrich KM3 (Mud-Terrain) | BF Goodrich KO2 (All-Terrain) | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Off-road adventure, lifted vehicles owners who wanna put aggressive appearance, people who are looking for a mud-terrain tire with the best on-road manners | Snowy and squishy regions, smooth and quiet ride, towing & hauling, working trucks |
| Pros | Insane off-road traction, tough sidewalls, long-lasting rubber for a mud-terrain tire | Insane winter traction, unique handling mild & severe off-road traction |
| Cons | Noisy and stiff ride, poor winter and ice performance | A bit noisy |
| 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.
I hope this article was helpful for all of you fellows. If you have any further questions, please contact me in below comment section. Have a safe ride!
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:
Leave a Reply