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Home » Comparisons & Reviews » BF Goodrich KM3 Mud-Terrain vs KO2 All-Terrain

BF Goodrich KM3 Mud-Terrain vs KO2 All-Terrain

Updated: April 18, 2025 by Emrecan Gurkan Leave a Comment

BF Goodrich KM3 is a maximum traction tire that is often referred to as a mud-terrain tire. On the other hand, BF Goodrich KO2(review) is an off-road 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!

BF Goodrich KM3 is bigger, wider and taller tire
BF Goodrich KM3 (Mud-Terrain)BF Goodrich KO2 (All-Terrain)
Better forOff-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
ProsInsane off-road traction,
tough sidewalls,
long-lasting rubber for a mud-terrain tire
Insane winter traction,
unique handling
mild & severe off-road traction
ConsNoisy and stiff ride, poor winter and ice performanceA bit noisy

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. 

Nobody Knows Better Than Data

As a former Bridgestone test engineer, I’ve tested hundreds of tires—and trust me, data never lies. Discount Tire Treadwell is a goldmine. Just enter your location and vehicle—boom, it shows you the best picks! You can even prioritize what matters most (comfort, durability, winter traction—you name it).

Want a full walkthrough? Check out my simple guide here—I explain how to use Treadwell to match your exact needs.

All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet

Finding the ideal all-terrain tire among the plethora of options available can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, my team and I have taken on this challenge head-on. Besides our hands-on experiences with these tires, we also analyze thousands of customer reviews and test reports. 

Please note that: Light-Duty is 1500 series, Medium-Duty is 2500 series and Heavy-Duty is 3500 series. If you do towing or hauling, I recommend considering at least Medium-Duty tires.

Mobile users can scroll the table to the left to see the whole data.

All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
NameCategoryArticles3PMSFRoad NoiseMileageFuel EconomyRiding ComfortResponsivenessWet PerformanceMild WinterSevere WinterMild Off-RoadSevere Off-RoadBest Fit by Pickup Truck ClassificationWarranty (SL or XL)Warranty (LT)Product Page

Falken Wildpeak AT3W

Off Road All Terrain TireReviewYesDecentDecentPoorDecentDecentDecentElegantElegantDecentAverageLight-Duty55,000 Miles55,000 MilesWildpeak AT3W
Toyo Open Country AT3Off Road All Terrain TireReviewYesAverageElegantDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentElegantDecentMedium-Duty65,000 Miles50,000 MilesToyo Open Country AT3
General Grabber ATXOff Road All Terrain TireReviewYesAverageDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantElegantHeavy-Duty60,000 Miles50,000 MilesGeneral Grabber ATX
BF Goodrich KO2Off Road All Terrain TireReviewYesDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentDecentDecentElegantElegantHeavy-DutyN/A50,000 MilesBF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
Sumitomo Encounter ATOff Road All Terrain TireReviewYesDecentDecentAverageDecentDecentDecentElegantAverageDecentAverageLight-Duty60,000 Miles60,000 MilesSumitomo Encounter AT
Firestone Destination XTOff Road All Terrain TireReviewYesAverageDecentElegantDecentElegantDecentDecentAverageDecentDecentHeavy-DutyN/A50,000 MilesFirestone Destination X/T
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLTOn Road All Terrain TireReviewNoDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentDecentAverageElegantAverageHeavy-DutyN/A60,000 MilesCooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
Falken Wildpeak AT TrailOn Road All Terrain TireReviewYesDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentDecentElegantAverageLight-Duty65,000 MilesN/AFalken Wildpeak AT Trail
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4SOn Road All Terrain TireReviewYesElegantDecentElegantElegantElegantElegantElegantDecentDecentFairy WellLight-Duty65,000 MilesN/ACooper Discoverer AT3 4S
Firestone Destination AT2On Road All Terrain TireReviewYesDecentElegantElegantElegantElegantDecentElegantAverageDecentAverageLight-Duty55,000 MilesN/AFirestone Destination AT2

BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A

On Road All Terrain TireReviewYesElegantElegantDecentElegantElegantDecentDecentAverageDecentAverageLight-Duty60,000N/ABF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A
Toyo Open Country R/T TrailRugged Terrain TireReviewYesDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentHeavy-Duty45,000 Miles45,000 MilesToyo Open Country R/T Trail
Falken Wildpeak R/TRugged Terrain TireReviewNoDecentDecentAverageAverageDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentHeavy-Duty50,000 Miles50,000 MilesFalken Wildpeak R/T
Pathfinder AT TireOn Road All Terrain TireReviewYesAverageAverageDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentAverageDecentAverageLight-Duty55,00050,000Discount Tire Exclusive Product
Nitto Ridge GrapplerRugged Terrain TireReviewNoDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentHeavy-DutyN/AN/ANitto Ridge Grappler
General Grabber APTOn Road All Terrain TireReviewYesDecentDecentAverageDecentDecentDecentDecentAverageDecentFairy WellMedium-Duty60,000 Miles60,000 MilesGeneral Grabber APT
Vredestein Pinza ATOn Road All Terrain TireReviewYesElegantDecentDecentElegantDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentAverageMedium-Duty70,000 Miles50,000 MilesVredestein Pinza AT
Nitto Recon GrapplerOff Road All Terrain TireReviewNoDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentAverageElegantDecentMedium-Duty65,000 Miles55,000 MilesNitto Recon Grappler
Michelin Defender LTX M/SHighway TireReviewNoElegantElegantElegantDecentElegantDecentDecentFairy WellDecentFairy WellHeavy-Duty55,000 – 70,000 Miles55,000 – 70,000 MilesMichelin Defender LTX M/S
Kenda Klever R/TRugged Terrain TireReviewNoAverageDecentAverageDecentDecentDecentDecentFairy WellDecentDecentHeavy-DutyN/AN/AKenda Klever R/T
Goodyear Wrangler Territory ATOn Road All Terrain TireReviewNoDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentAverageElegantDecentMedium-DutyN/AN/AGoodyear Wrangler Territory AT
Goodyear Wrangler UltraTerrain ATOff Road All Terrain TireReviewYesDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentAverageDecentFairy WellMedium-DutyN/AN/ADiscount Tire Exclusive Product
Continental Terrain Contact H/THighway TireReviewNoElegantElegantElegantElegantElegantDecentAveragePoorDecentPoorHeavy-Duty70,000 Miles60,000 MilesContinental TerrainContact H/T
Patriot R/TRugged Terrain TireReviewYesAverageAverageAverageDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentMedium-DutyN/AN/APatriot R/T+
Kenda Klever AT2Off Road All Terrain TireReviewYesDecentAverageAverageDecentDecentDecentDecentAverageDecentAverageMedium-Duty60,000 Miles50,000 MilesKenda Klever AT2
Yokohama Geolander AT G015On Road All Terrain TireReviewYesElegantDecentAverageElegantElegantDecentDecentAverageAveragePoorLight-Duty60,000 Miles50,000 MilesYokohama Geolandar AT G015
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss ATRugged Terrain TireReviewYes (315 or narrower width)DecentDecentAverageDecentElegantDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentMedium-Duty50,000 Miles60,000 MilesMickey Thompson Baja Boss AT

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:

https://tireterrain.com/how-to-make-tires-last-longer/

Road Noise

Due to its building intent, BFG KO2 offers better on-road manners

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.

A side note here: Understanding the snow performance of all-terrain tires can be quite challenging. For those who find it perplexing, I’d like to direct your attention to a helpful resource: “6 Best All-Terrain Tires for Snow by AT Tire Category“ This article is specifically designed to assist you in making informed decisions regarding all-terrain tires in snowy conditions.

Off-Road Performance

Kinda in love with BFG KM3's appearance

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.

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.

  • A side note here: If you’d like to see the best all-terrain tires by vehicle or usage, this article is GOOOOLD –> https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/

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 KO2BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain KM3
CategoryAll-Terrain TireMud-Terrain Tire
VehicleLight Truck, SUVLight Truck, SUV
Available Sizes (Rim)15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’
Weight34-78 lbs37 – 89 lbs
Made InOpelika, AL, USAOpelika, AL, USA
Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF)YesNo (Only M+S)
Warranty (P-metric)50,000 MilesN/A
Warranty (LT Sizes)50,000 MilesN/A
PricesCheck price section to see best possible pricesCheck price section to see best possible prices

🚨 Breaking News Alert! 🚨

Hold onto your seats because I’m thrilled to introduce the all-new BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 – the next evolution of the fan-favorite KO2! And the excitement doesn’t stop there – this beast is now available in two additional OEM sizes: LT285/70R17 and LT275/65R20. Get ready for the ultimate off-road experience with the KO3!

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 forOff-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
ProsInsane off-road traction,
tough sidewalls,
long-lasting rubber for a mud-terrain tire
Insane winter traction,
unique handling
mild & severe off-road traction
ConsNoisy and stiff ride, poor winter and ice performanceA bit noisy

A Quick Check List:

  • 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 index & 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

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!

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/

Filed Under: All Terrain Tires, Mud Terrain Tires Tagged With: bf goodrich, BF Goodrich KM3, bf goodrich ko2, Comparisons

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Hey, it's Emre. I'm the proud dad of two cats, a former Bridgestone field engineer, and I hold degrees in Civil and Industrial engineering. I'm also a firm believer in the motto that "bigger is better." Read More…

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