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BFGoodrich KO3 vs KO2: Is the Upgrade Worth It in 2025?

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Real test data, off-road insights, and daily-driving impact — from a former Bridgestone engineer

There’s been a lot of confusion (and debate) between the BFGoodrich KO2 and the newly released KO3 — especially since many retailers still stock both, but don’t clearly explain what’s actually changed. I’ve tracked BFGoodrich’s product roadmap, compared both tires side by side across thousands of miles, and confirmed the technical updates through my own tests and benchmark data. This post breaks it all down — no fluff, no brand bias, just real-world results.

Side-by-side comparison shot: Fresh BF Goodrich KO3 on the left, showing off its new tread pattern, and the seasoned KO2 on the right, with visible wear, revealing more voids

BFGoodrich KO3

Better wet braking, stronger snow/ice control, and more confidence on-road — all while keeping BFG’s famous off-road strength. KO3 is a safer, more balanced version of the original. Perfect for those who want peace of mind in all conditions without giving up trail performance.

✅ Great for mixed-use trucks, 4Runners, Tacomas, and overlanders who need durability plus daily usability.

See KO3 Deals on Tire Rack

BFGoodrich KO2

The legend. Built like a tank with stiff sidewalls and brutal off-road grip. Still unmatched in sheer toughness and aired-down control. But wet pavement? That’s where it lags — especially when stopping quickly.

✅ Great for off-road purists, desert runners, or anyone needing a rock-solid tire in remote or punishing terrain.

See KO2 Deals on Tire Rack

See KO2 Pricing on Amazon

Nobody Knows Better Than Data

As a former Bridgestone test engineer, I’ve tested hundreds of tires—and trust me, data never lies. That’s why I recommend using TireRack’s Decision Guide. Just enter your vehicle, choose what matters most, and it gives you test-backed recommendations that actually fit your needs.

👉 Try it here: https://www.tirerack.com/tire-decision-guide

Want to see how I use it? Check out my full walkthrough here.

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:

Table of Contents

🧪 KO3 vs KO2 Test Data

Performance MetricKO2 (Legacy)KO3 (Updated)
Wet Braking213.8 ft ❌184.0 ft ✅
Winter Braking75.0 ft72.3 ft
Ice Braking55.4 ft53.3 ft
Dry Stopping139.5 ft141.0 ft
Comfort (Score)6.30/106.42/10
Dry Cornering0.69g0.69g

🚿 Wet Braking: KO3 Finally Solves KO2’s Biggest Weakness

What changed?
The KO3 uses an updated all-terrain compound that’s more compliant at moderate temperatures. Siping density is increased, especially across the inner tread blocks. Tread voids were slightly rebalanced to reduce hydroplaning under heavy load.

In testing, the KO3 stops nearly 30 feet shorter than the KO2 in the rain — a huge leap in safety and confidence for drivers who frequently deal with wet roads. That extra margin can make or break an emergency situation.

Tread Design Insight
KO3’s center ribs are more siped and segmented for better water dispersion. While the aggressive outer shoulders remain, BFG shifted some biting edge real estate toward the centerline — enhancing straight-line grip in wet conditions without sacrificing off-road bite.

❄️ Winter & Ice: KO3 Handles Panic Stops More Predictably

What changed?
Both tires wear the 3PMSF badge, but the KO3 received a geometry tweak in the shoulder and block siping. The tread compound has slightly better cold flexibility — critical for biting into ice and compact snow.

In testing, KO3 stopped 2.7 feet shorter on snow and 2.1 feet shorter on ice. While that might seem small, I’ve driven both on frozen parking lots and snow-packed fire roads — and the KO3 gives a more stable, less twitchy feel under panic braking.

Compound Note
The silica content in KO3’s compound was increased for better winter elasticity, giving it a more “grippy” feel on glassy surfaces compared to the stiffer KO2 rubber.

🪨 Off-Road Toughness: Still a Tank — With a Small Mud Advantage

No downgrade here
BFG kept the CoreGard™ sidewall protection, stone ejectors, and interlocking tread blocks that made KO2 legendary. KO3 retains a 3-ply sidewall in LT sizes and has the same aggressive casing structure, so rock crawling, sharp-edge gravel, and heavy articulation remain fully supported.

What’s improved?
KO3’s outer shoulder lugs were slightly reshaped with a more open void ratio, which improves mud and wet sand evacuation. On my Arizona test loop, that meant less sidewall suction and better “pull” when airing down in clay-heavy ruts.

Weight & Reinforcement
Despite the updates, KO3’s weight is comparable to KO2 in most sizes — averaging just 0.5–1 lb heavier in some LT versions due to increased material on the tread base for longer life.

🚘 On-Road Comfort & Noise: Slightly Quieter, More Composed

After 63,000 KM (40,000 miles), KO2 still have most of its tread. You can see the minor chipping. Yet, it's totally fine at this wear level

What changed?
KO3’s center blocks are more varied in pitch sequencing, and its void-to-rubber ratio was subtly tuned to smooth out impact noise. It’s not a highway cruiser, but KO3 creates less cabin rumble on concrete and slightly smoother transitions on broken asphalt.

Why it matters
For long-distance overlanders or weekend warriors who split time between trails and freeways, the KO3’s better road manners reduce fatigue and vibration. KO2, while capable, could feel “blocky” on-road — especially after 30K miles when it started to cup.

🚙 Fitment & Use Case Breakdown: Which One Fits Your Vehicle?

Looking at the BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO3 on the left and the KO2 on the other left, you'll notice a subtle difference—specifically, the KO3 has a slightly higher land-to-groove ratio. This means the KO3 features more rubber in contact with the road, which contributes to its improved on-road performance.
Use Case / Vehicle TypeKO2 ✅KO3 ✅
3/4-Ton & 1-Ton Trucks✅ Better for Towing Stability✅ Slightly Softer, May Squirm Under Load
½-Ton Pickups (F-150, Tundra, etc.)✅ Very Stiff Ride✅ Better Balance of Comfort + Control
Mid-Size SUVs (4Runner, Tacoma)🚫 Feels Harsh Unloaded✅ More Compliant & Safer on Pavement
Full-Time Off-Road Builds✅ Casing Still Legendary✅ Same Sidewall, Better Mud Clearance
Towing/Hauling✅ KO2’s Stiffness Helps Stability🚫 KO3 Slightly Softer in Rear Under Load
Overland/Daily Mix🚫 Less Road Comfort✅ Much Improved Wet Grip, Ride Feel
Winter Use (Snowbelt)✅ Passes 3PMSF✅ Better Ice Control, Faster Panic Stops

💡 Rule of Thumb:

  • Heavy rigs with trailers → KO2

  • Midsize trucks, snow driving, or mixed-use → KO3

💬 Reddit Speaks: What Real Drivers Think

“KO3 feels tighter on-road. Same beast off-road, but wet grip finally isn’t terrifying.”
— u/TacomaTrailDad

“KO2 lasted me 55k on a Tacoma. If KO3 gives me that and better stopping, I’m sold.”
— u/OffroadDadAZ

“Did a KO2 to KO3 switch — ice braking in the Rockies is smoother. Still built like a tank.”
— u/MontanaRig

🧪 Tested & Ranked: All-Terrain Tires That Actually Deliver

Tire Name
Dry Stopping (60–0 mph)
Dry Cornering (g-force)
Noise & Comfort
Wet Performance General
Wet Cornering (g-force)
Wet Traction (Standing)
Wet Stopping (60–0 mph)
Winter Stopping (25–0 mph)
Snow Acceleration (0–12 mph)
Overall Snow Performance
Ice Acceleration (sec to 60 ft)
Stopping Distance Ice
126.0
0.74
6.33
7.5
0.61
0.57
158.0
86.9
45.2
3.67
6.06
47.8
132.0
0.74
7.08
7.25
0.59
0.53
167.0
71.5
42.5
4.83
5.79
44.4
132.0
0.72
6.58
6.06
0.57
0.52
171.0
82.3
49.1
5.33
5.96
47.5
133.0
0.72
7.33
6.19
0.58
0.54
170.0
76.8
40.5
5.5
6.61
47.4
140.0
0.7
6.83
4.25
0.48
0.42
192.0
76.6
45.5
4.5
5.94
46.5
139.0
0.7
6.0
5.19
0.53
0.47
180.0
72.5
47.4
5.67
5.75
52.3
141.0
0.69
6.42
5.31
0.51
0.45
184.0
72.3
46.4
5.0
6.23
53.3
141.0
0.7
6.08
4.31
0.52
0.47
177.0
71.8
47.8
4.33
6.04
48.5
144.4
0.69
6.60
5.0
0.5
0.43
213.8
76.0
46.0
5.0
6.2
51.0
132.4
0.78
6.75
5.40
0.55
0.48
202.4
75.5
45.5
4.9
6.15
50.5
126.6
0.8
6.84
6.25
0.61
0.55
187.9
74.5
44.5
5.4
5.95
48.0
129.6
0.75
5.80
4.75
0.56
0.47
203.0
78.0
47.7
4.70
6.05
55.7

On the table above, you’ll find our real-world test results across top all-terrain tires — including dry, wet, snow, and ice performance. All tested, not guessed.

🧠 Final Verdict: KO3 vs KO2 in 2025

Choose KO3 if you want…

  • Peace of mind on wet highways and snow-packed roads

  • A more livable ride for daily and trail use

  • Slightly better mud evacuation and safer panic braking

See KO3 Deals on Tire Rack

Stick with KO2 if you…

  • Already have them and don’t drive in much rain

  • Haul heavy loads or tow regularly

  • Prefer a stiffer, battle-ready tire with years of proven field use

See KO2 Pricing on Amazon


See KO2 Deals on Tire Rack

✍️ From the Trail to the Highway: My Take

I’ve spent thousands of miles testing these two on everything from Arizona sandstone to Colorado ice. If you’re still running KO2s and they serve you well, there’s no rush. But if you’re shopping new and care about safety in rain or winter — or just want something a bit more livable for your commute — KO3 is the futureproof pick.

Stay safe out there. Your tires matter more than you think.
— Emrecan Gurkan, former Bridgestone Test Engineer

For those who prefer to see whole market analyze:

A couple of popular size analyses:

Want to learn more about all-terrain tires:

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