BF Goodrich KO2 and Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac are both all-terrain tires that cater to different needs. While the Goodyear Duratrac is primarily designed for commercial usage, the BF Goodrich KO2 has a broader application range and can be used in various scenarios. However, the Goodyear Duratrac is favored by many as a daily tire due to its satisfactory on-road performance. It’s worth noting that the BF Goodrich KO2 is mostly available in LT sizes, which are known for their ruggedness. As such, determining which tire is better for you depends on your specific expectations and requirements. Let’s evaluate both options and find the one that suits your usage needs best!
At a Glance
| Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac | BF Goodrich KO2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Heavy and medium duty operations, snowy regions, lifted vehicles | Smooth & quiet highway driving, dry regions |
| Pros | Insane off-road traction, tough sidewalls, studdable tread, trusthworthy winter performance | Insane wet and snow traction, mild & severe off-road traction, responsiveness |
| Cons | Noisy and stiff ride | A bit noisy |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price Goodyear: Check Price Amazon: Check Price | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, I must say the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac is one impressive all-terrain tire. Not only does it have a rugged and aggressive appearance that commands attention, but it also boasts slightly better winter performance. Whether you’re tackling snowy roads or venturing off-road, the Duratrac delivers a solid performance. On the flip side, the BF Goodrich KO2 is a true all-rounder, capable of handling any challenge you throw at it. Its superior on-road manners make it a fantastic choice for everyday driving. When it comes down to choosing between these two tires, it ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences.
All-Terrain Tires Buyer's Guide
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 ‘All-Terrain Tire Buyer’s Guide‘ 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 - Are all-terrain tires good for daily driving?
https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-for-daily-driving/ - Are all-terrain tires good in snow?
https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-snow/ - Are all-terrain tires good in rain?
https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-rain/ - Most aggressive all-terrain tires
https://tireterrain.com/most-aggressive-all-terrain-tires/ - All-Terrain vs Highway vs Mud-Terrain Tires
https://tireterrain.com/highway-tires-vs-all-terrain-vs-mud-terrain/
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
Good to Know
In this section, I will share basic but crucial data with you guys.
- Wrangler Duratrac and BFG KO2 are both available for 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20” and, 22” inches rims. Distictly, Duratrac is available on 19” rims on different sizes.
- Wrangler Duratrac(comparison) is a slightly taller tire due to its higher tread depth. It has 2/32” deeper tread grooves almost in every size.
- BF Goodrich KO2(review) is a broader tire. That makes it look more aggressive than its competitor. Moreover, this feature enhances its traction capability.
- BF Goodrich KO2 is a heavier tire
- While BF Goodrich KO2 is available for C, D, and E load ranges depending on size, Wrangler Duratrac can be found on F Load ranges also. Well, that’s the advantage of being a commercial tire.
Durability
Durability is vital for all-terrain tires. They should be tough enough to prevent external impacts like sharp stones or rock edges. Moreover, their compound should have enough cut and chipping resistance to provide decent wear life.
Everybody knows that BF Goodrich KO2 has one of the strongest sidewalls in the market. BF Goodrich applied CoreGard technology on this tire that improves sidewall durability by 20%. The previous KO tire was good enough but this one is indestructible.
Regarding Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac, E-rated ones had 3-ply sidewalls when they have released. However, Goodyear has decided to change Wrangler’s internal structure due to increasing its comfort. Well, the 3-ply sidewall option isn’t available anymore.
Even though it doesn’t have a 3-ply sidewall, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac is a durable tire. Especially LT sizes.
I can confidently say that both tires are extremely durable for LT sizes. If you wanna use floating metric size, I recommend you to go with BF Goodrich KO2.
Tread Life
Regarding tread life, they’re not perfect like Toyo Open Country AT3 or General Grabber ATX. However, with a couple of tips, you can get a decent tread life from both of them.
In this case, we have two different tire designs. BF Goodrich KO2 is more stable in the field of design and tread life. It has the same sidewall in every design and that makes this tire not perfect but above average for every size. So, BF Goodrich KO2 is a safe side pick for me.
Let’s move on to Duratrac. Things are a bit more complicated for it. First of all, if you’ll use this tire on diesel or heavy trucks, you should definitely go with LT sizes. This tire has a fluffy compound. So, it needs a tougher internal structure to tolerate the heavyweight. On the other hand, its floating sizes provide extremely satisfying tread life for the vehicles like Jeep or Rubicon.
In my point of view, Goodyear has changed Wrangler’s application range with sidewall alteration. In fact, it seems like they also change to compound with the softer one. However, due to the higher load range and wider pattern, it offers better traction on loaded applications like hauling or towing. Yet, I don’t recommend upsizing over %3.
I recommend BF Goodrich KO2 for 3/4 ton or above light trucks. For the rest, have fun with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac.
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:
Dry Performance
The dry performance of all-terrain tires can be evaluated under three different categories. One of them is dry traction which is generally not an issue for all-terrain tires due to their massive traction capability. However, the other two are related to handling(steering response and cornering stability) and aren’t easy to optimize.
Let’s talk about them one by one.
Dry Traction
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac and BF Goodrich KO2 are known for their traction capability. Well, expecting nothing less than perfect isn’t acceptable from my side.
Due to their lug-type patterns and tons of biting edges, both of them have phenomenal dry traction capability. Yet, Duratrac is slightly ahead due to their extended void area.
Steering Response
Steering response is hard to reach for all-terrain tires. Due to their heavy internal structures and gappy footprints, these tires have a relatively slower steering response compared to the highway-terrain or all-season tires.
In our benchmarking, the race is tight. While Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac is a lighter tire, BFG KO2 has less void area which provides a fulfilled contact patch.
Both tires have a decent steering response. Yet, I recommend Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac for lifted SUVs, off-road vehicles like Jeep Wrangler, or 1/2 ton light trucks due to their lightweight. On the other hand, BF Goodrich can be used for any application but it’s an especially better selection for large SUVs like GMC Yukon and 3/4 and above light trucks.
Cornering Stability
Cornering stability is where these two are separated. In this case, solid sidewalls play a crucial role and help the tire to keep its shape while cornering at high speeds. Hereby, you don’t feel like floating.
Even though I like Goodyear tires, 2-ply sidewalls don’t work very well for most vehicles. So, cornering stability isn’t an alpha plus for Duratrac. Particularly for heavy vehicles. On the other hand, BF Goodrich KO2 has one of the strongest sidewalls in the market. No matter how heavy your vehicle is, it provides huge cornering stability.
BF Goodrich KO2 is the winner of this section the whole day long.
Comfort
Beneath the comfort, two features are lying up. Compound and sidewall stiffness.
Compound stiffness is the main decision-maker. All-terrain tires mostly have stiffer compounds due to increased cut and chipping durability. In that case, Wrangler Duratrac has a softer compound. Hence, it provides smoother ride.
The result is the same for sidewall stiffness also. I’ve mentioned the thickness of the sidewall in the durability section. BF Goodrich KO2 has very strong sidewalls. As a result, it has a slight flexibility problem under the high inflation pressure.
Goodyear Duratrac is a better choice for smooth city driving.
Road Noise
Road noise is mostly about void area distribution. Narrower gaps help to decrease road noise.
BF Goodrich KO2’s tread design promises more in that case. Well-placed small blocks increase acoustic performance significantly. On the other hand, Duratrac has an average noise reduction performance. Its narrowed center section blocks reduce the noise level, though, its tread is deep-seated. Therefore, airflow inside the tread tends to make more noise.
The difference isn’t huge, though, BF Goodrich KO2 has better noise reduction.
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
Vibration
This part is mostly about how easily you can balance your tire. Well, a cheap tire doesn’t stay cheap as long as you spend a lot of money on balance.
In this case, Duratrac’s deep tread makes it hard to balance. Even though it’s balanced while mounting, it might need another balance in further time. Especially for heavy-duty usage. Therefore, you must pay attention to rotation timing. On the other hand, nothing much to say about BF Goodrich KO2. Legend stays legend for this section.
BF Goodrich KO2 is a better option in that case. That difference is minor.
Wet Performance
Wet is where most all-terrains fail. Well, it causes by deep treads and stiff compounds. Stiff compound decreases gripping ability and deep treads decrease evacuation ability.
In that case, hydroplaning resistance and wet traction are our evaluation points.
Regarding wet grip, the battle is close. However, Wrangler Duratrac steps ahead with better notched and softer rubber. These are the main characteristics of solid wet traction.
On the other hand, I can’t say the same things for hydroplaning resistance. Well, they’re close. However, BF Goodrich KO2 has a better shoulder design for water evacuation.
Both tires are trustworthy, you can go either way. However, I recommend BF Goodrich KO2 if you’re a fast driver.
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
The good news, both tires are rated with 3-peak mountain snowflake marking. That means they are able to work in severe winter conditions. Yet, they perform differently due to their technical features.
Light Snow
Light snow capability shows similarity with wet performance. When heated tires touch the surface, light snow swiftly turns into water. So, gripping and evacuation ability on the wet ground become a priority.
Whether BFG KO2 or Wrangler Duratrac is a trustworthy option in that case. Yet, in my point of view, Wrangler Duratrac is a slightly better tire on light snow.
Deep Snow
Deep snow is where these two are shining. They have different strong points due to their specific designs.
Wrangler Duratrac has deeper tread grooves. That is crucial for deep snow traction. However, BF Goodrich KO2’s staggered shoulder design improves the traction on loose grounds significantly.
Both are reliable options. You can confidently go either way.
Ice Traction
All-terrain tire’s ice traction is always questionable. Most of them have a stiffer compound and insufficient contact patch for better grip.
Well, BF Goodrich KO2 definitely has a better ice performance due to its optimized contact patch(less void area works better in that case). However, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac has a stud option which makes you kind of icy grounds.
The battle is close, I recommend BF Goodrich KO2 if you’re not going to use studded Wrangler Duratrac.
Off-Road Performance
Indeed, I’ve talked about the features that affect off-road performance in winter and durability sections. Yet, I will explain them shortly again in the below sections.
Gravel and Dirt
Gravel and dirt aren’t an issue for these beasts. Yet, due to the high void area ratio, Wrangler Duratrac has better traction on loose grounds.
Mud
Mud driving is all about self-cleaning capability and loose ground traction ability. In both cases, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac has an advantage. Due to its wide grooves and deep tread, its mud performance is slightly better than BF Goodrich KO2. On the other hand, BF Goodrich KO2 is still a solid option for both deep and light mud.
You can confidently use both of them. These’re perfect tires for mud driving.
If you’re looking for a solid mud-terrain tire, I recommend you to check this article out!
Sand
Let’s keep it short. BF Goodrich KO2 is your tire if you love to go to the beach. Duratrac’s deep treads dig to loose sand and get you stuck in a minute.
Rock
Let me tell you something. There is no way Duratrac’s weak sidewall can bear to rock crawling.
BF Goodrich KO2 is the king of rock crawling.
Specs
| BF Goodrich KO2 | Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-Terrain Tire | Commercial All-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 19’’, 20” |
| Weight | 34 – 78 lbs | 35 – 68 lbs |
| Made In | Opelika, AL, USA | United States |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | Yes (3PMSF) | Yes (3PMSF) |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 50,000 Miles | 50,000 Miles |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 50,000 Miles | 50,000 Miles |
| Prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check 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,
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
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/goodyear-wrangler-duratrac
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2
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
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/goodyear-wrangler-duratrac
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2
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
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac: https://simpletire.com/brands/goodyear-tires/wrangler-duratrac
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://simpletire.com/brands/bfgoodrich-tires/all-terrain-t-a-ko2
Goodyear
- Price match guarantee ( if you find a lower price online 14 days after purchase, Goodyear will pay back to price difference)
- The rebate option is mostly available
- The warranty process is the easiest
- Monthly payment is available
- You can use any locale dealer that has an agreement with a Goodyear for an installation
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac: https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/wrangler-duratrac
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
Even though Wrangler Duratrac has been released as a commercial truck tire, it’s clear that Goodyear has changed the intended use of this tire. Duratrac become a lifted vehicle tire in time.
- Passenger metric sizes of Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac have a very low UTQG rating. Hence, I recommend LT sizes for light trucks.
- Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac is an aggressive tire. Hence, if responsiveness is your priority, I recommend going with BF Goodrich KO2.
- BF Goodrich KO2 is better for an adventure, and Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac is better for heavy and medium-duty operations.
- I like Wrangler Duratrac better on lifted trucks
| Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac | BF Goodrich KO2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Heavy and medium duty operations, snowy regions, lifted vehicles | Smooth & quiet highway driving, dry regions |
| Pros | Insane off-road traction, tough sidewalls, studdable tread, trusthworthy winter performance | Insane wet and snow traction, mild & severe off-road traction, responsiveness |
| Cons | Noisy and stiff ride | A bit noisy |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price Goodyear: 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 helps you to decide. If you have any further questions, please leave them below!
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