BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A is a unique addition to BF Goodrich’s tire lineup, primarily catering to the p-metric tire category. This on-road all-terrain tire is specifically designed for CUVs, SUVs, and light-duty pickup trucks, particularly the 1/2-ton variants. In this article, I will provide a technical evaluation of the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A and shed light on what you can anticipate from this tire. Let’s delve into the details!
| 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 |
In my assessment, the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A presents a compelling package. It provides long-lasting rubber and maintains a commendable balance between comfort, handling, and road noise. While it might lag slightly in wet and mud performance compared to some competitors, it excels in off-road capabilities within its segment. I recommend BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A for individuals seeking improved on-road manners without compromising the durability expected from an all-terrain tire, similar to the BF Goodrich KO2.
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.
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Table of Contents
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!