Even though they belong to different segments, comparing the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 against the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is like deciding the winner between two titans.
Both tires feature state-of-the-art materials and treads inspired by BFG’s decades of experience in off-road racing worldwide.
Which will prevail? We’ll soon find out.
Photo credit: youtube.com
TL;DR: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
Before we begin this exciting comparison, let’s briefly review what makes these two tires unique.
BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3
[amazon fields=”B07H4PP1SC” image=”1″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_link=”none”]
PROS
- Rugged construction
- Unrivaled off-road performance
- Excellent wet and dry performance
- Outperforms the previous generation in every respect
CONS
- Fair ice traction
- No Treadwear warranty
Best For:
Ideal for drivers of Jeeps, light trucks, SUVs, and off-road vehicles who love the challenge of overcoming the toughest terrain and the most daring obstacles.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
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PROS
- Built to last
- Rated for severe snow use
- Incredible on- and off-road performance
- Good overall ride quality and noise levels
CONS
- Compared to the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3, none worth mentioning
Best For:
Drivers of SUVs, pickup trucks, and Jeeps who require a rugged, durable tire with outstanding on- and off-road grip.
Performance Ratings: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
The first difference worth noting between these tires has to do with the reliability of their ratings. On the one hand, we have the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, a tire with more than 16M reported miles. This undoubtedly makes its position in the On-/Off-Road All-Terrain segment (6 out of 29) quite stable.
On the other side, we have the mighty BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3, a relatively recent tire, with only a little over 300k miles reported by users. Needless to say, although the BFG KM3 is currently ranked 2 out of 6 in the Off-Road Maximum Traction segment, this could change for the better or, the worse, as statistically, it does not have enough reviews yet.
However, we cannot overlook that the previous generation (BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2) showed remarkable performance in this segment, so the figures of the KM3 should not be underestimated.
For ease of navigation, we have listed below the links to the different categories in which these two extraordinary tires will be compared.
Feel free to click on any of them to go directly to that section.
- Off-Road Performance
- Dry Performance
- Wet Performance
- Snow / Ice Performance
- Comfort Performance
- Treadwear Performance
- Warranty
- Specs & Options
- Reviews
Photo credit: off-road.com
Off-Road Performance: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
|
Off-Road Performance Ratings |
KM3 |
KO2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Off-Road Overall |
9.5 |
9.0 |
|
Dirt Performance |
9.7 |
9.4 |
|
Sand Performance |
9.2 |
8.9 |
|
Mud Performance |
9.8 |
8.7 |
|
Rock Performance |
9.5 |
9.1 |
The off-road performance results are revealing. The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 exhibits near-perfect results on all types of terrain, which should come as no surprise since it is a specially designed tire. A pleasant surprise is how close the All-Terrain T/A KO2 is to the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 in dirty, sandy, and rocky terrains. In this category, the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 claims the victory thanks to its unique Krawl-Tek Compound and improved Terrain-Attack tread design. Nevertheless, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 proves that it is also an excellent choice for tackling all types of trails.
Dry Performance: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
|
Dry Performance Ratings |
KM3 |
KO2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Dry Overall |
9.0 |
9.1 |
|
Cornering Stability |
8.9 |
8.9 |
|
Dry Traction |
9.2 |
9.3 |
|
Steering Response |
9.0 |
8.9 |
Definitely, in the dry performance category, the roles are completely reversed. As expected, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 comes out on top (it is an all-terrain tire, after all) but only by a tiny margin. Although the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3’s ratings may vary, that doesn’t change the fact that its dry performance is outstanding, especially considering it is designed for off-road performance.
That said, both tires feature an aggressive tread pattern with large tread blocks, so it is a great achievement that both offer such high cornering stability and steering response performance. Simply put, both tires are excellent choices for driving in normal dry conditions.
Wet Performance: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
|
Wet Performance Ratings |
KM3 |
KO2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Wet Overall |
8.6 |
8.6 |
|
Hydroplaning Resistance |
8.7 |
8.8 |
|
Wet Traction |
9.4 |
8.5 |
The importance of wet performance can make the difference between using (or not) an off-road tire for city/highway driving. In that regard, BFGoodrich has done an excellent job. Both these tires deliver remarkable wet performance and enviable hydroplaning resistance.
Despite the differences in the number of reviews, we dare say there is a tie in this category. In short, if you live in an area where rainfall is frequent, both of these options will provide safe handling for your Jeep, light truck, or SUV.
Snow / Ice Performance: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
|
Snow / Ice Performance Ratings |
KM3 |
KO2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Snow / Ice Overall |
8.0 |
8.7 |
|
Light Snow Traction |
8.6 |
9.2 |
|
Deep Snow Traction |
8.9 |
8.9 |
|
Ice Traction |
6.4 |
7.9 |
The difference between the two titans we are comparing begins to show in this category. While it is true that the overall snow/ice performance of the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is excellent, it is also true that its ratings are below that of its rival, especially when it comes to traction on ice. The explanation is simple. The All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires meet the industry’s severe snow service requirements, to the point that it comes with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.
On the other hand, as already mentioned, the goal of the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is to become the benchmark in off-road activities. In other words, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is the undisputed winner in this category, so if you are looking for the best snow/ice performance, the KO2 is your best choice.
Comfort Performance: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
|
Comfort Performance Ratings |
KM3 |
KO2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Overall Comfort |
8.0 |
8.3 |
|
Ride Quality |
8.8 |
8.5 |
|
Noise |
7.2 |
8.1 |
Interestingly, this is a category where we would expect to see poor performance from both tires. Conversely, we can see that despite the type of tread pattern used, both these tires offer acceptable ride quality and noise levels.
That said, when it comes to declaring a winner, it is evident that the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is better equipped to offer a pleasant driving experience during commuting. If you are looking for a tire with outstanding off-road qualities that can also offer comfort in the city, then the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is for you.
Treadwear Performance: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
|
Treadwear Performance Ratings |
KM3 |
KO2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Treadwear |
8.5 |
8.2 |
Both these offerings feature a cut-, chip- and tear-resistant tread compound as well as a robust internal structure with double steel belts and BFGoodrich’s TriGard, 3-ply polyester cord sidewall ply construction. Both tires are built to withstand the toughest terrain on the planet. It’s no wonder they both have an excellent Treadwear rating.
This is another category where we are in the presence of a tie. If your main concern is to buy a rugged tire with a strong emphasis on toughness and durability, inside and out, then either tire is a good choice.
Warranty: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
|
Warranty Type |
KM3 |
KO2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Treadlife Warranty |
Unfortunately, none |
6-year warranty or 50,000 miles (whichever occurs first) |
|
Uniformity Warranty |
One year of use or the first 2/32″ of wear |
One year of use or the first 2/32″ of wear |
|
Workmanship / Materials Warranty |
6-year warranty and free tire replacement for the first year, 2/32″ wear, or 25% wear |
6-year warranty and free tire replacement for the first year, 2/32″ wear, or 25% wear |
|
Road Hazard Warranty |
None |
None |
|
Tire Rack Road Hazard Warranty |
Refunds of up to $40 for repairs per tire per occurrence. Refund of the original purchase price or replacement purchase price (whichever is less) when the tire suffers non-repairable damage (valid within the first 2 years of use) |
Refunds of up to $40 for repairs per tire per occurrence. Refund of the original purchase price or replacement purchase price (whichever is less) when the tire suffers non-repairable damage (valid within the first 2 years of use) |
Although both share similar figures in several categories, in terms of warranty, there is a big difference between the two. Since the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is an off-road-focused tire, it does not have a Treadlife warranty. This definitely makes the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 a better choice for combined on-/off-road use for most drivers.
Specs & Options: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
In terms of market coverage, both tires are available in a wide variety of sizes. If we talk about the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3, this tire is available in sizes ranging from 15 inches to 20 inches and rim widths from 215 to 325. The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is available in the same rim widths but for wheels from 15 inches to 22 inches.
As for the UTQG, since they are off-road tires, they are not obliged to comply with this DOT requirement. If you want to know more about the UTQG, we invite you to read this article.
As you would expect from two tires that are leaders in their respective segments, both are available in the most common sizes, so you will have no difficulty finding the right tire for your Jeep, light truck, or SUV.
Reviews: BFGoodrich KM3 vs KO2
There is no doubt that both these tires have the admiration of drivers who have used them. Satisfaction levels are off the charts. This is a good sign for the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 as it is a tire with few reviews.
Photo credit: expeditionportal.com
By analyzing the information from these reviews, we have seen that the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is mostly used in combined Highway/City and Off-Road/Highway conditions, which is the purpose for which it was designed.
On the other hand, as expected, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is widely used off-road; however, we were surprised that it also has a good percentage of combined Off-Road/Highway use. We find out that many drivers use them on rough country roads rather than off-road adventures, which may explain this.
When it comes to durability, you can see how the All-Terrain T/A KO2 has a lot of feedback from people who have used it for over 50k miles, many of them even over 70k miles. While we can’t say the same for the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3, it’s worth remembering that it has the potential for a long life if not abused.
The only thing that can be added after reviewing in detail the reviews of these tires is that both have exceeded by a wide margin the expectations of the drivers who have used them. As has been the case throughout this article, no winner can be declared in this section, as both options are extremely capable of meeting any challenge that comes their way.
Quick Recap
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|
BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 |
|
|---|---|
|
Off-Road |
9.5 |
|
Dry |
9.0 |
|
Wet |
8.6 |
|
Snow / Ice |
8.0 |
|
Comfort |
8.0 |
|
Treadwear |
8.5 |
[amazon fields=”B00ROTHBEI” image=”1″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_link=”none”]
|
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 |
|
|---|---|
|
Off-Road |
9.0 |
|
Dry |
9.1 |
|
Wet |
8.6 |
|
Snow / Ice |
8.7 |
|
Comfort |
8.5 |
|
Treadwear |
8.2 |
End of the Road
All in all, despite their differences in terms of audience, manufacturer’s warranty, and snow/ice performance, both the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 and the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 are amazing tires. Both have all the qualities to take your vehicle’s off-road performance to the next level. Although the All-Terrain T/A KO2 is on paper a better choice for on-/off-road applications, both are fully capable of giving you an unparalleled driving experience. Our take? You can’t go wrong with either of these tires.