Why you need BFGoodrich KO3's for your truck

They took one of the most successful all-terrain tires in history, the KO2, and made it even better.

The KO2 is a solid choice for a do-all tire, but the engineers over at BFGoodrich went and made it even better. The new KO3 addresses the weakest points of its predecessor. Today we’re going to take an in-depth look at this new all-terrain offering from BFG, looking at the pros and cons (spoiler: there aren’t many cons).

You’ll see a lot of big claims thrown around by the manufacturer: ‘15% better performance than a KO2’... But, how? In what way?  Now that these have been out for a few months we have the advantage of seeing if they live up to the hype. We going to look at how these tires perform on various terrains compared to their predecessors, but also other AT tires like the ATW4 and Ridge Grappler.

Quick links

• 'OE' vs 'aftermarket' KO3
• KO3 overview
• KO3 mud performance
• KO3 snow & ice performance
• KO3 dirt, gravel & sand performance
• KO3 on-road performance

First, let’s clear something up

There are actually two versions of the KO3. Starting in 2023, BFG produced the KO3 for OEMs only, these would first be seen on 2024 model years of the Ranger Raptor, Silverado, and a few other trucks. It wasn’t until May 2024 that they released an updated ‘aftermarket’ version.

So how do you spot an OE KO3 vs an aftermarket one? The easiest is by looking at the center lug. The original KO3 has an ‘S’, while the updated version has a ‘caterpillar’ shape. To be fair, both are an improvement over the KO2, but the aftermarket version has a slight edge.

Overview of the KO3

BFG started with a clean sheet with the KO3. The main goal was to address the pitfalls of the KO2, which was undoubtedly its performance in wet conditions: snow, mud, or just standing water on the highway.

They are using new state-of-the-art equipment to form the KO3. This means updated sectional molds that are CNC machined rather than cast. These molds are ventless, making for a more uniform, burr-free final product. You get an all-around more uniform product from batch to batch, or just tire to tire. Before, you might occasionally run into a KO2 that was impossible to balance due to defects.

The compound has been updated to a harder, yet equally as comfortable material. And in the end, these tires come out slightly lighter than a KO2 of equal size.

Now, how do they compare in various conditions?

Mud performance

One of the biggest complaints about the KO2 was mud performance. It’s not that it was a complete dud in wet conditions, it’s just that there were always better options.

How did BFG address this? One way is with aggressive serrations on the shoulders - the outermost lugs poke out substantially more. Also, these lugs have a groove added which further helps to eject mud. If you look closely you’ll also see divider fins between the lugs, both tires have them, but they’re more pronounced on the KO3.

Lug spacing is a bit tighter toward the center of the KO3. This might not seem like the best idea for mud, but bear in mind the shoulder does most of the work in these situations.

Snow & ice performance

The KO3 is three-peak rated, as was the KO2. Whether this rating means much is a contentious topic these days. However, we can say that the KO3 is definitely better than the KO2 in snow & ice. Independent tests, both professional and amateur, have shown that it can outperform outer A/T tires like the Wildpeak in inclement weather.  

The big improvements are in the sipes. The KO3’s central lugs have 5 sipes, while the previous version only had 3. BFG claims this will give better gravel performance. That may or may not be true, but it’s interesting considering the KO2 was never a bad gravel tire to begin with.

In loose-packed snow, the KO3 benefits from having a tighter tread. Loose snow likes to stick to itself (think of a snowball), when the tread gets jammed with slush it actually assists with traction.

Dirt, sand & gravel performance

In dry conditions with a loose surface, the KO3 performs more or less the same as the KO2. A possible downside is that the tighter spaces between lugs lead to the KO3 picking up pebbles easier than its predecessor. Otherwise, don’t expect there to be a night and day difference in this department.

On-road performance

Wet-weather

KO2s on a wet highway, at speed, were a guaranteed recipe for white knuckles. Hydroplaning has been a long-standing issue with BFG’s AT tires. Take a look at the KO2. Where is the water supposed to go? It's more of a maze than a path.

We see clear paths for water evacuation on the KO3. This is why it will outperform the KO2, but also the new Wildpeak AT4W. So, big improvements here, but if you’re looking for the best wet-weather performance, check out the Nitto Recon Grappler AT.

Towing

The KO2 was launched in 2014. Since then there’s been a shift in the market; a lot more is being demanded from mid and full-sized trucks. Modern trucks come heavier and more powerful than ever, not to mention you Cummins guys that keep running larger and larger turbos. The KO3 needed to be able to support these changes.

The center of the tire is where most of the magic happens. There is less space between lugs (smaller voids), plus the lugs are reinforced, both of which make for a stiffer tire that has less flex under heavy load. For full-sized diesel truck owners, expect to see a better life out of these tires, especially on the rear wheels.

Comfort

The compound is harder, so it’s going to be noisier, right? From the independent tests we found, road noise is about the same or even a few dB less than the KO2. Despite being harder, the tires can absorb more vibration.

Occasionally, you would find a KO2 that was impossible to balance due to high or low spots, or the tire being radially out-of-round (especially on larger sizes). With improved manufacturing techniques, the KO3 is a lot easier to balance and less prone to these kinds of defects.

So, should you invest in a set of KO3s?

The answer is likely ‘yes’. If you’ve tried KO2s and like them, then there’s really no downside in upgrading to KO3s. Even if you don’t like KO2s, chances are BFG has fixed the problems.

The only real downside is the price. Being an older model, KO2s are going to be marked down a bit making them appealing. However, the benefits of the KO2 will generally outweigh the extra cost. The only scenario we see where you would want to save some money is if you live in an extremely dry climate (think Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, etc).

There’s also a chance the size of KO3 you need hasn’t hit the market yet. BFG are releasing various sizes in batches. This started in 2024, but not all sizes will be available until 2026. All in all, there will be more than 100 sizes available. If yours isn’t out yet, try to hold out until it is… it will be worth it.