BFGoodrich Launches New All terrain BFG KO2 Tire

January 18, 2016

Back in the mid-70s, BFGoodrich launched the first-ever all-terrain tire to compete in the Baja 1000 and at the time, there was a lot of hesitation given the dramatic change the tire offered versus the tires used at the time. However, after winning that event (and subsequently winning scores of Baja 1000 races ever since), the BFG all-terrain has become a staple not only for off-road racing but for everyday adventurers who require a solid, capable tire for both daily driving and off-road travel.

So what makes the new BFG All-Terrain T/A KO2 different than its predecessor and competition? The answer? Pretty much everything.

First off, the new KO2 shares the same CoreGard technology developed in the Baja T/A KR2 tire which provides a split and bruise-resistant sidewall rubber and thicker, extended shoulder to prevent sidewall failures. You’ll notice from the photos the sidewall is much more stout than the previous generation KO without any additional weight.

Additionally, the tire is comprised of a new rubber formulation that helps it last twice as long (according to BFG) on gravel and 15% longer on asphalt (again, per BFG) than its predecessor. The interlocking tread design provides more uniform wear and we were very impressed with the integrated Mudphobic raised bars in the shoulder, as well as stone ejectors integrated between the tread, to keep mud and rocks from staying implanted in the tire while driving in those conditions. The 3-D siping in the tread also worked wonderfully when driving in very wet conditions at times – we were in Baja right after a hurricane had stormed through, leaving plenty of rain deposit in numerous ruts along our route destination.

All of this sounds great and when it came to actually driving with these tires on two types of vehicles during two very fully days of driving (we drove Ford Raptor trucks outfitted with the new KO2 as well as Baja Challenge race cars also outfitted with the new KO2), the R&D that went into creating this tire really shined through. The KO2 was extremely impressive in the sand and as we switched from sand to silt to rock, then to mud and gravel and eventually pavement, the tire handled every type of terrain with ease. We even did some rock crawling in a remote portion of the Baja peninsula with several highly modified Jeep JKs, Toyotas, and a Legend-class race car and the tires crawled along without chipping, slipping, or any problems despite the rock being pretty slick from rain. Plus, for those out there that like to look good while in their vehicle, the tire looks fantastic!

I have absolutely no problem recommending the new BFG All-Terrain T/A KO2 to anyone who requires a tire that can do it all and do it all extremely well. It’s a fantastic option for those of us who use our vehicles as a daily driver and like to head out to the backcountry for a weekend, week long, or extended adventure. The stout sidewalls and tread make it exceptional for everything from rock crawling to working at a construction site, and it’s surprisingly quiet when traveling on-road.

If you’re in the market for a true all-terrain tire, I’ll gladly go on record to say this may be the best all-terrain tire ever offered.

You can listen to a recent interview with The 4×4 Podcast featuring our Editor, Frank Ledwell, discussing the new BFG KO2 tire by clicking the media player below.

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