The long-awaited update to the BFGoodfrich KO2 is finally here! While many people loved those tires, they weren’t without their issues. Treadwear, balancing, and poor wet weather performance were among the most common complaints.
Fortunately, BFG listened to its customers and addressed all of those items in its KO3. In addition, they improved upon the KO2’s already impressive off-road prowess.
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Features & Specs
I went with size 285/70/R17, as my Tacoma is my daily driver. They’re mounted on a set of Lock Off-Road Olympus wheels, and I had no issues with balancing them.
The tire has large lateral grooves to evacuate water, snow, and mud. It features aggressive shoulder blocks similar to the KO2 for extra sidewall protection. The tread pattern is similar, but upon closer look, you can tell there have been some big updates. Paired with the 3-ply sidewalls, I have no concerns about their durability on the trails.
The KO3 also promises improved traction in mud thanks to alternating shoulder blocks. Stone and mud ejectors keep the tread clear while spinning the wheels.
These tires are M+S and 3PMSF severe snow-rated, so we can use them on highways with snow tire requirements, which is a huge benefit. More on the snow performance later.
Initial Thoughts
Coming from the stock tires, this was a big jump. I had gotten regeared to 5.29 gears before doing the tire swap in preparation. While they are louder than stock, they are much quieter than I expected.
The fuel economy surprised me. While I know I got regeared, my fuel economy went from 18MPG to 19MPG. The tires are heavy, so if you have not regeared, do not be surprised if your fuel economy dips by a couple of miles per gallon. This mainly applies to larger tire sizes, like the set I went with. The closer you stick to OEM specs, the less of an impact you will see.
On & Off-Road Impressions
Taking them offroad, I could instantly see the updated tire’s traction benefits. They hook very well, even on wet surfaces, and do not seem to get caked up when the dirt gets wet. The 10-ply construction and E load rating gave me the confidence to go into rock sections that I previously would not go to, as the stock tires obviously don’t have much in terms of slash and puncture protection.
Snow and ice traction are a big deal to me, as we can easily get above the snowline up here. The tire performs exceptionally well in these conditions, considering it is not a dedicated winter tire. Ice performance is also great since BFG added approximately 30% more siping over the outgoing KO2.
After installing the tires, I was immediately impressed with their ride quality. Despite the tougher compound, they are pretty quiet and still soak up most bumps.
Being in the Pacific Northwest, I was really looking for a tire that shed water well. There are a couple of spots on my commute that flood when we get a big rainstorm, where if you are going more than 20MPH, you will hydroplane.
The updated tread pattern has longer diagonal channels, which help evacuate water out of the side. And they do, in fact, evacuate water very well. I am now looking for puddles to hit, as these tires seem to mitigate hydroplaning very well. The tires do well in deep water while also being good at keeping traction when the road surface is just slightly wet. They can break traction if you accelerate hard enough on wet surfaces but hold good traction in corners at highway speeds and haven’t given me an “OH CRAP” moment (yet).
Braking performance is good in the wet and dry, a testament that the company listened and made meaningful upgrades to the tire.
Final Thoughts
While the KO2 was a great tire and sworn by many, it had some common issues. Through my first 1000 miles of testing, it seems that all of the issues have been addressed.
These tires come with a 50,000-mile warranty, and from what I can tell so far, they should have no issues getting there. While slightly more expensive than the KO2, I believe it more than makes up for it with even better on and off-road performance. I’ll write a new post after I clock at least 5,000 more miles.
Have you tried the new KO3 yet? If so, what are your thoughts?
