For 50 years, BFGoodrich has been selling all-terrain (AT) tires. In fact, they invented the segment in 1976. What started with the Radial All-Terrain T/A has led to three other generations of ATs, the latest being the KO3. We’ve put over 100,000 miles on KO2 tires across a number of SUVs and AWD crossovers, but we recently swapped our KO2s for KO3s on one of our personal vehicles. We put them through their paces in a variety of conditions. So, how do KO2s compare to KO3s?
BFGoodrich KO3 Improvements
BFG says the new All-Terrain T/A KO3 has improved wear performance, gravel road durability, and snow traction compared to the outgoing KO2. They said the KO3s also maintain a tough sidewall and soft soil traction like the previous KO2.
The company engineered the KO3 with a new tread pattern and compound for better durability and longevity, including on gravel. BFG has optimized the tire’s footprint and implemented full-depth 3D sipes for even wear. The KO3s maintain the previous tire’s sidewall strength and offer a deflection design helping to prevent objects from splitting the sidewall.
Like the KO2s, the BFG KO3s maintain a serrated shoulder and “mud-phobic bars.” Like the KO2s, the KO3s are also three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMS) rated for winter traction. All this means better wear, improved gravel road durability, and increased snow going.
My BFGoodrich KO2 Experiences: Few Complaints
We’ve had BFG KO2s on three personal vehicles, as well as a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness we took on the 7,163-mile TransAmerica Trail (3,184 of which was off pavement). Amazingly, I’ve never had a flat with a BFGoodrich KO2. I’ve also had great traction in snow and dirt. I have few complaints, rather just a couple of gripes.
While very durable, KO2s are also heavy tires (so are KO3s, FYI). Also, I’ve had wet traction issues from time to time. Finally, KO2s aren’t the quietest all-terrain tire on the market.
The road noise never bothered me; our personal vehicles are loud to begin with. Compared to highway tires and less-aggressive ATs, they make more noise. In terms of wet traction, our KO2 tires gave our AWD 2022 Subaru Crosstrek a propensity to understeer when it was really wet out. Thankfully, it’s controllable and predictable, but still. Our 4WD vehicles never had significant wet traction issues, just the Subaru.
I’ve been very happy overall with the KO2s over the years. They look great, perform admirably, and have worn well, sans getting louder with age. Plus, they look great. I still run them on our 4WD Mitsubishi Delica van and our 4WD Suzuki Jimny from Japan.
The TransAmerica Trail Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness also had no flats or punctures. However, after 7,163 total miles, 44% of which were on gravel/dirt, the KO2s were pretty chewed up. Ironically, the KO3s are supposed to address this very issue.
The New BFG KO3s: All-Terrain Improvements
We recently swapped our trusty KO2s for a new set of KO3s in 215/75R15 on our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek. This little dirt devil is our daily driver, weekend rallier, and go-anywhere cross-country cruiser. When the right size came out in KO3s, we got a set to review.
Once shod on our 15×7 Reika R15 Seeker wheels, they looked just as rugged as the outgoing KO2s. On the road, they were noticeably quieter. We drove primarily on pavement for about two months before we put their snow and dirt traction ability to the test at the 2026 Thunderbird Rally in British Columbia. This 500+ mile annual time-speed-distance rally would be a great test of the rubber’s resilience.
Testing KO3 Tires on the T-Bird Rally
This two-day event was comprised hundreds of miles of dirt, snow, ice, rock, and mud-covered byways, as well as wintry paved sections. In 2025 (on KO2s), we navigated routes with 6″ of snow or more and never got stuck. Well, other than when I ran out of talent and stuffed it into a snowbank (not the tire’s fault). For 2026, there wasn’t much snow, but there were miles of mud, long distances of dirt, and even choppy ice.
In what little snow we saw, the KO3s and their 3PMS-rated rubber performed admirably; certainly, as good if not better than KO2s. On ice, they allowed us to safely navigate a treacherous miles-long section that would’ve been better on hockey skates than in any vehicle.
Where the KO3 tires really shined, however, was in the dirt and mud. Our AWD Subaru was masterful in the muck and offered fantastic traction. They provided predictable performance when the dirt and mud got intense, helping our Crosstrek chew through water holes, ruts, and over rocks and wet gravel. Despite our poor showing on the ice portion (because we weren’t on studded tires), we killed it in the mud.
Overall Impression: A Worthy Upgrade
We have about 3,000 miles on our KO3s, and so far they’re a worthy successor to the KO2. They’re quieter, have performed better than the KO2s in wet weather, were total champs in the dirt, and maintain that rugged style BFG all-terrains are known for. I hope they remain quieter than the KO2s, and that they don’t chip out as much on gravel as the KO2s did over time.
Tires are the only thing between your rig and the road; they’re really a safety feature. Don’t skimp. I’ve been big on BFG for over half of a decade, and the KO3s continue the tradition of offering a top-tier all-terrain tire for any vehicle looking for true all-terrain performance.
