BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3, AKA the BFG KO3, is the 3rd generation of BFGoodrich's legendary Off-Road All-Terrain light truck tire engineered for the on and off-road tire needs of dedicated off-roaders like Jeeps, pickup trucks and Adventure / overlanding RVs. It's built for drivers who want rugged confidence and control no matter where their journey takes them. Following up the wildly-successful All-Terrain T/A KO2, the KO3 has been carefully designed to retain the aggressive (and classic) visual elements of BFGoodrich all terrain tires, while delivering outstanding durability, improved wear-life and traction in all weather conditions—even light snow.

The KO3 features a reformulated cut, chip, and tear-resistant tread compound for greater longevity and durability. Molded into a symmetric footprint designed with a generous amount of void for off-road use, while also optimizing the footprint for more even stress distribution and uniform wear. The interlocking tread blocks are designed to work in concert with one another for stability both on and off the pavement. Broad channels at the shoulders and plenty of void space to redistribute water help maintain control in the wet. The 3-D Locking Sipes are full depth and alongside the Snow/Mud notches, are designed to help drivers find the traction they need in any environment.

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The upper shoulder and sidewall feature CoreGuard Technology: a bruise- and split-resistant rubber compound that extends further down the sidewall to protect more of the tire in demanding scenarios. Alternating Shoulder Scoops deliver clawing force for control and traction in sand, dirt, or grueling off-road rock driving during "aired down" adventures, while the Mud Phobic bars keep the tire clear of built-up material so it can perform as intended. And as always, the KO3 is available with raised white sidewall lettering—perfect for making your tires and wheels pop, complementing your truck's paint, or making your classic 4x4 look the part.

Internal construction of the All-Terrain T/A KO3 utilizes a durable, triple-ply polyester casing designed for strength and reliability, along with twin, high-strength steel belts providing a robust foundation for the nylon cap ply offering high-speed capability.

NOTE: BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tires meet the industry's severe snow service requirements and are branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.

Related Information:

What is the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol?

Over the past several years, we have seen a large influx of all-season and all-terrain tires that are severe snow service-rated, and therefore branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol. This is a trend we expect to continue, with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol eventually becoming the norm for all-season tires. While these tires are also labeled "all-weather" tires, what they are called is secondary to what they represent. Contrary to the "M+S" branding typically found on all-season tires, which is simply based on the tread pattern geometry and makes no guarantees of any performance capabilities, when the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol is branded on a tire, it indicates that tire has surpassed a minimum threshold in light snow acceleration traction.

So what, specifically, does the 3PMSF symbol mean?

In 1999, The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) agreed on a performance-based standard to identify passenger and light truck tires that attain a traction index equal to, or greater than 110 (for the 14" reference tire, 112 if it's the 16" reference tire) - compared to a reference tire which is rated 100 - during the specified American Society for Testing and Materials traction tests on packed snow. The standard is intended to help ensure drivers can easily identify tires that provide a higher level of snow traction, and tires meeting that standard are branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.

Some important information to remember about 3PMSF branding:

• Acceleration Only: Testing measures a tire's acceleration traction on medium-packed snow only. Braking and turning on snow, along with ice traction are not components of the test.

• Not a Winter Tire Replacement: Tires branded with the 3PMSF symbol are expected to provide improved snow traction beyond a standard M+S branded all-season tire, however 3PMSF-branded all-season and all-terrain tires cannot match the traction of dedicated snow / winter tires in all winter weather conditions and should not be considered a replacement for where and when a dedicated winter tire is needed.

Are tires with the 3PMSF symbol the same as Winter tires?

All Winter tires have the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, but not all tires with the 3PMSF symbol are Winter tires.

Since the ASTM test does not measure braking or lateral traction, the bar to qualify is achievable by many tires across many categories. While testing has found that tires with the 3PMSF symbol do generally outperform standard all-season products when braking and cornering in winter weather, the symbol itself is not a guarantee of that - particularly when it comes to non-winter tires.

Dedicated winter tires feature specialized compounds, tread designs, and construction that make them uniquely advantaged in handling freezing temperatures and slippery conditions. Similar to how dedicated racing tires outperform sport-leaning touring products, dedicated winter tires offer the same advantage. They are constructed for a specific purpose, and while ongoing research, development, and engineering by tire manufacturers has narrowed the gap between all-weather and winter tires, the reality remains: All-weather tires should not be considered a replacement for dedicated winter tires.

Source: Tire Rack