KO3 tires tested by Tire Rack off-road + My Experiences

[Lion77]

Our First Off-Road Tire Test: All-Terrain and Max Traction/Mud Terrain

This thread isn't so much a "there's no better tire", but rather the aggregate of information for AT category. Lots of opinions on the KO3's and some people are going to swear they are garbage no matter what, while others like me are looking at the totality of the evidence and experiences (good and bad). No tire is perfect and no tire is going to be the best at any one thing.

If you primarily drive on-road and are willing to sacrifice some off-road performance, there are other options, but I bought my RR for off-road use even though I actually drive it on-road quite a bit. It's a special truck and that 10% of the time I'm actually driving it off-road, I want good performance on a variety of off-road surfaces. So, I'm willing to tolerate "reasonable on-road" for the sake of good "off-road", but I don't want "terrible on-road" that makes it miserable to drive.

The most common surfaces I personally have driven on off-road are 1. Hard packed dirt or clay, mostly dry or slightly damp 2. moderate mud usually with rock bottom or gravel bottom (not deep mud) 3. sand 4. loose gravel and 5. sandy clay with small stones or riverbed with silty sand bottom.

Overall, the KO3's at the OHV park I took the truck to this past summer did very well. There were lifted Jeeps with 40" tires that struggled more to climb a rock shelf than my RR did on 33's with the KO3's. The Jeep was an older late 90's Sport, lifted probably 8 inches or more to fit those massive tires. My RR's front bumper barely cleared the shelf to get the front tire on it at an angle while that jeep took a harder line and just got right up on it (obviously his approach angle was massive, probably well over 50 degrees).

But when he tried to climb, it really struggled to find grip and kept hopping, while my RR just walked right up it without slipping at all. Not even once. There was dust / sand all ove the rock shelf / tires as we drove down a sandy trail to a shoreline, then took the "climb" going back up since I wasn't confident about approach and departure going down with stock bumpers / ride height.

In the sand pits, the stock Rubicon's with KO2's and my RR seemed to have best overall traction of the vehicles driving in it. Most ran stock 33's or up-fitted 35's. Not sure what other tires were used, but I observed one Wrangler 4-door get stuck just going up a moderate hill in 4 wd with whatever tires he had on it (not a Rubicon). He had to back down and get a run, where I could just give some moderate throttle and power right up it. There were older jeeps and one 3rd gen Colorado that also seemed to struggle more with finding traction in the sand pit. No idea what tires they were running other than it wasn't KO's.

I also drove on some hard pack dirt / clay roads in the countryside when visiting relatives in Michigan. Found some "back country trail roads", so people lived on these roads, but they were not paved and way out in the country, some very wealthy people (multi-million-dollar homes, ran across one with a Bronco Raptor driving out of the driveway) mixed in with older farm houses and small ranches. The KO3's in the cold weather, just above freezing provided very predictable traction and steering going 30~50 mph on the hard pack clay / dirt whereas my wife's CX-9 with the Falken WildPeak AT's, a more road focused tire, would feel less planted on the same surface.

Obviously two different vehicles and slightly different tire focus, the Falken's were also in a lower profile (much less sidewall) being on a road-oriented AWD SUV, but it is a data point. Now the Falken WildPeak's were hands down much better on-road, I could pull about the same G's in corners as with the factory all-seasons it originally came with that are V rated, less sharp turn in than the all-season's, but planted on-road one the less. Great tire for a road going SUV you want some light duty off-road capability with.

Based on the Tire Racks testing, the average of millions of miles of user experiences and my own experiences, I don't really see a better overall option for AT tires for off-road use unless you're targeting one specific terrain type or if you want better on-road performance and don't care about losing some of the excellent off-road capability they provide.

My assesment is that the KO3's are reasonably good on-road (decent), but still provide some the best overall off-road performance on a wide variety of surfaces, especially the handling at higher speeds compared to many of the other options, which suits the RR and F-150 Raptor's quite well given their Baja / Rally nature. At the end of the day, they are Off-road Sport Trucks, kind of like an off-road version of the on-road sport trucks of the 90's (i.e., F-150 Lightning) and I completely agree with Ford's choice in sticking with the KO's (quality issues aside that sometimes people encounter).

But to call them garbage? What a DUMB opinion!

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[Ron Quixote]

Those are good tires. I prefer Mickey Thompson Baja Boss ATs, but I wouldn’t hesitate to throw a set of KO3s on my rig.

 

[Lion77]

I do have one question though for those that have changed tires or have used over versions of the KO's in the past. How much of a difference in ride quality does C vs. E range make?

E is going to provide better puncture resistance for wheelin', but I would think C might actually provide better traction at the same PSI and less likelihood of de-beading because there's more flex in the sidewall pulling on the bead, and given the softer sidewall, better tread formation around the terrain.

I only ask because there are improved versions of the KO3's vs. the Ford C range spec. So the mass production KO3 in E range, with the same profile / diameter, has some slightly improve side lugs (more depth) and treads.

Once my Ford spec C range O3's are done, I'm wondering it would make sense to transition to the more "generic" mass production version with the improved tread design, but I would also be forced to go to a stiffer E load.

I have a set of Method 705's on order, so not so much worried about de-beading now at lower pressures, but I don't want terrible ride quality on-road since I do use the truck for a lot of longer distance highway trips.

BF Goodrich KO3 Has a SECRET Nobody Caught

 

[Antman450]

So, the 35 by 12.5 KO3s are coming out next month I believe and they are D rated.

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko3/p/157628

 

[pablo94sc]

A two year old tire (KO3) with that many good reviews and reported mileage is suspicious at best, but sounds more like a corporate shill trying to mitigate reputation damage. My real world experience says that while they may be great on and off road when first broken in (after 1k miles), they turn into hockey pucks around 20k miles. So much so that I have to use 4A to not have the ass end start spinning and sliding when it's slightly damp out. If they can't handle damp pavement, then no way I'm going to trust them in the back country. I am looking forward to being rid of them.

But to call them garbage? What a DUMB opinion!

Seriously? Talk to me, and everyone else who has had a similar experience, when you've passed 20k miles. We'll be expecting your apology.

 

[JimJa]

Excellent OP evaluation and write up. I also have a RR, a '24 delivered in April of '24, and live in the wilds of WY, 6 miles of summer gravel and winter snow packed road to the paved highway. I also do some light off roading not unlike OPs. The KO3s have proven themselves to be the right tire for my use which is typically 75% highway, the remainder divided by gravel, snow and some off road. I grew up driving in snow, so drive "carefully" in the winter. The 6 miles of gravel is has many sharp and blind corners and winter brings out two kinds of people, those that have slid off the road and need to be pulled out, and those that are going to slide off and need to be pulled out. I have fallen into that definition - twice with my '19 Ranger, not the Raptor. The truck currently has 25K miles. A couple of things of note:
- Equally important to tread pattern and lugs is rubber compound. IOW, tires with big lugs but hard compound may not grip as well as smaller, less aggressive tread pattern, but with softer compound. Large lugs are fine for rocks, gravel and so on, but may not be ideal for snow surfaces. Same goes for wide tires in snow. The tire needs to get down to where there is traction and wide tires, by comparison, tend to "float," and may make traction difficult. This is particularly true for pickups with duals.
- Wear. My KO3s are wearing a little faster than I would like and given my driving style (average) will likely have to be replaced next fall prior to the winter season. We'll see, but my prediction is around 40-45K miles.
- Noise. When new my KO3s were very quiet. At 25K miles there is some noticeable noise. Like a squeak ... once noticed it's always there. Nothing to be concerned with now, but hope it doesn't get louder as the miles pile up.

 

[cc1999]

A two year old tire (KO3) with that many good reviews and reported mileage is suspicious at best, but sounds more like a corporate shill trying to mitigate reputation damage. My real world experience says that while they may be great on and off road when first broken in (after 1k miles), they turn into hockey pucks around 20k miles. So much so that I have to use 4A to not have the ass end start spinning and sliding when it's slightly damp out. If they can't handle damp pavement, then no way I'm going to trust them in the back country. I am looking forward to being rid of them.



Seriously? Talk to me, and everyone else who has had a similar experience, when you've passed 20k miles. We'll be expecting your apology.

I agree that chart is a little suspicious. LOL

Not saying the KO3 is garbage but that WET score seems a little nuts to me, since that has always been one the BFG KOs weak point, along with mud.
Never heard them called excellent in wet till now. LOL

I know for fact the AT4W is much better tire of the two in wet conditions, that is especially true once the K0s have a few miles on them.

At the end of the day, I just not big fan of the K03, I especially do not like how narrow the tread is for the stated sizes. My AT4Ws I am running now are nearly an inch wider at the tread than the K03s in same OE 285/70R17 sizes.

The Falken AT4W is also the quieter tire of those 2 as well.

 

[Lion77]

A two year old tire (KO3) with that many good reviews and reported mileage is suspicious at best, but sounds more like a corporate shill trying to mitigate reputation damage. My real world experience says that while they may be great on and off road when first broken in (after 1k miles), they turn into hockey pucks around 20k miles. So much so that I have to use 4A to not have the ass end start spinning and sliding when it's slightly damp out. If they can't handle damp pavement, then no way I'm going to trust them in the back country. I am looking forward to being rid of them.



Seriously? Talk to me, and everyone else who has had a similar experience, when you've passed 20k miles. We'll be expecting your apology.

Nothing like being a little butt hurt, eh? You're welcome to your opinions, I am to mine, but I have a lot more data to back it up and there's plenty of people out there who have had a very different experience than you have with the KO's even as the miles pile on:

Tires are always a mixed bag from lot to lot, but the averages usually give a good overall picture. Simply dismissing the data because it contradicts your own experience is well, dumb.

 

[sikedsyko]

A two year old tire (KO3) with that many good reviews and reported mileage is suspicious at best, but sounds more like a corporate shill trying to mitigate reputation damage. My real world experience says that while they may be great on and off road when first broken in (after 1k miles), they turn into hockey pucks around 20k miles. So much so that I have to use 4A to not have the ass end start spinning and sliding when it's slightly damp out. If they can't handle damp pavement, then no way I'm going to trust them in the back country. I am looking forward to being rid of them.

Seriously? Talk to me, and everyone else who has had a similar experience, when you've passed 20k miles. We'll be expecting your apology.

I have 40k on my OEM K03, about 9/32 tread left. They're fine in the wet. Not great, not terrible.

 

[Lion77]

I have no issue with wet traction on mine but I'm not doing drag launches in 2WD with a Pro Cal tune either and expecting them to bite.

It's a RWD truck with lots of torque on off-road focused AT's....off-road is WHERE I expect them to perform best and that was literally the point. There are many On-road focused AT's that are better on road, but they lack off-road then.

The whole thread was about off-road performance and yet people are complaining about on-road not being as good as brand x or y....completely missing the point lol. Then they get into rationalizations claiming the Tire Rack data is fake or manipulated because they are secretly biased for BFG...seriously? Maybe we should send them a tin foil hat:

KO3's came out in may of 2024, the AT4W's came out a few months earlier in Jan of 2024. 2.1M vs. 2.8M user miles....but somehow the KO3's data is fake and the AT4W's data isn't? Yah, DUMB opinions fo sho and by definition a rationalization!

Watch the Tire Rack test video, now they didn't test the AT4W's in that video, but the KO3 outperformed other more aggressive MT's and RT's that are considered competing brands IN OFF-ROAD DRIVING. CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT.

Obviously based on the Tire Rack reviews, the AT4W's are great tires and very close to the KO3's in off-road performance, never said otherwise, both are good choices, but the KO3's seem to have an overall edge off-road, they are just hard to beat overall.

I also see a lot of threads where people piss and moan about the weight of the BFG's at 56 lbs or mid 60's when you step up to 35's....yet the 285/70R17 AT4W load range C is a WHOPPING 67lbs per tire! In the same size as the KO3! That's one HEAVY a** tire for a 285/70R17 and you're not getting more off-road performance from it.

Falken WildPeak A/T4W LT285/70R17

I think the KO3 has the edge, but it may be entirely possible that Falken has better quality control being Japanese supplier, so maybe their tires are more consistently made, we don't have any real hard data on that aside from anecdotes. So yes, I completely acknowledge that some people have had bad experiences with the KO's despite the average owner, but that's true of all tires to varying degrees.

FYI, Falken is owned by Sumitomo, so it's a Jap brand, I would expect consistent average quality from them.

 

[Harlequin_Forest]

So, the 35 by 12.5 KO3s are coming out next month I believe and they are D rated.

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko3/p/157628

Nice find!

I've been eyeing the 35x11.5 C1 coming out in May but its odd that they're almost a pound heavier than the 12.5's.

If that's accurate I'm leaning more to trying Baja Boss pizza cutters

 

[Arsenall11]

On my last F150 I ran Rigde grapplers at first, great tire in the wet a little suspect off road, switched to KM3, probably my favorite mud tire,did great in the rain and I the rocks. I’m at 30k on my KO3 and they are still quiet and good in the rain, every one seems to have a different experience.

 

[bill_AUS]

It's worth remembering that the Ranger Raptor has a specifically developed version of the tyre with a lighter carcass, lower load rating and higher speed rating. My experience on the KO2s showed that the RR specific version performed rather differently in ride quality etc. vs the heavier LT rated tyre in the same size.

 

[Lion77]

I wonder if the Ford spec KO3's have better quality control. Obviously, the C load is going to ride better, no doubt, I also think that it's likely to help with traction and flotation as you get more contact patch forming due to the softer sidewall.

Either way, that's what we are talking about here, Factory spec KO3's. Not mass production. The OE tire works great aside from the few who have had some quality issues....but what's the difference between accepting the reality that you might get a tire with quality issues or an entire truck with quality issues? Does that mean the Ranger is garbage because some have had bad experiences with, even to the point of Lemon Law?

Either you work through them as best you can until its resolved or go to something else and potentially have an entirely new set of issues, which I have seen happen also. It's an unfortunate reality of mass production anything.

 

[RangerGrif43]

I took mine to the sand dunes. Aired down to 15psi and never had any problems. Almost felt as good as having paddle tires.

Then I went on an off road trail with my buddies who have a jeep with 40's and a ZR2. Aired down to 22psi. My Jeep buddy spun the tires a lot while I only spun onece. My ZR2 friend said he has to put it in 4L sometimes. I just put it in off road(4H) and never changed anything.

I'm thoroughly impressed by the whole truck and the tires. I can't say how they'll be at 20k miles but even if I get new tires I'm going to keep these around for maybe some really rocky trails.

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