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TL;DR
- The All-Terrain T/A KO3 (launched May 2024) is now BFGoodrich's main all-terrain: 120 size rows, Load Range C through F, 3PMSF on every listed size and a 50,000-mile warranty.
- The KO2 is down to 10 size rows, many of them automaker OE fitments.
- The Trail-Terrain T/A is the crossover and light-SUV option, with a 60,000-mile warranty on most sizes.
- The Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 and HD-Terrain T/A KT have no mileage warranty and no severe-snow rating, and every size of both is Q speed-rated (99 mph).
- Load range matters more than the name: a Load Range C KO3 in LT265/70R17 is rated for less weight than the P-metric 265/70R17 many half-ton trucks leave the factory on.
BFGoodrich has been a Michelin brand since 1990, when Michelin bought the Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company, and its off-road catalog still traces back to desert racing. BFGoodrich dates the All-Terrain T/A to 1977, when it says the tire won Class 8 at both the SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 1000 as the world's first radial all-terrain. An overall Baja 1000 win in 1986 started a run of 20 straight years, and the Baja T/A, a purpose-built desert racing tire, followed in 1991. BFGoodrich says most of the tires it sells in North America are built in 21 plants across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
At a Glance
| Tire | Made for | Construction | 3PMSF snow rating | Mileage warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail-Terrain T/A | Crossovers, SUVs, light-duty pickups | 53 P-metric and Euro-metric sizes, SL and XL | All but three OE sizes | 60,000 mi (50,000 on those three) |
| All-Terrain T/A KO3 | Pickups and SUVs on mixed trail and highway | 120 LT rows, Load Range C-F | Every listed size | 50,000 mi |
| All-Terrain T/A KO2 | Mostly factory (OE) fitments now | 10 LT rows, Load Range C-E | Every listed size | 50,000 mi |
| HD-Terrain T/A KT | Heavy-duty pickups that tow and haul | 35 LT sizes, Load Range E-F | No | None |
| Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 | Mud, rock and aired-down trail use | 55 LT rows, Load Range C-E | No | None |
| Baja T/A KR3 | Desert racing | 11 SKUs in race compounds; four DOT sizes | No | None |
All-Terrain T/A KO2 and KO3
The KO2 is best known for its sidewall. It uses CoreGard Technology, which BFGoodrich says is derived from its Baja T/A KR2 race tire, with split- and bruise-resistant sidewall rubber and an Advanced Deflection Design meant to keep protruding objects from snagging the sidewall. The maker's "20% tougher" sidewall figure is measured against its own older All-Terrain T/A KO in an internal sidewall-splitting test on LT265/70R17, not against all-terrain tires in general. In the current US catalog the KO2 is down to 10 size rows (Load Range C, D and E, 15/32in tread), many of them carrying automaker OE markings, with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty and 3PMSF severe-snow marking on every listed size.
BFGoodrich launched the KO3 on May 1, 2024, about a decade after the KO2, starting with 13 sizes in May and adding more in August and October. It now has 120 official size rows across 15-22in wheels and Load Ranges C through F, and its technology page lists 24 more sizes due in 2026. BFGoodrich describes a new tread pattern and compound aimed at durability on gravel, an optimized footprint to spread stress evenly, full-depth locking 3D sipes and serrated shoulders with Mud-Phobic bars. It carries over Advanced Deflection Design and CoreGard, which on the KO3 page is credited to the newer Baja T/A KR3 race tire. BFGoodrich says the full-depth sipes are what allow the KO3 to carry the three-peak mountain snowflake. The maker claims better wear, gravel-road durability and snow traction than the KO2 but publishes no percentages. Tread depth runs 15-16/32in, and the treadwear warranty is 50,000 miles.
Trail-Terrain T/A and HD-Terrain T/A KT
These two widen the family at either end. The Trail-Terrain T/A is a P-metric/Euro-metric all-terrain for CUVs, SUVs and light-duty pickups: 53 sizes, SL and XL only, 11-12.5/32in tread, a 60,000-mile warranty (50,000 on three OE sizes) and 3PMSF on all sizes except those three OE fitments. BFGoodrich also publishes a treadwear comparison in which it outlasted the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S by more than 4,500 miles (265/70R17 on a 2020 Ford F-150). The HD-Terrain T/A KT goes the other way: 35 Load Range E and F sizes for heavy-duty pickups, all Q speed-rated with 18/32in of tread, a chip- and tear-resistant compound, no mileage warranty and no 3PMSF. The maker's FAQ says it isn't designed for severe winter conditions.
Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 and Baja T/A KR3
The Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 uses the Krawl-TEK compound, a Terrain-Attack tread, Linear Flex Zone sidewall flex when aired down and Mud-Phobic shoulder bars. BFGoodrich quantifies two gains over the KM2 from LT265/70R17 tests on a 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: 5% better mud traction and 8% better dry-rock traction. Its CoreGard Max sidewall is backed by an internal puncture test against the KM2, but the current page gives no percentage for that one. The KM3 lists 55 size rows, 18/32in of tread and Load Ranges C-E, with no mileage warranty and no 3PMSF. At the far end, the Baja T/A KR3 is a competition tire: 11 SKUs across seven dimensions in several compounds, sold mostly as race-only tires not legal for highway use, with four sizes offered as DOT "Blue Label" tires.
Load Range, Load Index and Speed Rating on BFGoodrich Sizes
The letter on an LT tire (C, D, E, F) is its load range; the number after the size is its load index, which maps to a maximum load at full inflation. Goodyear's published load-index chart converts 112 to 2,469 lb, 115 to 2,679 lb, 118 to 2,910 lb, 123 to 3,417 lb and 126 to 3,748 lb per tire. LT tires carry two indexes, such as 126/123, because the second one applies when the tire runs as a dual on the rear axle.
That makes the KO3's size list worth reading line by line. LT265/70R17 comes as a Load Range C at 112/109, a D at 118/115 and an E at 123/120. A half-ton pickup delivered on a P-metric 265/70R17 115 is rated for 2,679 lb per tire, so the C version is a step down on paper (2,469 lb), while the D and E versions are steps up. In LT285/70R17 the gap is wider: the C is 116/113 (2,756 lb) and the E is 126/123 (3,748 lb), a difference of 992 lb per tire or 3,968 lb across four. Goodyear's guidance applies to any brand: a tire with a lower load index than the original equipment will not carry the original load.
Speed symbols follow the same chart: Q is 99 mph, R 106, S 112, T 118 and H 130. Every KM3 and HD-Terrain size is Q. KO3 sizes are Q, R or S, and Trail-Terrain sizes run S, T and H. Goodyear recommends replacing a speed-rated tire with one of an equal or higher rating, and it notes that mixing ratings limits the vehicle to the lowest-rated tire.
Warranty and Air-Down Guidance
BFGoodrich's standard limited warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the original usable tread or 6 years from the date of purchase, whichever comes first. Mileage coverage is separate and applies only to some tread designs: 50,000 miles on the KO2 and KO3, 60,000 on most Trail-Terrain sizes, and none on the KM3, HD-Terrain T/A KT or Baja T/A KR3. The KO3 launched with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee alongside its mileage warranty.
BFGoodrich's FAQ addresses airing down directly. It permits lower pressures for flotation only if the tire keeps adequate load-carrying capacity, and it gives 20 psi as the minimum recommended pressure for passenger and light truck tires. The same FAQ recommends replacing any tire, spare included, that has been in service 10 years or more from its date of manufacture.
BFGoodrich’s Lineup in This Library
6 BFGoodrich models (All-Terrain, Mud-Terrain, Competition / Desert Racing). Specs come from BFGoodrich’s own spec pages; we don’t buy or test tires — see how we rank.
BFGoodrich, Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone, Falken, Toyo, Cooper, Nitto, Mickey Thompson, Yokohama, Hankook, General Tire and all other tire brand names referenced on this site are trademarks of their respective owners. 4x4 & Overlanding is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by any tire manufacturer.
Sources
- The Washington Post — Justice Approves Michelin's Purchase of Uniroyal Goodrich (April 25, 1990) — Michelin's 1990 purchase of the Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company, which brought BFGoodrich under Michelin.
- BFGoodrich — Building a Racing Legacy (brand history) — The 1977 Class 8 wins at the SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 1000, the 1986 overall Baja 1000 win that began 20 straight years, and the 1991 Baja T/A.
- BFGoodrich — Tire FAQ — The 21 North American plants, the 20 psi minimum recommended pressure when airing down, and the 10-year replacement recommendation.
- BFGoodrich — Standard Limited Warranty — Workmanship and materials coverage for the life of the original usable tread or 6 years from purchase.
- BFGoodrich — All-Terrain T/A KO2 official spec page — KO2 CoreGard and Advanced Deflection Design, the 20% sidewall test against the T/A KO, and its current size, load range, tread, warranty and 3PMSF data.
- BFGoodrich newsroom — launch of the All-Terrain T/A KO3 (May 1, 2024) — The KO3's May 2024 launch and size rollout, its claimed gains over the KO2, the 50,000-mile warranty and 60-day satisfaction guarantee.
- BFGoodrich — All-Terrain T/A KO3 technology overview — KO3 technologies, CoreGard credited to the Baja T/A KR3, the sipes behind its snowflake marking, and the 24 sizes listed for 2026.
- BFGoodrich — All-Terrain T/A KO3 official spec page — KO3 size rows, load indexes, speed ratings, load ranges and tread depths quoted on this page.
- BFGoodrich — Trail-Terrain T/A product page — Trail-Terrain sizes, warranty, OE-size exceptions and the treadwear comparison against the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S.
- BFGoodrich — HD-Terrain T/A KT product page — HD-Terrain sizes, Load Range E and F, Q speed rating, 18/32in tread and its not-for-severe-winter FAQ.
- BFGoodrich — Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 official spec page — Krawl-TEK compound, Terrain-Attack tread, the 5% mud and 8% rock traction figures versus the KM2, and KM3 size data.
- BFGoodrich Racing — Baja T/A KR3 race tire page — The Baja T/A KR3 as a competition tire, with four sizes offered as DOT 'Blue Label' tires.
- Goodyear — Load Index and Speed Rating — Load-index conversions up to 120, the Q/R/S/T/H speed chart, and the guidance on matching original load index and speed rating.
- Goodyear Canada — Tire Load Index chart — Load-index conversions above 120 and why LT tires carry a second, dual-fitment load index.