guys on plowsite.com love them and the general grabber at2 also.
and thay use these for plowing.
and thay use these for plowing.
CK5
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BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO tires, any good?
- Thread starter ciffer
- Start date
ciffer
1/2 ton status
you guys were right, the BFGoodrich tires are AWESOME. we got our first big snow storm of the winter and the BFGs go right through snow. hill, unplowed roads, no problem at all. 6 inches of snow and i haven't even needed 4x4 yet.
If you start to have problems, air them down. I've run at 20psi (for two weeks straight, a tiny bit on road) and I'm sure you can go a lot lower. BFG even states on their site that they perform better aired down. I second that, the AT's anyway, do better offroad aired down.
I notice also that the ride is quite a bit softer that way.
I notice also that the ride is quite a bit softer that way.
josh86k10
1/2 ton status
FWIW as a testament to their snow performance they have the "Mountain Snowflake" insignia on the sidewall which supposedly qualifies them as a snow tire. As I understand it, this allows you to proceed through "snow zones" legally without chains. I wouldn't know from personal experience, we don't have such things in TN.
But I will agree with the others in saying that they are awesome all around tires (in the snow too). I have had 6 sets over the years (on 4 different vehicles) and all have lasted at least 60,000 miles. In fact, my very first set from nearly a decade ago (when the AT KO first came out) are still in use, albeit on a buddy's Tacoma, not my truck anymore (it would look a bit silly with 32's these days). They've got at least 80,000 on them, but they're about done. In fact, I sold all of them that I don't currently own with decent tread left. And all of them that I know the person I sold them to, are still in service.
But I will agree with the others in saying that they are awesome all around tires (in the snow too). I have had 6 sets over the years (on 4 different vehicles) and all have lasted at least 60,000 miles. In fact, my very first set from nearly a decade ago (when the AT KO first came out) are still in use, albeit on a buddy's Tacoma, not my truck anymore (it would look a bit silly with 32's these days). They've got at least 80,000 on them, but they're about done. In fact, I sold all of them that I don't currently own with decent tread left. And all of them that I know the person I sold them to, are still in service.
Probably depends on the state DOT. The snowflake qualifies them as traction tires, and sometimes you see "traction tires required" in the passes here, the next step being chains required.
But 4WD vehicles are exempt from the chain rule here. I don't believe this is true in places like CA for instance.
But 4WD vehicles are exempt from the chain rule here. I don't believe this is true in places like CA for instance.
Correct... I know going up towards Yosemite they don't care what you're in... if they say it's time for chains it's time for chains. They don't require that you put them on in front of them but they won't let you by unless you have a pair of chains with you.
josh86k10
1/2 ton status
I found this on tirerack.com. I have no clue if it is the most current regulation. But your post made me curious about California's rules.
From tirerack:
California’s 2003 tire chain requirements depend on the severity of the snowstorm and are as follows:
Requirement One (R1):Snow tires or chains are required.
Requirement Two (R2):Chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel drive vehicles equipped with snow tires on all four wheels.
Requirement Three (R3):Chains are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.
NOTE: According to California guidelines, R1 and R2 are the most common conditions because the highway is usually closed to traffic before an R3 condition is imposed.
From tirerack:
California’s 2003 tire chain requirements depend on the severity of the snowstorm and are as follows:
Requirement One (R1):Snow tires or chains are required.
Requirement Two (R2):Chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel drive vehicles equipped with snow tires on all four wheels.
Requirement Three (R3):Chains are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.
NOTE: According to California guidelines, R1 and R2 are the most common conditions because the highway is usually closed to traffic before an R3 condition is imposed.
sparkey83
1/2 ton status
they are some of the best tires i have ever had on a truck. i had 31's on a plow truck and 35 on a wheeler they are great in snow and will hold their own in mud and clay
Hmm then maybe Hwy patrol is just being difficult...
EDIT: Ok, I looked that over again and I think this is what it means...
R1: Snow tires or chains are required... as in if you have snow tires you're good to go, if you don't then you need to have chains WITH you... not necessarily put on yet.
R2: Chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel drive vehicles equipped with snow tires on all four wheels... meaning all 2wd vehicles have to put the chains on.
Then the R3 means you have to put chains on regardless of vehicle.
Maybe I'm wrong but that might be what they're trying to say.
I also replaced BFG AT's with the General AT2's in 265 70R17 size. Mine are not wearing very well. I have about 25,000 miles on them and they are almost bald. I noticed they are alot louder than the BFG's. They also didn't balance very well. I had two different shops balance them and they still vibrate at 45MPH.
I won't be buying another set. I'll spend the extra money on the BFG's next time.
All terrains = Mall terrain. Buy mudders
ciffer
1/2 ton status
i have muds on the front; got a good deal on the pair last spring.
i considered buying more mud tires but decided on the BFGs, which are the most aggressive all terrains i could find.
i considered buying more mud tires but decided on the BFGs, which are the most aggressive all terrains i could find.
Hell, he might as well buy boggers or swampers, mostly road use means that at least some will be spent off road, might as well trade tire life, on-road traction, and noise for great off-road traction one week out of 52!
pseudomike
1/2 ton status
I had 235/85/R16 AT KO's on my K3500 plow truck and they wore well up to about 50K miles when I took them off. They were great at first but as they wore down they lost a lot of traction in ice and snow, a seemingly disproportionate amount. I ended up selling them on craigslist with 3/8" of tread left and buying the Grabber AT2's which if nothing less were much less exspensive. I've also had KO's on my Tacoma and a K5 and they performed well. I've since swapped them off my Yota for Yoko Geolander AT+II's which I am very satisfied with. Overall, I think the KO's are good tires, certainly great tread life, but for the money I think better tires can be had and I most likely won't ever purchase another set.
Hell, he might as well buy boggers or swampers, mostly road use means that at least some will be spent off road, might as well trade tire life, on-road traction, and noise for great off-road traction one week out of 52!
well by this rational he shouldn't lift it because that affects its on road characteristics. He also should do no engine mods that either decrease mileage or increase the noise. Heaven forbid he spills a latte eh?
As far as mall-terrains go, I liked my Geolanders better than my BFG ATs. They didn't cup as much and lasted longer. The Geo's also didn't seem to clog as bad in the mud. Both are now gone in favor of BFG MT's. Now I only put all-terrains on my 2wd trucks and one 4wd, but it's the tow rig. I also don't spend the big money on those either: Remington Wide Brutes.
They're pretty inexpensive, but the carcass is REALLY tough.
They're pretty inexpensive, but the carcass is REALLY tough.
josh86k10
1/2 ton status
I've also owned a set of Yokohama Geolander AT-II's. I'll agree that they are also excellent performing tires. However, I only got 34K miles out of the set (same size, same vehicle, same conditions, same driver). Perhaps they were a fluke, but that was my experience. I've gotten almost double that out of every BFG AT I've owned (no significant difference one way or the other as far as performance).
rockspider
Registered Member
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I'm on 2nd set of BFG A/T K/O 35"x12.50R16.5 on my CUCV M1008 (Mil spec Diesel K30)
They are a great allround tire, and they perform surprisingly well on snow, I mean both on deep covered snow road and on well packed snow roads.
Muds don't do nearly as well on packed snow on flat ground, put them on a steep mountain pass descent and things get hairy! With A/T I was able to keep up with lighter rigs and cars with snow tires no problems, braking feel also was inspiring confidence.
On the other hand they are not a mud tire, but there's mud and MUD. They are not for the deep clay goo that fills and clogs them, but where the mud is not so deep, with a little wheelspeed it keep on moving on muddy surfaces and also on slick mud covered stones they were up to play.
My Cucv has rear detroit and front lsd, and this helps also!
They are a great allround tire, and they perform surprisingly well on snow, I mean both on deep covered snow road and on well packed snow roads.
Muds don't do nearly as well on packed snow on flat ground, put them on a steep mountain pass descent and things get hairy! With A/T I was able to keep up with lighter rigs and cars with snow tires no problems, braking feel also was inspiring confidence.
On the other hand they are not a mud tire, but there's mud and MUD. They are not for the deep clay goo that fills and clogs them, but where the mud is not so deep, with a little wheelspeed it keep on moving on muddy surfaces and also on slick mud covered stones they were up to play.
My Cucv has rear detroit and front lsd, and this helps also!
Look at the title of the thread, read his first post, and tell me if the guy wants to know about/needs aggressive tires!? Especially since he already bought them.
If he wants to spend money on things that wear out way before they need to, get poor dry pavement traction, and make tons of noise, then by all means, that's his CHOICE. There is no reason to start insulting his tire choice though because it's not your style.
Some of us don't want to deal with the downsides of aggressive tires for daily driver or mostly street driven rigs. Of course, I guess if we modify our engines, that should only apply for off-road use too, so we're mall crawlers for bettering power...not like we can use it every day or anything.
trucknace
1/2 ton status
it doesnt really matter i have had both bfg ko/km's the only difference off road was the mudders were useless in soft sand when not flooring it. i got stuck on the same hill for three trips straight then i put the ko's on and walked right up that sandy bastard. as far as noise goes do what i did, crank up the stereo
