KO2 vs. KO3

[TJMexico]

I have been using mostly BF Goodrich KO2s for several years. Had them on my pickup and was surprised at how long they lasted. Last time I replaced them on my pickup, I spent almost half the money and got Firestone Destination X/Ts. Got a cut sidewall on the damned things not a few months after mounting. These Firestones have worn down a lot faster than the KO2 ever did.

So now the KO2 is being discontinued and replaced with a new model, the KO3. According to pickuptrucktalk.com:

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.

Has anybody here tried the KO3s yet? Any idea as to their worthiness? I'll need to replace the crappy Firestones on my pickup soon and since I currently have two 4wd vehicles, I think I may downsize and downgrade to something close to stock highway tires for the truck. My Jeeps won't need new tires for awhile yet (I hope), so if they prove worthy, my next purchase will have to be KO3s, if I can afford them.
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[voodooridr]

We have the KO3s on our JLU and they are quite a bit more confidence inspiring on wet and icy/snow covered roads than the KO2s I have on the LJ. Could be partially due to the fact that the JLU is a big heavy beast
dry clear pavement I don't notice too much difference (KO3s are quieter but also newer)

 

[TJMexico]

We have the KO3s on our JLU and they are quite a bit more confidence inspiring on wet and icy/snow covered roads than the KO2s I have on the LJ. Could be partially due to the fact that the JLU is a big heavy beast
dry clear pavement I don't notice too much difference (KO3s are quieter but also newer)

My concern is how they work off-road, mostly in real rocky terrain with some mud. The KO2 has always done me right on the trail, even with my 2wd Cowboy Cadillac. I'm hoping the KO3 is at least as good. }

Problem is that I have come to distrust most anything the big corporate machines call an upgrade or improvement. These days, improvements generally only mean improvements to corporate profit margins. Seems like everything they do turns to crap, so I am doubtful that the KO3 is going to be an overall better tire for stuff like what most of us do either on weekends or (in my case) on a daily basis.

 

[StG58]

I've run these tires since they were T/A AT's. They have always done exactly as expected. They actually surprised me on the TJ SE. I now have the KO3's on a heavy 2wd Ford pickup and a 27' Airstream. I've had them on for a year now. Are they better? Can't tell. Haven't really excersized them. Are they worth the money? Can't tell yet. They are working well on dry, wet, and flooded pavement and packed gravel. No cuts or damage to the tread or sidewalls. Essentially silent.

Now for the negatives. I went through 10 tires to get eight that would balance. Worked with Discount Tire to get that sorted. Also, using these out of band i.e. as trailer tires, makes the trailer handle slightly more "loose". You almost feel the trailer wiggle. Almost. Still better off road than the best dedicated trailer tire.

I don't feel ripped off. Your mileage will vary.

 

[bbaldwin237]

I really like Nate's videos (Outdoor Auto Garage) for tire information. He did a couple on the KO3. He gives some great breakdowns.

View: https://youtu.be/0vmJYKnykm0?is=uRyu2pJ70rne1fJW


View: https://youtu.be/gTKgiqgDNwQ?is=lzvGuPTv9Q_9BUUt


View: https://youtu.be/4Npy20nyZ9M?is=WXde3VqbpQAyJ6mF

 

[PTMTJ]

Ran a set of metric 35x12.50R17 E-load rating K02s on my JKUR for 80k+ miles and they still had half tread when I sold it. I've been running factory size (metric 33s E-load rating) K03s on my new SuperDuty for the past year but it's just used mainly to tow my offshore boat so not really an apples-to-apples comparison.

The differences I have noticed that would be a fair comparison:
On pavement, the K03s are much quieter and smoother hands down but the tighter center tread no doubt contributes to that.
The K03s have better wet pavement traction and don't hydroplane as much which was one of the goals in the new redesign.
My K03s balanced a lot better than my K02s but I've noticed that certain sizes of K03s don't balance well. On one website (I think Discount Tire?), you could see how people with certain sizes of K03s had a frustrating time getting them balanced well without a lot of weight so pay attention to reviews of K03s in specific sizes.

I can't really compare offroad or snow. I took the JKUR everywhere offroad while also being a daily driver. The F250 only sees pavement, slick steep boat ramps, and soft wet grassy areas all while pulling a large boat on a triple axle trailer.