BFG KO3 review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp0QrccoKqA

 

To summarize: three tires tested. Lots of talk. Braking results on packed snow, listed from shortest distance to longest (feet and inches)

BFG KO3 - 85’ 4”
Firestone Destination XP - 90’ 3”
Falken Wildpeak AT4W - 177’ 10”

I’ve posted that my Wildpeak AT3’s aren’t great in the snow but I didn’t have data. Might be time for some winter shoes.

 

I want glaze ice on a street, not snow, it's what I encounter, say a parking lot after freezing rain. Good video though. Also, I'd never run Load E in Minnesota, SL's or C's that would have more flex.

 

Totally agree, that video doesn't replicate the conditions I'm most interested in. That said, KO3's stop in half the distance of Wildpeaks. So there's that.

 

Glaze ice is very tough for most any tire without studs. In my opinion that is the only condition that studs really help. In the absence of studs the non studded tires are gripping on any imperfections on the road and siping is most important for this.

The ko3 has more sipes than the ko2 and supposedly softer rubber. It will likely be better than the ko2.

 

i’m getting my ko3’s installed tomorrow !! i ordered them two weeks ago seems like two months…i can’t wait to try them im stressing over possible rubbing issues but i think i’ll be ok…i’m getting 265/70/17r mounted on 1552 wheels zero offset, on my 2023 stock suspension! i can’t wait!

 

I bet you will have no trouble with rubbing on that size.

 

I bet you will have no trouble with rubbing on that size.

your right no rubbing

 

we've had a drought here in the northeast but today had plenty of rain and snow, the KO3s performed great

 

KO3 update. Bought these Oct. 28th 2024. 285/75/16 mounted on my stock TRD wheels. First issue was a hop coming from the right rear. Found time to finally get back to the tire shop and they re-balanced both rear tires. They said the “out of round” is with-in spec. The rebalance did take care of the hop.
The 2nd issue was wet traction. Straight ahead take offs and stopping was find but turning uphill the inside tire would just sit and spin. Especially noticeable going up my driveway which no other tire has done before. At least not like these KO3’s.
3rd issue was traction on wet grass. Backed down to the barn last week to unload some stuff. The grass in front of the barn door is slightly sloped but not bad. After unloading I lightly pressed the accelerator to ease it out and these tires just spun. Decided to punch it and I just sat there. Deciding to engage 4 wheel drive they still gave quite a bit of slip before moving forward.
Fast forward to today. I own an automotive repair facility. We had a dead vehicle that the owner wanted to pick up this weekend so he asked if I could tow it out to our parking lot in front of our office. I towed it out to the parking lot, but to place it in a spot where it’s not in the way I had to pull completely onto our office lawn. Once again, I just sat there spinning my tires. The office secretary was looking out the window and the Tech helping me tow said, “Didn’t you just get new tires?” Once again, 4 wheel drive was needed to get off of wet grass.
At this point, I couldn’t imagine what the next few years would be like. Camping, Fishing, Actually using them out in the woods.
I called the tire place and said “I know I said I wanted these KO3’s but they are a joke, is there any satisfaction Guarantee?” He said, “Your not the first to complain, that’s why I double checked that you wanted the KO3.” Sorry for the long rant. Just figured some of you guys are into tires like me and I thought I’d let you know my experience with 323 miles on KO3’s. Not to mention how skinny they are/look compared to GoodYear Dura-Tracs and Toyo Open Country R/T’s.
Update:12-01-24
Traded in the KO3’s for a set of 285/75/16 E load Dura-Trac R/T’s. Dropped my wheels off at the tire store Friday the 29th. They called me at 3pm and said your ready to go. Picked them up and drove out to my shop to mount them. Absolute night and day difference to how the KO3 felt on my truck. These Good Years are 10x smoother and feel so much better. I mounted them and took some back roads home checking tire balance at all speeds up to 65mph and it’s good. I was a bit Leary because of the excessive weights on all 4 wheels but so far no balance issues. It’s been cold and dry. Haven’t had a chance to test on wet roads, wet grass, mud etc. My truck is a daily driver and how the truck feels is super important to me. Maybe my KO3’s were a bad batch. No clue.

 

Like many I am on the hunt for new tires and like many ended with the short list Falken AT4 or K03. Read both entire posts: this one and the AT4 one. Watch some YouTube as well and I have no idea what to decide

• Thanks for your feedback @Burmapeak Not worry about the wet grass / mud condition for me but wet/snow conditions is something that matters. Your feedback is 1 of the rare one talking about wet traction.
• @mikesixtysix, you look happy with the K03 with wet conditions: grip on turns, stops, traction?

Most of the YouTube for K03 people are reading the same kind of script and no real test or feedback in rain or snow conditions.
I know the design changed since the launch. I know the tire looks more quiet on road condition compare to some other AT tires. ...

Now that said, we are page 11 with many real users from different states here => for those owners: any bad experience with wet conditions? How about snow? Besides Burmapeak, are you still happy with your tires?

 

The post above yours seems to have some feedback

 

Outdoor Auto has been putting a lot work in to bring us a lot of info. His latest. Best Winter All Terrain Tires - 10 All Terrain Winter Truck Tires Reviewed BFG, Nitto, Nokian & More

 

I'm happy with them. I had the KO2s for 4 years and liked them, except for the wet traction, just horrendous with that. The KO3s have solved that issue, I tested them on pavement by flooring it from a dead stop, where the KO2s would just spin out, and these do not. I took some turns in the rain and wet snow (not deep) at speed and now I'm confident I'm not going to go sideways as I did with the KO2s. I'm not a rock crawler or anything, but I do drive on a lot of dirt service roads and farms, some rough terrain off road, but nothing insane. And I don't typically drive in deep mud or tow anything. But for my requirements, the KO3s check all the boxes.

I went from the KO2s (E load) to Toyo AT3's (SL). Used them for a month and while the traction was great, they were just so incredibly loud I couldn't take it anymore. Also the sidewalls were a bit weaker so the truck was leaning in the turns which I didn't like. So went back to BFG with the KO3s in E load. 265/75/16, btw.

 

Perfect. Thanks a lot for both of your answers. Very helpful!

Mike you addressed some of concerns including with the AT3 on turns and I am also looking for 265/75/16.

 

My ko3's are on my truck today 265/75-16. These are replacement for ko2s that have 58,000 miles on them.

The KO3's are a little narrower then the sane size KO2 by about a 1/4 inch. This could be useful for someone putting larger size on and concerned about rubbing. This is not concern to me I wonder why they would make is a bit narrower?

They are quiet on the highway and other than that I can’t review any further. I'm leaving on a hunting trip after Thanksgiving and may have somemore feedback after.

 

I just put a set of these on my Taco, 285/70R17's on a 0-offset. No rubbing with some minor trimming and a proper alignment.

 

I have about 12k miles on the Ko3 so far. Air pressure in the wet does seem to be a concern. With 33-34 psi I get some wheel spin in second gear (manual transmission), on damp roads with moderate acceleration. I dropped pressure to 30-31 and so far grip has been better.

I've been able to get on forest roads with conditions from dry, wet to snow. I've been happy with the tires in all conditions. The only time I've had traction issues is on some steeper rocks with a covering of snow a couple of days old. I'm not sure any other tire would have been any better at that point.

 

Had the KO2’s this size with same setup. No lift, sport model. Just got the KO3’s. Really wanted to try 255/75/17’s. Discount talked me out of it. The 255’s are a true 32 inch tire. I think 32.1, but not as common so might have to wait for a replacement if needed. All in all I’m satisfied.

 

285/70R17 Load E KO3's at 12 PSI in the snow with a Loaded out Tacoma, was fantastic today in the deep snow, on ice covered hills, and in some mud holes and water crossings. As long as the side walls hold up better than the KO2's and KM2's have in the past, these are going to be the absolute best tire on the market for cold weather.