BFG KO2 vs Firestone X/T

[squirrelmaster]

I have had good experience running the original KOs and KO2s almost the entire twelve years I lived in South Texas (Houston area), a place notorious for flooding, and didn't have any issues with sliding and water evacuation (at least not any worse than any other tires I used on other vehicles during that time). I currently run Duratracs and AT3Ws, which just replaced some KO2s, and find both do quite well in the snow and the wet, but neither is outlandishly better than the KO2s and neither wears nearly as good as the KO2s. My MTRs are downright terrifying in the snow and rain, and I will likely be picking up a set of KO2s (since they don't make KO3s in a 35x12.50x15) to swap out the MTRs in the winter months.

 

[jeepguy03]

I have KO2s on my TJ right now, 31x10.5's. They are good tires, rain can be a bit of an issue, but it has more to do with the short wheel base of the TJ. I ran KO2s on my XJs and never had an issue. With that said, when I put tires on my recently purchased WK2, I will probably go with the Firestone AT2. The Destinations are very highly rated on Tire Rack, and much quieter than the BFG KO2. I won't notice the noise on my TJ especially with no doors, but when my dad ran KO2s on his WK2 they clearly howled around 50mph. Maybe it was more noticeable because it was a quiet vehicle, but it was annoying on long trips.

Keep in mind that tire pressures, vehicle weight, driving styles, etc, can all have an impact on how a tire handles. My friend claims his BFG KM3 mud-terrains are fine in the rain, but the last time I drove his Jeep they were not good at all in my opinion. I also tend to have more of a lead foot, so your mileage may vary.

 

[deadbeat son]

Our TJ over steers very easily in the rain on the twisty roads around our house. We are not sure if this is due to the age of our tires at seven years old, if it is the way the BFG KO2 is in the rain even at slow speed or if it is just the mannerisms of a short wheelbase Jeep.

We figured we’d ask the question assuming it’s the age of the tires, but let us know if you think otherwise.

We would like opinions from those who have KO2s that aren’t 7 years old and also opinions on the Firestone X/Ts.

Thanks!

I do like the KO2, but as I alluded to in my previous post, I don't like it in the rain. I've ran the original KO on 3 vehicles (XJ, Range Rover, and Tacoma), and the KO2 on 2 (Tacoma and 4Runner), so it's not like I don't have experience with these tires. The throttle always seems to break them loose quicker than other tires when it's wet. They may do just fine on an under geared under powered TJ.

For what it's worth, when I bought my current TJ it came with a new set of 30x9.5 Firestone Destination X/Ts on it. I only drove it 1,000 or so miles before building it, so I didn't have a lot of seat time with those tires. However, they were quiet and smooth on the one highway trip I took it on (about 800 miles round trip). I can't recall whether or not I drove through any rain on that trip, so I can't speak to their wet traction.

 

[GoldCountry]

We're about 70-80" per year and I hate the KO2s lol Cooper AT3s and Fallen AT3Ws do well and we've really liked the Baja Boss ATs on my wife's GC Trailhawk.

Hate might be a strong word, but they're far from my favorite. They really miss the mark for me in heavy rain. Just wet roads they do fine. But heavy rain they just don't evacuate the water well enough.

I have the MT baja boss at on my Cummins. They are great. Looking to stay 31

We're about 70-80" per year and I hate the KO2s lol Cooper AT3s and Fallen AT3Ws do well and we've really liked the Baja Boss ATs on my wife's GC Trailhawk.

Hate might be a strong word, but they're far from my favorite. They really miss the mark for me in heavy rain. Just wet roads they do fine. But heavy rain they just don't evacuate the water well enough.

I have the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT on my Cummins and really like them. Unfortunately, no 31x10.5x15 though.



I wouldn’t be opposed to a 16 or 17” factory jeep wheel, but I don’t like modern wheels. Any late 90s/early 2000s era factory 16/17” jeep wheels that look decent on a wrangler?

 

[KennethS]

Well if we’re talking about road noise, the BFG ATs are much, much quieter than the BFG MTs and Goodyear MTRs.

Plus the BFG ATs have much, much better on-road grip than the afore mentioned MTs. I like to do 35+ MPH panic stops on dry and wet roads to know how my tires/vehicle respond in a panic situation, and the BFG ATs perform much better than both the MTs referenced above.

 

[bbaldwin237]

I have the MT baja boss at on my Cummins. They are great. Looking to stay 31

I have the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT on my Cummins and really like them. Unfortunately, no 31x10.5x15 though.



I wouldn’t be opposed to a 16 or 17” factory jeep wheel, but I don’t like modern wheels. Any late 90s/early 2000s era factory 16/17” jeep wheels that look decent on a wrangler?

If the BB AT came in a 35 on a 15 I would put those on my TJ. I just don't want to go to 17's. But if for some reason I do, it'll likely get BB ATs.

 

[deadbeat son]

I have the MT baja boss at on my Cummins. They are great. Looking to stay 31

I have the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT on my Cummins and really like them. Unfortunately, no 31x10.5x15 though.



I wouldn’t be opposed to a 16 or 17” factory jeep wheel, but I don’t like modern wheels. Any late 90s/early 2000s era factory 16/17” jeep wheels that look decent on a wrangler?

The Moab wheels are 16x8, and were offered on Rubicons from '03-'06.

 

[CharlesHS]

Gone thru two sets of Firestone Destination AT2s; they are quiet on the highway, decent traction on dirt roads and in the rain.
Haven't used them in the snow even though they are Snow rated.
The tires are 50,000 mile rated, but the first set had 35,000 when they needed to be replaced event with proper rotation and alignments.

 

[ColoJeep]

Gone thru two sets of Firestone Destination AT2s; they are quiet on the highway, decent traction on dirt roads and in the rain.
Haven't used them in the snow even though they are Snow rated.
The tires are 50,000 mile rated, but the first set had 35,000 when they needed to be replaced event with proper rotation and alignments.

I got these to use as summer tire to save the Duratracs . 2 Summers ( June to October ) and they were not worth saving . Good street tires but they didn't last very well on a 04 Tacoma TRD .

 

[GoldCountry]

The Moab wheels are 16x8, and were offered on Rubicons from '03-'06.

I like those. Just checked into 16” tires though. A 31” w/3pmsf rating and C load range is pretty slim pickins.

 

[The4bangertj]

I’ve ran ko2 for a long time and I’ve enjoyed them. I wouldn’t say they’re the best thing ever but I’ve never had a reason to complain. They only ever slipped on rain once and I’ve driven them in some downpour rainstorms. If I were living in a place where that was very common like Florida I’d definitely look elsewhere knowing the ko2 isn’t a great rain tire but my experience hasn’t made me think it’s a bad tire for a place like Maryland, Idaho or New Hampshire where rain isn’t an everyday thing. Dry rock is hard to gauge bc my rocks in Idaho were lava rock with a lot of traction no matter the tire but the ko2 did hold up well and never blew out even when a sidewall was folded over on a lava rock. Snow was great, never felt like I was sliding with normal driving speeds unless it was just ice.
I plan on getting the ko3 after these since my little 4cyl does appreciate how light these bfgs are over other brands.

 

[GoldCountry]

I’ve ran ko2 for a long time and I’ve enjoyed them. I wouldn’t say they’re the best thing ever but I’ve never had a reason to complain. They only ever slipped on rain once and I’ve driven them in some downpour rainstorms. If I were living in a place where that was very common like Florida I’d definitely look elsewhere knowing the ko2 isn’t a great rain tire but my experience hasn’t made me think it’s a bad tire for a place like Maryland, Idaho or New Hampshire where rain isn’t an everyday thing. Dry rock is hard to gauge bc my rocks in Idaho were lava rock with a lot of traction no matter the tire but the ko2 did hold up well and never blew out even when a sidewall was folded over on a lava rock. Snow was great, never felt like I was sliding with normal driving speeds unless it was just ice.
I plan on getting the ko3 after these since my little 4cyl does appreciate how light these bfgs are over other brands.

I was hoping the ko3 would be out in my size by now

 

[deadbeat son]

I like those. Just checked into 16” tires though. A 31” w/3pmsf rating and C load range is pretty slim pickins.

I think you'll have to size up to a 265/75-16 to find a C load range. There are a few in that size.

 

[Zorba]

I'm no expert, but the K02s I bought about a year ago seem fine to me - including in the rain. Remarkably quiet too.

 

[Obi-Wan]

I run KO2's on both my TJ and JLU. On and off road they have been nothing but great.

 

[GoldCountry]

I think you'll have to size up to a 265/75-16 to find a C load range. There are a few in that size.

I didn’t really find any additional 3pmsf all terrain options in a 265/75-16. I’ll see if we can find something close to a 31 in some other widths.

 

[deadbeat son]

I didn’t really find any additional 3pmsf all terrain options in a 265/75-16. I’ll see if we can find something close to a 31 in some other widths.

I apologize, the last time I shopped for that size there were a handful including Cooper ST, Toyo OC AT2, and Goodyear Duratrac, none of which are available now. It seems that all of the AT tires that aren't E in that size are now P rated tires instead of C.

 

[GoldCountry]

I think I’ll stick with my 15” wheels. I'm leaning towards trying out the Firestone destination x/t. They get great reviews in snow and seem to edge out the ko2 in the rain. Which makes sense, as the x/t has a continuous channel around the surface vs the ko2 having interlocking blocks forcing water to travel out of the tire like a Plinko board.

The cheapskate in me wants to try to make the 7 year old KO2s work until next winter comes, as they only have 6,000 miles on them.

We plan to build a small jeep trailer. I can use the KO2s on that and keep a couple as spares.

 

[Zorba]

In my opinion - and we know what that's worth - replacing 7 year old tires with 6K miles on them is ridiculous. As for K02s in the rain, I can't say as I've had any problems with mine, and I live in Florida. *shrug*

 

[bbaldwin237]

In my opinion - and we know what that's worth - replacing 7 year old tires with 6K miles on them is ridiculous. As for K02s in the rain, I can't say as I've had any problems with mine, and I live in Florida. *shrug*

But you can't really make a blanket statement without knowing the condition of the tires. Maybe they're cracked and dried out? Also, some shops will stop servicing tires as they get in the 6-10 year range. Every shop is different it seems. I think Costco might only be 5 years!?