All Terrain vs. Mud Terrain Tires - Which is Better?

[@billwaterhouse5894]

"I love tires, the smell of tire"...this is why you're my kinda guy brother. Great video

[@TrailRecon]

LOL! There is just something special about walking into the garage when you've got a fresh set of tires sitting in there! Thanks!

[@billwaterhouse5894]

@@TrailRecon yes sir, 100% with ya

[@theartistformerlyknownashe1279]

Why hasn't someone come out with a tire shaped, new tire smell air freshener to put on that rear view mirror?

[@bulljohnson6635]

@@TrailRecon I know I'm kinda late on subscribing. I just got my first jeep. What rims are those? I really like the one that's on the AT.

[@fernandogodina505]

I love both tires, which batter for sand nd snow or for highway

[@craigcook490]

Mud& Snow vs. 3 Peak rated. Brad, great video as usual, Thank you. Living on the North Coast we have to also be aware of the tire's ability to perform well in the snow. Even most all season tires are rated "Mud & Snow" yet the tend to perform poorly in the winter (especially when they start to wear) My understanding is that there are really no industry standards for the Mud & Snow rating. The BFG KO2 has the "3 Peak" rating on the sidewall, you showed that but didn't explain it. A 3 Peak rated tires means it meets a very strict industry standard for snow performance. Not important to the desert runners but very important when you live up north. Thanks again for the great video.

[@gwot]

you can ignore the M&S, they pretty much don't mean anything anymore. the 3PMS does have a minimum to meet, but they're not very high, the only test criteria is performance on packed snow. That's why so many "all-weather" tires, such as the KO2, perform alright in light packed snow, but suffer greatly on ice, slush, or wet snow.

[@ms.annthrope415]

Maybe yes. Maybe no. The standards for 3 peak snowflake was developed by the Rubber Manufacturers Association to provide an objective standard for winter use. They require the testing tire to exceed the performance in cold and snow compared to a base tire by 10% better. The base tire I've read was some mediocre Firestone tire. So the standard is pretty low. But the rubber compound is supposed to reduce hardening in severed cold so as to maintain grip and while it is not as good as a dedicated show tire, it will be better than a non 3 peak sbow flake AT tire. Maybe. Also some states recognize 3 peak snowflake rating as "winter traction devices" to be waived through chain control on highways. They count as chain equivalent tires in those states. So if you live those states, it makes a difference.

[@michaeldbhawker3556]

As an Oil and Gas worker and Canadian who spends 250 days a year for 25 years in snow and mud and off-road I am the authority on this question. Ok here goes. The answer to this depends on where you live and environment and budget. The reality is. Once the ground freezes up devoid of deep snow there is no winter snow rated tire that will give you decent traction. None. Dedicated winter tires that are studded are the only tires and rubber compound designed for this condition. They are not sexy they are not mud tires but they are engineered for extreme cold hard pack ice. The softer rubber compound stays flexible at very low temps. No matter what your AT's or Mt's claim its a lie in true winter temps and conditions. Think walking on wet smooth ice. its a disaster. As the smart ones do here when winter gets fck off cold and the snow gets deep the intelligent ones augment their winter studded tires with very aggressive chains. The ultimate solution to tread of the MT in winter. Sure you can compromise and get MT's snow peak but dont ever expect them to perform as needed when you need them too. There is NO compromise to dedicated studded winter tires unless you live in a pussy winter climate. Im talking serious winter here. Cracks me up guys talking winter performance mt's with 3 weeks of snow a year. If you are 8 weeks of minus 30F a year you need studded winter rubber period. If you need more grip then get chains because Mt's get eaten alive in these conditions. Oh the stories I have. Moral of the story is this. If you are in a marginal cold place Ie northern California mt's At's can work. If you are in northern Minnesota type winter snow peak rated Mt's At's will fail spectacularly.

[@brokenwrench404]

I went from a 315/70r18 (35.6”) Toyo mud terrain to a 37-13.50-18 nitto ridge grappler and I don’t notice a loss of traction but I do notice a huge decrease in road noise and much better on road snow and ice traction. Gotta love the hybrid designs

[@chaseprosser2292]

I run the Ridge Grappler’s. Best tire for all scenarios. I agree, gotta love the hybrid.

[@ramoneortiz]

Thanks for the great video Brad. You explain things so well that those of us that are just starting to overland and off-road can easily understand. You’re my “Mr. Roger’s” of off-roading. Keep them coming sir.

[@harrymills2770]

I ran out of patience waiting for him to get to the point of the headline I clicked on.

[@Rustfish]

Wow, this never happens. :-) I agree with everything you said in this video. I’ve been running BFG tires on jeeps, trucks, and desert race cars for 25 years. You hit it spot on. There is a place for the all-terrain‘s and a place for the MTs. One thing you didn’t mention is that BFG makes incredibly tough tires. Over the years I’ve tried many other brands too and always come back to BFG. They make a damn good tire.

[@renatomartins1939]

I run 35" on my JK here in Australia and I love them, they let me go smoother and further almost effortlessly trough everything I wanted.

[@theburtseoni]

Brad, I love your KZbin channel, you are honest and low key, like a good friend! I appreciate that you don't have to drop an F-bomb every other word like so many people do, as we used to say- "you are a gentleman and a scholar"! May your tribe increase!

[@ExpeditionaryJeep]

I too love the smell of new tires! Always give me nostalgic memories. Getting a new bike, getting my motorcycle. And now the jeep!

[@00ninja00]

I’ve always been a hardcore KO2 guy. Until, the KM3 came out!! The old KM2 was more of a MT tire and thus back then, I go with the KO2, but imo, the KM3 is closer to an AT tire now, much quieter than the MT km2, I’d say the KM3 is in between a MT and AT, in the same class as a nitto ridge grappler (classed as a hybrid). I love the KM3, it’s tougher than a ko2 but not quite as aggressive as a “real” MT and definitely much quieter than a MT for sure. They call it a MT, but I honestly would categorize it as a hybrid, exactly the same class as the nitto ridge grappler, which is awesome.

[@ORflycaster]

I'm starting to shop for new tires for my 1st gen Tacoma, and think the KM3 would make a good do-all tire for where I live. Traction in ALL directions is more important to me than some extra road noise. Tire weight is a concern though, so I'll have to compare the KM3 with the rest of the market.

[@brokenwrench404]

I’ve run a bunch of different tires and I have to say the ridge grapplers are my absolute favorite. Quiet on road with good handling, great Offroad and in on road snowy conditions. Before Covid I was traveling from SoCal to Carson city nevada twice a month. The ridge grapplers are so quiet that they’re was chasing some exhaust leaks that I had never noticed before due to tire noise. The snow up in the mammoth area on I395 gets pretty gnarly and those tires gripped nicely at speed

[@00ninja00]

@@brokenwrench404 yes I love the ridge grapplers as well. The trail grapplers are too much of a MT for me, I’d never run it on a daily driver. I think the trail grapplers tries are awesome for an actual off road rig, but never on a daily. As for the ridge grapplers, I’ve ran them on a daily driven rig before and they’re great! These KM3 imo are close to the ridge grapplers all around. Only difference to me is the km3 actually performs a bit better off road than the ridge because they are softer compound (especially on trails like the rubicon where it’s a varied terrain throughout the trail) and they don’t last as long on pavement due to the same reason. I think both the ridge and km3 are great daily driver weekend warrior tires, they are imo the same class of tires (nitto calls theirs a hybrid and bfg considers theirs a MT) with a little bit of difference but the difference is so small that I think going with either is a good choice.

[@00ninja00]

@@ORflycaster I ran a 35/12.5/15 km3 on my first gen Tacoma for many years and it did great as a daily tire. Before that I ran a ko2 in the same size as a daily and I had a couple side puncture when playing in the rocky trails. Never had that issue on the km3s. The km3 are definitely built stronger! 37” km3 are same weight as a 39” ko2, compared just last month when I bought km3 37/12.5/17 for my gladiator. I was going to go with a 39” km3 but they didn’t have it and won’t have it for months, they offered me a 39” ko2 instead but I ended up just going with 37” km3. They’re pretty close in road noise as well, the old km2 was much louder. I was worried about noise on km3 when it first came out but I was blown away at how much quieter it is, it’s almost the same as the ko2, you’d really have to try to listen to hear the difference. I think it has to do with tire compound vs tread. The ko2 has better tread for lower noise on road but it’s harder compound and the km3 has a typical tread that would make more noise but it had softer compound, so they kinda equal out in the end as far as noise goes. Anyways, Ko2 isn’t a really quiet tire anyways, id consider it noisy on the road compared to an actual street tire like a Michelin. There’s AT tires out there that perform much better than the ko2 in certain conditions, like the falken at3w, it is better in wet and snow conditions and is much quieter than the ko2, from personal experience. Only category the ko2 beats the at3w is it lasts longer on pavement due to harder compound but that’s also it’s downfall, the softer compound of the at3w is what helps it to be stickier in wet and snow conditions and quieter on pavement. Weight wise, I think a 33” km3 would be about same weight as a 35” ko2, same width and rim size. I know for sure the 39” ko2 is almost same weight as 37” km3. Hope my comment helps ya. Good luck with your search.

[@dennisc8664]

Great review Brad! Thank you for taking the in depth look at both tires. I went with the KO2 based on my usage and I love them!

[@avilok4880]

Just switched to an all terrain on my 05 Power Wagon coming from a mud terrain. It's a world of difference for me. Since imma turn it into a overlanding rig it was the best choice for me. Plus it's quiet for the fiance to sleep on long trips.

[@bretthibbs6083]

I've used bfg all terrains for the last 16 years and they are awesome. I had a set on my old truck and they lasted almost 60,000 miles. Then when I got my jeep in 2016 I had the tires that were on the jeep for a couple of months then I got a set of bfg all terrain ko2s and so far I have almost 40,000 miles and they still look new. They have excellent traction in the snow and rain and dry weather.

[@garretlewis4103]

Knew what you meant; however, laughed at “I love the smell of A new rubber.” That online tire size calculator you showed is a very good tool/resource. Rain: I would say AT tire because it has better siping (generally).

[@wannabeangler]

Agreed 100%! Twisted old man humor...lol.

[@cj5376]

Mickey thompson baja boss A/T is all you need, made by Cooper. Blows BFG KO2 out of the water all around.

[@jcarieri5435]

I went with the Nitto Ridge Grappler Hybrid in a 38 for my 392, and love the on and off road performance.

[@triumphrider9396]

This is where I feel there is a good "go-between" in the Nitto Ridge Grappler. Yes, there is a lot of discussion on this tire and a lot of fans of it, but there is a reason for it. Excellent off road performance, good wear life, and oh so quiet on road performance. They also have a ton of sizes and weight ratings, so you can get the right tire for your application. It definitely fits that niche between an AT and MT.

[@triumphrider9396]

@Westcoastrocksduh yes 👍

[@triumphrider9396]

@Westcoastrocksduh they do have a 3-ply sidewall

[@tandracoleman5361]

We just bought our JK 2018 ears last week so we haven’t done any upgrades YET !! You were right on with your reviews on the tires and gave some great information. I was in the tire business for 29 years and these were always questions people had. Then some want tires only for looks and nothing else. Bigger , more aggressive is what they want. Great video as always. Thanks Walt

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you!

[@GraphicJ]

Hands down the best video I've seen on an explanation on these two tires. Great comparison.

[@RentFreeMTB]

@13:48 when you said, "but first..." I thought for sure you were going to see what Marco was cooking for chow! 😂 Love all your videos!

[@scooterprint]

I've had both MTs and ATs on my first gen Toyota Tundra. I had Maxxis Razr MT 285/75r16, and now I have Maxxis Razr AT 285/70r17s. I think what tire you get really comes down to the type of terrain you travel on the most. I live in central Arkansas, where we have lots of mucky mud and slick conditions. I vastly prefer MTs since they provide quite a bit more grip in the schmoo.

[@Crumb_Trails]

When i had my JKU I ran BFG KM2s at 25psi on the street and 8-10 on the trail. Great tires in everything and they wore GREAT. I put those tires through mud, rocks, snow, sand, etc. Now we have Mickey Thompson Baja Boss ATs on my wife's F150 and so far I'm impressed.

[@DuaneGreen]

Hey Brad - perhaps it’s worth mentioning that manufacturer tire pressure ratings are based on the stock wheel/tire configuration. When you upgrade in size/width, a lower tire pressure will generally work just fine.

[@TrailRecon]

That's honestly a topic all it's own. There are so many factors that go into trying to figure out what tire pressure to run when going with larger tires. Tire size, load rating, vehicle weight, etc. Plus you have to be careful making recommendations that are not validated by either the vehicle manufacture or the tire manufacture... at least I do.

[@FRWD_FXLRST]

That’s what a chalk test is for.

[@harleymichael281]

Duane this is a great point. I have Nitto Ridge Grapplers with 315's and switched from 18" 17" Method bead lock technology. The tire store set them at 40PSI. I called Nitto gave them all the specifics they asked for and they said for this tire and my vehicle, wheels set them at 35PSI. I said what about when I tow my RV Trailer (over 6000lbs loaded) and they said, 35PSI. So far so good. Therefore I highly recommend if you don't know, not absolutely sure for most us to talk to the tire manufacturer and go with there recommendation if you change from stock wheels and tires.

[@adstryker5084]

@@harleymichael281 Yep. Stock tire size for me is LT265/75R16 (load range E) with maximum load capacity of 3417 lb at 80 psi -- door-sticker pressure is 55 psi. If I switch to a 37x12.50R17 tire (load range D) with max load capacity of 3527 lb at 50 psi, I do not for any rational reason need to air those tires up to the stock 55 psi -- in fact, 33 psi would be roughly equivalent to the load-carrying capacity of the stock tires at 55 psi.

[@harleymichael281]

@@adstryker5084 Exactly and excellent explanation.

[@sh-df1bb]

Your video's are priceless! Old & new! The grand daddy of all offroad youtuber's!😊

[@reneepowell8541]

Thanks for sharing the info. I love my Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx tires, which are supposedly a hybrid all-terrain/mud-terrain. So far, they've done well in mud, sand, and rock. Well-mannered on the road, fairly quiet, and nimble handling for a somewhat aggressive off-road tire.

[@EngiTrek]

Really good video! To expand on a couple topics that you touched on: The all terrain has a snowflake on the sidewall. This means the tire is actually been tested and rated to perform in the snow. Regarding the rolling resistance of the tires, the way you can characterize it is by calculating 1/2*mass of tire * radius^2. Meaning that the rolling resistance is linearly proportional to its mass, but proportional to the square of its radius. The diameter has a much bigger impact than the weight. Regarding the tire compound, there is a treadwear rating of the tires. This can be cavalierly used to rate the stiffness, or ability for the tread blocks to deform. Regarding how the tire impacts the axles, the weight of the tire is actually not a large driver in stresses. You can get an idea of loads imparted into the axle by calculating the moment about the ball joints by multiplying the lever arm from the tires contact point to the ground to the ball joint, by the force which from a free body diagram could be simplified by 1/4 of the weight of the spring mass. This shows that the mass of the tire doesn’t play a role in the loading of the axle in a static equilibrium, but the tire height does. Now in a dynamic situation, the mass would play a role if your unloading the suspension in a jumping scenario but that’s probably pretty uncommon in the majority of peoples use cases. Thanks for another great video!

[@johnnyclayton429]

I was going to say the same thing.

[@ronaldspins]

@@johnnyclayton429 me too The A/T is 3 peak rated the M/T isn't But the M/T is good enough in snow / ice etc

[@RickNethery]

I run straight up mud grips on the back of my 2wd pickup. I've done this for over 30 years. It makes a lot of difference on the muddy dirt roads I frequent.

[@Tnapvrvideo]

We've been running a BFG KO2 265/70/R17 on a 4Runner for years, and I cannot say enough positives about the KO2's. They wear exceptionally well, and they ARE quiet on road. Our use is 80%/20% on-road/off-road. These KO2's are superb in snow, they are perfect in rain on wet streets, and they have been excellent off-road in three diverse terrains: Moab, Ouray, and Page AZ. We sold our Sahara and plan to purchase a Rubicon. Based on your other videos, we plan to go conservative with the KO2 315/70 R17 for the Jeep along with your recommended Teraflex 3.5 Sport ST3 lift system. Thanks for these fabulous videos!!!

[@TrailRecon]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@Arexodius]

Absolutely love the KO2's. They just look "right"! And now that the KO3's are out, they've gotten even better!

[@dsahlst]

Well spoken, clear and concise video. Only point of contention is on pressure. Door/Factory spec pressures are ONLY for factory spec tires. When changing tires from factory, homework has to be done to verify the tire will meet your needs. Ex. I have a 2016 Ram 2500 and I tow semi-frequently so I had to select a tire that can properly handle the weight of my truck and/or cargo. There are tires that handle up to 80psi (like factory tires), but the bulk of the tire options only go to 65psi max but have the same load/weight rating. So, pressure is actually only relative in aftermarket tires, not exact like a factory door sticker.

[@joshlower1]

Nope you still inflate to factory pressures regardless

[@underabigsky]

Very well done 👍 I run both BFG tires on my JLU. I drive alone and especially during monsoon season prefer the M/T for all the reasons u mentioned. I find the BFG A/T’s one of poorest A/T’s in mud. It’s my high elevation winter tire as it does pretty well in that regard. Again, a well thought out and comprehensive video. For me going it alone I got off BFG A/T’s for all the reasons the M/T’s have an advantage. As a solo traveler in the back country seeking more remote areas hands down the BFG M/T’s.

[@justjeep1467]

This could not have come at a better time. Getting my first Jeep jlu and was looking for tyre info this whole week. Thank you for the information.

[@hotel.colorado]

I run 32 inch bf goodrich Ko2 AT's. I absolutely love them for off road and on road purposes. They have gotten me through some pretty tough situations. Great content as always sir! 😊

[@mattdagger1480]

I’m absolutely loving my kenda klever RT tires! Quiet, good mileage, and haven’t ever got stuck yet! And surprisingly great in the snow as well

[@jeffp.8718]

If you ever anticipate traversing wet dirt / clay gravel roads after recent rain I would highly suggest mud terrain tires. I had the scare of my life recently on a flat dirt road on public land that has a few 25 degree angles. Using quality A/T tires with new tread (less than 20,00 miles) and found myself sliding all over the place at low speed (10mph and less) to the point the vehicle traction control light came on on shut off the engine. Had I been at the wrong angle I would have slowly slid off the edge and down a steep embankment. Definitely an eye opener. Up until this recent rain incident the "pizza cutter style" tires had served me incredibly well off road 4x4 in various conditions. Observation of the A/T tires in wet dirt turned them into racing slicks completely caked in mud.

[@joshlower1]

Thats what they make max track bridges for.

[@fishgutz4272]

The best tire I ever put on my 93 YJ and then my 2010 lifted Rubicon was the TRXUS MT. 33x12.5 on the YJ. 37x12.5 on the Rubicon. Quieter on the highway than the stock 32" BFG MT. Better wet traction than many AT's. Handled everything off road very well. Handled snow like no other tire I've had. Dug through packed snow on the road if I deliberately got the tires stopping, vs spinning on top of the snow with AT. Never got stuck. Great tire for a daily driver, 2000 mile round trip road trip NC to MA and back, and off road fun (Uwharrie).

[@JDKing-rj2oy]

Seems like a pretty unbiased comparison. I chose the KO2, and I am happy with them. Thanks!

[@96kylar]

I was not to thrilled with my set. They did fine, sure. But, in light rain, and light light snow, they sucked. Heavier stuff, they did ok. But that skiff,.. they struggled. Mine did. Wasnt impressed. The did go over 65k for me, but I didnt get another set of the ko2s.

[@buddyj8815]

@@96kylar what did you end up getting? Falkens are good

[@overlandingsmith]

Cool video Brad 👍🏻 100% agree. I had the ko2 and now the km3 on my jku. The ko2 is way better in snow but I really fell in love with the km3. It's an awesome tire. And it isn't that loud on the road everybody said. Especially in a jeep where you have some wind noises you don't even hear the tires.

[@seanbyrne7919]

This is exactly why you want to run two sets of tyres. I run a set of all terrains for daily driving and light off-roading/camping and another set of mud terrains for serious wheeling. Best of both worlds.

[@gregphillips1998]

You’re right on point. It depends on what your specific use you do the most and what you want out of the tire. I agree with everything you spoke about because I have experienced pretty much the same uses and results. Great video.

[@224chingon]

Sir you have the best explanation about tires of all videos in YT. Thank you very much.

[@slowcountryboy476]

For me it is stuff I already know. But I appreciate the effort you put into all your videos not just this one. I appreciate that you explained the differences so well so others may get a clue. Keep up the good work. HOOAH!! (ARMY)

[@DomBogey94]

I love those beadlock tires that come with the extreme recon package. I want to get those tires and rims for my 2016 jeep jk

[@Burke_Motorsports]

Bought my TJ with 31" K02's. They never let me down. Now running 35" Mickey Thompson Baja Boss' I am happy so far.

[@yugbe]

The K2 tire is great! But, if one really wants to off-road seriously, you want a trailer. Doesn't have to be big, but having options is a game changer.

[@Toastedyogurt]

I'm getting some Falken Wildpeak at3Ws installed tomorrow morning. I'm very excited! Should be a good upgrade from the stock tires on my Tacoma

[@wayneyoung6094]

That's what I have on my Bronco, they've been good so far, quiet considering how deep the tread is

[@brianwills4398]

Love my wildpeak mt's

[@derekmorris2045]

I love my falcon wild peak at3s They have performed exceedingly well off-road very good on road. excellent in the rain. no complaints whatsoever

[@billwaterhouse5894]

My 1st set of the same, 9,500 miles so far...no complaints yet

[@Michael_Tran]

Thanks for this video Brad! Man, I learn so much just from this one video!

[@TrailRecon]

Awesome, so great to hear!

[@harrywalker968]

@@TrailRecon brad...ly.... tire pressure,is more important. i have 2 sets, a/t & mud, never used the mud. a/t, dick cepek fc2. 10 psi,go anywhere. muds are micky thompson, mtz, 15.5 x 36 x 16 rim.. yes,,i drive ford, cos i dont need to modify anything..4.11 & 5 sp..

[@cwwcww7465]

I actually ran a set of BFG All Terrains 70k and some change miles on the last TJ we owned. Several trips to Cessys Tacos from Georgia and at least 25% off road on decent trails and FS roads. It is the only tire I will even consider buying anymore due to my personal experience and biased loyalty to BFG. The tire or the Company have never let us down to date... Brad, great videos from your channel, even for an old swabbie Doc... Keep up the fantastic work... Semper Fi Brother....

[@michaeltmoneyjr]

Just went from Nitto Ridge Grapplers (33”) to the 37” KM3. I have no complaints. The KM3s are quieter than the RG and have been great on road and off so far. Still a little early but happy for now.

[@stacythomas4017]

Great info as usual Brad! I've been running the new Mickey Thompson Baja Boss Hybrid AT tires in a 37x12.50. They are a great, more aggressive Hybrid AT tire. Definitely worth checking out.

[@exordis]

How have these held up? I'm looking at either the Baja Boss AT in 37x12.50 or the Ridge Grapplers. Could be persuaded into something like the Legends. Weekend warrior type of driving, plenty of blacktop too.

[@ozzy7926]

I've been running hybrid tires on my daily driver overland rig and I've bene pretty happy with the hybrid style tire. First set was the nitto ridge grapplers. Now I'm running the Mickey thompson baja legend exp they seem to be a really good tire so far.

[@jkroemer2685]

They are! I have about 17k miles on my (D.C) trail country exps. Just had them off road today for a little adventure

[@rgilmosh]

Been running KOs for 20 years. For my money, best all around tire. Both of my Rubicons came with the Mud Terrains. Couldn't wait to get rid of them. Harsh and noisy on the road. Not good or a daily driver. Currently run 35×12.50×17s on my 2012 JKUR with 2.5" AEV dual sport lift. Perfect for me.

[@mnolanco5599]

If you live anywhere near the snow the AT is the best choice for those snowy days. Plus the quieter tire to me is worth it. Nice comparison on the two types though-thank you.

[@Montanaoffroad1]

Great Video, I ended up going the hybrid tire route and I have been very happy with them.

[@bigslacker666]

Good vid going over the basics! Glad you brought up snow performance. I live in Tahoe and unless you wanna swap for dedicated snows/studs a good AT tire will get you through winter. I'll also say that when it comes to rotating even with AT tires you need to be on it depending on your vehicle. My Raptor chews up rears so rotating front/rear is important to keep wear even. Only get 22k or so a set regardless, haha! I run the Ford performance K02's that are OEM for the Raptor, they're really good in many conditions. They aren't good in peanut butter though, found myself wishing for some MTs when it's muddy/slick out.

[@jackstitt1395]

I have run the Rubicon twice with BFG AT's, the only issue I have had is when there was a very steep approach and it was wet near Spider Lake on an optional climb. Other than that they performed flawlessly. I generally aired them down to 12 PSI. I wanted to try out the BFG KM3's and see if there was any difference on the rocks. In my opinion they perform well but do not outperform the AT's from BFG. In my opinion I had to air the KM's down a little farther to get the same performance. The KM's are really nice tires but you will not go wrong with the BFG AT's So f far I have run the Rubicon an equal amount using both tires and cannot say one outperforms the other. What I can tell you is you will get longer tread life and a reduced initial cost with the BFG AT's

[@gregcrocker5560]

Great video Brad. I've used BFG KM2's for the last 12yrs and because of availability issues this last year I had to go with KO2's. I noticed it was a lot quieter than the KM2 Mud Terrain on pavement and during on road winter driving, a significantly better snow tire. Haven't had enough experience offroad with the KO2's to make a good judgment of difference between the two.

[@roothedog-mtb]

Thanks for the explanations! On my Powerwagon, I went with 35s - Toyo OC AT3s. My primary use for my Powerwagon is backcountry camping (I guess one could call this overlanding, but on a typical weekend trip, I don't have to go more than 30-40 miles from my home and then will spend ~3 hours or more on trails getting to a campsite). The other factor with weight to consider is whether you can change the tire by yourself!? With 35s and slight modifications, I can keep the spare under the bed. 37s would require a rack or to keep it in the bed. For a 37-inch tire, a rack on the back would have been the likely route for me. But, I could not remove the darn tire from the rack let alone put it back (71 lbs + wheel, which is likely 25-30 lbs for the 35s already). In the warm months, I barely weigh in at 145 lbs, so the wheel/tire lifting at 4-5 feet off the ground would be impossible (at my current age, but 20 years ago, probably no problem). On the other hand, I could go without a spare and rely on my abilities (or lack of, having only done it once) to plug a flat on the trail, assuming it is a puncture and not a tear.

[@rascalmatt6713]

On my Tacoma i replaced my 30K mi's. old 1st set of tires, Nitto Terra Grapplers ,with KO2's. My sidewall got punctured out here in Utah, where it is extremely rocky with lots of sharp rocks where i drive. I go off-roading most months of the year, multiple times a week because i shoot long range as a hobby. So i am constantly taking my truck into the mountains. I can commute to work in my car. This winter was extremely nasty for mud because it has snowed and or rained here this winter more than anyone can remember. I haven't gone shooting since November, which is crazy for me as i'm usually out there multiple times a week. It was just too muddy and the KO2's just plain suck in mud. I also couldn't climb a steep hill with a bit of snow on it, despite many rocks underneath it. This hill was how i accessed my shooting mountain. I probably could have greatly benefited from some Yokohama Geolandar G003's with the great mud tread and 3 ply side walls. For now i'll stick with the KO2's but for next winter, if WW3 hasn't obliterated everyone and everything, i'll likely get some mud terrain tires and see how i like them.

[@SteveDuVal-kw2zw]

Great info. Hopefully I will get to buy my first jeep this Christmas.

[@DixieOverland]

I bought a set of Milestar Patagonia tires and I've noticed that they have got significantly louder as they have worn. Great tire offroad though. May try BFGs when it comes time for a change.

[@mpeugeot]

My Milestar Patagonia M/T's (295/70R17) didn't get much louder after 10k miles, but they will never be as quiet as the Bridgestone Dueller A/T RH-S (255/70R18) that came stock and the mileage is much better on the highway with the stock tires.

[@hisaddle]

I am starting on my 6th set of BFG all terrains over 3 different vehicles. Great tire. Just replaced 35 x 12.5 on my JLK, $2,020 for 4 installed. Great off road shots you put in this vid. I learned stuff about tires. I live in CO. Thank you.

[@chancefluke7833]

You got ripped off 😂

[@brbadventurer]

13:22 I am West Coast Canadian, the A/T is garbage in the deep snow, M/T all the way, it digs and chews to the bottom to find traction. The A/T just plugs up slips on the top. A road with 6" - 8" of snow is different than 3" - 4" when your diff starts dragging you want something to pull you through not spin out.

[@andymckane7271]

First rate advice and excellent video as always, Brad! Really enjoyed this particular video. This past February I changed from the BFG mud terrain tires over to BFG all terrain tires on my 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. I've put almost 1,400 miles on the all terrains. We live 20 miles out of Kaunakakai where we have to go to buy groceries, gasoline, etc. My MT tires which are still on the original Jeep wheels, were much noisier (with about 60 percent of their tread worn off); the MT's had a harsher ride; the MT's did not handle as well on wet or dry pavement. But over rock, the mud terrain BFG's ruled. My MT and AT BFG's are of the same stock Rubicon size. As the MT's tread wore down, the tires got noisier. I'm delighted to have made the switch-over. Part of this may be because at 74, I'm far more conservative in driving style than I was when in my twenties. I like "Quiet" in any vehicle I drive. (But not enough to have any desire to "electrify" my wife's and my "fleet" of two cars.) (I also have a third set of wheels and tires I ran with most of the time I lived in Utah, 2012 to 2017. This other set, Michelin LTX's, are good tires but NOT as good off road as my new BFG AT's are.) I still salivate every time you mention your "392 Rubicon." Keep up the great work with TrailRecon! Andy McKane, 16 May 2022, Maunaloa, Molokai, Hawaii.

[@cabomitzy3571]

Great video. Thank you. In my experience the MTs are very challenging to manage during wet road conditions. The MTs will "peel out" easily and lose traction when the roads are wet, especially going uphill from a stop. I live in WA State and this is the main reason I switched to the ATs.

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you! I haven't had any sketchy issues with MT's in the rain, it may be dependent on the type or design of the MT maybe?

[@redwrangler7985]

Really appreciate your review, especially from someone who runs different rigs and terrain. I've had same experience with MT slippage, especially 30 to 40 F rainy weather on asphalt and partly worn tires. The siping in the tread blocks that helps eject water is usually worn out and MTs do not have as much as AT, even when new. The ATs seem to have more siping and places for water to go which reduces hydroplaning. I'm in NE Ohio.

[@jacobshort5378]

I have maxxis razr, they are overall quiet. Turning down the radio is the only way I can hear them at all and that's only on certain types of pavement. Performance has been awesome thus far.

[@dainwilson4523]

On my rock crawler Scrambler that will be on a trailer getting to my choice trails (none close) I am leaning toward MTs. It has really old KO2s right now but I used to commute in the Jeep. But no longer.

[@lupecarreon6931]

Another great video. One of the few content creators I look forward to watching whenever a new video is released. Keep it up Brad. Big thumbs up.

[@TrailRecon]

Much appreciated!

[@MarkTalampas]

Thanks for the information. Learned few things from this video. Just got into the off road scene. Got a Toyota 4Runner. Also from your background seen your a retired marine. Thank you for your service .

[@bryanburton7068]

My XJ has 10 wheels 5 daily(summer) and 5 specialty. I live in Flagstaff AZ at 7000' so snow plays a big part, but don't want the noise in the summer or the fast wear. We keep the stored set in a cool dark space under the house.

[@sorenmelchior]

Just a quick note on Snow/Winter driving. Living in interior Alaska = I deal with a LOT of snow and ice driving. That said I run 37x12.5 BFG KM3's in the winter on my 2 door JLR (daily driver). I also siped the center 6" of my KM3's so they can handle the hard-pack snow and ice better than without said siping. Having also driven the K02's in the winter, here is my take on the differences. The K02's drive a little better on Hardpack/ICE winter driving than my siped KM3's... BUT... the KM3's way outperform the K02's in the deep stuff (talking 12+" or more snow) as they clear out to grab traction where the K02's pack in the snow and in the warm snow become like slicks. Another benefit of the KM3's is the softer compound for grip when it gets cold (0F and colder), where the K02's firm up and start to slide more, the KM3's stay a little more flexible in sub zero temps. You really start noticing the compound differences sub -20F and colder (I have driven both to -50F) and the difference gets noticeable. And yes both types stiffen up in the cold and develop flat spots when parked, but the KM3's respond faster to reshaping back to round after driving a couple miles than the K02's because of that softer compound.

[@MichaelRodgersCh]

+1 to those mentioning hybrids. MT Baja Boss for instance. Marketed as AT, but they're clearly half way to an M/T. I expect these types of tires to gain market share over the next few years. I love the look of pure M/Ts but they just don't handle well snow or mixed conditions.

[@chrisbolliger5717]

Very informative as usual. I’ve been hoping you’d do a video discussing maintenance like rotations and alignment frequency with running trails as much as you do.

[@rvnascimentouol]

Very complete and logical comparison pal, considering some 'forgotten' parameters like duration, guarantee. Great job

[@sheilanay3440]

Thanks so much for an again great and helpful video Brad!! We have been comparing and looking for tires for a week now! And this was so helpful! 😃

[@calevel]

I just passed my 55k miles threshold on my KO2’s on my heavy rig it’s a Ram 2500 Diesel truck and a new set of the same have been seating in my garage for over a year, Yeah that’s how much I like them.

[@BucksMom218]

Hi Brad, thanks for this info! I learned a lot! Awesome, as always! 🥾🥾😎

[@xtoverland]

Man once again great job! I’ll admit surprisingly it took me a bit to watch this video of yours because well something about beating a horse, but finally did and managed to learn even more. Thanks 🙏

[@drivenmad2089]

KO2 everyday for me. My bronco’s factory MT’s I’m not a fan of and will probably add KO2’s to it at some point. My 392 and 2 door JL run KO2’s and freakin love them.

[@burningwitchstudio3629]

Always got AT, never had an issue on the trails. Desert trails mostly and AT I find do best in sand loose rocks.

[@g.fortin3228]

there's some good honesty here.. nice job. only thing i'd like to have heard is taking into consideration the width of the tires for rocks vs sand vs mud, but good tire type discussion !

[@utahjohnnymontana3373]

I'm trying out the Yokohama Geolander X AT. Only a couple thousand on them and while they're a bit noisier than the Hankook that were OEM I'm liking them so far.

[@dustinabshire]

I went with Rugged Terrains (RT) and I think I got the best of both. Just wheeled Hot Springs and my Kenda Klevers performed flawlessly at 17psi on my Gladiator. 35x10.50 on my stock steel wheels BTW.

[@cosidiventai73]

this is the perfect review. I have both and I do confirm every single word!

[@mrminer604]

I have had both general and big k02 and hands down k02’s are for me as a daily driver it serves me well.

[@RinconPilot]

My rig is for pleasure and adventure so I chose the MT. I have never been out on a trail and thought to myself, man I wish I had a less aggressive tire...

[@trishalratnakar8622]

This video helped me get on a final tyres. Thanks.

[@Jtfogle82]

Ive ran m/t’s on every vehicle I’ve owned since I started driving in 1996. I’ve tried a plethora of brands, cheap and expensive. I usually averaged 35-40k miles before they were slicks. That being said, Ive gotten 60k miles out of my last 3 sets of 35x12.5 Nitto Trail Grapplers on a 3/4 diesel and they still have enough tread left that I usually get $400 for the old set when I buy a new set. I just put a set of 35” Ridge Grapplers on and can already tell that they are an inferior tire as far traction goes (on and off-road). They are my first set of A/T’s. I have about 11k on them since Feb. They are super quiet and smooth compared so will see how it goes with the longevity.

[@missingremote4388]

11,000 miles is a lot in 4months time. My"truck" tires last 10 years. And dry rot with 50% tread left.

[@GunNut37086]

Great video and great advice. I've never heard anybody with any sense say anything that contradicts what you just said. I hate mud, but we have a lot of it where I'm from and the LAST thing I wanna do is wade through it to pull a cable. I've still got quite a bit of meat left on the bones of my 35x15x13.5 Toyo Open Country M/Ts after 35K miles...I think I'll make it to 48K'ish.

[@superdutyohv3401]

Yes!! I’ve been waiting for this comparison!!

[@tammyayles8690]

I love all you videos . Always full of good advice . I’m learning so much from you . Thank you

[@erickgomez1798]

Very informative video, you explained everything about the tires specs of each tire and that’s a plus, I liked it.

[@huntinbob06]

Great video Brad. I agree with everything you said. After following my friends Jeep for two summers, I can tell you that those Kevlar KO's do not flex very well when aired down. Killer sidewall but they just don't grab the rocks as effectively. Thank you for sharing.

[@billfrigo7602]

Which tire? The OEM Goodyear Wrangler Kevlars? Or the BF Goodrich KO2?

[@kevinmoore1401]

I just want to say thank you for your video and information on the difference between both tires. I am going to building a gambler vehicle and I was going to get mud tires for it but now that I have watched your video I think an AT tire will be best for me! Thank you very much for your input and all of the information.

[@TrailRecon]

Thank you and have fun with your gambler build!

[@ShaunsJeep]

So i have done a ton of research into this on tire sizes and weight and types. I have a JTR stock gears 4.10 with a steel bumper winch and 3 inch lift and ran Km3's at 35/12.50/17 and have had them on my Zr2 Diesel Colorado and love these tires.I got a 37/12.50/17 ko2 and have gotten 3 mpgs better and currently getting 18 ish mpg. The 35 km3 vs the ko2 37s were 8 lbs heaver a tire . my gamble paid off seeing its silent and taller and better mpg. I also tested the ko2 on a rock test desert test and they seem equal. I can tell you for sure i feel more secure not blowing a tire from rocks or anything on the trail running a km3 but thats what the spare is for.

[@ToledoCars]

People hate on my ATs (Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws) sometimes when off roading. But, I have good reasons for running them. I drive the Jeep to the trails. I'd rather trade some extreme mud performance for less braking distance and control where it's going to really matter (e.g. panic stop on my drive to the trail). I'd prefer to stay out of the deep sticky mud anyway. On the pro side off road, they do extremely well on snowy trails, wet rocks, and hard pack dirt. The tires do fairly well everywhere else, including the mud. Clears ok when I need them to. For me, the pros and cons fit me perfectly. I'm happy with them. If I was towing to the trail, I'd be running MTs. But, that's not my use profile right now. Run what is right for you and how you use your rig. Don't let other people pick your tire.

[@TrailRecon]

Great point, choosing what works best for your may not be what works for others and that's ok.

[@tonyk1amt806]

I've had great luck with A/T's, currently running KO2'S, ran Toyo Open Country A/T's on previous truck age suvs. I've had mud terrain tires in the past, I didn't mind the noise but I didn't really need them where I went and the reduced tire life wasn't worth it to me, even though I did like the aggressive look.

[@21marms]

Great videos Brad, very informative, I'm an old retired diesel tech but still like to learn new things, I can relate to you a little bit, my dad was a navy guy, sadly I lost him at a young age, died while at sea on the USS Midway

[@thomascoolidge2161]

Of course you can always keep 2 sets of tires around.. Going on trips and no offroadin for a while? Put some narrow ATs on.. Got an awesome offroad vacay planned? Put your wide MTs on. Got a snowy winter coming around? Put some 3 peak rated ATs on.

[@christiancastro3376]

Awesome video Brad! Been watching your videos since I’ve began to gain interest in the whole off roading world and I must say that your channel is one of my favorites! What wheels are you running on the mud terrain tires?

[@alessandroconcas]

Great point Brad! I've for 3 years bfg all terrain 315 in my jk and itwas good in the street , normal in mud (better then my old goodyear "wrangler") but in the rain it's like a nightmare, I prefer drive my mustang on ice I feel more secure anbd better, now with the ko3 mud my jku diesel (I'm Italian) drinks a bit more fuel and noise level up a bit, but I feel safe in every weather and situations!!!