BFG All Terrain KO3 Reviews Wanted!

BLUF: I want to hear from people who have switched from KO2 to KO3.

I'm a long time user and believer in the KO2 series of tires from BFGoodrich. Now they are going to KO3 and I'm excited but worry that I might be getting in to them a little too soon. I know BFG Tested them but looking for some real world reviews. Have they worked out all of the kinks and do they have the tread compound dialed in?

• What kind of Taco do you have?
• What kind of driving do you do?
• What size did you get?
• What load rating did you get?
• How many miles do you have on them?
• Would you buy them again or go back to the KO2's?

I'm not looking for KO2 ratings. I have a life time on those tires. I'm not looking for Good Year, Milestar, Nitto or Toyo - I'm not considering those. I'm buying KO2 or KO3.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQlcwKUwrg8

And yes - I have seen this video and probably 32 others out there.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/18911284/?q=KO3&t=post&o=date&c[node]=15
https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/18911287/?q=KO3&t=post&o=date

Uhh, https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bfg-ko3-review.812711/

 

I’ve been on the KO2 for years, trying Falken AT3w now, I’d give the KO3 a go.
It kicked the Falken AT4s butt in snow braking and accelerating.
“The fast lane” tried out a few tires in the snow

 

Installed k03 265/75-16 tires load rating E this week on my 23 access cab no lift 4x4 on stock wheels. Love the way they look . Zero road noise. On highway driving it feels great. Just getting started with them but no regrets so far.

 

Any recommendations as far as correct air pressure to run for day to day town driving ?

 

For that size, 36 psi.

 

Thank you

 

That size I run 30psi

 

I have been running 25psi (on road) in my 285/75/17 "E" load for the last three years with my Tacoma weighing 4900lbs. and they have been wearing very even. I cannot imagine any higher. Waiting on the KO3 35x11.5x17 "C" load scheduled for May 2026. Even when I had Cooper AT3 265/75/16's "SL" load rating I ran those at 32psi

 

Thank you for the info

 

That’s fine at the size you’re running, which is way over the minimum strength for carrying the weight of a Tacoma, since larger tires are stronger than smaller ones, load range kept equal. You wouldn’t want to run an LT265/75R16 at that pressure. An LT265 at 25 psi would barely carry over GVWR, which means it wouldn’t provide adequate pressure for absorbing dynamic forces like bumps and potholes.

An SL should be run at a lower pressure, because they get their strength in pretty low pressure numbers. An SL 265/76R16 needs 27 psi to maintain stock load.

 

That load rating is more critical that I think a lot of drivers realize and Tire Store Employees aren't doing enough to set expectations between a C and E rated tire.

I would NEVER run an E on a Mid Sized Truck. You can't even get to 40% of that tires capacity on our frames and axles.

 

I see there is a wide range of recommendations, I currently have them at 30 cold about 32 while driving. Ordered the tires online never ask or worry about load rating. I am sure I don’t need E rated tires but at same time didn’t bother me that’s what they are. I just know I hated the way the stock Toyo looked in the truck.

 

If it helps, what I recommend is based on matching the equivalent load capacity of the stock tires. The stock tires at 30 psi are capable of carrying a certain amount of weight. LT265/75R16 are capable of carrying their same amount of weight at 36 psi.

 

The part that is confusing me, If I understand correctly the new tires which have a higher load capacity require more air pressure than the stock tires with a lower load capacity. I am not in any way disagreeing with you it just seems backwards in my head. But that’s why I ask because I truly don’t know.

 

Think of a thicker balloon. It would take more effort (pressure) for you to inflate a thicker balloon. Similarly, it takes more air pressure to seat a thicker stronger tire. It seems counter intuitive but it’s not, the stronger tire needs more air to force it into its shape.

Now the reason lower pressure like 25 psi works on the larger tire mentioned above (LT285/75R17 (34”), is because larger tires are stronger than smaller tires. So that works there, but you’d be quite underinflated to run the LT265/75s there.

Seems weird but it’s true. And C, D, E, or F doesn’t change the required pressure. At all. The load ratings just mean the higher the load letter, the higher max capacity (at higher pressure) you can achieve. So if a C load supports 2500 lbs at 50 psi, the E will support the same, but its capacity will continue to climb past 50 up to its max at 80, and may support more around 3000-4000lbs, or whatever the specific max load capacity is for the size in question.

 

Your explanation definitely helps , last question any fear of wearing the center out at the higher air pressure on the stock wheels? In your opinion.

 

Nope.

 

Thank you Sir for your help.