BF Goodrich Rugged Trail Vs BF Goodrich KO2 Which is the Best?

BF Goodrich Rugged Trail Vs BF Goodrich KO2 tires are designed to handle both on- and off-road driving.

Both are best suited for Jeeps, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Under the same size of 275/70R18, KO2 has a tread depth of 15/32′, while the other has a tread depth of 10/32′ (lower).

Rugged Trail has an optimized tread pattern that reduces rolling resistance on roads and increases the fuel economy of the vehicle, which is what many drivers look for in a tire.

In comparison, it has independent tread blocks that help increase dry traction on roads and provide responsive steering and grip even at high speeds.

On the other hand, KO2 provides better off-road performance. Off-road traction is enhanced thanks to a high void tread pattern, a serrated shoulder design, as well as good siping and rock ejection features.

A long tread life is also guaranteed with this tire’s cut and tear-resistant tread compound.

Comparison Of BF Goodrich Rugged Trail Vs BF Goodrich KO2

BF Goodrich Rugged Trail Vs BF Goodrich KO2 latest
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In addition to having an aggressive tread pattern with biting edges, the Rugged Trail also increases the vehicle’s stability at high speeds due to its independent tread blocks.

The biting edges of the tire provide traction on wet surfaces. The sipes grip the road, and the two large central grooves effectively eliminate water.

As it is not designed for hardcore off-roading, the Rugged Trail’s performance on muddy terrains is poor. The two grooves are too thin to remove large amounts of mud. If mud settles on the tire, traction may be lost.

Additionally, the KO2 has an aggressive tread pattern with a high void ratio. The high void ratio results in a small contact patch, reducing the dry grip of KO2 on roads.

Although the KO2 has a large number of Sipes, these can evacuate water from the tread and enhance wet traction while preventing hydroplaning.

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The KO2 performs well in muddy terrains. It has wide grooves, so it has a high void ratio. Even in deep mud, the tire’s wide grooves remove mud efficiently, so traction is not lost.

Serrated shoulders further enhance handling by gripping dirt, sand, or mud.

Comparison of on-road traction

The Rugged Trail performs well on dry roads. The tread blocks are independent and equipped with biting edges that provide responsive handling, a strong grip, and a very stable ride even at high speeds.

A low rolling resistance tread pattern results in a smooth and comfortable ride while saving fuel.

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The KO2 trails behind the Rugged Trail when it comes to dry on-road traction. Due to its wide grooves and high void ratio, the tire has less surface area in contact with the road. This results in less grip and handling on dry roads.

Both tires offer good traction on wet roads.

The two central grooves and sipes of the Rugged Trail tire help to evacuate water and increase grip on wet surfaces.

The biting edges of the tread blocks also enhance the overall grip of the tire. There were some instances of high-speed hydroplanes, however.

KO2 features many sipes and wide grooves which can expel large amounts of water from the tread. The vehicle will not hydroplane even if it passes through large puddles of water.

Rubber blocks on the sidewall provide traction on wet surfaces, snow, and mud.

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Comparison of off-road traction

On off-road terrains, the KO2 performs much better than the Rugged Trail.

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The Rugged Trail is designed for people who spend most of their time on-road driving and seldom venture off-road.

In Dirt

On dirt pavements, Rugged Trail performs well. The biting edges are useful. They dig into the dirt and provide good traction. The grooves remove dirt build-up easily.

The tread blocks on the KO2 are widely spaced, leaving a lot of void space. On dirt terrains, the tire grooves are easily able to deal with large amounts of dirt and maintain grip.

Dirt is easily cut through the shoulder design.

Both tires perform well on dirt terrain.

Performance In Mud

Compared to the Rugged Trail, the KO2 performs better on mud terrain. A high void all-terrain tread pattern is molded into a strong compound.

Siping technique with a large number of sipes to remove mud. The grooves of the KO2 provide the most significant contribution. The wide grooves allow mud to be swept away and increase the tire’s mud traction.

Serrated shoulder edges provide additional handling, particularly when cornering in mud.

Meanwhile, the Rugged Trail’s performance on mud-covered terrain is disappointing. As long as the mud is not too deep, the two central grooves are sufficient.

The grooves fail to remove excessive mud, so slipping may occur and the tires may even become stuck in deep mud.

When it comes to mud terrain, the KO2 is the better choice.

On Rocks

Objects can be ejected from the KO2. Rocks that get stuck in the grooves can be successfully ejected.

Serrated shoulders help maintain traction when driving on rocky trails with low tire pressure by clawing onto rocks. To protect against sharp rocks and avoid punctures, the upper sidewall is armored with a rubbery compound.

Due to its aggressive tread pattern and independent tread blocks, Rugged Trail has quite good traction on rocky terrains with its void space for rock ejection.

Flexible and shock-absorbing two-ply polyester sidewalls protect the tire from cuts and punctures.

Performance In Snow

The KO2 has the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) emblem, so it can handle deep snow with ease while providing longitudinal snow tradition.

Three-dimensional sipes and lugs on the sidewall provide good traction in deep snow.

Due to the biting edges of the tread blocks, the Rugged trail is quite decent on snow. They can plough through snow and keep the tire’s traction intact.

However, the tire is only M+S-rated, so it cannot handle severe snowfall.

Comfort Comparison

The Rugged Trail has a two-ply polyester carcass that makes driving comfortable and smooth. Even on worn-out roads, the tire handles smoothly.

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Equal Tension Containment absorbs shocks from road bumps and ensures a comfortable ride.

When driving on roads, the tread pattern is computer optimized to ensure that the tread elements are spaced out in a way that produces the least amount of road noise.

When it comes to comfort, KO2 falls short. Since it offers better off-road performance, the sacrifice on comfort levels is reasonable.

Due to the wide grooves and the high void ratio, handling may be difficult due to the smaller contact patch.

A void area can follow worn-out tracks on a road and cause incontinence while steering.

It uses the same computer-optimized tread pattern as the Rugged Trail to reduce noise levels.

Treadwear and Durability

A cut, chip, and tear-resistant tread compound is used for the KO2 tire’s durability. This means that the tread will not be easily damaged by sharp rocks or logs.

It also has an armored sidewall with a tougher rubber compound than other BF Goodrich tires, so sidewall damage will not be a problem. The sidewalls are also made of three-ply polyester for added durability.

The Rugged Trail, however, features two steel belts inside to make it stronger and more durable. In addition, the Equal Tension Containment System makes the tire more flexible, so when it rubs against hard surfaces, it flexes down and avoids punctures.

KO2 provides a tread life warranty of 50000 miles, but it can go up to 65000 miles. Interlocking tread blocks provide stability to the tread blocks, allowing them to wear evenly.

Because the load is evenly distributed, tread wear occurs evenly and slowly.

The tread on the Rugged Trail is not covered by an official warranty. By rotating the tires, it has been reported that it can last for up to 70000 to 100000 miles.

Using a dual compound tread and an optimized contact patch, it keeps surface temperatures low and prevents the tread from degenerating.

Differences in prices of BF Goodrich Rugged Trail Vs BF Goodrich KO2

Compared to the KO2, the Rugged Trail is a bit more expensive, but it has a longer tread life. Therefore, it may prove to be more cost-effective.

Brief Summary of BF Goodrich Rugged Trail Vs BF Goodrich KO2

  • In terms of on-road performance, the Rugged Trail is better.
  • When it comes to off-road driving, KO2 is a better choice.
  • The KO2 provides better traction in deep snow than the Rugged Trail.
  • In comparison to the KO2, Rugged Trail offers better comfort levels and reduced noise levels.

Although both tires are durable, the Rugged Trail has a longer tread life.

Video Comparison of BF Goodrich Rugged Trail Vs BF Goodrich KO2

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References and Resources:

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