Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Vs BFGoodrich KO2 Which one is Better?

Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Vs BFGoodrich KO2 both are aggressive tires are designed for use during all seasons and on all surfaces. With their optimized contact patch and aggressive tread patterns, you will be able to drive safely on paved roads and explore rough terrains without a problem.

Wrangler DuraTrac features deep grooves and raised blocks. The tread is designed for mud and snow. It is also hydroplane-resistant. The product possesses a three-peak mountain snowflake rating, ensuring enhanced winter performance.

The KO2 tires from BFGoodrich, on the other hand, provide good traction and comfort on the road. They also perform well over rocky terrain. Installing these tires on your car allows you to enjoy noise-free driving. As a result of its robust tread composition and computer-optimized design, this tire lasts for a long time.

Comparatively, BFGoodrich KO2 offers better dry and wet traction on paved roads, offers greater safety and stability on rugged trails, and produces less noise while Goodyear DuraTrac offers enhanced traction on mud and snow terrains, but is also comparatively more expensive.

	*DuraTrac*	*KO2*
Brand	Goodyear	BFGoodrich
Tire type	All-terrain	All-terrain
Usage	Off-road, on-road	Off-road, on-road
Three-peak mountain snowflake rated (3PMSF)	yes	yes
Tested size	LT265/75R16	LT265/75R16
Tread depth	18/32’’	15/32’’
Tread width	9’’	8.5’’
Maximum inflation pressure	80 psi	80 psi
Maximum load capacity	3415 Ibs	3415 Ibs
Load/ speed rating	123/120Q E	123/120R E

Table of Contents

Tread Pattern Comparison

A DuraTrac tread features small, squared central blocks that are arranged angularly in the middle of the tread, forming broad longitudinal grooves.

Likewise, its shoulder lugs are comparatively small and widely spaced. Therefore, its circumferential and horizontal grooves have a higher void ratio than its competitors. The TractiveGroove technology of Goodyear tires makes circumferential grooves even more efficient.

Many tread blocks have saw-toothed edges that bite into the rigid surface. All tread blocks are marked with zigzag sipes. Despite this, it lacks stone ejectors to strike out gravel particles. Although the sidewalls are raised, they are comparatively less sturdy. LT-metric and floatation sizes can be studded with #16 studs.

KO2 has a relatively compact tread, its C-shaped blocks form three central ribs in an interlocked arrangement with narrow spacing between them. The shoulder lugs are irregularly shaped, elongated, and have traction notches on their inner edges.

Additionally, their outer margins are scooped to enhance evacuation. Tread blocks have linear and slightly angular shapes. In its lateral channels, there are bold rectilinear stone ejectors. In its longitudinal voids, small but prominent triangle-shaped ejectors can be seen.

The sidewalls are serrated and indicate a sturdy construction on the inside. To enhance steering performance, shoulder-sidewall blocks are joined to form shoulder-sidewall armor.

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On-Road Dry Traction

KO2 performs better on dry roads due to its larger contact patch. As C-shaped blocks specify many biting edges, the tread has a good grip on paved surfaces.

Furthermore, its handling efficiency is higher due to its large shoulder lugs with narrow lateral grooves. Irregular shapes and traction notches on inner block edges contribute to better clawing ability of its shoulders. Therefore, it maintains traction when you turn your vehicle around a corner.

DuraTrac, on the other hand, ranks lower for its dry traction capabilities. A high void ratio in tread reduces its surface area connected to the pavement. This results in decreased dry grip. Similarly, smaller and widely spaced shoulder lugs reduce steering control.

	*DuraTrac*	*KO2*
Dry Grip	Low- Moderate	Moderate-High
Dry handling	Low- Moderate	Moderate-High

Traction on wet roads

KO2 presents lesser hydroplaning resistance over wet pavement, thanks to the smaller width and depth of its tread channels. On the other hand, it shows better wet grip than its competitor due to a larger contact patch. As well, its shoulders provide better steering control since their blocks are comparatively larger and provide more traction.

However, due to its high void ratio and higher tread depth, Goodyear has a greater resistance to aquaplaning, yet its overall traction on wet roads is lower. Small tread blocks that are widely spaced do not provide a stable grip over paved surfaces. On a wet road, it has decreased steering efficiency for the same reason.

	*DuraTrac*	*KO2*
Wet Grip	Moderate	Moderate-High
Wet handling	Moderate	Moderate-High
Hydroplaning resistance	High	Moderate

Comparison of off-road traction

	*DuraTrac*	*KO2*
Mud traction	High	Moderate
Snow traction	High	Moderate
Ice traction	Moderate	High
Rock traction	Moderate	High

Mud Terrain

Due to its open tread, DuraTrac takes the lead over the competition in mud. Because it’s good ratio is higher and its channels are deep as well, mud gets much more room to evacuate from the tread.

Additionally, its mud traction abilities are further enhanced by the TractiveGroove technology employed in its construction. Turning about in muddy areas requires stepping on the shoulder edges for a stronger biting action.

The KO2 is less capable of rolling through mud due to its shallow tread and compact design. Therefore, self-cleaning of its grooves takes longer than usual. Though its shoulders have alternate scooping to enhance evacuation, the lower contact patch results in lower mud traction.

Snow Terrain

When it comes to snow traction, Goodyear Wrangler takes the lead. As it rolls, the increased width and depth of voids allow it to throw soft snow backward as it cleans the tread and snowy pathway.

The three-peak mountain snowflake symbolizes its ability to withstand severe winter conditions. Zigzag sipes enhance grip on snow.

On ice, it performs worse than the competitor since it has a smaller contact patch to provide grip on a rigid surface. Over its tread, you can use #16 metal studs to enhance its traction on ice.

KO2 is also a 3PMSF-rated tire and provides reliable traction on snow, but its performance is less than that of KO3. Smaller voids allow for reduced vacuum to channel snow out and allow the tread to self-clean as it moves.

In addition, its relatively linear sipes do not add much to its snow-biting ability. On icy surfaces, however, this tire retains a firm grip because more of its tread surface area touches the ground.

Rock Terrain

DuraTrac is a second option for mountain hiking trips despite its satisfactory performance on rock terrain. Despite its open tread, it has less biting ability on the rigid, rocky surface. Moreover, it does not have any stone electors to repel bombarding gravel fragments and stony pebbles that may get stuck in grooves and punctures.

The tread of the KO2 is optimized for better traction on rocky slopes. Because of its larger contact patch, it holds on strongly to the surface and its multi-edged blocks make it more effective at biting.

In addition, it has prominent stone electors in the lateral and longitudinal grooves that bump out hard particles that strike the tire when it rolls over gravel. Stronger sidewalls provide greater lateral stability when driving on steep slopes.

Comfort

DuraTrac is a less comfortable option for road driving and a noisier tire as well. Because the reduced traction abilities are relatively minor, driving on these tires becomes less stable and uncomfortable. Additionally, its open voids provide an excessive vacuum for air particles to circulate and collide, eventually causing a louder rolling sound.

On paved tracks, KO2 is more comfortable and makes less noise compared to other vehicles. Its compact tread provides superior on-road traction, contributing to its superior driving comfort.

Likewise, its quieter rolling profile is due to its low void ratio, which allows for a minimum vacuum for sound waves to resound and revolution. You hear less tire noise when you drive on these tires.

Durability And Treadwear

Due to its multi-layered composition, KO2 gets a better score for durability. It has a steel-alloy structure made from two high-strength belts which are reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon polymer, three plies of polyester cord, and one strand of bead wire.

BFGoodrich TriGard compounds make the sidewalls robust and well-protected from chips and dings. Although its compact tread pattern gives rise to high rolling friction, which not only increases fuel consumption, but also reduces tread life, its enhanced composition ensures long-lasting performance.

BFGoodrich provides a treadwear warranty for 50,000 miles and ensures even wear.

DuraTrac also specifies a polymer structure and steel tread for added strength. For a good length of time, its thick tread rubber resists chipping and scratching.

Additionally, it has a rim lock to ensure proper fitting and a rim protective layer to protect the wheel from damage. The tread design predicts that it will wear slowly in comparison because it encounters less friction as it rolls over the road.

However, the less robust composition reduces its durability score. All Goodyear tires come with a treadwear warranty of 50,000 miles. However, LT and floatation sizes do not come with a mileage warranty. Up to 2/32″ of tread wear is uniform.

	*DuraTrac*	*KO2*
Durability	Moderate-high	High
Treadwear mileage warranty	Not available for LT sizes	6 years/50,000 miles
Uniformity warranty	1-year warranty, First 2/32’’	1-year warranty, First 2/32’’
Workmanship warranty	6 years	6 years

Price of Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Vs BFGoodrich KO2

DuraTrac tires are more expensive than other tires because they offer superior performance on mud and snow terrains, as well as protection from hydroplaning when driving on iced or wet surfaces. Prices range from $250 to $300.

In contrast, BFGoodrich KO2 tires are less expensive and provide optimized on-road traction and a better driving experience on rock terrain. They usually cost between $225 and $275.