Michelin LTX A/T2 VS. BFGoodrich T/A KO2

Both of these tires are All-Terrain, they have excellent durability and are top of the line. While the Michelin A/T2 is a good option for on-road surfaces, the BF Goodrich KO2 is better for off-roading.

Each one has some excellent features which show their strengths in specific situations, such as how the A/T2 has been designed to reduce noise levels on the road, something that is often ignored in All-Terrain tires, this unique feature of this tire has been detailed below.

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Comparing Michelin LTX A/T2 vs BFG KO2

BF Goodrich KO2

Michelin LTX A/T2

The A/T2 is a tire that has a compound design. Its tread pattern is straighter in design and not as jagged looking as of BF Goodrich KO2. It has more contact patch, which makes it well suited to dry roads by keeping more surface area of the tire in contact with the road. This tire is more traditionally in line with how All-Terrain tires look, due to its narrower grooves and smaller tread pattern as compared to the aggressive look of the KO2. The grooves are going in a slanted, singular direction, and its shoulders are also less broad. That doesn’t mean its performance while cornering is bad. In fact, the A/T2’s shoulders have biting edges that translate well for challenging paths.

The BFG KO2, on the other hand, is a popular tire for off-road usage, due to its distinct features.

These features include its wider grooves and interlocking tread pattern, which allow it to truly be an All-Terrain tire and function well on gravelly areas since they help evacuate stones. Grooves are also wider and deeper than the Michelin AT2, making it perform better on muddy terrains. Also, the 3-D sipes of the tire help to slide water away while driving in wetter conditions. Furthermore, to deal with the snow, its shoulders have biting edges, they also help to increase the traction to the maximum level. This tire may not be suited for on-road drive due to these features that is because they result in a smaller surface area being in contact with the road, resulting in poor traction.

On-Road Traction Comparison

The A/T2 performs well on-road and provides you with a comfortable driving experience due to the dense design, which is specifically made to help reduce noise levels. Its grooves design is smaller than the BFGoodrich KO2, giving it more surface area in contact with the road, due to which it performs better. This remains true even for wet roads, because of the larger number of sipes in the A/T2.

On the other hand, the KO2 has a bigger tread pattern, deeper grooves, and wider shoulders, these features make for a rowdy and noisy driving experience on the road. This is because the wide grooves cause air friction to hit the tire, going back and forth. There is less surface area in contact with the road, making the tire have a lower grip on the road.

Off-Road Traction Comparison

The A/T2 has great traction and stability on hard-packed surfaces. As its blocks are placed closely compared to KO2 giving it more contact patch so it helps it to have a good grip on hard surfaces. Its shoulders have biting edges which help navigate such paths as well. When it comes to snow or mud, however, the A/T2’s performance is not as good as it could be, since its grooves are narrower and it has less room for mud/snow particles to pass through resulting in bad traction. Plus, since the cuts on the tire are open from one side to the other, it would also cause the vehicle to slide in the snow. However, this tire’s independent tread block design, along with the Michelin Biting Edges and stone ejectors, within the tread pattern, enables it to perform well on pebbles or rocky grounds.

The KO2 is a formidable tire that is well-suited to various off-road terrains due to its open tread design. Its deep and wide grooves help to get the stones out of the path, plus it also has special stone ejectors to get rid of the gravel that might get stuck into the grooves. When it comes to snow, it is a better choice because of its deep and wide grooves with an interlocking tread pattern, which gives it better snow traction. It also has side biter lugs in the sidewall which improve snow traction as well. It meets the Severe Snow Service criteria, making it a great choice for driving in colder climates.

When it comes to muddy areas, the tire again proves to be a better choice as It has wide grooves with 3-D sipes to help improve traction in the mud by throwing it backwards. Its shoulders with raised bars, aid in the release of compacted mud, improving traction.

Durability and Treadwear

The A/T2 is specially designed for long-lasting durability and tread wear. The radial construction helps make it more durable, plus, the tire also has a few steel belts within its structure. These two things also aid with puncture resistance.

The KO2 is also highly durable, Its interlocking tread pattern helps it to wear evenly over time. With its bruise-resistant sidewall rubber, designed in such a way to avoid protruding objects, plus new rubber formulation and design, the KO2 is a force to be reckoned with. These design elements help make the tire more durable by reducing the chances of snagging and splits.

Comparing Comfort

When it comes to on-road, the A/T2 is more comfortable. This is because it creates less noise when driving on road due to its denser design which has fewer spaces in between so very few air particles can pass through.

KO2 produces much more noise on the road as it has wide grooves with more spaces so more air particles are trapped within the grooves creating higher noise. KO2 is comfortable while driving off-road as its wider grooves make it feel like a lesser inflated tire and very few jerks are felt in the cabin.

Quick Summary

The Michelin LTX A/T2 and the Goodrich KO2 are both All-Terrain tires.
The A/T2 has a more compact tread design which gives it more surface area to perform well on the road.
The wide and deep grooves and wider shoulders of the Goodrich KO2 make it better suited to off-roading than the A/T2.
Both pieces have been designed to be durable and long-lasting.

Compare BFG KO2 with other AT tires: