BFGoodrich Tires says it will launch its most advanced light truck tire ever this fall with the new All-Terrain T/A KO2 tire.
“Thirty-eight years ago, BFGoodrich launched a tire that created the all-terrain category,” says Dan Newsome, BFGoodrich Tires country marketing manager for Light Truck Tires. “Just a year later, the company launched the original KO, which defined the all-terrain tire category for decades. BFGoodrich is once again unleashing a game-changer that will take on anything ‘Playground Earth’ has to dish out. It grips better on mud and snow, while lasting longer on gravel and asphalt. The KO2 is designed as a tire that will pose no boundaries for drivers taking on a new world of adventures.”
BFGoodrich says its All-Terrain T/A KO2 tire sidewall is 20 percent stronger than current KO tire; lasts twice as long on gravel roads and 15 percent longer on asphalt; 10 percent greater traction in the mud and 19 percent greater traction in the snow compared to the previous-generation KO tire.
The KO2 is an all-season tire that will carry the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, indicating that it exceeds the Rubber Manufacturer Association’s severe snow traction requirements.
The KO2 borrows from the BFGoodrich Baja T/A KR2 tire, which was equipped on nine of the top 10 finishers in the 2014 Tecate SCORE Baja 500. Key features of the KO2 include:
• Tougher Sidewalls: The KO2 uses CoreGard technology developed in the Baja T/A KR2 for split and bruise-resistant sidewall rubber and a thicker, extended shoulder to prevent sidewall failures. Computer modeling was used to predict object paths and create a sidewall design most likely to deflect protruding objects, reducing the chances of splits and snags. The result is a tougher tire as consumers take on trails of various conditions.
• Longer Treadlife: The KO2 has a new tread design and rubber formulation that helps it last twice as long on gravel and 15 percent longer on asphalt than the previous tire. The tread rubber has been optimally blended to reduce chips and tears on gravel. A new footprint shape and interlocking tread design provide more uniform wear over the long haul. Special stone ejectors push objects out of the tread to reduce drilling into the tire.
• Aggressive Traction: The KO2 also has a range of tread features for better mud and snow traction. Side-Biter lugs in the sidewall improve traction in mud, snow and rocks. Raised bars in the shoulder help release compacted mud for better traction in soft soil. 3-D sipes create biting edges for better snow traction.
“The KO2 has an obvious appeal for the serious off-road enthusiast,” says Newsome. “It’s also expected to appeal to anyone who regularly faces challenging gravel, dirt or snow-covered roads. The KO2’s toughness, durability and traction – as well as its improved treadlife and great road manners – deliver strong benefits, whether for work, play or just to get home.”
The KO2 will be released to consumers on Nov. 1, initially in 12 sizes fitting a range of vehicles, including Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge, Toyota and Nissan pick-up trucks and SUV’s as well as Plus Fitments for a wide variety of vehicles. The MSRP for the tire starts at $222. Additional sizes will be released in 2015.
