Looking for an off-road tire that can also perform well on the road? Atturo Trail Blade XT and BF Goodrich KO2 are some great options that have you covered! These all-terrain tires offer amazing traction on rough terrain and smooth performance on the road. While they may not be all-around tires, if you know where they excel, they can be the perfect pick for you.
Drawing on my extensive expertise in the field of tires, I can assure you that here, the BF Goodrich KO2 gets to be better in most performance sections. It’s better at dry grip, tread wear, fuel efficiency, and winter traction. And off-road you get better traction on rocks and mud. The Atturo Trail Blade X/T on the other side, yields greater wet traction, and comfort, and is a better tire for sandy dunes off-road.
Table of Contents
Sizes Specs
BF Goodrich KO2 features following specs.
- 90 sizes in 15″ to 22″
- M+S / 3PMSF rated
- Speed Ratings: R, S, or Q
- Load ratings: C to E
- Weight range: 35 lbs to 67 lbs
- Tread Depth: 15/32″ on all sizes
- 50k miles warranty
Review this tire here: https://tiredriver.com/bf-goodrich-ko2-review/
On the other hand, the Atturo Trail Blade XT comes in 30 total sizes in 17 to 24 inches with following specs.
- Speed rating: Q, S and H
- Load rating: XL, C, D and E
- Weight range: 30 to 84 lbs
- Tread depth range: 13.5 to 18/32″
- Not rated with 3PMSF
- 45,000 mile tread life warranty
Tread Structure
The Atturo Trail Blade XT features aggressive, large lugs for maximum traction on loose terrain and small sipes for increased grip on slick surfaces (as you’ll see in the upcoming performance, sections), for now lets check out it’s tread in detail.
The asymmetric design of the tread basically has the lateral orientation, so lugs are basically stacked up one after another joining the two shoulder lugs in a wave-like fashion.
This allows this tire to scoop its way out through loose off-road terrains.
And at the same time, with closely packed up lugs, the tire is also able to provide ample traction on roads.
Though that only goes for dry, as with very little siping, water is not wiped off as effectively, but yes it does offer you with great curved hydroplaning float speeds no doubt.
Moving towards the shoulders, the lugs are elongated here, and they enhance the overall swooping effect off-road especially on muddy trails (less aggressive, I mean).
You also get numerous sharp biters on sidewalls which bring amazing rocky traction with lowered air pressure.
BF Goodrich KO2 features a more aggressive tread design.
It features worm like blocks in the middle with full depth sipes and biters, & with them KO2 makes a very harmonious pattern.
Their full depth sipes basically fracture down all the way splitting these lugs open where needed (by flexing) and providing off-road traction capabilities with it.
Though the tire does it without compromise its on-road grip, as their it’s consistent design account for stable directional traction.
However, you can’t say the same about lateral traction as the tire features very aggressive shoulder lugs with wild gaps in between and rubber eaten away with slanted notches.
Though needless to say, they provide amazing traction on all types of rugged terrains, may it be rocks, sand or even mud.
The grooves the shoulder makes are equipped with bold stone ejectors, and the on the outer margins, they feature mud scoops, and sidewall lugs, which upon lowering the air pressure offer epic traction capabilities.
Sidewalls Build
The sidewalls serve as the primary protective layer for the tire, and reinforcing them with a polyester casing, adds an extra layer of protection.
Though since that’s the only thing protecting it (and of course sidewall lugs), they get to be the weakest part of the tire.
Though that’s not the case when it comes to the “toughest all-terrain tire” marketed, the BF Goodrich KO2. As an ad/experiment, the BFG made a video of dropping the tire over 10k feet, you may wanna check it out if you haven’t, by the way.
Anyways, I have to admit that the tire is pretty tough, not doubt about that. It features 3 ply polyester casing with 2 solid wide steel belts on top, which are reinforced with 2 cap plies of nylon (which are also spirally wound by the way). So you get amazing durability.
The Atturo Trail Blade X/T on the other side, although also comes with similar 3 ply cover, and twin belts, it’s 2 cap plies are not spirally wound, and it’s sidewall lugs don’t cover a lot of area like the KO2.
Dry Directional Grip
Dry grip depends on how much tire’s rubber meets with the road (well, it’s a major factor here, out of the rest, where both are pretty same, so not gonna go through them).
Although you get a lateral orientation of lugs on Atturo Trail Blade XT, they are still more closed up together, and account for better dry grip in comparison.
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, although lacks a little in this department, it’s only off by a single feet on braking distance test (which is a measure of this “directional grip”, though FYI, other tests also include acceleration times, where both tires are very similar).
Dry Lateral Traction
When measuring the grip of a tire form sides, one has to consider that the weight of the tire transfers towards the shoulders, as the tire corners. So this highlights the significance of how much shoulder lugs meet up with the road.
But since both tires have a similar footprint from, there, it’s only understood by taking in to account the tire’s steering response, in order to understand why BF Goodrich KO2 still provides better handling times on dry roads.
Basically Ko2 has a dual compound, with softer skin on top, and harder rubber underneath, this provides a very nice combination of softness and stiffness, and acts as foundational supports. So on this tire, the lugs don’t bend and flex too much while the tire corners.
So with less over and under steering KO2 shows better handling compared to Trail Blade X/T.
Fuel Economy
The fuel utilization of a vehicle is a result of rolling resistance, which is seen more in comparison on Atturo Trail Blade XT. And this is because of the following reasons.
- It has a larger weight, which means more energy is consumed in to carrying a “heavier” structure (which is basic science).
- It’s tread compound is softer (so its lugs flex).
- And it’s having more tread depth (which provides more wobbling to the lugs as the tire curves, so energy gets wasted into bending those lugs instead of rolling the tire).
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, has a firmer lugs placements, so it still gets to provide a better fuel efficiency even with it’s aggressive design.
Wet Traction
Both tires are pretty lacking when it comes to wet traction. But still if you have to pick one here, I’d say go with Atturo Trail Blade XT, as this tire still provides better wet grip components, like it comes with a malleable tread, and a decent network of channels providing better hydroplaning resistance.
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, although features a lot more siping on it’s tread, they are not able to properly expand or contact, limiting grip on the watery surface, as the tire lacks overall flexibility. Though hydroplaning resistance is also not an issue for this tire either.
Tread Wear
Tread wear is determined by a combination of rolling resistance, tread depth, and composition. That’s because a tire with deeper tread voids and a stiffer composition will have a longer lifespan.
That’s why although you get shallower tread depth on KO2, it’s harder compound still does not wear too fast unlike it’s competitor.
Though Atturo isn’t too far off, that’s why you only get 5k less miles warranty (45k miles in total) on this tire.
Comfort On-Road
Two key considerations play a role in assessing the overall ride quality – the tire tread noise and the tire’s effectiveness in managing road imperfections through its tread design and structure. I’ll analyze each of these aspects in more detail.
Tread Noise
Out of both tires, the Atturo Trail Blade XT provides a more silent design. Let me explain.
When a tire rolls, the air (in the grooves), gets pumped out through the grooves (mostly shoulders), which later gets back in, and strikes the walls around.
And so with lateral orientation of lugs on Trail Blade X/T, the air particles don’t get to “hit” with as much force, as they do on KO2.
In other words, grooves are better streamlined for the air coming in, and so, most of it passes out of the tire, form the other end without striking.
This is not the case on BF Goodrich KO2, where with such balder shoulders, the air collides at full force, and as a results creates a louder tire.
On-Road Vibrations
The comfort provided by a tire is determined by its ability to handle road irregularities, with a tire featuring a soft internal construction, and pliable top rubber, better equipped to absorb and reduce road shocks.
That’s why Atturo Trail Blade XT with its malleable tread provides a better job here.
Whereas the BF Goodrich KO2 basically lacks the most with it’s stiffer sides, due to 2 internal cap plies (spirally wound), and they especially account for a very jittery cornering.
Recommended Read –
Do A/T tires cause vibrations: https://tiredriver.com/do-all-terrain-tires-cause-vibrations/
Off Road Traction
Off-road landscapes, including mud terrains, can pose difficulties, whereas gravel and dirt filled roads are more appropriate for on-road tires. Let’s evaluate all terrains thoroughly.
On Gravely Roads
The older version of BFG, “the KO” had the issue of trapping stones in it’s grooves, so the BF Goodrich KO2 with dual stone ejectors now provide better traction values.
Basically on gravely roads, sharp stones sink in to the tread, which not only cause damage, but also reduces traction values (even though mostly, A/T tires have chip resistant rubber).
That’s why the Atturo Trail Blade XT with it’s more stone holding design, isn’t able to outperform KO2.
On Muddy Terrains
On mud, although lateral evacuation really helps the Atturo Trail Blade XT, the tire is still prone to getting packed by this thick ground due to it’s closed up tread voids.
BF Goodrich KO2 in comparison, features a better web of grooves, connecting the larger voids between the shoulder lugs, where bolder ejectors expel out the mud, self cleaning it’s grooves.
Moreover, the tire also offers proper mud scoops with it’s staggered shoulders (missing in Atturo), and these provide better paddling and scooping capabilities.
On Rocky Trails
Atturo Trail Blade X/T is although a decent tire to have on rocks, it’s missing with one crucial component, the lateral traction.
Don’t get me wrong, you get a nice sideways grip on the tire overall, but in comparison to KO2, it’s lacking. And with less lateral grip, the tire becomes prone to sideways slippage, which can even cause overturning.
The BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, features a soup of vertical and horizontal traction. It’s sidewall lugs and staggered margins provide amazing bite, with lowered air pressure, and it’s hook shaped lugs provide decent climbing abilities, where they get additional grip by the full depth sipes.
These sipes open/close (depending on the need of the surface), providing powerful chewing.
On Sandy Dunes
On sand you always lower the air pressure. This is done to ensure tire stays afloat.
That’s why with stiffer sides, the BFG KO2 does not provide good enough performance. The tire, as I explained in the “durability” section, features 2 ply spirally wound cap plies, and its harder rubber compound is also not helping.
Atturo Trail Blade XT on the other side, even though comes with a heavier weight, features more section width (on average), and it’s lugs, being laterally aligned, provide “paddling” which throws back the sand to produce forward momentum.
(That’s why paddle tires are one of the best ones for sandy dunes).
Winter Performance
There are a lot of variable on snow, and although both tires are great, when you consider all of them, I would still go with Atturo Trail Blade XT here.
This tire has for one, a softer compound in comparison, with lugs placed laterally. And its softer rubber provides better resistance to extreme winter temperatures, and with lugs placed that way, you get a paddling effect with the snow.
Though the BF Goodrich KO2 is also not too far off here, as it’s full depth sipes, and hook shaped lugs also provide a good enough traction.
Conclusion
Atturo Trail Blade XT is a very nice overall tire. It provides better wet traction (on pavements), and a better overall comfort. And off-road the tire is one of the best to get for sandy terrains.
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, provides better dry handling performance with it’s superior steering response, and although it lacks in wet, its sipes are very effective on winter terrains. Moreover, off-road the tire is a champ, especially on rocks.
