When it comes to all-terrain tires, Firestone Destination X/T and BF Goodrich KO2 are the ones to beat! These two tires are designed for very different conditions, but both can handle any terrain you throw at them. The Firestone Destination is great for mild off-roads and has excellent on-road manners, while the BFG KO2 can tackle even the toughest off-road tracks with ease. But the big question, can Firestone’s boy outshine this, and other big players? Let’s find out!
Being a tire engineer from my perspective the Firestone Destination X/T is although an extreme All-terrain as the “X” in it’s name suggests, it’s off road performance is still not as great compared to beast of a tire, the BF Goodrich KO2, though it’s much better on smooth highways, and gives unquestionable traction on snow, despite both tires having sever snow ratings. The BF Goodrich KO2 is actually more durable and sidewalls are the most biting in A/T category, so it offers a noticeable grip on rocks, and evacuates dirt/mud with more ease, though it badly need wet traction on roads.
Table of Contents
Tires Info
Both tires are very different and this even goes for their sizes.
Here, the Firestone Destination X/T offers:
- 15 to 20 inches wheel diameters.
- M+S as well as 3PMSF rated.
- Speed ratings: R and S.
- Load ratings: C and E.
- Weight Range: 35 to 60 lbs.
- Tread Depth Range: 14, 15, 16 and 17/32″.
- All sizes have 50k miles warranty.
While the BFG KO2 provides you with:
- More sizes (90) in 15″ to 22″.
- M+S as well as 3PMSF rated (common).
- Speed Ratings available: R, S, or Q. (So, almost same Q is not good enough).
- Load ratings: C to E (common).
- Weight range: 35 lbs to 67 lbs (slightly heavier).
- Tread Depth: 15/32″ on all sizes (less).
- 50k miles warranty (common).
Tread Pattern
The Firestone Destination X/T features a symmetric tread pattern with numerous biters.
There are 3 ribs in the middle, containing “F” and “S” shaped blocks with interlocking full depth siping (for enhanced directional wet traction).
Side Note: Basically company tried to make initials of FireStone with it’s “F” and “S” shaped lugs.
The “S” shaped lugs are slightly smaller and less aggressive, whereas the surrounding bigger ones are equipped with ridges (supports), and biters facing the shoulders.
Together, all of them make a map of grooves joining the zigzag longitudinal grooves surrounding them.
Moving towards the shoulder lugs, they are fatter, and are equipped with different siping pattern, which are not as effective.
Though it’s sides are still laterally stable, as all of them are joined together form a secondary layer running underneath them.
And where these lugs offer great on-road stability, it’s off-road grip is also improved, as all these lugs on the (outer edges) are staggered and equipped with deep biters. (They also make U shaped sidewall lugs, though not as thick, comparatively).
On the other side, we have a more combative tire, the BF Goodrich KO2.
It’s no surprise that, this tire features more aggressive shoulders, with wider gaps, bold stone ejectors, and full depth notches.
It’s sidewall lugs are thicker, it’s staggered shoulders make bigger mud scoops, and it’s overall design is just more self cleaning in comparison.
Although in the middle, lugs are slightly more packed, they still carry powerful traction notches, and make a superior biting map of grooves running in all directions, (equipped with triangular shaped stone ejectors as well).
So you get better self cleaning grooves here as well.
Moreover, the full depth sipes on these lugs, divide open the blocks all the way, and provide additional bite off road, where needed.
They are actually really helpful on rocks (as you’ll see in its section).
Dry Traction
On dry roads, besides steering response, the most significant factor is the tire’s foot-print. And looking at both tires it makes sense why Firestone Destination X/T offers superior results with shorter braking distances and handling times.
The tire although renders a softer rubber composition, it’s lugs are still more balanced by foundational supports on sides (all ribs except the one in the middle), allowing it to have better stability.
And if you consider the shoulder lugs, where most of handling depends upon, you can see how well packed they are. They have less gaps in between and even those gaps have secondary rubber layers in them joining all lugs. So the tire makes a consistent contact with the road and with it enhanced steering response.
The BF Goodrich KO2 in comparison, is more voided and it loses it’s rubber to grooves instead of making contact with the surface, so naturally the grip gets compromised.
Though its amazing to see that this tire with so much weight and 3 ply sides, have similar speed ratings compared to Firestone X/T (which is up to S).
Learn all about speed ratings here: https://tiredriver.com/speed-rating-on-tires/
Wet Traction
On wet roads, things get different, here, instead of footprint, you need spies, and these sipes need flexibility too. Moreover, you also need faster water evacuation from grooves, and that has to do with hydroplaning.
The Firestone Destination X/T offers numerous wave-like (pattern) siping, and with high silica compound, those are free to move and flex, so they are able to clean off water very effectively.
The BF Goodrich KO2 although offers ample sipes, lacks in the flexibility department, though it’s does better with water evacuation, as it’s web of grooves don’t have any restrictions.
With greater water elimination, less is left behind for sipes to work on, so it improves overall wet traction, though it’s still not enough compared to Destination X/T.
Comfort And Noise
Let’s talk noise first, which is actually just air moving in and out of the tread.
And that air basically make 2 types of sounds, humming (produced with groove resonance), and whistling (which comes from shoulder, as most air comes in form there).
The BF Goodrich KO2 is although pretty great at dampening the groove resonance, it’s wider shoulder lugs don’t allow it to still be as efficient overall.
In comparison, the Firestone X/T does better as there is very less area for air to move around, and strike around, producing unwanted noise.
The tire is also consisted of a softer composition, and less number of internal plies, so it settles down the road vibrations in a better way as well.
BF Goodrich KO2 is pretty stiff, has shorter tread depth (comparatively), and has 3 ply polyester + 3 ply spirally wound nylon coverings, which makes the ride much more stiffer.
Performance Off-Road
Off-road there are various terrains to consider, let’s start with the most challenging of all. Mud.
Muddy Trails
Mud needs to leave out of the tread, otherwise it would only invite more mud in, causing the tire to get packed and losing all its traction capability.
That’s why you need thick lugs that can spoon out the mud backwards to provide forward momentum.
And with powerful staggered shoulder with bigger mud scoops, the BF Goodrich KO2 provides exactly that.
Moreover the tire offers multiple stone ejectors, which help in breaking down the mud particles, as they pass through the wider grooves.
The Firestone X/T on the other side, is not as voided in comparison, especially on sides, and it’s shoulder lugs aren’t aggressive enough to provide similar traction capability as the KO2.
Desert Traction
Digging is the worst enemy of sand traction. So in order to avoid that, all-terrain tires are ran with lowered air pressure.
Comparing both, although BF Goodrich KO2 offers stronger rim locks (allowing you to have lower PSI values), it’s heavier construction and sharper sides don’t allow it to float better.
Firestone Destination X/T on the other hand is lighter, as it’s heaviest size is only 60 lbs, so it’s thicker rubber offers better sand to rubber contact providing better floating abilities, and less digging, rendering it better.
Rocky Paths
On rocks, you need biters in the middle, and powerful sidewalls (both internally and externally).
That’s why BFG KO2 with 3 ply sides, and interlocking central pattern (equipped with numerous notches) gets to be not only better here, but the king of rocks (comparing other A/T options).
Moreover, the full depth sipes on the lugs gets to divide them further, so each block can chew on the surface on its on, enhancing traction further.
The Firestone X/T on the other side, lacks comparatively, with it’s weaker 2 ply sides, thinner sidewall lugs, and less overall biters throughout its tread.
Winter Traction
Both tires are 3 peak mountain snowflake rated and they really deserve it, as both are pretty epic on all types of winter terrains, so you really can’t put a finger on one.
The BFG KO2 basically offers an interlocking design with 3 ribs in the middle, and this structure offers a pretty great efficacy of trapping snow particles in, and making snow to snow contact.
Snow sticks better on snow, basically, that’s why we have the phrase “the snowball effect”, so this type of contact is much preferable here.
The Firestone on the other side, offers a very similar interlinked design of tread voids, and on top of that, its featured with biters specially designed for snow (that’s why they are called snow vices).
Though as it’s softer rubber keeps tread malleable even with freezing temperatures, overall the upper hand still goes to Destination X/T.
Leave With This
Both tires offer really amazing all-season traction, where both offer equal winter traction, earning 3 peak mountain snowflake rating.
Though off road, the BF Goodrich KO2 takes a larger piece of the pie, as it’s powerful construction of 3 ply sidewalls can bear more challenging terrains, and its interconnected grooves grip in all directions.
The Destination X/T on the other hand, provides better on road grip, where its wet traction is slightly better (though not so great overall, when compared to other A/T tires).
