Both the Kanati Trail Hog and the BF Goodrich KO2 are powerful and versatile options for off-road enthusiasts, but there are a few key differences between them. Let us help you decide which one is the best fit for you.
Being a tire engineer, I can tell that comparing both, you’d see BF Goodrich KO2 excelling on pavements, with it’s higher speed rating, and lighter weight. It also yields superior performance when it comes to fuel, tread life and ride quality as well. The Kanati Trail Hog on the other side, does better on rocky, muddy, gravely and sandy terrains and it’s snow traction is also pretty noticeable.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Out of both the BFG KO2 provides you with 90 total sizes with following specs.
- Wheel diameter range: 15″ to 22″
- Winter ratings availble: M+S & 3PMSF
- 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
- Warranty: 50k miles on all
Review this tire here: https://tiredriver.com/bf-goodrich-ko2-review/
Kanati Trail Hog A/T comes in 16 to 20 inches with following specs.
- Speed ratings: Q only
- Load ratings: E only
- Weight range: 45 to 75 lbs
- Tread depth: 18/32″
- Ratings: M+S and 3PMSF
- Warranty: No mileage warranty
(Make sure you know, how to read tire sizes).
Durability
To meet the durability requirement on rugged terrains, almost all off-road tires are equipped with cut-resistant rubber and deep tread voids, though still the majority of tire “toughness” is still defined by its internal construction, particularly the sidewalls.
And in case of both of these tires, you are get pretty durable tires, no doubt.
Although BF Goodrich KO2 is marketed as the toughest A/T tire ever made, both of these tires here have similar 3 ply polyester carcass construction, with twin belts on top, reinforced with 2 cap plies of nylon.
Though, on paper, as Kanati Trail Hog does not have “spirally wound” cap plies, and it’s sidewall lugs don’t cover as much sidewall area in comparison, you can say, it slightly less durable off the two. But I’ve never had a flat with these tires ever.
For Your Info: In my list of top all-terrain tires, the BFG KO2 is ranked for it’s epic durability. Check the list here: https://tiredriver.com/bf-goodrich-ko2-review/
Tread Structure
Let me start things off with a more aggressive tire, the Kanati Trail Hog.
The tire has very prominent two parts of the tread, the shoulders, and the middle area.
In the middle, lugs are pretty closed up so that they can provide directional grip on pavements, and at the same time with their offset edges and web of grooves they make, they get to offer amazing grip off-road as well.
These lugs are then separated by wild longitudinal grooves of zigzag structure, putting the shoulder lugs on the other side.
Speaking of which, the shoulder area of the tire is very open, as lugs are surrounded by wider gaps with bold stone ejectors in between.
Though for on-road bite, these studable lugs are also equipped with interlocking full depth sipes and are joined up together so that they can provide highway stability, especially when it comes to cornering.
On the other side, you get a slightly less aggressive design with BF Goodrich KO2.
This tire features 3 ribs in the middle creating interlocking web of grooves running every which way.
All these worm like blocks have full depth siping, and notches and they split open the lugs as they bend off road, providing ample grip in nearly all types of rugged terrains. (Though these sipes can do a little better on wet roads).
Moving towards the shoulders, you get a more aggressive pattern of lugs, making wider gaps in between with bold stone ejectors.
Actually the tire makes 2 different types of these ejectors, the triangular ones are place in the outer circumferential grooves, while the conventional ones are seen in between these shoulders.
Moreover, these lugs have full depth notches and similar (to the middle) full depth sipes. And adding to the overall aggressiveness is their outer edges.
They are equipped with thick mud scoops and sidewall lugs which flex the most with lowered air pressure.
Dry Traction
Dry traction is divided in to two parts, directional and lateral grip.
The directional grip depends on how much central part of the tread gets to connect with the road, while the lateral grip majorly depends on the outer edges/shoulders.
And considering both tires, it can be seen that although Kanati Trail Hog A/T provides good enough directional traction, it really lacks while cornering.
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, although also features aggressive outer edges, the tire still gets to provide better under and over-steering balance, as it’s lugs aren’t that moveable, and they get to supply faster steering response, which is also a key element of handling.
Wet Traction
Two important elements to consider when looking to improve wet traction are wet grip and hydroplaning resistance.
Wet Grip
The creation of suction to remove water from the road is accomplished through sipes.
These sipes are simply slits/gaps that push out air, creating vacuum which sucks water particles in.
And so as the BF Goodrich KO2 features a larger number of sipes, it’s gets to be better overall.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning takes place when a tire fails to clear water from its tread effectively, leading to floating and a loss of traction
So here as the slow removal of water from the grooves is the root cause of decreased wet traction, (leaving the sipes and lugs with more water to deal with), it can be seen why both tires don’t have to deal with this.
They both are pretty voided throughout the tread, and with such wide interconnected grooves, there’s very little chance that any water would hand around.
Tread Wear
The life span of a tire’s tread is determined by several factors, including rolling resistance, tire composition, and tread depth. Soft tires will wear out more quickly, and shallow tread can lead to quick burn-off of the rubber down to 2/32″.
Kanati Trail Hog A/T with more weight and a voided design puts more pressure on it’s lugs, as they rub against the road with more force. This increases the tread wearing rate on the tire.
The BF Goodrich KO2 on the other hand, features closed up lugs, and a harder composition of rubber which is burns slower.
Check Out –
Do A/T tires wear faster?: https://tiredriver.com/do-all-terrain-tires-wear-faster/
Ride Quality
The overall ride quality is influenced by two critical components: tire tread noise emission and the tire’s capacity to reduce road imperfections through its structural and compositional attributes. A technical analysis of these elements is provided.
Quietness of Ride
Air flow generates tire noise, with most of the air coming in, and going out through the grooves on the shoulders. And they create 2 different kinds of unwanted sounds.
Humming, and wobbling.
And both of these are heard more on Kanati Trail Hog, which is no wonder, as the tire with such wider grooves on the outer edges is bound to that.
The BF Goodrich KO2 also has pretty aggressive sides as well, but it still isn’t that bald. Moreover, it’s harder compound is also less susceptible to in groove resonance comparatively.
Comfort
The comfort of a tire is contingent upon its capacity to reduce road shocks. That’s why Kanati Trail Hog, featuring a soft inner construction and flexible top rubber provides better results here.
Moreover, it’s tread depth is also helping here, providing more rubber between you and the bumps, allowing more area for the vibrations to settle down, before reaching you.
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, features a stiffer compound, though most of it’s jittery ride comes from it’s spirally wound nylon cap plies. They provide amazing durability no doubt, but they really limit the overall comfort levels on roads.
Snow and Ice Traction
Both tires are 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rated and they are both great, but on very different terrains. Let me explain.
On snow, off-road tires work by grabbing snow in their grooves, and making snow to snow contact with it. And with a more voided tread design the Trail Hog only does it better on deeper terrains.
In comparison, the BF Goodrich KO2 provides better suitability on hard packed snow and ice, where it’s numerous grippers in the form of full depth siping, and notches provide the needed traction.
Though Kanati A/T feature stud-able lugs, and they get the job done even on packed up snowy and icy terrains.
Rugged Terrain Performance
Different terrains demand unique sets of skills from all-terrain tires. Let’s take a closer look at each of these skills.
Rock Climbing
Both tires provide neck to neck traversing abilities on rocky terrains, and overall it’s hard to pick one over the other. Let me explain.
The Kanati Trail Hog A/T on one hand, provides bigger groove mouth, and interlocking central lugs, providing amazing gripping values, there aren’t any full depth sipes, like seen on KO2.
These sipes basically have dual functionality. They provide grip on wet, and at the same time are capable of splitting up the lugs, adding biting efficacy.
And the KO2 already has hook shaped design of lugs, and very aggressive shoulders with slanted notches.
Moreover, both tires have similar durability with 3 ply sides, and on sidewalls you get ample biters which provide additional grip with lowered air pressure.
Gravel Performance
All-terrain tires mostly lack self-cleaning grooves so they face an increased risk of harm and reduced traction on gravely roads as stones and dirt can get stuck, regardless of their cut-resistant rubber compositions.
Though when a tire has such wider grooves, like seen on Kanati Trail Hog A/T, its not a problem, as it’s tread isn’t as inviting of any debris to get lodged in the tread, especially form the shoulders where bold ejectors are seen.
Speaking of which, the KO2 is also pretty neat here, it’s interlocking design although grabs a few rocks here and there, but it’s tread with dual stone ejectors is pretty self cleaning overall.
Sand Traction
On sand, you need to stay afloat, and you need to be to able to paddle though. That’s why both “balloon” and “paddle” tires do best on this soft terrain.
Though in case of these A/T tires, the Kanati Trail Hog gets to provide better traction. This is because the tires’ outer edges with larger tread voids, providing the scooping/paddling, and the sidewall lugs paste out with lower air pressure providing additional grip.
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, with it’s stiffer sides is more prone to sinking, and so its lacking overall here.
Recommended Read –
Are All-Terrain Tires Good On Sand? : https://tiredriver.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-on-sand/
Thick Mud
The performance of all-terrain tires in mud can be significantly enhanced by having a tire with wider grooves and self-cleaning abilities to evacuate mud and maintain traction.
And so looking at the structure of both tires, its not surprising to see, Kanati Trail Hog A/T providing better traction in comparison.
The tire’s wider circumferential (groove) rings provide better escaping to the mud, and it’s wider lateral voids between the shoulder yield the necessary scooping.
The BF Goodrich KO2, although also features great mud scoops, on shoulders, its closed up lugs in the middle are more prone to getting packed up (quicker) with the thick muddy ground.
Summary
The Kanati Trail Hog being a more aggressive tire does better off-road, where it’s self cleaning grooves deals with gravel and mud, and it’s thicker lugs provide sand and rocky terrain traction.
The BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, features a better dry performance, on both wet/dry environments, and it’s also great in other key areas as well, including fuel and tread usage and comfort levels.
