Pro Comp AT Sport and the BF Goodrich KO2 are all-terrain tires. So that means they are both used for multiple driving conditions, doesn’t matter whether they are off road, on beaten paths, or just providing the daily commute. Though there are some things to consider while looking at both. Let’s check them out.
Drawing on my extensive expertise in the field of tires, I can tell that out of both, the Pro Comp A/T Sport would do great on dry/wet roads, providing a comfortable ride, and better winter traction, though lacking in fuel economy, and tread life. The BFG KO2 on the other hand, offers unparalleled grip on rugged terrains, on gravel, rocky and mud filled tracks, and provides a good enough traction on (dry) highways as well.
Table of Contents
Sidewalls
To deal with rougher terrains, which include multiple objects that can pierce though the tire’s skin easily, off-road tires are made tough. They are given with a cut-resistant rubber, deep tread voids have powerful sidewall construction, thanks to their internal plies.
And both tires here come up with 3 ply polyester casing (which is the toughest durability standard out there), and this cover then acts as a base for twin steel belts sitting on top covering the middle area of the tread (from underneath of course).
Though in case of Pro Comp AT Sport, the tire only offers a single cap ply of nylon (the top most layer just underneath the rubber skin).
Whereas the BF Goodrich Ko2 yields more durability with it’s 2 ply spirally wound nylon coverings. Though it also makes it’s sidewalls stiffer.
But still what’s amazing to see that, even with extra cap ply, the tire weighs less overall (comparing the heaviest size with same load rating).
Tread Design
Let me start off with the Pro Comp AT Sport, as this tire features a combination of on and off-road traction with its tread.
Here in the middle, the tread features 3 ribs, which are continuous running, meaning, the lugs are not spaced apart and make a consistent contact with the surface as they roll. This is to promote the directional grip of these tire especially on smooth pavements.
Though at the same time, as these lugs offer multiple biters in the form of notches, in groove biters, chamfered edges and combination of rectilinear and interlocking sipes, and these are provide ample off-road grip as well.
The shoulder lugs also make a similar design. At one side, these lugs are pretty on-road oriented with ridges placed in between the lateral tread voids (they make), compacting them together.
And on the other, their outer edges with staggered design, and biters on the sidewalls, yield amazing gripping values on all kinds of rugged terrains.
On the other side, we have a more aggressive tire, the BF Goodrich KO2.
This tire features a more combative design especially from the shoulders.
That’s because, there, you get to see wider gaps, and bolder stone ejectors combined with deeper notches (of two different kinds).
Moreover, these lugs are staggered, and they join up together on the sidewalls, making very powerful bead area biters and traction scoops, rendering superb self cleaning efficacy of the tread.
(These sides basically shine the most with lowered air pressure).
If I move towards the middle, you get to see smaller, yet elongated lugs there. These worm like blocks have notches and full depth sipes which allow them to get divided all the way, down to the base, adding to overall off-road bite.
Though at the same time, with a consistent design, they get to offer good enough traction on roads as well, as you’d see in the upcoming topics.
Must Know Tire Facts
Starting with BF Goodrich KO2, the tire gives you 90 total sizes, in 15 to 22 inches, with following specs.
- 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
- Winter ratings: M+S & 3PMSF
On the other side, the Pro Comp AT Sport gives you 15 to 20 inches rim sizes with following specs.
- Speed ratings: Q and S
- Load ratings: XL, C, D and E
- Weight range: 40 to 80 lbs
- Tread depth: 14 to 17/32″
- 60k miles warranty on all sizes
- Not rated with 3PMSF
Learn all about load ratings: https://tiredriver.com/load-index-range-and-ply-rating/
Rugged Terrain Performance
Let me get off-road section out of the way first. So here, there are many different rugged terrains to consider, and the most common ones these off-road tires and I face, are discussed below.
Mud
The challenge of performing well in mud with all-terrain tires can get “tough”, though its still achievable, given a tire doesn’t get swarmed with it, too easily.
Pro Comp AT Sport is although pretty aggressive towards the edges, it’s longitudinally chained pattern, restricts mud to flow out sideways.
Moreover, the tire also lacks mud scoops on the outer edges, and it’s sidewall lugs are also not slanted like the KO2 (which basically scoops the mud out of the tire’s way). So overall you get an enhanced traction with BF Goodrich.
Rocks
In order to drive on rocky terrain, you require a tire with malleable lugs, providing strong grip in all directions (this prevents slippage, especially on sideways, which can overturn the vehicle).
Moreover, as this is the only terrain that demands the most durability, you need to have a “tougher” tire.
And although both tires provide similar durability (almost), and a lot of biters on sidewalls (which grip with lowered air pressure), the BF Goodrich KO2 still has an upper hand, with it’s worm like blocks in the middle.
These lugs basically provide grip at a lot more angles (both laterally and longitudinally), And the full depth sipes on them (which can open/close these lugs all the way), provide chewing, so the tire grabs the surface of the rocks with more friction.
Gravel/Dirt
Dirt-filled roads demand powerful stone ejectors, and self cleaning tread voids. These ensure that sharp debris does not get invited in, (which damages the tread, even though, they are mostly having a cut resistant rubber).
Though these ejectors are missing in the Pro Comp AT Sport, and it’s closed up tread pattern with moldable composition isn’t helping it either.
That’s why BF Goodrich KO2 with dual stone ejectors provide better overall traction here.
Sand
On this soft terrain, the best you can do is to avoid as much digging as possible, as it’s the worst enemy of sand traction.
And although here the KO2 is pretty lacking with it’s stiffer sides, it’s still does better when compared to Pro Comp A/T Sport, which suffers mainly due to it’s a lot of weight, putting pressure on the lugs, and trying to sink them in.
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, although has biting shoulder edges (with spirally wound cap plies underneath), you still get a better performance here, with lowered air pressure, where it’s sidewall lugs get to spread out more and increase overall tread print in contact with the sand.
Performance On-Road
When determining the dry performance of an all-terrain tire, traction, steering, and cornering capability are all essential elements to consider. Let’s take a closer look at each of these crucial factors in more depth.
Dry Grip
The ability of a tire to cling to the road on a straight path is referred to as dry or directional grip, and since it depends on the middle part of the tread, it gets evaluated with braking distances.
But why middle?
Well, because while moving straight, the central area of the tire gets to have the most weight concentration on it, and lugs there, meet with the ground with a firmer connection.
Dry Handling
Handling can be explained if you consider it as the grip form sideways of the tire. So that’s means, the better the shoulder lugs meet up with the road, the greater would be the lateral traction.
That’s why the BF Goodrich KO2 with such avasive shoulders, aren’t able to provide a good enough efficacy, unlike the Pro Comp AT, where you get smooth texture (on lugs), with minimal tread features).
Though the KO2 isn’t too far off, as it furnishes a good steering sensitivity.
Steering Sensitivity
If the tread is more mushy, and is not able to keep its lugs from bending, the steering response would suffer, and it won’t be as “sensitive”.
Having said that, though both tires are great here but for different reasons.
Pro Comp AT Sport has softer compound but is still not that flexing due to closeness of the lugs, and reinforced foundations. Whereas the BFG KO2 is also great, but only due to its shorter tread depth, and firmer composition of its rubber.
Wet Road Traction
Tire grip is largely determined by the presence of siping, which are slits on the tire tread that are filled with air (at all times). Adn so when a tire makes contact with the wet road, the sipes expel the air, creating a vacuum, sucking those water particles in.
That’s why its important for the sipes to expand and bend correctly in order to provide optimal wet traction.
In other words, the proper functionality of the sipes is crucial for the tire’s ability to maintain a firm enough grip on the road surface in wet conditions.
That’s why the Pro Comp AT Sport having a lot more sipes, and a doughy compound, provides better traction here.
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, is not so great with wet, though with interconnected channels, it has no problem with providing adequate aquaplaning resistance. So it renders traction that way (but it’s still lower overall in comparison).
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel consumption is determined by the rolling resistance of the tires, which is affected with weight and tire’s composition. Let me explain how.
Since the Pro Comp AT Sport is a softer tire with a greater tread depth and more bearing weight on top, it’s lugs get to flex a lot more in comparison.
This basically wastes energy in to bending of the lugs, that would have otherwise consumed in to the rolling of the tire.
That’s why even though you get a more aggressive pattern seen on BFG KO2, you still get better fuel economy here.
Recommended Read –
Do All-Terrain Tires Get Worse Gas Mileage? : https://tiredriver.com/do-all-terrain-tires-get-worse-gas-mileage/
Ride Quality
Ride comfort is impacted by two main things: tire tread noise and the tire’s ability to absorb the bumps. Let me talk about later first.
On-Road Vibrations
A tire’s comfort level on the road depends on its ability to absorb road shocks, which is highly influenced by its overall composition. That’s because the softer the tread, the more effectively it can dissipate vibrations.
That’s why the Pro Comp AT Sport being a pulpy tire, provides you with a better cushioning of bumps, in comparison.
BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, lacks, mostly due to its stiffer internal construction. It’s spirally wound nylon cap plies account for a bumpier ride, where it’s harder compound is not helping either.
Tread Noise
Although there’s a lot of different “noises”, one experiences, the “tread” noise gets generated when air particles hit the walls of the tread.
Air is of course everywhere, and so its also inside the grooves, sipes, basically all the gaps on the tread. When tire meets with the road, the air is pressurized out, which then comes back in, striking the walls of the tread, generating noise.
That’s why with closed up shoulder voids, the Pro Comp AT Sport cuts down on noise at the source.
This is unlike the BF Goodrich KO2 which has such open shoulders, allowing for a lot more air to come in and strike around with full force. Though the tire is still pretty quite (for it’s design, overall), and this credit goes to its genius pitch sequencing technology.
I discussed that in detail here: Noise and all-terrain tires.
Tread Life
The life of a tire tread is influenced by 2 main things, tread wearing rate, and the tread wearing time.
Pro Comp AT Sport although features a softer compound which wears faster, it’s deeper tread voids still takes longer to wear down to 2/32″ of legal limit.
The BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, does the opposite, its compound is harder, which is less susceptible to burning off too fast, but the tire also has smaller tread depth, so it would still not provide as good of an overall (tread) mileage in comparison.
Conclusion
Out of both tires, the Pro Comp A/T although gives a very on-road oriented design, with it’s larger weight (still), it gets to lack in terms of fuel efficiency and tread life. Though it still yeilds improved traction on both wet and dry roads.
The BF Goodrich KO2 on the other side, might not be as comfortable on smooth pavements, it’s off-road traction is unmatched.
