Wow, that's weird that the upsized versions aren't snow rated. That's surprising. Maybe the extra width is the reason.
is it me or do these BFG AT's suck in the snow?
- Thread starter 4RBob
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Wow, that's weird that the upsized versions aren't snow rated. That's surprising. Maybe the extra width is the reason.
nah2323
New member
Typically wider tires aren't snow rated. The idea of snow tires is to get traction on the road surface. Wider tires tend to float on the snow, rather than penetrate the snow to get to a firmer surface. Wide tires are GREAT for weight dispersion in the frozen tundras, but in civilized areas with designated roads and pathways, it's preferred to bite THROUGH the snow, and not float on top of it.
Another reason why BFG's aren't all snow rated is their tread design is very blocky. While stable in most driving conditions, the size of the blocky tread can prohibit flexibility based on size. Think of it this way. You have two pencil erasers, one on a standard pencil, and the other the size of a box of matches laying on it's largest side. Which one of those erasers would be easier to flex horizontally while maintaining constant contact with the surface? The smaller one. Since the BFG AT is a well known 5 row blocked pattern on ALL sizes, they have to enlarge the size of the blocks to keep the pattern as well as keep the tire stability as the tires get wider. Wider tires, bigger blocks for firmness, less horizontal block flexibility.
The key to a goo snow tire no matter the size is "SIPES" small cuts in the blocky patterns to allow horizontal flexibility.
Another reason why BFG's aren't all snow rated is their tread design is very blocky. While stable in most driving conditions, the size of the blocky tread can prohibit flexibility based on size. Think of it this way. You have two pencil erasers, one on a standard pencil, and the other the size of a box of matches laying on it's largest side. Which one of those erasers would be easier to flex horizontally while maintaining constant contact with the surface? The smaller one. Since the BFG AT is a well known 5 row blocked pattern on ALL sizes, they have to enlarge the size of the blocks to keep the pattern as well as keep the tire stability as the tires get wider. Wider tires, bigger blocks for firmness, less horizontal block flexibility.
The key to a goo snow tire no matter the size is "SIPES" small cuts in the blocky patterns to allow horizontal flexibility.
I believe I recall seeing a snowflake on my BFG AT's.
I'm not saying the Revo's are a great snow tire, but much better in comparison.
Also, I am comparing the 5th Gen in 4WD to the 4th Gen Full-Time 4WD. I suppose not having the 4th Gen center diff locked is a difference. I do think that is typically better than being in Part-Time 4WD for most winter driving. Seems like less understeer.
I'm not saying the Revo's are a great snow tire, but much better in comparison.
Also, I am comparing the 5th Gen in 4WD to the 4th Gen Full-Time 4WD. I suppose not having the 4th Gen center diff locked is a difference. I do think that is typically better than being in Part-Time 4WD for most winter driving. Seems like less understeer.
TreeFarmer
New member
I think you misread something. I run the 285 70 17 BFG AT and they have a snow stamp on them, meaning they are snow rated and qualify as legal traction device.
The BFG AT have been excellent for me.
I've heard lots of people say the BFG AT KO is pretty good in snow. Only recently have I heard otherwise.
RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
I've had plenty of experience in the snow and wet on BFG's and IMO my Nittos and current Duratracs are much better. I've evben been driving around in 2wd on my Goodyears and am impressed. BFGs have poorly defined water evac channels and it shows at higher speeds than compared to the Duratracs.
They do ok in deep snow but it's the hard packed slick surfaces that they are a bit weak.
I left BFGs behind almost 10 years ago and never looked back. Like I've been saying for years is BFGs are great off road but once you are back on the pavement they leave alot to be desired.
They do ok in deep snow but it's the hard packed slick surfaces that they are a bit weak.
I left BFGs behind almost 10 years ago and never looked back. Like I've been saying for years is BFGs are great off road but once you are back on the pavement they leave alot to be desired.
sandcrawler
Senior Member
nope. i didn't misread anything. if you look at the tirerack.com specs page it indicates that the 285/70/17 E load is snow rated whereas the 285/70/17 D load isn't. it's always possible that the tirerack.com info is incorrect, of course.
trentfysty
New member
I've run a bunch of different tires over the years and I think the BFG A/T KO tires work very well in the snow. I would agree that on black ice etc they don't handle well but I honestly haven't had many tires that do aside from studs or blizzak type.
Siping can help a lot on the larger sized A/T tires or M/T tires. I have had it done and noticed a major difference. My brother has the Revo2 and had previously run the BFG A/T KO and says that the Revos do very well in the snow. Again, just saying snow doesn't help because of the various conditions that snow can bring. Freshly fallen snow is going to act much differently then hard packed snow or ice. The BFGs offer a really good all around tire and I have never had one fail. The revo2 also are a great all around tire. I think it comes down to personal preference and what type of conditions that you normally drive on. If I was driving on ice most of the time I would run blizzaks or stubds for sure, but with the mixed conditions in Denver I find that the BFGs do very well.
Siping can help a lot on the larger sized A/T tires or M/T tires. I have had it done and noticed a major difference. My brother has the Revo2 and had previously run the BFG A/T KO and says that the Revos do very well in the snow. Again, just saying snow doesn't help because of the various conditions that snow can bring. Freshly fallen snow is going to act much differently then hard packed snow or ice. The BFGs offer a really good all around tire and I have never had one fail. The revo2 also are a great all around tire. I think it comes down to personal preference and what type of conditions that you normally drive on. If I was driving on ice most of the time I would run blizzaks or stubds for sure, but with the mixed conditions in Denver I find that the BFGs do very well.
harper7
Senior Member
I ran E-rated 275/70/17 BFG AT's last winter and had no problems at all. I usually ran them at 45psi being that they were E-rated but they worked alot better aired down at 32-35psi in the snow and slick roads.That way the big arse lugs on the sides could get a bite. If you run BFG's over inflated or high pressures in slick stuff they do suck.
I've read BFG's rubber gets too hard in sub zero weather and causes problems on hard pack but not the wide spread hate I'm reading here.It's the best selling AT tire of all time for a reason.
Granted, in Texas we don't get alot of snow but we got alot last year at 27 inches and even had a 12 inch snowfall.I had no problems getting anywhere with the BFG's.
This year it's the dang ice. I drove to work thru the grass along the side as much as I could the last 2 days with my BFG KM2's that I have on now.All sides roads still all have 1 inch thick solid glare ice here now. Only 4 showed up out of 16 in my crew today.Now they're talking about sending us home because of the rolling electric blackouts and gas shortage.My electric at home was shut off twice so Jerry's world and the Superbowl gala could stay powered.They are talking about shutting it off every 6 hours for an hour to save electricity!?!?Go Steelers .........
I've read BFG's rubber gets too hard in sub zero weather and causes problems on hard pack but not the wide spread hate I'm reading here.It's the best selling AT tire of all time for a reason.
Granted, in Texas we don't get alot of snow but we got alot last year at 27 inches and even had a 12 inch snowfall.I had no problems getting anywhere with the BFG's.
This year it's the dang ice. I drove to work thru the grass along the side as much as I could the last 2 days with my BFG KM2's that I have on now.All sides roads still all have 1 inch thick solid glare ice here now. Only 4 showed up out of 16 in my crew today.Now they're talking about sending us home because of the rolling electric blackouts and gas shortage.My electric at home was shut off twice so Jerry's world and the Superbowl gala could stay powered.They are talking about shutting it off every 6 hours for an hour to save electricity!?!?Go Steelers .........
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RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
And those reasons include very little to do with their off road or on road capability and are mostly bought on site (because they are one of the meanest looking A/Ts out there) and most tire stores push them on anybody with a 4wd and they simply have a following and it's not like they suck and they serve their purpose off road but on-road the design is dated and they are pretty costly for their day to day performance IMO on the street and that's where they will see the most miles.
Yeah,they wear like rocks but I don't want to drive on rocks and I'll sacrifice a little treadlife for better dry and wet grip.
Here's a little story of my mom's trip to Discount Tire:
So,my mom take her stock '99 Limited 4Runner and what the salesperson recommended for her truck that will never see a real off road trail and is primarily a commuter and needed good wet/snow manners and they guy automatically suggests BFGs which IMO is overkill for my mom's truck and I;m sure they make a killing on BFGs since their markup must be pretty high.
Suffice to say I suggested something more street friendly and saved almost $300 by getting Yokohama AT/S and they've been a great street tire all year round for over two years now and no complaints.
This is part of the thing that fuels their polpularity and is why I see all these Suburbans and the like that are family haulers that sit 4" above the road (I even saw a new Highlander with 'em on;Honda Pilot anyone?) shod with BFGs which is simply a waste of money when there's better options out there and much more cost effective.
I ddin't automatically drink the BFG Kool-aid.:beer:
I think BFG needs to overhaul the design (of course maintaining a bit of the classic look) and introduce an updated version of the 20+ year old design.
hamiltonj2w1
New member
I have had many tires over the years and so far the BFG ATs were the worst except maybe the stock tires Toyota insists putting on. I Have a friend who swears but these BFG's so about 3 years ago when my 4runner needed new tires I said well they must be good if everybody swears by them I think not. I have frequently talked to people who " say this is the best tire ever this is all I have run on my (insert truck suv brand here) for the last 10 years" Its these people who are stuck on one brand and it seems they have almost a cult following for no reason. But opinions are like *********s we all have one and they all stink. If anybody has time I started a full on war on yotatech about these tires I mentioned they weren't as good as people say they were and I apparently pissed some people off it went like 166 replys and over 7k views lol here is the link lol BFG A/T'S worst tire I have tried yet - YotaTech Forums
Not hating on BFG since I have run 2 different sets of their mud tires on both my 4runners just putting it out there that there are better tires and I am not trying to start another war in case you read this other thread people are sensitive on yotatech lol
Not hating on BFG since I have run 2 different sets of their mud tires on both my 4runners just putting it out there that there are better tires and I am not trying to start another war in case you read this other thread people are sensitive on yotatech lol
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Kmvreter
New member
FWIW, I run a set as dedicated winter tires. I'm in an almost snow belt area and see all kinds of winter conditions. I don't have any handling complaints; wet, dry, cold, accelerating, braking, turning, whatever. Drive for the conditions. You can always drive nuts and break a tire loose but that isn't my style unless I'm goofing around. I don't like the dry low speed noise but I was expecting that considering the tread pattern. Picked it over the Revo2 that a buddy had at the time. If I wasn't running the dedicated set I would have gone back to the Mich LTX A/T. Overall, they haven't let me down and I'm happy with the way they perform.
As mentioned earlier, it may just be an issue of being over inflated. I run mine at 38 psi.
ps "N" on the gear selector is your friend in winter.
As mentioned earlier, it may just be an issue of being over inflated. I run mine at 38 psi.
ps "N" on the gear selector is your friend in winter.
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4Robber
New member
On a side note, my Nitto Trail Grapplers, which is an aggressive M/T, is really good in the snow, comparatively speaking. I have run a lot of other A/T's and M/T's and these by far have the most bite on packed snow.
I live in Denver, so I get plenty of chances to drive for days on snow packed roads. They certainly are not a snow tire, but handle much better than I anticipated.
They do have some factory sipes that I am sure help out. Also, siping any tire will help in the traction department when talking about packed snow.
Just some info for anyone looking for a decent snow tire M/T.
I live in Denver, so I get plenty of chances to drive for days on snow packed roads. They certainly are not a snow tire, but handle much better than I anticipated.
They do have some factory sipes that I am sure help out. Also, siping any tire will help in the traction department when talking about packed snow.
Just some info for anyone looking for a decent snow tire M/T.
Koz
New member
The OP asked a simple question and I gave a simple answer. The BFG's are good for one thing, off-road. Of all the A/T tires I've owned the BFGs were the worst in snow. Even the crappy GS-A is better in the snow.
Besides dedicated winter tires, these are good in the snow;
Duratrac - and great off-road, noisy on-road
Silent Armor - also good on/off road
Revo2 - and great on-road, decent off-road (E rated)
Koz
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