BFG All terrain reviews

[Jhacker1]

So I'm looking at getting tires for my 4R sometime in the near future due to the fact my long trails are slick as stick of butter. A local tire place priced me some A/T's for $252 a piece but i know i can get them cheaper. I'm looking for a set of 31x10.50x15. So if my fellow 4R lovers can give me some reviews on the BFG All Terrain tires, Yay, Nay, Maybe that'd be gravy.Thanks in advance.

 

[Thai]

They are excellent off-road (for an AT tire) and decent on-road. I have had no problems with them on-road on my past vehicles, and they are one of the best (if not the best) off-road (for an AT tire). They have strong sidewalls, which the same cannot be said about 98.9% of AT tires out there.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

If you off road regularly then it's hard to beat BFGs but on-road on dry or wet pavement I've had better results with Nittos TGs and my current GY Duratracs when it comes to dry grip and hydroplane resistance which BFGs could have a better margin for error. I drove on several set of BFGs through the years and wet/snow weather performance got me looking at other options.
I drove on a set of Nittos for almost 5 years and they were a great on-road tire and did alright with no issues off road but still weren't as durable as the BFGs.
Now with the Duratracs I may have found the great middle ground for an A/T tire with solid dry pavement handling and very good wet weather/snow performance and handled everything off road I've thrown at them so far. Durable as the BFGs? Probably not quite but unless you use your truck off road primarily and don't spend 95% of your time on pavement then both BFGs and Duratracs might be a bit much but I'm sold on the goodyears since they handle daily driving duties with much less worries than BFGs and off road I have no complaints either.
If my truck was a weekend warrior with distant trail rides I might have a set of BFGs on my truck but with DD duties the Goodyears fit my agressive driving style better on road.

I'm waiting for BFG to redesign their ancient tread pattern to better fit on road performance with better defined water evac channels and better compound that doesn't harden so much after a few seasons but still maintaining a tough off road standards. It's time for BFG to quit resting on their laurels with the BFG KO and make some bold changes for the better.

BFGs still make a very good tire but it's the wet/slick pavement manners that bother me.

 

[klennop]

I'm waiting for BFG to redesign their ancient tread pattern to better fit on road performance with better defined water evac channels and better compound that doesn't harden so much after a few seasons but still maintaining a tough off road standards. It's time for BFG to quit resting on their laurels with the BFG KO and make some bold changes for the better.

I really wonder if they will ever change the pattern? BFG have only tweaked the tire a little bit since they came out. I am thinking they are sticking with the "if it aint broke don't try and fix it" method. I would like to see a redesign but...if they screw up the money maker in their A/T line, they would loose a lot of returning customers also.

I have run 3 sets of them on the trucks I have owned, and I have a hard time buying anything else. Due to the fact of making an expensive mistake. I know the BFG AT works for everything I want it to do, so giving another tire a chance that fails is that big mistake. I use them in mud, snow, sand, rocks, snow covered lakes, etc. Pretty much everything an A/T tire should be "Good" at, and they have never failed or have I been stuck when using them.

I never had a problem with them hydroplaning or not being a good on road tire. I had them on a Ranger, Tahoe, and a Cherokee. They are not sports cars, so I don't drive them like they are. Maybe that is why people think they are not a great on road tire, they drive their trucks like a car? Personally I would give up a little of the on road manners for a moderate off road tire because I know there is help on the road if I need it. When I am off the road, in the woods, on the lake, etc. I may be on my own so I want a tire that will keep me out of trouble.

I have been watching a lot on this forum about tires because I am due after I take a trip down south. Even after reading everything, I am still 99% gunning for the BFG A/T's. I thought about the Duratracs but they don't make them in the 18" size I need.

That is just my 2 cents.

 

[CXS]

I ran 3 sets BFG A/T's - 2 sets on my FJ62 33's & 35's and 33's on my FJ55 and was happy until the last set which were the 35's. I had serious sidewalls splits and cracks on those and will never buy them again. I don't know but do recall some discussion that the compound was changed in the mfg process. I switched to Good Year Silent Armor instead of the more popular Duratracs. IMHO the SA'S are better than the more. I recommend checking them out and do your own comparison.

 

[GrantK]

I used to love BFG TA. I've had several sets of them over 130K miles and are my current tires. The won't be my next ones. When the went from regular TA to TA/KO the seem to have less snow traction, require 4WD on gravel farm road that used to be a breeze in 2WD and in about 4" of mud on a farm road I was all over the place and afraid to stop and get stuck even in 4WD.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I have had BFG all terrain on my 4runner for 4years now. I off road a lot in the desert and all over the country when on vacation. I need a tire I can depend on and resist sidewall punctures. They have never let me down. If no off roading is involved then passenger car tires will get you more mpg and less noise. I also wore out a set of these on my Jeep wrangler with no problems. I did have to get the 4runner bfgs balanced a few times but I do not mind as they take a beating off road. I am sure there are other all terrains that work as well but I am sticking with what I know. Also BFG tires are available most anywhere which is important to me when traveling. My friend I off road with resisted putting on all terrain tires but after 2 sidewall cuts on his passenger tires (stock Michlin cross terrains) he finally gave in and put BFg all terrains on his 07 4runner. No more problems cutting tires now. I also never experienced the wet driving traction problems some peolpe talk about.

 

[gaterose]

I too have the AT KOs right now. I also have yet to have any hydroplane issues out of them despite it being a common complaint. They have been excellent so far (about 12K miles). I haven't had them in much really slick mud yet. I got in some on a dirt road the other day climbing a hill and the ATs didn't seem too confident, and wanted to slide around a bit.

If your trails are really slick and muddy I would recommend MTs or at least the Duratracs unless you don't go on the trails often. I think the BFG AT tread spacing is too tight to be great in thick mud. You can't go wrong with BFG MTs (KMs anyway, I have no experience w KM2) or GY MT/Rs in the slick stuff and they handle well on road too.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

If people think the wet weather handling of BFGs is fine then you'd be amazed by other tires out there. Just look at the tread pattern for a BFG and you can see they have no defined water evac channels and it shows in heavy rain.
I demanded more better margin of error when the hydroplaning starts and BFGs really showed some issues in slush and standing water. I drive hard and agressive and the BFGs definetly were more squirelly than my Nittos and Duratracs have been. I drive 65+ in the rain and BFGs seemd to just let go with no warning when hydroplaning started where my other tires gave a good warning.
Dry cornering is a weak spot for BFGs too and I know a truck isn't a sports car but if I'm cornering hard I'd still like a tire to grab better and I got that with my Nittos and Duratracs and maybe at a sacrifice of only seeing 45-50k miles where BFGs might get more miles out of a set but at the cost of performance it isn't worth it to me and I've got over 25 years of driving experience to know what works for me and what doesn't.

That said I have no argument concerning BFG's off road abilities and that's where they shine but I'm not off road enough to justify spending $1000 on a set. (I paid $880 with replacement certificates for my Duratracs and they actually even have a mileage warranty)

 

[Thai]

If people think the wet weather handling of BFGs is fine then you'd be amazed by other tires out there. Just look at the tread pattern for a BFG and you can see they have no defined water evac channels and it shows in heavy rain.

The problem with this assumption is that neither you nor me are tire experts. Water channels? Didn't Goodyear do away with those silly "Aquatreads" years ago??

Here is what i wrote a while back when you gave the same opinion:

"As we have discussed many times RonM, there is more to wet traction than just "water channels." If you notice, then you will see that most new tires don't have the "aqua" channels that Goodyear had back in the 1990s. For example, Michelin CrossTerrains don't have clear water channels, neither does LTX M/S....and i would not call these tires unsafe in rain either! On the other hand, mud-terrains have wonderful open huge "water" channels, but then again, you won't catch anyone saying that they are great in rain either. If you look closely at the BFG, then you will see two longitudinal channels in the tread. It is just that the BFG tread is aggressive and thus people don't notice them."
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The fact of the matter is that BFG has been using this similar style tread patterns thru a few generations...and yet has such a huge following is a testament to its effectiveness as a TRUE all-terrain tire...i hate pretenders! The bottom line is the sales and where people put their hard-earned dollars in.

I always hear about BFG AT KO hydroplaning potential, but i have not read of one person actually experiencing it and having an accident. Nowadays, there are computer simulation up the whazzoo in designing treads. Tread void area?? Siping?? Tread block design?? etc. I don't know why RonM keeps on arguing this point over and over again when it clearly does not apply across the board!

 

[Thai]

That said I have no argument concerning BFG's off road abilities and that's where they shine but I'm not off road enough to justify spending $1000 on a set. (I paid $880 with replacement certificates for my Duratracs and they actually even have a mileage warranty)

As the saying goes...you get what you pay for...lets face it, Duratracs are nice but they are far from being on the same playing field as BFG in terms of reputation both on-road and off-road...why? They are too new...no one knows how long they last nor how well they age! The fact that they are BELOW Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor should tell you something...GY Wrangler SA is the BFG AT KO direct competitor. And i do believe that Wrangler SA is a very nice tire...and would pick that over Duratracs anyday of the week.

 

[Ross]

As the saying goes...you get what you pay for...lets face it, Duratracs are nice but they are far from being on the same playing field as BFG in terms of reputation both on-road and off-road...why? They are too new...no one knows how long they last nor how well they age! The fact that they are BELOW Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor should tell you something...GY Wrangler SA is the BFG AT KO direct competitor. And i do believe that Wrangler SA is a very nice tire...and would pick that over Duratracs anyday of the week.

Depends on where and how you wheel. I would never consider a BFG AT for off roading and it has a more aggressive tread than I would want on a street tire. But for many it could be a good choice.

I would choose the Duratrac hands down over the BFG.. On road I here mixed review about BFG ATs in snow and rain, I have only heard positive things about the Duratac. I have seen many BFG MTs side wall rip open on the trail, these where the older style not sure if that is still a problem or even a problem with the ATs.

I would choose the BFG AT over the other two Good Year tires you mention

Duratracs have been around long enough to know they are a good tire when it comes to an all terrain tire and they do have a good reputation of lasting many miles.

 

[Thai]

Depends on where and how you wheel. I would never consider a BFG AT for off roading and it has a more aggressive tread than I would want on a street tire. But for many it could be a good choice.

I would choose the Duratrac hands down over the BFG.. On road I here mixed review about BFG ATs in snow and rain, I have only heard positive things about the Duratac. I have seen many BFG MTs side wall rip open on the trail, these where the older style not sure if that is still a problem or even a problem with the ATs.

I would choose the BFG AT over the other two Good Year tires you mention

Duratracs have been around long enough to know they are a good tire when it comes to an all terrain tire and they do have a good reputation of lasting many miles.

Let's see...Duratracs has a 2-ply sidewall...does not have the Durawall compound of its expensive brothers (GY Wrangler SA & GY MT/R)...and is lower in price AND ranking than both of its expensive brothers. In fact, when looking at pics of the Duratracs, i do NOT see anymore "water channels" than the BFG AT KO....

Are you saying that Duratracs are more effective off-road than BFG AT?? Yet, it is also better on-road?! Cake and eat it too?

You may have seen "many" BFG MT sidewall rip because those who own it tend to wheel it harder than someone with less capable tire.

I am confused...you would choose BFG over the other "two" Goodyear tires i mentioned...you do realize that Duratracs are made by Goodyear, right? And the only two Goodyear tires i mentioned are the Duratracs and Wrangler SA...so, are you agreeing with me? I am confused!

 

[Thai]

One more thing...General came out with a tire within the past few years looking exactly like the BFG AT KO...as the saying goes...Imitation is the highest form of flattery....

To be honest, i do see some of BFG AT KO design features in the Duratracs....

 

[CXS]

As the saying goes...you get what you pay for...lets face it, Duratracs are nice but they are far from being on the same playing field as BFG in terms of reputation both on-road and off-road...why? They are too new...no one knows how long they last nor how well they age! The fact that they are BELOW Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor should tell you something...GY Wrangler SA is the BFG AT KO direct competitor. And i do believe that Wrangler SA is a very nice tire...and would pick that over Duratracs anyday of the week.

I think I already expressed my opinion and have switched to the Silent Armor and don't see why anyone would choose Duratracs especially when using GY's own comparison rating.

As far as BFG sidewalls not holding up due to more aggressive driving I can only speak for myself that I disagree. I was a huge fan of BFG but then experienced numerous sidewall failures not due to of-road driving. The first split happened w/ street driving only.

It seems to me that BFG (owned by Michelen I believe) has rested on it's reputation while changing the compound of what was once a great product. Like everything else, past performance does not necessary reflect today's products.

 

[Thai]

As far as BFG sidewalls not holding up due to more aggressive driving I can only speak for myself that I disagree. I was a huge fan of BFG but then experienced numerous sidewall failures not due to of-road driving. The first split happened w/ street driving only.

Improper inflation psi?

I doubt that BFG/Michelin would knowingly change compound(s) on their most popular tire line to such a degree that it would just KABOOM with driving on-road! Can you imagine what kind of lawsuits they would be open for??!! Worst than Firestone fiasco! :jaw drop:

 

[CXS]

I am quite careful of my tire pressure, I do need to add that I never had one explode. I found the splits before they failed with one exception which happened at low speed on the trail.

 

[Ross]

Let's see...Duratracs has a 2-ply sidewall...does not have the Durawall compound of its expensive brothers (GY Wrangler SA & GY MT/R)...and is lower in price AND ranking than both of its expensive brothers. In fact, when looking at pics of the Duratracs, i do NOT see anymore "water channels" than the BFG AT KO....

Are you saying that Duratracs are more effective off-road than BFG AT?? Yet, it is also better on-road?! Cake and eat it too?

You may have seen "many" BFG MT sidewall rip because those who own it tend to wheel it harder than someone with less capable tire.

I am confused...you would choose BFG over the other "two" Goodyear tires i mentioned...you do realize that Duratracs are made by Goodyear, right? And the only two Goodyear tires i mentioned are the Duratracs and Wrangler SA...so, are you agreeing with me? I am confused!

From what I have seen DuraTracs are much better on the trail then BFG ATs. . I see very few BFG ATs anymore, I haven't heard of an issues with the DuraTracs ripping.

I am not loyal to any brand. I don't even run either. When I was in Socal on rocks I did run the old school MTRs. When I moved to MO the older style MTRs sucked on slick wet surfaces so now I run TrXus MTs on my off road rig. They do very well for me.

The new Good Years MTRs run a kevlar reinforced side wall.

You mentioned: Wrangler Silent Armor and DuraTrac, not sure where I came up with a 3rd one. I have never seen the GY SA on the trail.

I have never been impressed by BFG ATs, they don't grap as well as other off-road tires from what I have seen. In snow and rain I have heard mix review on them.

 

[Koz]

The BFGs are old technology/design and both Goodyears are way better. Even the REVO II are better.The only thing that keeps them alive is they have a GREAT following and they make BIG money for BFG. The only thing the BFGs have over these tires is treadwear!

Koz

 

[Thai]

The BFGs are old technoligy/design and both Goodyears are way better. Even the REVO II are better.The only thing that keeps them alive is they have a GREAT following and they make BIG money for BFG. The only thing the BFGs have over these tires is treadware!

Koz

RevoII? Ok...that really shows us your off road background Koz!!