BFG KM3 offering.

[Road Bull]

So I know that BFG had plans to change the KM2s quite a while ago. It looks like they are slated to be released in June 2018. Some people like their KM2s just fine for what they use them for. But the KM2s have been around for a long time and there are a fair amount of great competitors to this mud terrain. It seems that Cooper STT Pros have started to take a fair amount of market share in the mud terrain department, not to mention a fair number of other manufacture's options.

So BFG decided to refresh their mud terrain to the BFG KM3.

To BFG's credit, it's not just a bunch of Jeeps in the video. There is a Cool LC 80 as well as a Land Rover Defender in the new video commercial.

https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/km3

I know a few people have been testing them but they are not out in the flesh available to look at in person. My 4Runner is my DD and I have to spend a fair amount time on the interstate in the rain. The KM2s don't have a great reputation in this department. The new lug layout is similar, but is set up a little different. They center treads look like a 4 lug diagonal pattern. The outside lugs look very similar with perhaps a new shark-bite cut in every other outside lug. And of course the sidewall looks like the current KO2. The lugs look a bit closer overall than the older KM2.

They claim that the sidewall has been beefed up 27% compared to the older KM2.

Just going off appearances, the new KM3s look like some of the proven popular tires these days. While more aggressive than let's say a Goodyear DT, and or Cooper ST Maxx, it seems to want to lean a bit more towards a slightly quieter and better handling mud terrain when on the road, while be aggressive offroad.

I would be interested to see how the new KM3 compares to the Cooper STT Pros. The Cooper STT Pros have become a very popular MT tire.

I might try out a more aggressive tire this season. I am leaning more toward the Cooper ST Maxx or maybe the STT Pro, but I will keep an eye on these too I suppose.

 

[el_kab0ng]

BFG should send a set to Ronny Dahl and have him evaluate them on a few of his trips..

 

[MN4runnerman]

[MENTION=119532]Road Bull[/MENTION] I think the ST Maxx’s have some of the best wet road traction than many other tires and I’ve driven pretty much every major brand all terrain and mud terrain. I always tell people to steer clear of any Goodyear Wrangler tire cuz they are overpriced junk for what you get. But I like the ST Maxx, Hankook dynapro ATM, and cooper AT3’s for wet road traction. The Maxx would be the most aggressive looking of those 3. Any mud terrain like the STT pro, Hankook MT, and BFG MT aren’t that great in rain or snow. My sisters jeep had the Goodyear Duratracs on them and they were louder than my mud terrains on my jeep plus she hydroplaned on them so I got rid of those right away.

 

[Road Bull]

BFG should send a set to Ronny Dahl and have him evaluate them on a few of his trips..

I think they did. But, a lot of the usual faces that have them seem to be in the process of checking them out, but with little overall real world experience with them just yet. The few people that have been testing them pre-release have plenty of nice things to say, but I take all that with a grain of salt till people can buy and evaluate with their own money. They claim to be the quietest mud terrain about to hit the market if that matters to you. I think they look pretty cool, but if they struggle on the hardball in the rain, then that might not work well for me.

4xoverland crew.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDzvQ5C_4zA&t=6s

 

[fourwd1]

Moving to Wheels & Tires section.

 

[Road Bull]

I think they did. But, a lot of the usual faces that have them seem to be in the process of checking them out, but with little overall real world experience with them just yet. The few people that have been testing them pre-release have plenty of nice things to say, but I take all that with a grain of salt till people can buy and evaluate with their own money. They claim to be the quietest mud terrain about to hit the market if that matters to you. I think they look pretty cool, but if they struggle on the hardball in the rain, then that might not work well for me.

4xoverland crew.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDzvQ5C_4zA&t=6s

That's good to hear about the Cooper ST MAXX. It seems that most who have used them really seem to like them. I think that they are the most aggressive of the all terrain options. So far my KO2s have done well in all but some ultra deep snow that no other tire seemed to do well in. They are not very good with ice, but, it's not a dedicated snow tire.

It would be nice to have a slightly more aggressive type of option that could handle mud slop better. I don't seek out mud, but I'd rather not get all gummed up and stuck if I find myself in that situation.

 

[Jetboy]

FWIW - my brother has STT Maxx on his Tundra - 35" tires. They were remarkably quiet when they were new. With about 10k miles on them now - and visually very little wear and totally smooth with no cupping or visual issues - they are really loud. The quietness only lasts for a short time before they start to sound like most mud tires.

I'm pretty happy I went with AT3's instead for my use. I was actually considering IROK ND's as an alternative but I know from day 1 they'd be loud. I run two sets of wheels/tires - one pure street tire set and one for offroad/camping, but usually that still ends up with 3-500 miles of highway to/from my house. So highway ride is pretty important still to me. A reasonably quiet mud terrain would be awesome. I'm curious to see how the new BFG's are after 10 or 15k miles. That's when you'll know if they're actually quiet.

 

[theesotericone]

I might try out a more aggressive tire this season. I am leaning more toward the Cooper ST Maxx or maybe the STT Pro, but I will keep an eye on these too I suppose.

I gave up on BFG a long time ago. Some love them, some hate them. I'm a realist who can neither love nor hate a tire. I have had 3 sets over multiple years though. They where never very good at anything I put them through. So I moved on.

You know what I currently run but for those that don't it's the Nitto Ridge Grappler. Not an AT not a MT but a "hybrid". There quite as hell on road even after 10000 miles. They chew through snow, ice, mud and rain. They handle rock without slipping at all. If I could love a tire this would be the one to marry.

I know they only make them in 17" currently. So if you plan on staying in your 16" SCS rims you ain't gonna get them. From everyone I know running the Coopers they really like them. Just my pennies.

 

[Road Bull]

I gave up on BFG a long time ago. Some love them, some hate them. I'm a realist who can neither love nor hate a tire. I have had 3 sets over multiple years though. They where never very good at anything I put them through. So I moved on.

You know what I currently run but for those that don't it's the Nitto Ridge Grappler. Not an AT not a MT but a "hybrid". There quite as hell on road even after 10000 miles. They chew through snow, ice, mud and rain. They handle rock without slipping at all. If I could love a tire this would be the one to marry.

I know they only make them in 17" currently. So if you plan on staying in your 16" SCS rims you ain't gonna get them. From everyone I know running the Coopers they really like them. Just my pennies.

Maybe if my situation changes and I find another wheel change in my future this could be an option. I am not sure why Nitto hates on 16" wheels so much. I think that there are more new vehicles these days coming with 17" or 18" wheels that it makes sense for them to pick where future money is and not where it was. Still... You'd think that they could still make enough money to offer their newer tires in 16" options.

Also, it is odd to me that all 17" tire options are a fair amount more expensive than the same time in 16", and sometimes by a good amount.

 

[SHagood]

My roommate in college had the KM2's on a 2009 Z71 Tahoe. He drove that car like a bat out of hell and put nearly 50-60k miles on those tires. I'm running 285/60-r18 Toyo AT II's on my '08 Urban Runner now because I drive 37 miles to work each day. If I move closer to my site I may be giving these tires a try..

 

[Wedgy]

I gave up on BFG a long time ago. Some love them, some hate them. I'm a realist who can neither love nor hate a tire. I have had 3 sets over multiple years though. They where never very good at anything I put them through. So I moved on.

You know what I currently run but for those that don't it's the Nitto Ridge Grappler. Not an AT not a MT but a "hybrid". There quite as hell on road even after 10000 miles. They chew through snow, ice, mud and rain. They handle rock without slipping at all. If I could love a tire this would be the one to marry.

I know they only make them in 17" currently. So if you plan on staying in your 16" SCS rims you ain't gonna get them. From everyone I know running the Coopers they really like them. Just my pennies.

Says available in 16" in June;
16'' LT265/75R16 E 123/120Q Available on 6/1
LT285/75R16 E 126/123Q 217620
https://www.nittotire.com/light-truck-tires/ridge-grappler-light-truck-tire/

 

[Road Bull]

Says available in 16" in June;
16'' LT265/75R16 E 123/120Q Available on 6/1
LT285/75R16 E 126/123Q 217620
https://www.nittotire.com/light-truck-tires/ridge-grappler-light-truck-tire/

Interesting. Glad that they are getting around to it even if it took a while. I guess two 16" options are better than none.

In other news, The KM3 initial size list is up on their site now. https://md.proty.re/u/8665424/bfgoodrich/editor/file/cc2d26c0-c610-4bbb-bbcc-0f3cd5432250.pdf

 

[Sanpete]

I just picked up a set from discount tire direct. 265/70’s, factory size. Will be getting them mounted later this week.

Edit - I can’t see how to rotate the pic sorry

 

[MT_4Runner]

I’m gonna be picking up a set of KM3s soon as well. Wish they had a load range D available in 285/70r17. Only 10 ply available for now

 

[Road Bull]

I just picked up a set from discount tire direct. 265/70’s, factory size. Will be getting them mounted later this week.

Edit - I can’t see how to rotate the pic sorry

Cool. You might be the first person that I have heard actually purchase them yet. I am interested to hear what you think.

 

[Sanpete]

Cool. You might be the first person that I have heard actually purchase them yet. I am interested to hear what you think.

Haven’t taken them off road yet. I’ll update later with that. On road is fine. Similar sound at highway speed to the KM2’s. All of my experience with the KM2’s are from years of off roading with Tahoe’s and F250’s.

The tire is great so far but that’s less than 200 miles on them.

 

[Booth9999]

really Like the looks, anyone know how they do in the snow? Also do they com3 in a load range c?

 

[Dylpickle]

Hello, new to this forum..I realize this is an older thread. But, I may have some useful info soon. Just ordered 285/70/17 KM3’s and some method wheels. They only were available in an E sidewall strength. I’m curious to see if they run on the larger side or normal for a 285. The guy at America’s Tire (Discount Tire) thought they may run larger due to the weight, but we’ll see

 

[Road Bull]

Hello, new to this forum..I realize this is an older thread. But, I may have some useful info soon. Just ordered 285/70/17 KM3’s and some method wheels. They only were available in an E sidewall strength. I’m curious to see if they run on the larger side or normal for a 285. The guy at America’s Tire (Discount Tire) thought they may run larger due to the weight, but we’ll see

Congrats on the new purchase. Keep us in the loop as to what you find and how you like them. Not many have these yet. I DID see them on a Tacoma at the NWOR last weekend. It was Maxx Powell's Tacoma. He does a fair amount of youtube stuff. Anyway. He said he had em on for about 30K miles, and they still looked pretty new.

 

[Dylpickle]

They’re great so far. Balanced well and not to loud..