The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 is the tire everyone's been asking about since it started replacing the legendary KO2. And the tire it gets cross-shopped against most at our Long Beach counter is the same one the KO2 always fought: the Toyo Open Country AT3. Both are excellent. The honest answer about which one belongs on your truck still depends on where your miles actually happen — but the KO3 changes the math a little, so let's get specific.
BFGoodrich KO3 — The KO2's Successor, Sharpened
The KO3 isn't a reinvention — it's BFGoodrich protecting its franchise. The DNA is pure KO2: tough sidewalls, aggressive interlocking tread, Baja racing pedigree. What changed is the details. The tread compound is updated for better wear and better cut-and-chip resistance on rock, the tread geometry is refreshed for grip in loose terrain, and it carries the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) severe-snow rating like the KO2 before it.
KO3 Off-Road Capability
Excellent — this is still the reason you buy a KO-series tire. Reinforced sidewalls, stone ejectors, and a tread that bites in dirt, sand, and rock. The compound updates aim squarely at the KO2's main off-road wear complaint: chipping on sharp rock.
KO3 Highway Behavior
Improved over the KO2, but still an aggressive all-terrain. Noise and rolling resistance are better controlled than before, and daily-driver manners are respectable — just not in the same class as a highway-first design like the AT3.
KO3 Tread Life
50,000-mile warranty on LT sizes, with a compound designed to outlast the KO2 in mixed use. Rotations and alignment still decide whether you actually get there.
Toyo Open Country AT3 — Still the Highway-First Pick
Nothing about the KO3's arrival changes what the AT3 is: an all-terrain designed from the pavement side. It's quieter, rides more comfortably, wears evenly on freeway miles, and handles the dirt, gravel, and fire-road duty that covers what most SoCal truck owners actually do off-pavement. Our full breakdown of that formula is in our KO2 vs AT3 comparison — it all still applies.
AT3 Off-Road Capability
Good on dirt, gravel, and moderate trails. Less sidewall armor and less aggressive biting edges than the KO3 — it's not the tire for rock gardens or airing down on serious terrain.
AT3 Highway Behavior
Excellent, and still the clear winner here. Quieter than the KO3 at freeway speed, comfortable ride, stable tracking. If your truck is a daily commuter first, this is the difference you'll notice every single day.
AT3 Tread Life
65,000-mile warranty on most sizes — still the longer paper warranty, and the highway-oriented pattern wears evenly on pavement-heavy use.
Head-to-Head: Which One for SoCal Truck Owners?
Choose the KO3 If You...
- Actually drive trails, desert, or rocky terrain regularly
- Want maximum sidewall protection and airing-down capability
- Loved the KO2 and want the same tire with the wear issues addressed
- Do Baja trips or off-road weekends where a torn sidewall ends the day
- Accept some extra highway noise as the cost of capability
Choose the AT3 If You...
- Spend most miles on the 710, the 405, and surface streets
- Want the quieter, more comfortable daily driver
- Stick to gravel, dirt roads, and light trail use
- Want the longer tread-life warranty
- Care about fuel economy on a commute
Honest SoCal take: the KO3 is a better KO2 — it doesn't change who should buy it. If you were an AT3 buyer in the KO2 era (freeway commute, occasional dirt), you're still an AT3 buyer. If you were a KO2 buyer because your truck genuinely works off-road, the KO3 is a straight upgrade and the easiest recommendation we make. We'll tell you which one you are before you spend the money.
We install both at Ochoa's in Long Beach — browse our all-terrain tires or pair a set with a wheel & tire package. If your current set wore unevenly, fix the cause first with a wheel alignment in Long Beach. Call (562) 422-4449 or stop by Cherry Ave or Paramount Blvd and we'll check stock in your size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BFGoodrich KO3 better than the KO2?
In most ways, yes — the KO3 is BFGoodrich's direct successor to the KO2, with an updated tread compound for better wear and chip resistance, refreshed tread geometry, and the same Baja-proven sidewall toughness. It keeps the KO2's off-road character while cleaning up some of its rough edges. If you're choosing between the two new, the KO3 is the one to buy; remaining KO2 stock mainly makes sense at a discount.
Which is quieter on the highway — the KO3 or the Toyo AT3?
The Toyo Open Country AT3 is still the quieter, more comfortable highway tire. The KO3 improves on the KO2's road manners, but its more aggressive all-terrain pattern generates more noise than the AT3's highway-first design, especially at 65–70 MPH. If cabin comfort on the freeway is your priority, the AT3 keeps the edge.
How long do BFGoodrich KO3 tires last?
BFGoodrich backs the KO3 with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty on LT sizes, and the updated compound is designed to wear better than the KO2 it replaces. As with any all-terrain, real-world life depends on rotations every 6,000 miles or so, alignment, and how much trail abuse the tire sees.
Do you carry the BFGoodrich KO3 and Toyo AT3 at Ochoa's in Long Beach?
Yes — we install both at our Long Beach locations and can quote either in your size. Call (562) 422-4449 or send a tire quote request with your truck's year, make, and model and we'll text you real out-the-door prices on both.
Have this problem right now? Ochoa's Tire Service is open 7 days a week — no appointment needed for most services.