BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 Review: A High-Performing Off-Road Beast

On snow that has been packed down, it does not perform very well.

During the pandemic, the number of people using cars to travel to remote regions was at an all-time high. This was because people wanted to escape the widespread curfews that were in place. The off-roading and overlanding trend, on the other hand, began much earlier and continues to gain popularity. Millions of people now live the “digital nomad” lifestyle, in which they work while traveling through the wilderness.

Everyone is aware that an SUV or truck that is capable of off-road travel is essential for that lifestyle; yet, many people forget about the tires. Traction is not provided by the SUV or truck itself but rather by the tires that are mounted on it. Hence, if you are interested intense off-roading, it is imperative that you make the investment in suitable off-road tires. And one of the models that you will always hear about in off-road circles is the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3, which is available in three different sizes.

Rally racing was the inspiration for the development of BFGoodrich’s popular maximum traction off-road tire, which is also known as a mud-terrain tire. Along the way, the tire won several races. In addition to this, it provided tens of thousands of explorers with the means to travel to locations that nobody had previously visited, regardless of the surface.

However, despite the fact that it has a lineage that is nearly unmatched in terms of hard terrain, the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 needs to do much more in order to maintain its relevance in the present era. The vast majority of SUV and truck owners still drive their vehicles on paved roads the vast majority of the time, and they naturally demand good driveability and the highest possible level of safety, regardless of the weather.

Is it fair to say that the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 belongs in the greatest traction off-road category, which is becoming increasingly competitive? That is exactly what I am going to find out in the in-depth review that I have prepared, so let’s get started!

The sophisticated Krawl-TEK compound developed by BFGoodrich, which is intended to improve grip on slick terrain, and the Linear Flex Zone, which assists the tire in flexing better over obstacles, are the primary features of the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tire from BFGoodrich.

These two technologies are helpful while driving over huge rocks, but the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is equipped with many other features as well, such as a tread pattern that is designed to be extremely aggressive and features massive individual blocks. On any off-road tire designed to provide optimum traction, such patterns should be considered an absolute must. Still, they were built on this model through participation in off-road rally races all over the world, notably the Baja 1000, which the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 has won several championships for.

Notable features of the tread pattern include BFGoodrich’s Mud-Phobic bars located at the shoulders. These bars help to improve grip in muddy conditions by releasing compacted mud. In the meantime, the Traction-Armor Sidewall Sculpture has a design that features notches, which further boosts traction in muddy and soft terrain.

In addition, you may rely on the structure of the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 even while you are traveling across the most difficult terrains. When driving on rough conditions like mud and gravel, its exceptional sidewall protection, chip-and-tear resistant casing, and pinch shock resistance are all beneficial attributes to have.

Nevertheless, BFGoodrich went one step further and utilized the CoreGuard Max technology that it had created while competing in the Baja rally. This technology protects tires from becoming split or punctured. According to the manufacturer, the sidewalls are substantially more durable as a result of this new technology, which amounts to a difference of 27%.

In terms of how the Krawl-TEK compound will perform on the road, the traction-improving properties it possesses should make it easier to maintain grip. In addition, the lateral notches and large grooves in the tire prevent hydroplaning, which ought to come in handy if there is persistent precipitation. Unfortunately, despite the fact that the individual tread blocks should be able to push through thick snow, they do not have aggressive siping, which is necessary for greater traction on packed snow.

After a tire has worn down to the point that the treadwear indicators protrude 2/32 inches from the bottom of the grooves, the tire will be level with the surface when it reaches that stage. Off-roading requires tires with a tread that is significantly deeper than what they have, therefore you won’t be able to use them on the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3.

Investing in a tire depth gauge is something I would suggest doing if you are interested in keeping an accurate watch on the tread depth. Because it is also useful for monitoring uneven tread wear, it is a relatively inexpensive instrument that is an essential part of the armory of off-road aficionados.

The Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 does not come with a treadwear warranty from BFGoodrich; however, it does come with a one-year uniformity warranty that covers the first 2/32 inches of wear.

On the other hand, this is not exclusive to this kind of off-road tires; in fact, no other manufacturer provides a warranty for the mud-terrain types it sells. The reason for this is that motorists utilize them in rough terrains, which can easily cause the tread to become damaged and render the guarantee null and void.

Nonetheless, owners of the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 are generally pleased with the treadlife of the tire, reporting an average of 20,000 miles of use, which includes driving on off-road terrain. This is comparable to other products on the market, such as the General Grabber X3 and the Firestone Destination M/T2.

On dry roads, one of the aggressive off-road tires that performs the best is the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3. This tire has excellent longitudinal traction for braking and acceleration and a decent lateral grip for corners, making it one of the most aggressive off-road tires.

This does not mean that it can serve as a substitute for a highway tire or even an all-terrain tire – this is far from the case. Even while the stopping distances will be significantly longer than they would be with a tire designed specifically for the road, you will still need to drive more carefully on the road. In addition to this, you won’t be able to accomplish fast cornering speeds, and the stability of the highway will be reduced.

Yet, this is the case with the vast majority of off-road tires; in comparison to its contemporaries, the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is an outstanding performer. The variations between the products in this category are not particularly significant; nonetheless, the tire manufactured by BFGoodrich will provide you with slightly improved braking and higher lateral Gs.

Don’t anticipate much in the way of responsiveness from the driving experience, because the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 isn’t afraid to flaunt its off-road pedigree. In a nutshell, it seems to take a long time to react to the inputs you give it, and the steering isn’t very linear. On the other hand, I am aware of a fair number of motorists who favor the “truckish” aspect of the tire.

Overall, the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is as good as it gets on dry asphalt when it comes to mud-terrain tires. These tires are designed for off-road use.

When it comes to performance in wet weather, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is about on par with other tires in its class but offers less traction overall.

The Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is beginning to show its age, namely in the area of wet traction. Only a few years ago, it was widely considered to be one of the very best off-road tires available for wet conditions. Nevertheless, since then, much has changed. Even if it has been caught up and even passed by its rivals, the entry that BFGoodrich submitted can still be considered risk-free because making adjustments at the limit is simple.

To put it another way, the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 has a longer stopping distance and produces more wheel spin when the vehicle is accelerating quickly, especially when it is coming out of a corner. Moreover, the lateral grip is positioned lower than what is seen on the rival products.

But it’s not all bad news: the vehicle’s resistance to hydroplaning is outstanding, which means you won’t have any problems maintaining control even when it’s pouring outside.

Still, if you are looking for the best off-road tires for wet weather, I would recommend the General Grabber X3 or the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro. Both of these tires are manufactured by Cooper.

If you are an off-roader who drives in the winter, you will be satisfied with the performance of this tire in unpacked snow. You will have adequate traction to get rolling in a few feet of snow, and you will be able to manoeuvre your SUV or truck with relative ease in these conditions. It goes without saying that you will be driving slowly in these situations; yet, it is important to be aware that the braking is also pretty good.

When you hit compacted snow, on the other hand, things take a turn for the worst. This is the kind of snow that typically occurs on roadways. Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 will begin to exhibit its limitations if a dozen vehicles have previously travelled on the snowy road. The reason for this is that, in addition to the huge tread blocks, this tire does not include any of the smaller sipes that provide extra biting edges.

Because of this, the overall snow traction is not much better than usual. It is not terrible; in fact, some inexpensive off-road tires are much worse; nonetheless, the more recent competitors are superior. Although the increased stopping distances are notable, the tense handling is far more problematic in my opinion. You can still get over it by driving more carefully, but if you want to put your mind at ease, you can consider purchasing the Firestone Destination M/T2 tire instead.

Alternatively, as I often tell my close friends, you should invest in a set of winter tires. On packed snow, any winter tire will provide you significantly better traction than the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3, and on packed snow, any winter tire will be comparable to the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3. As a result, this is the action that you should do if you live in regions that experience extremely severe winter weather.

Without a doubt – the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is without a doubt one of the greatest tires for off-road driving that can currently be purchased, full stop.

This should not come as a surprise given that BFGoodrich is the most well-known tire manufacturer among off-road aficionados and the most successful participant in Baja and Dakar rallies — the company even won the most recent Dakar Rally in 2023 with Toyota Gazoo Racing. And because the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 makes use of many of the same technologies that are found in racing tires, we have nothing but high hopes for this particular type of tire.

However, let’s begin with the fundamentals, which are dirt and gravel. On these terrains, the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 outperforms the majority of its competitors, both in terms of its traction and its ability to be driven. When the surfaces are wet, however, the contrast between them becomes more pronounced as a result of the Krawl-TEK compound.

But, if the only terrain you drive on is dirt and gravel, I would recommend that you purchase an all-terrain tire, such as BFGoodrich’s own T/A KO2. Always choose a set of tires that is suitable for your requirements because all-terrain tires perform far better on these surfaces and offer significantly improved grip when used on roads.

Yet the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is what you require in the event that you ever wander into an area that is covered in thick mud or features huge rocks. This tire performs exceptionally well in extremely thick muck, cutting through it as if it were nothing. Although it is still possible to become mired in mud if you are careless, this off-road tire will carry you the farthest of any other option.

In addition, this tire performs exceptionally well on huge rocks, sometimes known as rock crawling. It is possible to deflate it to very low pressures (psi) as a result of its incredibly durable design, which is of great assistance when one is attempting to crawl over enormous rocks. As a consequence of this, there is a good deal of traction available, and in the majority of instances, the tire will emerge from the endeavor unscathed, or in other words, without significant punctures. Again, these things are possible, but they occur much less frequently.

So, what about the sand? The huge tread blocks on mud-terrain tires have a tendency to dig into the surface they are driving on, which might lead your vehicle to become bogged down. This type of surface is not usually compatible with these tires. But, you can reduce the severity of that problem by driving with the air pressure in your tires lowered to the lowest level that is safe for your rims.

Beaded wheels are a good option to consider if you want to go even lower because they help to hold the tire in place. And with that configuration in place, you’ll be able to float over the sand as you drive through the desert dunes, making it much simpler for you to take on the challenge. No matter what happens, the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is resilient enough to make it out of the situation unscathed.

The tale of this tire’s success off-road continues on turf, where you’ll receive more traction than you’d ever need even in the most extreme off-road conditions. Be mindful, though, that the huge tread blocks have the potential to quickly trample the grass underneath them.

In general, the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is a beast off-road and a tire that you can rely on even in the most challenging of situations. As a result, I recommend it to anyone who are interested in overlanding as well as virtually everyone else who wants to overcome the most difficult terrains.

Although while the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is not a particularly smooth or quiet tire, it is still among the most comfortable options available in its particular class.

One distinguishing feature of the noise is that it has a higher pitch and can be heard traveling at highway speeds. It is true that it can get wearing on lengthy journeys, but it is not significantly more so than its rivals, the majority of which are even louder. And in my testing, I found that even at urban speeds, the noise wasn’t a problem; it was present, but it didn’t become old at all.

In terms of the quality of the ride, the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is uncompromisingly stiff, particularly over impacts that occur repeatedly. But, it becomes much more manageable once you get into the highway, when the firmness of the tire actually makes the ride more refined.

In general, I don’t anticipate that the majority of drivers will have any problems with the comfort or performance of this tire. Driving on mud-terrain tires results in increased road noise and a more uncomfortable ride, and the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is one of the few tires that can pull this off.

The Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is not a perfect tire; for example, it does not perform as well in wet circumstances as the General Grabber X3, and it is not the most comfortable off-road tire that is currently available. Nonetheless, it is still a good tire. Yet, I believe that the majority of customers will be satisfied with the concessions, particularly when taking into consideration the off-road capabilities that it provides.