Greenville, S.C. (Oct 31, 2014) – BFGoodrich® Tires, the company that created the first all-terrain tire in 1976, has launched its most advanced light truck tire ever with the new All-Terrain T/A KO2 tire. The tire is now available in 12 initial sizes to consumers at more than 20,000 BFGoodrich authorized dealers.
Engineered from BFGoodrich’s championship off-road motorsports racing technology, the KO2 delivers exceptional toughness, treadlife and traction for traversing harsh conditions, including gravel, dirt, rock, mud and snow. The new KO2 provides consumers the confidence to take on the toughest challenges for work or play.
Check out our First Impression of BFG’s T/A KO2 in Baja
Compared to the already formidable current KO tire, the new KO2 brings the toughness, traction and treadlife that demanding light truck owners require in a tire.
Key features of the KO2 include:
· Tougher Sidewalls: The KO2 uses race-proven and race-winning CoreGard™ technology developed in the Baja T/A KR2 for split and bruise-resistant sidewall rubber and a thicker, extended shoulder to prevent sidewall failures. Computer modeling was used to predict object paths and create a sidewall designed to deflect protruding objects, reducing the chances of splits and snags. Compared to the already formidable current KO tire, the new KO2 is up to 20 percent stronger in this critical off-road performance area1 The result is a tougher tire as consumers take on trails of various conditions.
· Longer Treadlife: The KO2 has a new tread design and rubber formulation that helps it last twice as long on gravel and 15 percent longer on asphalt than the previous tire2 The tread rubber has been optimally blended to reduce chips and tears on gravel. A new footprint shape and interlocking tread design provide more uniform wear over the long haul. Special stone ejectors push objects out of the tread to reduce drilling into the tire.
· Aggressive Traction: The KO2 also has a range of tread features for better mud and snow traction. The improvements to the legendary all-terrain performance include 10 percent greater traction in the mud3 and 19 percent greater traction in the snow4 Side-Biter lugs in the sidewall improve traction in mud, snow and rocks. Raised bars in the shoulder help release compacted mud for better traction in soft soil. 3-D sipes create biting edges for better snow traction.
The KO2 is an all-season tire that will carry the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, indicating that it exceeds the Rubber Manufacturer Association’s severe snow traction requirements.
Building on BFG’s long heritage as an innovative all-terrain tiremaker, the KO2 incorporates technology developed and tested through the brand’s legendary off-road motorsports teams that have earned 80 off-road wins at races in the Baja peninsula – by far the most by any tire brand.
The KO2 will be released initially in 12 sizes fitting a range of vehicles, including Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge, Toyota and Nissan pick-up trucks and SUV’s as well as Plus Fitments for a wide variety of vehicles. The MSRP for the tire starts at $222. Additional sizes will be released in 2015.
Tire Sizes (available November 1)
LT245/75R16 120/116S TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
LT265/75R16 123/120R TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
LT275/65R18 123/120R TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
LT275/70R17 121/118R TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
LT285/65R18 125/122R TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
LT285/65R20 127/124S TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
LT315/75R16 127/124R TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
LT285/75R16 126/123R TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
35X12.50R18LT 123R TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
LT265/70R18 124/121R TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRE
LT275/55R20 115/112S TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRD
LT275/60R20 119/116S TL ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 LRD
For more information, visit www.BFGoodrichTires.com.