BFGoodrich Mud-terrain T/a Km3 vs Mud-terrain T/a Km2

The Mud-Terrain T/AKM3 is BFGoodrich's Off-Road Maximum Traction tire, a category often referred to as mud tires, designed for the drivers of Jeeps, pickup trucks, full-size SUVs and dedicated off-road vehicles who want a tire that incorporates a long heritage of championship-winning technology in a street tire. Designed to overcome any obstacle that may get in the way and developed with toughness and traction at the forefront, the Mud-Terrain T/AKM3 also focuses on providing acceptable levels of on-road noise and comfort.

The Krawl-Tek Compound of the Mud-Terrain T/AKM3 is designed to enhance grip on rock and slick surfaces and is molded into the symmetric, Terrain-Attack tread design. The large tread blocks provide a stable foundation in loose or rocky conditions and are oriented to provide biting edges in all directions for traction regardless of the angle of approach. The design of the Traction-Armor Sidewall Sculpture protects the tire off-road by helping prevent hazards from snagging and splitting the sidewall, while the notched shoulder design improves traction in dirt and mud. Stone bumpers in the tread grooves eject small rocks to prevent damage from drilling, and the mud-phobic bars in the shoulders help the tire self-clean to maintain traction in mud or soft soil. Wide grooves and lateral notches aid in hydroplaning resistance, and the independent tread blocks create biting edges for traction in wet or snowy conditions.

The construction of the Mud-Terrain T/AKM3 is focused on toughness and durability, inside and out. Thick sidewall rubber and extended shoulder rubber provide resistance to splits, punctures and bruising, and the internal construction features a robust, three-ply polyester casing to further enhance puncture resistance. A single, nylon cap ply provides reinforcement, and two high-strength steel belts stabilize the tread.

While Off-Road Maximum Traction tires are branded with the M+S symbol and able to churn through deep snow, their typical oversize applications and the absence of snow-biting sipes in their large smooth lugs can challenge their on-road wintertime traction on packed snow and icy surfaces.

The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 (KM for Key feature: Mud traction and 2 identifying it as BFGoodrich's 2nd generation KM tire) is an Off-Road Maximum Traction tire developed for off-roaders driving full-sized, lifted trucks that participate in rock climbing and/or other challenging off-road driving. The Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 is designed from the mud up to overcome almost any obstacle in its path by combining more traction and mud-clearing ability than its predecessor with a smoother ride and less road noise than normally expected from an aggressive tire.

The Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 molds an off-road tread compound into a Krawler T/A KX-inspired symmetric design that features deep, self-cleaning independent tread blocks and linear transverse flex zones that provide the elasticity needed to allow the tire to conform to off-road obstacles when aired-down and driven at low speeds.

The tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts and BFGoodrich's Krawler TEK sidewalls and casing. Krawler TEK consists of three components that include aggressive sidewall lugs, cut- and chip-resistant sidewall compounds and BFGoodrich's TriGard casing (three-ply polyester construction) with sidewall cords that are up to 33 percent stronger than the previous Mud-Terrain T/A KM tire. These advancements allow for more bite and sidewall protection along with increased strength and resistance to bruising caused by rocks and rough trails. Single strand beads (a single strand of bead wire is continuously wrapped multiple times until the desired strength is provided) enhance the tire's fit to the wheel to improve uniformity and ride quality.

While Off-Road Maximum Traction tires, which are often called mud tires, are branded with the M+S symbol and able to churn through deep snow, their typical oversize applications and the absence of snow-biting sipes in their large smooth lugs can challenge their on-road wintertime traction on packed snow and icy surfaces.