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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8940
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Its Pole Line Road time
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Baja BFGoodrich AT/KO tire review
I would consider myself to be a 'Conservative' driver - careful on-road driving, casual trips to the mall, and some 'light off-roading'. When I
bought my Rubicon 10 yrs ago, I wanted to see what she could do off the lot, so I took her mudding with some experienced off-roaders.
Gold Crown Road - Twentynine Palms area (Sept. 2003)
In February (2013), I came across a killer deal on some 35" BFG AT/KOs and after running TrXus MTs for 8 yrs., I thought I would give the BFG AT/KO
another shot.
Rebuilding for Baja - in Tijuana, Mexico
By March, I was ready for some 4 wheeling action, so I took the Jeep to the 2013 Tierra Del Sol to see how these mild All-Terrains could keep up with
the guys running KM2s and IROCs. I noticed some limitations, but also realized that the increase from 33" to 35" helped quite a bit with the
traction.
Later that month, I decided the Jeep should be tested along the 2 day BAJA POLE LINE ROAD - driving roughly 125 mi. to/from the trail - south of the
massive Laguna Salada where the Baja 250 and 500 races take place every year. BAJA IS A BLAST!
The drive down was WAY QUIETER than it would have been with my INTERCO TrXus MTs. Preserving one's hearing can be a good thing.:nono:
At the Bank in Mexicali withdrawing Pesos
I had to lift the Jeep a bit higher to accommodate these new (to me) treads
4" suspension + 1" coil spacers + 1" body lift by Daystar
The day of the run, I noticed all of the vehicles are running BFG tires. No tire failures was a good thing.:2thumbsup:
Crossing the seismically active Sierra Mayor range south of Mexicali
Here is where the tires revealed how good they would perform in the mud
Surprising fact - These tires pulled through the muck. Sure, they packed in the mud, but they worked surprisingly well.
Russ' Jeep with 33" KM2s pulled through just fine.
Our group made it without winch pulls
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1914
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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BFG - my own experience
I've had BFG TA/KOs - two sets on my Tacoma, went through two sets on my CJ7, plus the Jeep had run through a set of BFG Mud Terrains. All performed
up to expectations until the last set of All Terrains. Mileage had been consistently outstanding in my opinion - 50,000+ with some sets nearing the
60,000 mileage mark.
This all changed with the last set on my Tacoma - all new at the same time but they needed replacement at just under 34,000 miles. I hadn't changed
anything, kept air pressure consistent, and was quite shocked.
Discount Tire where I've bought at least the last 3 sets simply shrugged their shoulder and said, politely, "oh well" - No offer of any adjustment. I
then contacted BFG customer relations and they offered to send me a $50 off coupon. I'd classify the treatment by Discount & BFG as unacceptable.
So, I went through a racer acquaintance and now have General AT something or others. We'll see what happens now.
I'm not unwilling to go back the BFGs but sure would like to figure why the drastic reduction in mileage - did they change the rubber compound? BFG
said they didn't.
John M
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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I've run BFG AT/KOs on my GMC and on both my Toyotas and have had good results, especially with the Toyotas. May be a weight thing. However on the
2007 work Tacoma I replaced the original BFG non-AT/KOs at about 18,000 miles with AT/KOs and they only lasted about 25,000 miles I retired at the
time and the company went with a Big Brand general tire. When I purchased them I was always asked if I wanted 8 ply or 10 ply rating and I think I got
the 10 ply except maybe the work truck was 8 ply rating. I don't know for sure if that had anything to do with it.
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1914
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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Load range
All the sets I owned were (rightly or wrongly) load range D
John
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64743
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The Tacoma Off Road TRD trucks come fitted with BFG Rugged Trail TA's. The folks on Tacoma World forums call them 'Rugged Fails'... I have to agree...
On my current Tacoma, I replaced them at 20,000 miles as they already had two ridiculous flats (rocks, not nails).
As for other brands, I have tried (and liked) Toyo Open Country AT, Cooper Discoverer ATR, and my current tire is Hankook Dynapro ATM.
All three only give about 35,000 miles before the rubber gets too thin 'looking' for my taste... Maybe it's a Tacoma thing, maybe it is how I drive?
The Hankook Dynapro ATM is my favorite of the three tires I liked... It was outstanding in all categories, except long life: Sand, Mud, Snow, Highway
Quiet, Crawling.
I have also used the Pep Boys Futura/ Destiny Dakota AT tires, made by Cooper (on my first tacoma). They only lasted 25,000 miles but were cheap!
The longest last tire I have had was the Cooper Discoverer STT mud/off road tire... got 45,000 miles out of them but was so glad to get rid of them as
they were loud on the highway and were grave diggers in the sand!
Unless the price goes way down I won't consider BFG All Terrain TAs, just too many sidewall failures from personal and other's experiences. I know
they are the #1 tire of Baja Nomads and they are the #1 all terrain tire.
HANKOOK DYNAPRO ATM 265/75-16 (32")
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by John M
I've had BFG TA/KOs - two sets on my Tacoma, went through two sets on my CJ7, plus the Jeep had run through a set of BFG Mud Terrains. All performed
up to expectations until the last set of All Terrains. Mileage had been consistently outstanding in my opinion - 50,000+ with some sets nearing the
60,000 mileage mark.
This all changed with the last set on my Tacoma - all new at the same time but they needed replacement at just under 34,000 miles. I hadn't changed
anything, kept air pressure consistent, and was quite shocked.
Discount Tire where I've bought at least the last 3 sets simply shrugged their shoulder and said, politely, "oh well" - No offer of any adjustment. I
then contacted BFG customer relations and they offered to send me a $50 off coupon. I'd classify the treatment by Discount & BFG as unacceptable.
So, I went through a racer acquaintance and now have General AT something or others. We'll see what happens now.
I'm not unwilling to go back the BFGs but sure would like to figure why the drastic reduction in mileage - did they change the rubber compound? BFG
said they didn't.
John M |
im curious, were the bfg's siped by discount tire and were you aware of the born-on date on these
tires?
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1914
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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siped?
No, they were not siped.
Born on date - I didn't record it but did look - all were within close proximity to each other and were not especially old - something like six
months.
The sidewalls showed no sign of deterioration or cracking - they simply wore out, and as David says, there was tread left but not sufficient for
confidence off road.
JM
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3059
Registered: 5-21-2013
Member Is Online
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tires
Lots of off road use
For a Jeep I have good things to say about Goodyear MTRs
I have half worn MTRs on my Rubi and have BFG KM2s waiting cuz I got a good deal.
I do know the most common failure is sidewalls and my rating from worst to best is:
BFG AT
BFG KM2
BFG Baja
BFG Krawler all versions
Goodyear MTR (not the competion version)
Goodyear MTR-k
BFG Project all versions.
The best for wear:
Project or MTR all versions followed by AT
Cant wear out the others due to sidewall leaks from cactus and sticks.
Want a soft ride them choose the one with the softest sidewall and carry 2 spares. Ha.
Yup multiple rigs that all get heavy use.
PaulW
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bonanza bucko
Senior Nomad
Posts: 587
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Airport Bum
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BFG Rugged Trails are in no way the same tire as BFG TAs. The Rugged Trail turdballs are "original equipment" stuff that are supposed to make dummies
who think original equipment tires with the same name, kinda, of the good stuff are good enough. To compare them is to malign the TAs. I am on my 6th
set of TAs on two trucks....Toyota Tundra and Ford F150 Supercab. Both are 4X4s.
The day I bought both the Tundra and the F150 I took the trucks to Discount Tire to replace the Rugged Trail crap with TAs.
All my tires, except the current set which is still on the Ford, have gone 50K plus miles.
BB
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liknbaja127
Nomad
Posts: 463
Registered: 1-17-2012
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We use BFG on all of our trucks, for chasing, site seeing, and every day use,
for over 10 years. they have always worn well, but we did notice that on
2 of the trucks got less mileage than before. about 3-4 years ago. got new set last year before the 1000, and they still look new.
we raced the 1000, no flats and did the 500 no flats! I think they are a great great tire for the Baja.
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: Current
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These tire threads are like who makes the best truck threads. BFG compared to X,Y,Z. The only BGF I have ever purchased have been KO's. I believe you
get what you pay for with tire's. As long as I get home, I'm fine with most. I'm running Generals now.
I have run BFG's, General's, Hankook's, Goodyears, Coopers. The biggest venerable is the driver and the road. The faster I drive, the heavier the
load, the shorter they ware. On one trip I had flats in all 5 tires had to replace 2 because of holes. I was driving to fast, with a full load, down
washboard roads. The Generals and the BFG seem to have greater resistance to rock punctures. But I have had them fail. When I driving a lot on
pavement fast, they ware-out faster. Over loaded and fast on the dirt I put holes in sidewalls and through the tread. When I slow down every thing
last longer.
I have a good friend who drives to Alaska most years,He says that rocks that get stuck in the treads are the death of tires. He runs highways tires
and has 1 flat in the last 9 years due to a screw. He mucks around with mud like few have seen too.
Go with what you believe in!!!!!
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64743
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Good thread!
Bonanza Bucko, just so we are clear, I know that BFG Rugged Trail TAs the Tacomas come with are OEM 'junk' tires and not at all the same as an All
Terrain TA. My experience with brand new All Terrain TA tires were on Amo Pescar's Ford camper truck when we got a sidewall gash on a sandy road. Neal
Johns and Amo Pescar put several plugs in it to make it a workable spare at our camp near Rancho San Gregorio... in 2001. I also drove the Viva Baja
4WD van with All Terrain TA's (KO's). I see the sides of dirt roads in Baja littered with All Terrain TA's. Perhaps because it is the most popular
tire and not so much from the over-hyped 3 ply sidewall feature?
Thank you for your time!
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18105
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I see the sides of dirt roads in Baja littered with All Terrain TA's! |
Dang litter bugs!
Dk, I hope you pack out more than you pack in, do your part, etc.!
Lux sit!
Peace!
P.s. my 4 runner sports revos, a great AT p metric. Suits me fine as I do mostly highway driving and truck tires with stiff sidewalks suck on the
pavement. Offload, most any AT will get you there if you know how to drive,... Most of you are rare off road warriors and you don't need overkill
tires for the pavement that is vast majority of your driving.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64743
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I see the sides of dirt roads in Baja littered with All Terrain TA's! |
Dang litter bugs!
Dk, I hope you pack out more than you pack in, do your part, etc.!
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Exactly why I don't run them... I don't want a destroyed tire left there or returned home!
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Bwana_John
Nomad
Posts: 289
Registered: 10-17-2007
Member Is Offline
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I have been running BFG AT's on all my rigs now for ~ 15 years, great rock tires, not so good in mud or snow.
My only complaint is how much lead it takes to balance them.
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I see the sides of dirt roads in Baja littered with All Terrain TA's! |
Dang litter bugs!
Dk, I hope you pack out more than you pack in, do your part, etc.!
Lux sit!
Peace!
P.s. my 4 runner sports revos, a great AT p metric. Suits me fine as I do mostly highway driving and truck tires with stiff sidewalks suck on the
pavement. Offload, most any AT will get you there if you know how to drive,... Most of you are rare off road warriors and you don't need overkill
tires for the pavement that is vast majority of your driving. |
dont be packin out those old tires, what
are they gonna use to mark washouts? those old tires are life savers!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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my 2 cents---------
BFG "rugged trails" are junk (ruined 2 on my X-terra shortly after it was new. and bought new AT's all around---no problems since in 4+ years)
BFG AT/KO's are great-----run them on all 3 of our 4-wheel drives and have had excellent results with them all. They are not indestructable, tho, but
no tire is in my experience.
8 ply 285's on my BIG pickup with camper for beach/sand floatation
10 ply 265's on my Nissan X-terra for rock protection, etc.
6 ply 235's on my Isuzu Trooper used only for lightduty 4x4'ing now
Barry
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Just put a set of Hankook on the Bronco today, or the wife did .. nothing but stock, we are not planning on anything like you guys do ....... just
saying .... $65/tire
[Edited on 6-13-2013 by wessongroup]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64743
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wessongroup
Just put a set of Hankook on the Bronco today, or the wife did .. nothing but stock, we are not planning on anything like you guys do ....... just
saying .... $65/tire
[Edited on 6-13-2013 by wessongroup] |
What kind of Hankooks??? $140 each (2 years ago) for the model and size I mentioned, plus the install...
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: Current
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So Ken, Would you get another set? They seem to holding up well so far.
David, There are things that no mater how you defend or attack, you will not change somebodies point of view. IE: politics, abortion, religion, gays.
trucks. It just tires. If money was no object would you make the same choice? Personally, I go for value and a strong sidewall 
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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