Quick Facts:
- Matchup: KO3 vs AT4W, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 against the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W
- Treadwear warranty: KO3 50,000 miles, A/T4W 60,000 miles in LT sizes
- Tread depth: A/T4W runs deeper in all six matched sizes, by 1/32 or 2/32 inch
- Load capacity: Identical in all six matched sizes
- Snow: KO3 beat the A/T4W on every shared snow metric in two independent tests
- Ice: A/T4W beat the KO3 on both ice metrics in those same tests
- Price: Within $2 per tire in LT265/70R17 as of August 12, 2026
- Best for: Owners replacing worn KO2s and choosing between the two obvious successors
 9 min read | Specs and pricing verified August 12, 2026
In This Guide
- KO3 vs AT4W: Why This Choice Is Happening Now
- KO2 vs KO3: The Spec Sheet Barely Moved
- Matched-Size Spec Comparison
- KO3 vs AT4W on Tread Depth and Weight
- The DURASPEC Catch, and What BFGoodrich Does Not Publish
- Snow, Ice and Noise: What Independent Testing Found
- Warranty and Price
- KO3 vs AT4W: Which Tire Suits Which Build
- Final Verdict
- Frequently Asked Questions
KO3 vs AT4W: Why This Choice Is Happening Now
The KO3 vs AT4W question is landing on owners in waves this season, and the cause is a phase-out rather than a launch. BFGoodrich states it plainly: “As new sizes of the KO3 tire come to market, the corresponding size of the KO2 tire will be phased out.” No single discontinuation date exists. Instead, KO2 sizes disappear one at a time as their KO3 replacements arrive.
The phase-out is nearly finished. Specifically, a BFGoodrich release dated May 4, 2026 announced the last major phase. It added 12 sizes for 119 total, timed to the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Radial All-Terrain T/A. Retail shelves show the effect. Tire Rack currently lists 26 KO2 line items against 119 for the KO3. Moreover, LT265/70R17 has left the KO2 lineup entirely.
So a large group of owners is shopping right now. The Falken Wildpeak A/T4W is the tire most of them cross-shop. What follows compares the two in matching sizes only, because a spec comparison across different sizes tells you nothing. If you want the wider category view first, our all-terrain vs mud-terrain breakdown covers where this class sits.
KO2 vs KO3: The Spec Sheet Barely Moved
Many people arriving here are, in fact, asking whether the KO3 is an upgrade over the KO2 they already run. The specs, however, answer more bluntly than the marketing does.
In LT285/70R17 Load Range C, comparing the raised-white-letter listings, every published dimension matches between the generations. Specifically, both list 15/32 inch of tread, 51 pounds, 2,755 pounds of max load, 32.8 inches of diameter, and 635 revolutions per mile. The treadwear warranty stays at 50,000 miles as well.
Therefore the KO3 is a compound and tread-pattern revision rather than more rubber. BFGoodrich claims 15% better wear, 20% better gravel-road durability, and improved snow traction against the KO2, all of which are manufacturer figures. No quantified independent measurement of the KO3’s snow gain over the KO2 exists.
| Best in Snow | Top Pick | Best On-Road | Best Budget | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product |  BFGoodrich KO3 | TOP PICK Falken Wildpeak A/T4W |  BFG Trail-Terrain T/A+ |  Falken Rubitrek A/T |
| Size shown | LT265/70R17 E | LT265/70R17 E | 265/70R17 SL | 265/70R17 SL |
| Treadwear warranty | 50,000 miles | 60,000 miles | 65,000 miles | 55,000 miles |
| Built for | Deep snow and trail | Ice and wear life | Mostly pavement | Trail and light rock |
| Price | $286.99 as of Aug 22, 3:15 pm | $297.00 as of Aug 22, 3:15 pm | $193.07 as of Aug 22, 3:31 pm | $194.00 as of Aug 22, 3:31 pm |
| Check Price → | Check Price → | Check Price → | Check Price → |
Matched-Size Spec Comparison
Every row below pairs the same size, the same load range, and the same load index. A/T4W figures come from Falken’s own published size list. KO3 figures come from Tire Rack, because BFGoodrich publishes no weight or tread-depth data at all. Tire Rack’s A/T4W weights run 1 to 2 pounds off Falken’s in several sizes, listing 53, 67 and 56 where Falken lists 53.2, 65.4 and 57.1, and no conclusion below changes either way.
| Size, Load Range E | KO3 tread, 32nds | A/T4W tread, 32nds | KO3 weight, lb | A/T4W weight, lb | A/T4W DURASPEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT265/70R17 | 16 | 17 | 55 | 53.2 | No |
| LT265/70R18 | 16 | 17 | 56 | 57.2 | No |
| LT275/65R18 | 16 | 18 | 59 | 57.1 | No |
| LT285/65R18 | 16 | 18 | 60 | 60.3 | No |
| LT285/70R17 | 16 | 18 | 59 | 65.4 | Yes |
| LT285/75R17 | 16 | 18 | 63 | 67.4 | Yes |
Load capacity and maximum pressure come out identical in all six pairs, running from 3,415 pounds at 80 psi in LT265/70R17 up to 3,970 pounds at 80 psi in LT285/75R17. Anyone choosing on carrying capacity alone is therefore choosing on a difference the spec sheets do not show.
KO3 vs AT4W on Tread Depth and Weight
Start with tread. Notably, the A/T4W carries more in all six matched sizes, by 1/32 inch in two and 2/32 inch in the other four. More depth generally means more wear life and more void for soft-surface traction. It also brings more squirm on pavement though, so the tradeoff runs both ways.
Weight is where the forum consensus breaks down. A blanket claim about an A/T4W weight penalty does not survive the numbers, because the direction flips by size. The Falken comes in lighter in LT265/70R17 and LT275/65R18, comes within about a pound in LT265/70R18 and LT285/65R18, and runs 4 to 6 pounds heavier only in LT285/70R17 and LT285/75R17. Both heavier sizes happen to carry DURASPEC construction, so the extra mass tracks the sidewall rather than the badge.
For an overland build, the weight question matters most as unsprung mass. Six pounds per corner is real, although modest against a loaded truck. If you are also moving up in diameter, gearing deserves more attention than tire mass, and our guide on whether you need to regear covers where the line sits.
The DURASPEC Catch, and What BFGoodrich Does Not Publish
Falken’s three-ply DURASPEC sidewall is the A/T4W’s headline durability feature. However, it is also the single most misunderstood spec in this comparison. Specifically, it is not available in every size. Of the six sizes above, only LT285/70R17 and LT285/75R17 carry it. Falken lists 21 DURASPEC sizes in total, so the four remaining sizes in the table use HD construction without it.
Therefore, anyone buying the A/T4W specifically for the three-ply sidewall must confirm it in their exact size before ordering. Buying on the marketing rather than the size chart is how people end up with the wrong tire.
On the BFGoodrich side the picture is less clear. BFGoodrich publishes no ply count for the KO3’s CoreGard sidewall. The three-ply figure circulating online traces to retailer copy rather than to BFGoodrich, so treat it as unverified. An unpublished ply count is not the same as a lower one. BFGoodrich does claim 20% better gravel-road durability against the KO2. However, the figure is a manufacturer claim rather than an independent result.
Snow, Ice and Noise: What Independent Testing Found
Both tires carry the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, as did every all terrain tire in Tyre Reviews’ seven-tire 2026 test, so the badge settles nothing. Independent testing does, however, and the result splits cleanly by surface.
Across two Tyre Reviews tests, the KO3 beat the A/T4W on every shared snow metric. It took snow braking, snow traction, snow handling, the snow circle, and the subjective score. The KO3 won neither test overall, though. It finished third in the 2026 test behind the Pirelli Scorpion XTM AT, and fourth in the 2025 winter test behind the Nokian Outpost nAT. Beating one rival is not the same as winning a field.
Ice reverses it. In those same tests the A/T4W beat the KO3 on both ice metrics, stopping in 12.89 metres against 13.14, and lapping in 2.06 seconds against 2.11. So the split runs by surface. The KO3 handles snow better, the A/T4W handles ice better, and knowing which one you drive on matters more than a single winner.
On noise the data conflicts with itself. The A/T4W measured 2.67 decibels quieter, at 55.05 dB against 57.72 dB. Yet the same tester scored the KO3 higher subjectively for noise, 9.5 against 8.5, and for comfort, 10 against 9. Measured quieter and perceived louder is a real outcome, since the character of a sound matters as much as its level. One tester produced both results, so treat it as a single opinion rather than a consensus.
Warranty and Price
Warranty is therefore the clearest single win here, although the commonly quoted figure is wrong. Falken advertises 65,000 miles. However, the number applies only to non-LT sizes, and LT sizes get 60,000 miles. Because the KO3 comes in LT and flotation sizes only, with no P-metric sizes at all, the real like-for-like comparison is 60,000 against 50,000.
10,000 miles is a meaningful gap, and it compounds with the A/T4W’s deeper tread. Both point the same direction on wear life, although neither is a measured result. No instrumented third-party treadwear test of either tire exists publicly, and one tester states plainly: the figure quoted in these comparisons is the manufacturer’s warranty rather than measured wear.
Price is close enough to ignore, meanwhile. In LT265/70R17 on August 12, 2026, the KO3 listed at $298.99 and the A/T4W at $301.00. Both Tire Rack and Tires Easy showed the same relationship. Tire pricing moves, so treat those figures as a snapshot. Still, a two-dollar spread means price should not decide this.
BFGoodrich and Falken All-Terrains in 265/70R17
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W All Terrain LT265/70R17 123/120S E Light Truc…
Falken Rubitrek A/T All Terrain 265/70R17 115T Light Truck Tire
KO3 vs AT4W: Which Tire Suits Which Build
Take the KO3 when deep snow is your regular winter surface, or when you value the on-road refinement one tester rated higher despite the measured noise figure. It is also the safer all terrain tire for anyone wanting the tread lineage they already trust.
Conversely, take the A/T4W when wear life matters most, since 10,000 more warranty miles and deeper tread both point the same direction. It also wins on ice. Moreover, in LT285/70R17 and LT285/75R17 it brings a three-ply sidewall BFGoodrich does not document for the KO3. For a heavily loaded truck camper build on rocky forest roads in one of those two sizes, the sidewall is the argument.
Meanwhile, anyone on LT265/70R17, the size the KO2 has already vacated, gets a simpler picture. DURASPEC is not offered there, so the sidewall argument drops out entirely. What remains is 1/32 inch more tread, 1.8 pounds less weight, and 10,000 more warranty miles, all favoring the A/T4W, set against the KO3’s snow advantage. Unless you drive deep snow regularly, the Falken takes the size.
Anyone still deciding should weigh a third all terrain tire before committing. The Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme undercuts both on price at $268.99 in the same size, although it carries 3,195 pounds against their 3,415, so the saving costs you capacity. BFGoodrich’s own Trail Terrain T/A+ suits a truck spending most of its life on pavement. Our overland tire buying guide covers the sizing decisions surrounding all of them.
Final Verdict
For most buyers, default to the A/T4W. It matches the KO3 on load capacity and lands within roughly two dollars on price, then carries more tread in all six matched sizes, covers 10,000 more warranty miles, and beats the KO3 on ice. Switch to the KO3 when deep snow is your regular winter surface rather than an occasional one, since the BFGoodrich took every shared snow metric across two independent tests.
Both tires are competent, both carry the same load, and the price gap sits inside the noise. So the decision comes down to two things: which surface you drive most, and how long you want the set to last. The wear-life case for the Falken holds across two separate measures, which is why it takes the default.
Meanwhile, two size-specific exceptions override the default. In LT285/70R17 and LT285/75R17 the A/T4W adds a three-ply DURASPEC sidewall and 4 to 6 pounds, so a rock-and-washboard rig takes the Falken and a weight-sensitive build takes the KO3. Everywhere else DURASPEC is not on the table, which simplifies the call.
Finally, owners replacing KO2s should set expectations correctly. In matched sizes the KO3 is a compound and pattern change rather than a bigger tire, so nobody should anticipate a step change. One check remains before ordering, since the KO2 has already left several sizes and DURASPEC availability moves size by size. Confirm the load range and the DURASPEC status of your exact size on Falken’s own size list, then buy. Anyone running lower pressures off pavement will also want our notes on airing down for off-road, because sidewall construction changes how each tire behaves down there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the KO3 better than the Falken Wildpeak AT4W?
Neither wins outright. The KO3 beat the A/T4W on every shared snow metric across two independent tests, and it scored higher subjectively for noise and comfort. The A/T4W carries more tread in all six matched sizes, covers 60,000 warranty miles against 50,000, and beat the KO3 on ice. Load capacity is identical.
How does the KO3 compare to the KO2?
Less than the marketing suggests. In LT285/70R17 Load Range C, tread depth, weight, max load, overall diameter and revolutions per mile all match between the generations. The treadwear warranty also stays at 50,000 miles. BFGoodrich claims 15% better wear and 20% better gravel-road durability, which are manufacturer figures rather than independent test results.
Is the KO2 discontinued?
Not on a single date. BFGoodrich phases out each KO2 size as the matching KO3 size reaches market. Tire Rack now lists 26 KO2 line items against 119 for the KO3. LT265/70R17 has left the KO2 lineup entirely, so availability depends on your size.
Does the Falken Wildpeak AT4W have a three-ply sidewall?
Only in some sizes. DURASPEC three-ply construction is size-specific rather than standard across the line. Falken lists 21 DURASPEC sizes. Of six common Load Range E sizes checked, only LT285/70R17 and LT285/75R17 carry it. Confirm your exact size before ordering.
Which tire is heavier, the KO3 or the AT4W?
It depends on the size, so a blanket answer is wrong. Across six matched sizes the A/T4W is lighter in two, within about a pound in two, and 4 to 6 pounds heavier in two. Both heavier sizes carry DURASPEC construction, so the extra mass tracks the sidewall rather than the brand.
What is the price difference between the KO3 and AT4W?
Roughly two dollars per tire. In LT265/70R17 on August 12, 2026, the KO3 listed at $298.99 and the A/T4W at $301.00. Two national retailers showed the same relationship. Tire pricing moves, so verify before ordering.
Related Reading