In the market section of all-terrain tires, BFG AT KO2 and Nitto Terra Grappler G2 are among the most popular products right now. Which one is better for your money? We will answer the question by comparing the qualities of BFG AT KO2 vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2 as well as their performance on various conditions. Continue reading below!
In this article, we will discuss further about:
– The construction and features of each tire
– Which tire that is generally more comfortable on the road
– Which tire that performs better in off-road conditions
– The durability of BFG AT KO2 vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2
– Whether BFG AT KO2 or Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is better
Overview of BFG AT KO2
We have discussed about BFG AT KO2 vs Goodyear Duratrac in a previous article. BFG has a certain level of quality that is attached to its name. Several years ago, the company released a great all-terrain tire called BFG AT KO. The tire has set a standard for all other all-terrain tires to follow. However, BFG AT KO is now kind of outdated, so the company needs a new tire that can keep up with the competition.
BFG AT KO2 is the successor of the highly successful BFG AT KO. The company obviously wants this new tire to achieve a similar level of success as its predecessor. However, BFG AT KO2 is now facing an even more competitive market. All-terrain tires, including Nitto Terra Grappler G2, have become more sophisticated.
Fortunately, various new technologies and advanced features have been added to BFG AT KO2. It comes with a new tread compound with increased resistance against chunking. The company claims that this new tread compound is also more durable, able to last 15 percent longer on asphalt and 50 percent longer on gravel compared to the competitors.
In addition, BFG AT KO2 also comes with the CoreGuard technology, which is said to dramatically increase the sidewall’s resistance to splitting and bruising. This is to ensure that the tire can handle impacts in off-road conditions properly.
On the tire’s tread, you can find a somehow familiar yet different design. This tread pattern looks quite similar to the BFG’s signature design. However, it has been optimized to provide increased grip and traction on mud and snow. Overall, it looks more aggressive, as it features sharp sidewall lugs, stone ejectors, Mud-Phobic bars, and lots of sipes. Long story short, BFG AT KO2 is an excellent all-terrain tire that can easily compete against the latest products in the category.
On-Road Performance of BFG AT KO2
The on-road performance of BFG AT KO2 is generally good. It has plenty of traction. You can hit hard turns with confidence. The steering surprisingly feels light and responsive for a set of all-terrain tires. Furthermore, the tires are also relatively quiet and comfortable. They are rounded enough to run smoothly and with good stability on the highway. There is still some road noise, but definitely within a tolerable range.
The traction on wet roads is impressive. The tire has plenty of biting edges and sipes to maintain a solid grip on the road. It is still good on mud, snow, and ice. The traction is noticeably reduced when driving on ice, but there is still enough to prevent the vehicle from slipping.
If you are driving mostly on the road, then it is generally recommended to choose a tire with a decent tread life warranty. This is because on-road driving will cause a very noticeable wear on the tread depth of an all-terrain tire. There is a notable difference between BFG AT KO2 vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2 in this regard.
If you are interested in BFG AT KO2, keep in mind that the 50,000-mile tread life warranty is only available for select sizes with the R or S speed rating. Some sizes are not covered by this warranty. The tread wear of BFG AT KO2 itself is not really good. So, if you are driving mostly on the road, with just very occasional off-road driving, you should choose a tire that carries a tread life warranty.
Off-Road Performance of BFG AT KO2
When comparing BFG AT KO2 vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2, the off-road performance of BFG AT KO2 is generally better. This tire is much stronger and tougher, so it can withstand heavy off-road conditions quite well.
The puncture resistance is obviously very good, as the tire does not face any trouble when going through sharp and harsh rocks. The sidewall strength is also impressive. When the terrain condition is less than ideal, with lots of bumps and uneven spots, you don’t need to worry. BFG AT KO2 has great impact resistance.
Hence, if you need tires mainly for driving in off-road conditions with just occasional highway driving, BFG AT KO2 is a fine choice. The toughness and resistance against impacts and puncture are more valuable in this case.
Overview of Nitto Terra Grappler G2
Lately, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 has become a popular choice when people need to replace their vehicles’ original tires. The popularity is certainly because of good reasons. To begin with, this tire is not too expensive. It looks really good, and being an all-terrain tire, it promises good performance in both on-road and off-road conditions.
The tire itself is a successor of an older product, Nitto Terra Grappler. The added “G2” in the name is to indicate that this tire is of a new generation. Of course, it is also equipped with new technologies and improvements.
On the tread surface, you can find reinforced coupling joints between the outer blocks and the central blocks. The reinforcement is said to be able to minimize tread flex, hence optimizing the tire’s steering response and even wear. The tire also features full-depth sipes that will last for the entire life of the tire, ensuring optimum hydroplaning resistance and great wet performance.
Nitto Terra Grappler G2 also comes with staggered shoulder lugs to provide more biting edges in mud, snow, and other off-road conditions. According to the company, the lugs are especially useful when in loose dirt or deep sand. In addition, the lugs are connected to the middle of the sidewall surface for increased strength and sidewall protection.
Finally, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 comes with variable-pitch tread blocks. By running a computer analysis, the engineers are able to perfect the tread pattern to minimize road noise. As a result, this tire can be very quiet, even when running at highway speeds.
On-Road Performance of Nitto Terra Grappler G2
Between BFG AT KO2 vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2, the latter tire is the one that has better overall on-road performance. It has decent traction as well as great stability and low road noise.
Compared to the previous generation, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 has more stiffness and shape integrity. As a result, it can have great stability when driving at high speeds. The steering is more predictable. Making turns feels more secure as well as more comfortable. The tire has minimum road noise, which is impressive.
However, some users have mentioned that Nitto Terra Grappler G2 somehow has less wet traction than its predecessor. That said, the performance under rain and on wet roads is still good. The tire can still resist hydroplaning well, thanks to the deep sipes. You can make turns confidently. The performance on snow and ice is not the best, but the tire is still usable in such conditions.
Another reason to choose Nitto Terra Grappler G2 for on-road driving is the good treadwear warranty. The LT metric sizes are backed by a 50,000-mile warranty, whereas the hard metric sizes are backed for 65,000 miles. So, the tread life should be quite long.
Off-Road Performance of Nitto Terra Grappler G2
However, for intensive off-road driving, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is not really recommended. At its best, this tire is only suitable for maintained forest roads. It won’t be able to withstand more serious off-road conditions.
Forest roads that are well-maintained usually don’t have too many sharp rocks and bumps. In this case, this tire will suffice. However, for serious off-road conditions with harsh rocks and lots of bumps, you need a tougher tire. Pushing Nitto Terra Grappler G2 over its limit will quickly break the tire apart.
Many users have talked about this. The tread surface is not tough enough to resist puncture from sharp rocks, and the sidewall is not strong enough to withstand heavy impacts. Nitto Terra Grappler G2 can tackle light mud and loose dirt, but it will be difficult to go through deep mud. So, if you need a tire mainly for off-road driving, this tire should be excluded from your list.
BFG AT KO2 vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2
Toyo Open Country AT2 Toyo Open Country RT - Tire Size: 285/55R20
- Pattern Des: OPEN COUNTRY R/T
- Load Index: 114 / Speed Rating: T = 114T
- Material Description: 33X1250R18 118Q E/10 OPRT TL
- Black Sidewall
- Sold Individually
Conclusion
All in all, these tires are different enough to suit different needs. In general, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is more recommended because of the better on-road qualities and better treadwear warranty. However, if you need tires mainly for off-road driving, BFG AT KO2 should be the way to go due to its toughness.
