While the BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain+ all-terrain tire is a great original equipment (OE) tire replacement for many vehicles used for overland travel, it’s not a replacement for a KO3, KM3, or other more aggressive, and most importantly, more cut-resistant sidewall, off-road focused tire. With that said, a majority of overland travel happens on pavement, dirt roads, and gravel roads, and those are the environments this latest BFG A/T excels in.
The “+” isn’t a ground-up redesign. It’s a compound update, and the tread pattern you know from the 2021-launched original carries over unchanged. The only physical tell on the new tire is a “+” molded into the sidewall. Everything else that’s different lives in the tread’s rubber.
BFG invited me to the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado, to experience this tire firsthand. It launched the tire to the public at the Games, with activations across Vail. This location and event were a statement of exactly who the target customer is for this tire: outdoor adventurers who play in the mountains.
What the “+” Gets You
The main reason the “+” exists is to improve wet traction. BFG developed a new tread compound with a higher silica content. The payoff is a claimed 10% improvement in wet grip over the original. Sadly, for testing purposes, my time with the tire was a beautiful bluebird day in the Rockies, so I can’t give you an opinion on this claim.
Beyond wet grip, the new compound provides two benefits that will save you money. Likely most importantly, up to 25% better wear performance and a new 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, up from 60,000. And, a 5% improvement in rolling resistance, which should help with fuel economy.
The new tire carries a three-peak mountain snowflake rating (3PMSR), as did the original. BFG told me that snow traction is unchanged from the first-gen tire.
Road noise, for what it’s worth, is unchanged from the first gen. It’s a very quiet all-terrain tire, noticeably more than the KO3, as you’d expect.
On- and Off-Road Performance
I got to be driver and passenger in the new Chevy Tahoe and Subaru Outback Wilderness fitted with the new Trail-Terrain+ tires. I experienced both on the interstate highway, on two-lane mountain roads, on dirt roads, and on gravel roads.
Bottom line, the tires were quiet for an A/T, confidence-inspiring on curvy back roads, and handled dirt and gravel with ease. And, they looked better/more aggressive than the original equipment (OE) tires.
If you manage your expectations, you’ll likely be very happy with these new tires for a wide range of applications. BFG is clear about positioning: this is for SUVs, CUVs, and light trucks, “primarily for on-road use and light off-pavement driving.”
Where the engineers put real effort for the off-pavement crowd was regarding gravel-road durability. They tested for it, and the impressive cut-and-chip resistance comes mostly from the compound but also benefits from the tread design. If your unpaved miles consist of dirt forest service roads and gravel, this tire is a great option.
What this tire isn’t built for is rock-crawling abuse. Atop BFG executive said: “We did not focus on sidewall puncture resistance, like we did on KO3.” The Trail-Terrain+ has only a 2-ply sidewall, although it does use the same sidewall rubber compound as the KO3.
Here’s my suggestion: if you plan to tackle terrain that requires airing down your tires, stick with the KO3 or KM3. If, however, the only time you’d think to air down is on a soft sand beach, then the Trail-Terrain+ is the tire for you.
Availability and Fitment
The Trail-Terrain+ launched June 1, and the rollout is staggered. There are 33 sizes at launch, and another 17 arriving in August, for a total of 50 sizes this year. A further line extension—additional 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, and 22” options—is slated for March 1, 2027.
BFG is targeting the Trail-Terrain+ at everyday-adventure vehicles that need OE replacement tires. These include vehicles like the Defender, 4Runner, Tacoma, RAV4, Passport, F-150, and Subaru Outback.
You’ll also see the 2026 Rivian R2 roll out of the factory with the BFG Trail-Terrain+ tires, although it will be a modified OE-spec version. This means a different tread depth, different compound, etc., which comes with no 3PMSR and a lower mileage warranty. So basically a different tire, but with the same name stamped on the sidewall. The same is true of OE versions of the Trail-Terrain that are currently fitted to vehicles like the Defender Octa, Sorento X Pro, and Tacoma TRD Off-Road.
BFG Trail-Terrain+ versus KO3 All-Terrain
I got my hands on a BFG internal spreadsheet where the BFG Terrain family of tires is listed and compared against each other. With that info in hand, let’s look at how the Trail-Terrain+ (TT+) stacks up against the ever-popular All-Terrain (KO3).
In terms of traction, the TT+ is better on-road in both dry and wet conditions. If there is standing water on the road, the KO3 has a slight edge, but in the snow, they are dead even in performance. Of course, the KO3 is considerably better in soft soil and in the rocks.
The KO3 also has better tread-life wear and considerably better gravel chip/tear and sidewall toughness. But, the TT+ is much quieter, way more comfortable in terms of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), and considerably more efficient (i.e., less rolling resistance and hence better fuel economy).
It’s also important to note that the TT+ is substantially lighter than a comparable-sized KO3. Lighter-weight tires are much easier on driveline components and brakes and will provide improved fuel economy.
BFG Trail-Terrain+ Verdict
The BFG Trail-Terrain+ is an update to an already solid choice for replacing OE tires on a wide range of vehicles. The “+” adds some needed wet-road traction, improves longevity, and adds a bit of efficiency. This is a tire for everyday use, which offers good looks and the confidence to turn down dirt and gravel roads on your adventures.
But if you have a heavily loaded vehicle or want to tackle sharp rocks and plan to air down, this is not the tire for you. In those cases, consider a more off-road-focused tire, such as the KO3 or KM3.
Read More: Overland News of the Week, June 5, 2026
Images: BFGoodrich, Bryon Dorr
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