Are you searching for the best all-terrain tires with a mix of durability and comfort, making them suitable for year-round use?
If yes, you must have come across General Grabber AT2, Cooper Discoverer AT3, and BFG All-Terrain KO2 tires. These are some of the most popular models in today’s market.
You may wonder whether there are any differences between these three tires? In this article, we shall compare them and provide detailed analysis to help you make an informed choice.
General Grabber AT2 vs. Cooper Discoverer AT3 vs. BFG All-Terrain KO2: Comparison Table
The three tires reviewed in this article are renowned for their exceptional value, durability, traction and excellent off-road ability. However, each model is unique in its own way, so you need to know what you want before choosing any tire .
This comparison table details the performance of the General Grabber AT2, Cooper Discoverer AT3, and BFG All-Terrain KO2 tires in different areas. Therefore, you can use this information to guide your purchasing decision:
Best For Off-road
Best For On-road
Best For Snow
Specifications
| General Grabber AT2 | Cooper Discoverer AT3 | BFG All Terrain KO2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available Rim Sizes | 14’’, 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’ | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’ | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ |
| Weight | 24.3 - 67.3 lbs | 30 - 71 lbs | 32.1 - 72.6 lbs |
| Snow Rating | Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Rating | Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Rating | Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Rating |
| Treadwear Warranty | 60,000 miles | 60,000 miles | 50,000 miles |
Before diving in the detailed analysis below, let’s take a look at what other users comments on these tires:
- “I have been buying Cooper tires for my vehicles for about 10 years now. They are very good tire. If the BFG tires are better, it is not by much. For off-roading, I would buy the BFG KO2 tires simply because the thread is a little more aggressive. But, if you do mainly street driving, I would definitely get the Cooper A/T3s.” (Freedom JK – https://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/359784-grabbers-vs-bfg/)
- “I have run both ko2 and at3’s and for purely street use the at3 probably better. If you do any off road the ko2’s are better and do real well on the road and look better.” (jadmt – https://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/359784-grabbers-vs-bfg/)
- “I have KO2’s now at almost 40k miles, 10/32 left, and going very strong, nice wear, excellent traction everywhere, quiet, and i find surprising you feel the 285’s being harsh at 30psi, i have them in 315/70/17 E rated, and i run mine at 34psi, zero issues with wandering, zero issues snow driving, zero issues with the tires following cracks on the road,no issues in rainy days, i run them at 14psi offroading, and can take rocks without any problems, can’t say enough good things about KO2’s.” (rsmwrangler – https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/bfg-ko2-or-general-grabber-at2.2005738/)
- “I have the at2 for 1000 miles now and am impressed. I live in ohio and have put them through snow, ice, slush, rocks, mud and even sand at the off road park. Heck, it is a blizzard out there right now, roads are completely covered and I just drive normal.” (Nick2004 – https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/general-grabber-at2-or-cooper-at3.4021049/)
- “Go with the BFG’s. The tread is designed to shed the snow. They are for sure the only tire that i’ll ever own. Everyone I know has had sidewall issues with the General Tires. I’d say in the long run the BFG’s are going to serve you best!!!” (fx2offroadranger – ranger-forums.com/wheels-tires-semi-tech-38/bf-goodrich-kos-vs-general-grabber-at2s-52960/)
General Grabber AT2 vs. Cooper Discoverer AT3 vs. BFG All-Terrain KO2: Detailed Analysis
Off-Road Performance
Because all-terrain tires experience more off-road use than average, they must be durable and sturdy enough to navigate obstacles. The three tires on this list are all worthy off-road performers, although there are slight differences in performance.
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 comes with rugged shoulder blocks that prevent chipping and cutting. The soft tread compound used on this tire increases its grip on roads covered in mud and snow. However, while it shines in wet off-road conditions, the Cooper Discoverer tire is unimpressive on gravel and rock.
Conversely, the BFG T/A KO2 offers excellent grip and traction in off-road conditions, thanks to its unique design features. This tire has interlocking treads, which provide excellent stability in off-road areas. In addition, the CoreGard technology used on the BFG KO2 protects against sidewall splitting.
The General Grabber AT2 takes the prize for the best off-road performer, with features aimed at providing excellent off-road traction. Its design incorporates extra-strong sidewalls and hardened tread compounds, making it suitable for navigating rocky areas. In addition, it features puncture-resistant shoulder blocks reinforced for maximum protection against cuts and abrasions.
On-Road Performance
The ideal all-terrain tire should be durable for off-roading and comfortable for daily, on-road driving. But, not every all-terrain tire can perform excellently in off-road and on-road situations.
For example, the Grabber AT2 has decent on-road performance, even if it is exceptional in adverse off-road conditions. The same features that make it suitable for off-road driving — an aggressive tread, hardened compound, and reinforced sidewall — limit its on-road effectiveness. Consequently, you’re likely to experience rough riding and difficulty with cornering while driving with these tires.
Credit: gopackgo70
The BFG T/A KO2 is better than the Grabber AT2 in terms of on-road performance. It provides your vehicle with good grip and corning steering on the highway.
However, Cooper’s Discoverer AT3 is our winner in the on-road performance category, beating out the BFG’s T/A KO2 and General’s Grabber AT2. This model’s soft silica treads and stepped sipes improve traction on wet surfaces and improve driver safety. Furthermore, the tire rarely picks gravel, so you should enjoy driving it on dry roads, especially those covered in gravel and sand.
Snow and Ice Performance
All three products are winter-rated and are good in light/deep snow and ice. Notwithstanding, slight variations in design mean each tire performs differently in these weather conditions.
The studded design on the Grabber AT2 gives it some snow-driving credibility and strengthens its case for the best tire to navigate a snowstorm. Nevertheless, the hard tread compound limits its ability to grip wet roads.
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 boasts newer technology designed to improve braking, cornering, and handling capabilities in winter. The silica compound aids the tire’s grip on wet surfaces, while the circumferential grooves and multiple sipes remove water and prevent hydroplaning.
While the Cooper Discoverer AT3 is impressive in winter, the BFG KO2 takes things to a new level with a studded design that bolsters traction on snowy and icy roads. More importantly, it features deep treads that bite into ice and snow, giving you grip when you need it.
Noise Level
The General Grabber AT2 produces a lot of on-road noise. Sometimes, this tire’s noise level increases at higher speeds. There are different theories to explain the noisiness of the Grabber AT2 tires, but most evidence points to the aggressive tread as the culprit.
The Cooper Discoverer boasts relatively low road noise, thanks to its well-designed tread. Unlike its rivals, the Cooper Discoverer AT3 has a pliable tread that produces less noise at high speeds.
The BFG T/A KO2 features a computer-optimized tread pattern that reduces on-road noise and improves ride quality. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that this tire from BFG ranks as the quietest tire on our list.
Comfort Level
Thanks to its low noise level and special tread compound, the BFG T/A KO2 is incredibly comfortable on long drives. This makes it our top model in terms of ride quality and passenger comfort.
The other tires on the list do offer some measure of ride comfort as well, especially the Cooper Discoverer AT3. This tire has been praised for its on-road comfort levels and exceptional ride quality.
The General Grabber AT2 has the lowest ride comfort among this group. The tough tread, although useful for off-road conditions, increases noise production while driving and may affect the quality of your ride.
Treadwear Warranty
Since you’ll be using your all-terrain tires in adverse road conditions, it only makes sense to buy a brand that offers lengthy warranty protection. Thus, you can rest assured that the manufacturer will replace your tire if it wears out prematurely.
Cooper offers buyers an attractive 60,000-mile treadwear warranty protection on the Discoverer AT3 tires. Meanwhile, General also provides buyers of the popular Grabber AT2 series with the same 60,000 miles.
On the other hand, the BFG T/A KO2 comes with a meager 50,000-mile warranty, which is below the average by 10,000 miles. While the BFG All-Terrain tires are undoubtedly durable, you may prefer a product that offers a higher treadwear warranty for more peace of mind.
Price
Affordability is an essential factor to consider when buying all-terrain tires. You don’t want to install tires that would ruin your budget with costly replacements.
The General Grabber AT2 is your best bet if you want a cheap all-terrain tire, starting from $112. Meanwhile, the Cooper Discoverer AT3 starts from $193 and increases in price as you go up the model list. Although you can see that the starting price of Cooper AT3 is a bit higher than KO2, the general price of KO2 of all model sizes is still more affordable than Cooper AT3.
The priciest product on the list is the BFG All-Terrain KO2, which starts from $190 upwards. However, you get what you pay for, so be careful to buy only ones that offer quality and affordability.
Our Final Recommendations
Best For Off-road
Best For On-road
Best For Snow
The best all-terrain tires can deliver year-round performance, even in the most adverse driving conditions. After reading this article, you should know what tires match your needs and suit your tastes.
+ If you’re searching for pure off-roading excitement, then the General Grabber AT2 is an excellent choice.
+ In case you want significantly better ride quality and durability on the highways and decent off-road performance, the Cooper Discoverer AT3 are worth your consideration.
+ If you live in snowy areas and want to do frequent off-roading, BFG T/A KO2 will be the best option for you.
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