In this test I've taken five of the most popular aggressive all terrain tires for SUVs and trucks, and tested them offroad, in the dry, wet, and snow, and spent time assessing noise and comfort levels to help you pick the best all terrain tire for your vehicle.
Off road
The test group included the BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2 (not the new KO3 as it wasn't available in this size), the new Falken Wildpeak AT4W, Kumho Roadventure AT52, Nitto Recon Grappler AT and Toyo Open Country AT. Testing took place on a rally cross course with packed dirt and muddy puddles, mostly in 3rd gear and RWD mode.
The Toyo and Nitto posted similar times - the Nitto had slightly more front-end bite, though this might have been down to surface conditions, so they scored equally. The Kumho finished just a second ahead, with good front grip but a firm feel even at 25 psi. This firmness made the rear less stable and hurt confidence when pushing hard, particularly during recovery. The Kumho also struggled more in the muddy sections.
The Falken and BFG were fastest in the dirt. The BFG set the quickest time with strong grip, especially during traction and braking, but its firm carcass made it hard work through bumps and undulations. The Falken might not have matched the BFG's front-end bite, but it was the most drivable of the group. It gave the most confidence to push hard and felt the most stable, making it the best overall package despite being slightly slower.
Dry
More important for these tires is how they feel on the road, so we focused on steering predictability, stability, noise and comfort. Testing included two different layouts and various sized impacts for comfort assessment.
The Toyo and Nitto again finished close on steering response and comfort, both feeling good to drive. The Toyo was much quieter - the Nitto produced notable noise at most speeds, both straight and turning. The Toyo stayed nearly silent at 50 mph but got noisier during high-speed runs.
The Kumho felt like a sports tire, with sharp steering that seemed out of place on a truck tire. It stayed quiet and offered good, if not great, comfort levels.
The BFGoodrich had the softest steering of the group and stayed quiet until higher speeds. Comfort was very good overall, with just some firmness over bigger bumps.
The Falken again did everything well. Pattern noise was minimal during fast runs, and while there was some tread noise in turns, it was among the best. Comfort levels were also good.
In dry braking, the Falken led, followed by the Kumho. The Toyo and Nitto posted similar times, while the BFGoodrich had the longest stopping distance.
Wet
The tires split into two groups in wet testing. The Nitto, Toyo and BFGoodrich posted similar times, all showing lots of understeer with reduced corner-exit traction. While you can counter the understeer in a Raptor with throttle, that wasn't a realistic approach for the test track.
The Falken and Kumho formed the second group. The Kumho had the best outright grip in the wet, but like in the dirt, didn't offer the perfect balance for the Raptor. The Falken was slightly slower but had the best overall balance, with good feedback and confidence.
For wet braking, the Kumho led, with the BFGoodrich close behind, followed by the Falken. The Nitto beat the Toyo, which finished 11% behind the best - a noticeable gap in a heavy Raptor.
The Nitto won the aquaplaning test, with strong performances from the BFGoodrich and Falken.
Snow
Snow testing proved difficult. Our usual test facility normally has deep snow, but we found just inches on arrival. After waiting several days, we got a small snowfall that quickly melted and refroze, leaving terrible test conditions. The Nitto wasn't included as it lacks a severe snow rating, and the limited running makes it hard to factor snow into the final results.
The BFGoodrich led snow braking, with the Toyo close behind, and the Kumho and Falken slightly further back. In handling, the Toyo edged the BFGoodrich, while the Kumho and Falken posted similar times. Falken told us they reduced snow performance slightly in the LT sizes of the AT4W to improve performance in other areas.
Value
While purchase price matters, without wear testing it's not the whole story. Using the tread wear warranties, we calculated cost per 1000 miles. Despite the Kumho and Nitto having lower initial prices, the Falken's better warranty made it the most cost-effective over its lifespan.
Results
1st: Falken Wildpeak AT4W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Falken AT4W delivered the best overall driving experience with excellent on-road comfort, minimal noise, and predictable handling. It had the shortest dry braking distance and offered the most compliant, confidence-inspiring handling both off-road and in wet conditions. Snow performance was the AT4W's weak point, finishing last in both snow braking and handling tests. While it had good off-road grip, it couldn't quite match the BFGoodrich's absolute traction levels. As the newest tire in the test, the AT4W showcased modern all-terrain tire development with class-leading refinement and strong all-round performance. Combined with the best value rating thanks to its 60,000-mile warranty, it earned the overall test win despite its snow performance shortcomings.
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2nd: BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The BFGoodrich KO2 showed excellent grip off-road, setting the fastest dirt handling time. It performed particularly well in snow conditions, leading the snow braking test and finishing second in snow handling. The tire maintained good noise levels until higher speeds and offered strong aquaplaning resistance. The KO2's firm carcass made it harder to control through bumps and undulations, both off-road and on-road. It had the longest dry braking distance of the group and showed significant understeer in wet handling. Despite being one of the older designs in the test, the KO2 remains competitive, particularly excelling in off-road and snow performance. While its on-road manners weren't class-leading, it delivered a well-rounded package that balanced off-road capability with acceptable road behavior.
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3rd: Kumho Road Venture AT52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Kumho excelled in wet conditions, achieving the best wet braking and handling times. It demonstrated a sharp steering response and maintained good noise levels. The tire also offered strong grip in most conditions. The firm carcass made the ride less compliant over bumps and reduced stability during recovery from slides. It had the lowest aquaplaning resistance and scored lowest for comfort among the test group. The AT52 showed a clear bias toward on-road performance with its dynamic handling characteristics and excellent wet grip. While capable in off-road situations, its firm nature and comfort compromises make it better suited to vehicles spending most time on pavement.
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4th: Toyo Open Country AT III | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Toyo showed strong snow performance, leading the snow handling test and finishing second in snow braking. It remained quiet at moderate speeds and offered good overall comfort levels. The tire had the longest wet braking distance, finishing 11% behind the best, and showed understeer in wet conditions. It was also the most expensive tire in terms of cost per mile based on warranty. The Open Country AT III delivered a mixed performance, excelling in snow conditions but falling short in wet performance. While comfortable and quiet in normal driving, its higher price and wet-weather compromises pushed it down the final rankings. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th: Nitto Recon Grappler AT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Nitto demonstrated the best aquaplaning resistance in the group and showed good front-end bite off-road. It offered decent comfort levels and balanced handling characteristics in most conditions. Noise was a significant issue with the Recon Grappler, being noticeable at most speeds and particularly loud during high-speed runs. It is the only tire of the group without a severe snow rating. The Recon Grappler proved to be a capable all-terrain tire with some strong performance characteristics, particularly in water evacuation. However, its notable road noise and lack of snow rating limited its overall appeal in the segment. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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