Yokohama Geolandar X AT vs BFGoodrich KO2

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In our Yokohama Geolandar X AT Vs BFG KO2 comparison, we are going to compare these in order to decide which one should be your next all-terrain tire. The benefit of all-terrain tires is that you are able to rely on a single set of tires for all your tire needs. These are capable of delivering traction in every possible environment without being overbearingly expensive or uncomfortable.

Yokohama Geolandar X AT vs BFG KO2

All-terrain tires are quite possibly the very best tires you can get on a modern-day truck as they allow you to go wherever you want without worrying you will get stuck. After you are finished crawling over rocks and treading through mud, you can simply get on the road, put the car in cruise control, and enjoy a safe and comfortable drive home.

You might indeed be able to get a better experience if you opt for dedicated tire sets for each season, but the reality is that this is way too costly and it requires you to swap out your tires at least twice per year. As such, stick around to find out why you should opt for all-terrain tires, and why the Geolander and the KO2 should be at the top of your list.

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Yokohama Geolander X AT

The Yokohama Rubber Company Limited is situated in Japan ever since it was founded in 1917. Back in 1969, the company made the efforts to enter the US market which meant making tires that satisfy various parts of the market. As such, the now US-based Yokohama Tire Corporation came out with the Geolander as the brand’s leading all-terrain tire.

Yokohama says that the Geolander tire is an ideal tire choice for those who want a tire with an incredibly broad breadth of ability. This means that the tire should be able to deliver in all weather conditions, including dry surfaces, wet surfaces, snow, rocks, mud, or even standing water. The Yokohama Geolander comes in a variety of different sizes which means that you are more than likely going to find the one you need.

Most online reviews state that the Geolander is either a 4-star or a full-on 5-star tire which means that negative reviews are incredibly difficult to come by. This comes as no surprise as the Yokohama company is one of the most diverse tire companies out there that manages to offer class-leading tires in many different segments.

BFG KO2

As mentioned previously, Yokohama has been around for quite a while now given the fact that they started making tires at the beginning of the 20th century. On the other hand, BF Goodrich has been in the business of making tires since the 1870s which makes BF one of the longest-running tire companies on the entire market.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, chances are that you are well aware of the BFG KO2 tires as these iconic tires are one of the most popular all-terrain tires of all time. The KO2 line was first introduced in 2015, and since then, BFG managed to sell more than 5-million of these.

As such, the KO2 tire is considered by many as the best all-terrain tire out there as far as bang for the buck is concerned. The KO2 is also available in a myriad of sizes while the availability has been strong ever since the tire debuted. The KO2 is currently available for trucks, SUVs, and CUVs which means that the KO2 covers the entire consumer all-terrain segment.

What Are The Features Of The Yokohama Geolander X AT?

The Yokohama Geolander truly is a festival of precise engineering as it incorporates numerous technical and engineering solutions in order to make the tire fiercely competitive. Firstly, the Enduro Compound technology used to make the treads keeps the tire flexible at all times, which means that it maintains traction even in wet and snowy conditions.

Triple 3D-designed sipes are designed to virtually change shape during the lifetime of the tire for the purpose of minimizing wear. Circumferential grooves are also present to expel water from beneath the tire which drastically reduces the chances of aquaplaning. The profile is wide and flat which benefits proper weight distribution and combats premature and uneven wear.

The Endurocore Construction technology optimizes durability for heavier vehicles which also further improves wear and durability. The Geolander is also a really comfortable tire because the multi-pitch tread variation makes sure to reduce the overall tire noise for a quieter, and more comfortable ride overall even though it is an all-terrain 3PMSF-rated monster.

What Are The Features Of The BFG KO2?

The first-gen BFG KO2 is a tremendously capable tire, but the second generation is even better because it is packed with numerous upgrades that improve traction on all surfaces while also making the tire more durable. The Deflection Design Technology is intended to shield the tire by deflecting all potential rocks and other dirt particles from sticking to the tire.

This technology also works well when it comes to deflecting water which greatly improves the aquaplaning resistance. The KO2 also comes with 20% more durable sidewalls and improved interlocking tread patterns that are able to maintain traction better. The KO2 is indeed a 3PMSF-rated tire which means that it can easily tackle snow.

Furthermore, the KO2 is a certified Baja champion tire and BFG deems it to be the tougher all-terrain tire out there. The 3D sipe design in the BFG KO2 tire is primarily designed to maintain traction above anything else while also making sure that the tire can withstand all the challenges that come from all-terrain driving.

What Are The Differences Between The Yokohama Geolander X AT And The BFG KO2?

Now it’s time to put these two in a head-to-head matchup by comparing them in several different environments. This means that we are going to compare them both on-road and off-road. We are also going to compare how well they tackle snow, how comfortable they are, how durable they are, and how do they compare in the warranty & price segment.

At the end of our Yokohama Geolander X AT Vs BFG KO2 comparison, we are also going to tell you which of these is the superior tire and why you should go for one over the other.

Off-road Performance: Yokohama Geolander X AT Vs BFG KO2

When it comes to mud driving, the Geolander X AT takes it because it has a higher void ratio and wider grooves that are more effective when it comes to throwing mud backward and cleaning the tire. The Geolander is also backed by an aggressive shoulder design with alternating lengths which stick to the surface better. On the other hand, the KO2 comes with a lower void ratio and is thus less effective in the mud.

Rock driving is more or less the same because the aggressive shoulder design with the Geolander maintains traction better. Both of these are good when it comes to stone ejection, but the Geolander takes it because it grips better in most instances.

Winner: Yokohama Geolander X AT

On-road Performance: Yokohama Geolander X AT Vs BFG KO2

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Geolander offers a higher void ratio which ultimately means that the contact patch is smaller and thus is unable to maintain traction as well as the KO2 tire can, at least not in the dry. When it comes to wet performance, it’s the other way around because the Geolander is better at passing water through the sipes which means that aquaplaning is a lot less likely.

The KO2 is a much better tire in the dry while the Geolander makes up for it in the wet. When it comes to responsiveness and handling, the KO2 is better as the less aggressive shoulder design enables the tire to change direction faster. The Geolander is not one of the most responsive and feedback-inducing tires out there.

Winner: BFG KO2

Snow Performance: Yokohama Geolander X AT Vs BFG KO2

Both of these tires are 3PMSF-rated which means that they are scientifically proven to deliver in the snow. However, the smaller contact patch the Geolander offers does make the tire more capable of throwing snow backward. This is more or less the same as in the case of mud driving and that is why the Geolander is the better snow tire.

However, it’s the other way around when it comes to driving on slippery roads, especially on ice. In order to be able to control the car on ice, a greater contact patch of the KO2 certainly helps. Either way, the Geolander is indeed a better snow tire.

Winner: Yokohama Geolander X AT

Comfort: Yokohama Geolander X AT Vs BFG KO2

The Geolander is not nearly as comfortable as the BFG KO2 is, at least not on the road. The KO2 has a larger contact patch which means that less air can be trapped between the grooves while driving. This plays a huge difference when it comes to how loud a tire can be. Although wider grooves do work as shock absorbers while off-roading, they are known to be noisier on-road.

As such, the KO2 tire is quieter. The KO2 tire does not vibrate as much as the Geolander does due to more aggressive shoulder edges that bounce off the tarmac a lot more aggressively. This also means that the KO2 offers a more cohesive and subtle ride.

Winner: BFG KO2

Treadwear and Durability: Yokohama Geolander X AT Vs BFG KO2

Once again, the width of the contact patch makes all the difference. A wider contact patch the KO2 offers is indeed better when it comes to traction in the dry, but a wider contact patch also increases the rolling resistance. Higher rolling resistance means that the tire needs more energy to get moving and there is a definite correlation between treadwear and increased levels of rolling resistance.

However, this does make the tire more durable as a whole because the tire is able to distribute the weight more evenly. Moreover, the KO2 is known to be one of the most durable all-terrain tires on the market. The KO2 does not eject stones as well as the X AT tire does which means that it is not as resistant to punctures as the X AT is.

Winner: It’s a tie

Warranty And Price: Yokohama Geolander X AT Vs BFG KO2

Judging by the pricetags published on a few credible online tire stores, the X AT tire is the more expensive tire. The Yokohama Geolander X AT comes with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty while the BFG KO2 comes with a 50,000-mile warranty which means that these are extremely well-matched as a whole.

All in all, the longer treadwear warranty perfectly corresponds with the fact that Geolander should offer a longer tread life. However, hardly anyone can say that a 50,000-mile warranty is a bad thing, especially when you consider that some prominent all-terrain tires don’t even come with a warranty at all.

Winner: Yokohama Geolander X AT

Why Should I Go For The Yokohama Geolander X AT Tire Over The BFG KO2 Tire?

  • Better off-road tire
  • Better wet on-road traction
  • Longer-lasting tread
  • Longer warranty coverage

Why Should I Go For The BFG KO2 Tire Over The Yokohama Geolander X AT Tire?

  • Better dry traction
  • More comfortable
  • More durable
  • Cheaper

Wrap Up

At the end of our Yokohama Geolander X AT Vs BFG KO2 comparison, we are once again surprised as to how closely matched these tires are. One of the biggest differences between the two is the fact that the KO2 tire is much more responsive and quieter when compared to the X AT.Both of these perform admirably off-road, but the Geolander is able to maintain traction just that little bit better.

Snow-driving is great with both, but once again, the Geolander slightly edges it. Price and warranty-wise, they are really closely matched, but the 15,000-mile extra coverage you get with the Geolander certainly is a welcomed addition. All in all, both of these are amazing, but you should go for the KO2 tire if you want a more comfortable and road-biased tire.

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