BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO3 vs Cooper Discoverer Stronghold AT
- TR Score
- 7.1/10
- Owners say
- 78% · 16
- TR Score
- 8.2/10
- Owners say
- 92% · 2
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the All Terrain TA KO3 finished ahead 2 times and the Discoverer Stronghold AT once.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO3 if comfort and lower noise matter most. Choose the Cooper Discoverer Stronghold AT if you favor sharper dirt handling and predictable snow behavior over ride refinement.
Where the All Terrain TA KO3 is stronger
- More comfortable in both road-focused comparisons
- Quieter in both road-focused comparisons
- Strong off-road traction and braking noted by Tire Reviews in 2025
Where the Discoverer Stronghold AT is stronger
- Higher dry and dirt handling scores in Tire Reviews' 2025 comparison
- Nearly 5% quicker snow handling lap in Tire Rack's 2024 test
- Highest driver snow rating in Tire Rack's 2026 test
Conclusion
Across the three shared tests, the KO3 has two higher overall placings to the Stronghold's one. It won Tire Reviews' 2025 three-tire comparison and placed seventh against tenth in Tire Rack's 2024 on-road test. Its most repeatable advantage is refinement: both tests rated it more comfortable and quieter, with a noise score about 31% higher in 2025 and about 10% higher in 2024. Tire Rack's 2024 drivers also gave it a slightly higher road score, praising its quick, accurate steering. Tire Reviews noted its three-ply sidewall and strong off-road traction and braking, although it was the heaviest tire in that comparison.
The Stronghold's handling strengths are clear. Tire Reviews rated its dry and dirt handling higher in 2025, while Tire Rack measured a snow handling lap nearly 5% quicker in 2024. In that 2024 test it also stopped about 2% shorter in the wet, completed the wet lap about 2% faster and produced about 4% more wet cornering grip. Those wet measurements come from one shared test, and Tire Rack still judged the Stronghold's grip on tarmac middling within the field. Its firmer, noisier ride is a more consistent finding across the two road-focused comparisons.
Tire Rack's 2026 snow test put the Stronghold first and the KO3 joint seventh, reflecting the drivers' greater confidence in how the Stronghold behaved on snow. It accelerated on ice about 8% quicker and stopped about 2% shorter there. The KO3, however, stopped in virtually the same distance on snow and had a snow traction distance about 2% shorter. Neither delivered consistently outstanding measured winter grip against the wider field. The KO3 better suits a driver prioritising comfort, lower noise and the three-ply sidewall noted by Tire Reviews; the Stronghold better suits one who will accept a firmer, louder ride for sharper dirt handling and more predictable snow handling.
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
All Terrain TA KO3 vs Discoverer Stronghold AT at a glance
| Category | All Terrain TA KO3 | Gap | Discoverer Stronghold AT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 2 | 1 | |
| Dry4 measurements | 1 | 3 | |
| Wet3 measurements | 0 | 3 | |
| Snow4 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Ice2 measurements | 0 | 2 | |
| Off road1 measurement | 0 | 1 | |
| Comfort4 measurements | 4 | 0 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 7.1/10 | The Discoverer Stronghold AT by 1.1 | 8.2/10 |
| Owner rating16 and 2 reviews | 78% | The Discoverer Stronghold AT by 14 points | 92% |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 3 tests, 2024 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | All Terrain TA KO3 | Field | Discoverer Stronghold AT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tire Rack All Terrain Tire Snow Test | P7 of 30 | P1 of 30 | |
| Which is Best? BFGoodrich All Terrain KO3 vs Bridgestone AT Ascent vs Cooper Stronghold AT | P1 of 3 | P3 of 3 | |
| 2024 Tire Rack All Terrain Tires On-Road Test | P7 of 12 | P10 of 12 |
Performance profile
16 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
All Terrain TA KO3
Discoverer Stronghold AT
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it.
Where each scores higher
All Terrain TA KO3
Discoverer Stronghold AT
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | All Terrain TA KO3 | Gap | Discoverer Stronghold AT | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141 | 1.4% | 139 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 5.3% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 0.69 | 1.4% | 0.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 3.4% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 184 | 2.2% | 180 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 40.65 | 2.1% | 39.81 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 0.51 | 3.9% | 0.53 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 72 | 0.2% | 72 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 46 | 2% | 47 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 28.25 | 4.8% | 26.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 13.4% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 53 | 1.8% | 52 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 6.23 | 7.7% | 5.75 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 11.1% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 13.9% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 20.1% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the All Terrain TA KO3 scores 7.1 and the Discoverer Stronghold AT 8.2 out of 10.
| All Terrain TA KO3 | Category | Discoverer Stronghold AT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Dry | 49 | ||
| 57 | Wet | 54 | ||
| 46 | Comfort | 13 | ||
| 19 | Value | - | ||
| 53 | Snow | 50 | ||
| 10 | Ice | 38 | ||
| 70 | Off road | 85 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| All Terrain TA KO3 | Category | Discoverer Stronghold AT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Dry Grip | 10 | ||
| 7.5 | Wet Grip | 9.5 | ||
| 7.1 | Road Feedback | 8.5 | ||
| 7.9 | Handling | 9.5 | ||
| 9 | Wear | - | ||
| 7.8 | Comfort | 8 | ||
| 9 | Snow Grip | - | ||
| 6.9 | Ice Grip | - | ||
Owners rate the All Terrain TA KO3 78% from 16 reviews and the Discoverer Stronghold AT 92% from 2. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO3
- 78%from 16 reviews
- 73%would buy again
- 184,500 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO3 well (average 77.8%), with most praising its off-road traction and its more civilised on-road comfort and noise levels than expected for an all-terrain. Wet performance is a bit mixed but leans positive overall, with several noting an improvement versus the KO2, though a meaningful minority still want more confidence in wet grip/braking. The main recurring drawback is balance/vibration issues (around one in four owners), and around one in four also point out that ice grip is not a strong suit, even if snow traction is often praised.
- Strong off-road traction on dirt/gravel and trails
- Comfortable ride for an all-terrain
- Low road noise, often reported as quieter than expected
- Good snow traction
- Balancing problems leading to vibration or wobble
- Limited ice grip (not a winter tire)
- Slower, less sharp steering response
Summarised by AI from 16 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 16 All Terrain TA KO3 reviewsHow much you love or hate these tires is highly dependent on the amount of time you spend on vs. off road. On dirt or mud, at least on a Ranger Raptor, they come alive inspiring tremendous confidence on loose surfaces at speed. But that confidence evaporates the moment you return to tarmac. Wet braking is particularly bad and frankly, when new, downright dangerous. After 2-3K miles they become a bit grippier in the wet, but never do they inspire confidence. In short, if your spending a lot of time hooning it on logging roads, you'll likely be satisfied, but otherwise Id look elsewhere.
Cooper Discoverer Stronghold AT
- 92%from 2 reviews
- 1,200 milesdriven by reviewers
All 2 Discoverer Stronghold AT reviewsHaven't had these for long, but have taken them on a wide variety of surfaces. So far very pleased with them and look forward to see how well they perform in winter conditions. I was looking for a good all around LT AT tire that wouldn't fall flat in inclement weather, I think these fit that well.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | All Terrain TA KO3 | Discoverer Stronghold AT |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| On the market since | 2024 | - |
| Replaced | BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO2 (2014) | - |
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Three independent tests put the BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO3 alongside the Cooper Discoverer Stronghold AT: Tire Rack's 2024 all-terrain on-road test, Tire Reviews' 2025 three-tire comparison and Tire Rack's 2026 all-terrain snow test. The KO3 placed higher overall in the first two, seventh versus tenth and first versus third. The Stronghold led the 2026 snow ranking, first versus joint seventh.
The results are not a simple split between road and winter. The Stronghold had better measured wet grip in Tire Rack's 2024 test and felt sharper on dry roads and dirt in Tire Reviews' 2025 comparison. It also handled snow better in both Tire Rack tests. The KO3 was rated more comfortable and quieter in both road-focused comparisons, while the 2026 snow test found their braking distances on snow virtually identical. Both are all-terrain tires, but their strongest qualities differ.
All Terrain TA KO3 vs Discoverer Stronghold AT: your questions
Is the BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO3 or the Cooper Discoverer Stronghold AT the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO3 finished ahead 2 times and the Discoverer Stronghold AT once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the All Terrain TA KO3 scores 7.1 and the Discoverer Stronghold AT 8.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the All Terrain TA KO3 or the Discoverer Stronghold AT?
The Discoverer Stronghold AT led 3 of the 3 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The Discoverer Stronghold AT led 3 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 2-2 between the All Terrain TA KO3 and the Discoverer Stronghold AT.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.8/10 for the All Terrain TA KO3 and 8/10 for the Discoverer Stronghold AT.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the All Terrain TA KO3 78% from 16 reviews and the Discoverer Stronghold AT 92% from 2.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Review the All Terrain TA KO3 Review the Discoverer Stronghold AT
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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