Which is Best? BFGoodrich All Terrain KO3 vs Bridgestone AT Ascent vs Cooper Stronghold AT

Three of the most popular all-terrain tires on the market go head-to-head in a comprehensive on-road, off-road, and winter comparison. Despite sharing the same LT 275/65R18 Load Range E sizing and severe snow rating, the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3, Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent Enlighten, and Cooper Discoverer Stronghold A/T each target distinctly different buyers — and our testing confirms just how different they really are.

The Contenders at a Glance

All three tires were tested on identical wheels at the same 35 PSI inflation pressure to ensure a fair comparison. Each carries the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) severe snow rating, and all three are priced within approximately $8 of each other on Tire Rack. However, the similarities largely end there.

The weight disparity is the most striking difference on paper. At 58 lbs per tire, the BF Goodrich KO3 is nearly 20% heavier than the 49 lb Bridgestone — a significant amount of unsprung and rotational mass that can influence vehicle dynamics. That extra weight is accounted for by the KO3's three-ply polyester sidewall construction and additional tread cap ply, making it theoretically the strongest of the three. The warranted cost-per-mile also favors the Cooper and Bridgestone, with both offering 60,000-mile treadwear warranties versus the KO3's 50,000 miles.

On-Road Performance

Testing was conducted on a Porsche Cayenne across a variety of road surfaces, and the three tires revealed clearly distinct characters.

The BF Goodrich KO3 continues to impress with its refinement. For a tire of its weight and construction, noise levels are remarkably low — limited to a faint low-frequency rumble that never builds into anything intrusive. Comfort is good rather than class-leading; the tire transmits some impact through harsher imperfections, but given its stiff, heavy-duty build, the damping is impressive. Steering feel in this size is predictable and easy to read, with none of the laziness noted in previous tests on different fitments.

The Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent Enlighten delivered the best NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) of the group. Noise is fractionally quieter than the KO3, and ride comfort over sharp impacts was outstanding — almost imperceptible at times. The trade-off is in dynamic behavior: steering feel is vague around the center with a non-linear build-up of force through turns, and body control over undulations is noticeably softer than the other two. Bridgestone's "Enlighten" lightweight sidewall technology, which makes the tire the lightest of the three, delivers its intended comfort benefit but introduces flex that compromises precision.

The Cooper Discoverer Stronghold A/T is the driver's tire of the trio. Steering is the most predictable and linear, with a positive, confidence-inspiring feel. However, it is the firmest of the three, crashing over sharp impacts more noticeably, though the impacts are well-damped and resolve quickly. The bigger drawback is tread pattern noise: even with fewer than 500 miles on the tires, the Stronghold produces noticeably more road noise in a straight line than either competitor — a surprising finding for a relatively new tire design.

Off-Road Performance

Off-road testing covered a mix of hard-pack, loose sandy terrain, and gravel at varying speeds, all conducted at the same 35 PSI.

The BF Goodrich KO3 delivered its characteristic strong traction and braking bite across surfaces. Where it fell marginally short of the Cooper was in turn-in sharpness — the front end doesn't respond quite as keenly — and the rear can begin to step out under harder cornering. These are minor observations that most drivers would never encounter in normal use.

The Bridgestone remained the most on-road-biased of the three off-road. It lacked the outright bite of the other two in both braking and cornering, though it maintained its comfort advantage, absorbing the rougher surfaces more effectively. For moderate off-road use, it is entirely capable, but it is not the choice for anyone who regularly pushes hard on unpaved roads.

The Cooper Discoverer Stronghold A/T was the standout off-road performer. Traction and braking were at least on par with the KO3, and as a complete package it was the most capable — offering the sharpest steering, the best mid-corner line-holding, and the most composed handling. The comfort gap to the Bridgestone also narrowed on rougher terrain, with all three tires converging on less forgiving surfaces.

Snow and Wet Performance — Tire Rack Data

As snow had not yet arrived in Utah at the time of testing, winter and wet performance data was drawn from Tire Rack's independent testing programme, where all three tires were evaluated in the same group test (in 265/70R17 sizing). An important caveat: while the BF Goodrich and Cooper were tested as LT/E-rated tires, the Bridgestone was tested in its 115T standard-load variant, which would inherently offer better grip in snow and wet conditions than the LT version.

In Tire Rack's subjective snow ratings, the Cooper scored highest overall, achieving the best cornering traction, handling, and balance scores. The Bridgestone matched the Cooper for the top traction score, while the BF Goodrich trailed by half a point. In objective snow measurements, however, the Bridgestone led all categories — though some of that advantage may be attributable to its standard-load construction.

The BF Goodrich KO3's relatively poor showing in Tire Rack's snow testing is notable, particularly given its strong snow traction results in previous TireReviews testing, where it was the best all-terrain tire for snow traction in a group that included the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T and Nokian Outpost NAT. The likely explanation is snow surface conditions: Tire Rack's test conditions appear to have been colder with harder, icier snow — conditions that would disproportionately affect the KO3, which has demonstrated consistent weakness on ice across multiple tests.

In wet grip testing, Tire Rack rated the Bridgestone as the clear leader by a significant margin in both handling and braking, with the Cooper slightly ahead of the BF Goodrich. Again, the Bridgestone's standard-load construction should be considered when interpreting these results.

Which is Best? BFGoodrich All Terrain KO3 vs Bridgestone AT Ascent vs Cooper Stronghold ATWatch the full video of this test on YouTube Watch on YouTube

1^st

BFGoodrich All Terrain TA KO3

275/65 R18

The BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 occupies the middle ground and, subjectively, does it very well. It combines surprisingly low noise levels and good comfort with a heavy-duty, three-ply sidewall construction that inspires confidence for serious off-road abuse. Its traction and braking off-road are excellent. Wet grip appears to be its weakest area based on available data, and its snow performance may be hampered in icier conditions, but in climates with distinct dry and snow seasons - such as Utah - the KO3's blend of on-road manners, off-road toughness, and winter capability makes it a compelling all-rounder that remains the TireReviews reference all-terrain tire.

Dry95%

Comfort96.5%

Off road90%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (4)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	2nd / 3	9.5 Points	-0.50 Points
Subj. Dirt HandlingHigher is better	2nd / 3	9 Points	-1.00 Points
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	2nd / 3	9.5 Points	-0.50 Points
Subj. NoiseHigher is better	2nd / 3	9.8 Points	-0.20 Points

Production

3025

Code

1be kp11

Origin

USA

3PMSF

Yes

Weight

26.2 kgs

Tread

12.23 mm

Price

329.99

2^nd

Bridgestone Dueler AT Ascent

275/65 R18

The Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent Enlighten is the tire for the driver who spends the vast majority of their time on tarmac and needs mild off-road capability without sacrificing on-road refinement. Its comfort and noise levels are the best of the three by a clear margin, and the Tire Rack data suggests strong wet and snow grip - particularly in the standard-load variant. The softer steering and reduced body control are the price of that comfort, but for the average truck or SUV owner covering 90% of their miles on paved roads, those trade-offs are unlikely to matter. This is a tire that will appeal to a very broad audience.

Dry90%

Comfort100%

Off road75%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (4)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	3rd / 3	9 Points	-1.00 Points
Subj. Dirt HandlingHigher is better	3rd / 3	7.5 Points	-2.50 Points
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	1st / 3	10 Points	Best in this discipline
Subj. NoiseHigher is better	1st / 3	10 Points	Best in this discipline

Production

1325

Code

1vn b99w78

Origin

Canada

3PMSF

Yes

Weight

22.2 kgs

Tread

12.23 mm

Price

323.99

3^rd

Cooper Discoverer Stronghold AT

275/65 R18

The Cooper Discoverer Stronghold A/T is the enthusiast's choice. It delivers the sharpest steering, the best off-road composure, and the strongest subjective snow performance according to Tire Rack's testing. That robust sidewall inspires confidence for harder off-road use. The trade-off is on-road refinement: it is the firmest of the three and carries noticeably more tread pattern noise, which could be a drawback for daily highway commuting. For the driver who wants to push their truck hard off-road and values precision over plushness, the Stronghold earns a strong recommendation.

Dry100%

Comfort77.5%

Off road100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (4)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	1st / 3	10 Points	Best in this discipline
Subj. Dirt HandlingHigher is better	1st / 3	10 Points	Best in this discipline
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	3rd / 3	8 Points	-2.00 Points
Subj. NoiseHigher is better	3rd / 3	7.5 Points	-2.50 Points

Production

2525

Code

1utb9 d11v

Origin

USA

3PMSF

Yes

Weight

23.97 kgs

Tread

12.5 mm

Price

322.99