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.
| BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO3 | Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent Enlighten | Cooper Discoverer Stronghold A/T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test Size | LT 275/65R18 (E) | LT 275/65R18 (E) | LT 275/65R18 (E) |
| Weight | 58 lbs | 49 lbs | 53 lbs |
| Sidewall Plies | 3 polyester | 2 polyester | 2 polyester |
| Tread Cap Plies | Extra polyester ply | Standard | Standard |
| Treadwear Warranty | 50,000 miles | 60,000 miles | 60,000 miles |
| Country of Manufacture | USA | Canada | USA |
| Raised White Letters | Yes | No | Yes |
| 3PMSF Rated | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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 favours 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 behaviour: steering feel is vague around the centre 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.
| On-Road Category | Best | Middle | Weakest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | Bridgestone | BF Goodrich | Cooper |
| Ride Comfort | Bridgestone | BF Goodrich | Cooper |
| Steering Feel | Cooper | BF Goodrich | Bridgestone |
| Body Control | Cooper | BF Goodrich | Bridgestone |
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.
| Winter / Wet Category (Tire Rack Data) | Best | Middle | Weakest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow — Subjective Overall | Cooper | Bridgestone* | BF Goodrich |
| Snow — Objective Measurements | Bridgestone* | Cooper | BF Goodrich |
| Wet Grip | Bridgestone* | Cooper | BF Goodrich |
* Bridgestone tested in standard-load (115T) variant, not LT/E-rated. This gives it an inherent advantage in grip tests.
- Production: 3025
- Code: 1be kp11
- Origin: USA
- 3PMSF: yes
- Weight: 26.2 kgs
- Tread: 12.23 mm
- Price: 329.99
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2nd | 9.5 Points | 95% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dirt Handling | 2nd | 9 Points | 90% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subj. Comfort | 2nd | 9.5 Points | 95% |
| Subj. Noise | 2nd | 9.8 Points | 98% |
- Production: 1325
- Code: 1vn b99w78
- Origin: Canada
- 3PMSF: yes
- Weight: 22.2 kgs
- Tread: 12.23 mm
- Price: 323.99
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dry Handling | 3rd | 9 Points | 90% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dirt Handling | 3rd | 7.5 Points | 75% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subj. Comfort | 1st | 10 Points | 100% |
| Subj. Noise | 1st | 10 Points | 100% |
- Production: 2525
- Code: 1utb9 d11v
- Origin: USA
- 3PMSF: yes
- Weight: 23.97 kgs
- Tread: 12.5 mm
- Price: 322.99
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dry Handling | 1st | 10 Points | 100% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subj. Dirt Handling | 1st | 10 Points | 100% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd | 8 Points | 80% |
| Subj. Noise | 3rd | 7.5 Points | 75% |