Michelin Releases Its Latest Mud Tire: BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3
Michelin North America Inc. has released the fifth generation of the BFGoodrich brand Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tire.
The company says it has introduced technologies into the new tire that improve climbing, traction and toughness in the mud and over rock.
“The KM3 tire is essential equipment for serious off-road enthusiasts. We designed this tire for extreme toughness and traction,” says Harold Phillips, global general manager of the BFGoodrich brand. “Whether building for off-road fun or for extreme capability to reach outdoor activities, this tire was made to take drivers anywhere they want to go.”
The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 has 5% better mud traction than its predecessor, according to the company. “Mud-Phobic” bars on the tire’s shoulders are designed to release compacted mud for enhanced traction in muddy or soft soil conditions. The tire’s Terrain-Attack tread pattern includes massive tread blocks designed to deliver incredible grip from any angle of approach.
The tire’s advanced Krawl-TEK compound is designed to deliver 8% better rock traction that enhances grip on rock and other slick surfaces. The tire’s Linear Flex Zone allows it to envelop objects at reduced inflation for even more grip when climbing. The Traction-Armor Sidewall Sculpture and notched shoulder design also help boost traction capabilities in soft soil and mud.
The company says the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 offers extreme sidewall protection, pinch shock resistance and chip-and-tear resistance on gravel to meet extreme off-road challenges. Its sidewalls are 27% tougher, thanks to CoreGard Max race-proven technology derived from the BFGoodrich Baja T/A KR3 desert-racing tire line. This technology helps prevent splitting or puncturing with increased thickness that protects the critical sidewall failure zone.
In addition, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is designed to offer solid street performance and acceptable on-road noise levels for the rides to and from the trail.
Michelin says that to highlight the new tire’s toughness, the North American launch will be on the Rubicon Trail in the rugged Sierra Nevada range. The 4x4 trail offers 22 miles of the most challenging terrain on the continent, and has a difficulty rating of 10 – the most difficult rating possible. BFGoodrich will bring dozens of guests to the Rubicon Trail in June to let them experience the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 first-hand on a variety of off-road vehicles.
Sizes and Market Coverage
The tire is available in North America starting June 1. It will be available in 15- through 18-inch rim diameters, and in 20- and 22-inch rim diameters. There are 54 sizes, including 33 additional sizes from the previous generation, for 88% coverage of the market.
Michelin says the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 will have the best coverage of the 17- to 20-inch rim diameter market, the largest segment in this tire category.
UTV Offerings
The Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 also offers three sizes for tire upgrade options in the UTV sport and UTV multi-purpose segments. KM3 UTV tires are tuned for specific performance of UTV rigs.
Mud Milestones
Michelin says the BFGoodrich brand created the radial all-terrain and mud-terrain categories. A look at the brand’s mud-tire history demonstrates nearly four decades of progressing technology:
1980: BFGoodrich debuts the world’s first radial light-truck performance tire, the radial Mud-Terrain T/A.
1984: BFGoodrich introduces 35-inch radial Mud-Terrain T/A, the tallest light-truck tire in the world.
1988: Second-generation radial Mud-Terrain T/A is launched.
1993: BFGoodrich releases the Moab Edition Mud-Terrain T/A.
2001: Third-generation Mud-Terrain T/A KM makes its debut.
2007: Fourth-generation Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 is introduced.
2018: Fifth-generation Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is launched globally.
For more information, visit www.BFGoodrichTires.com, www.BFGoodrichRacing.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BFGoodrichTires or on Twitter or Instagram at @BFGoodrichTires.
