Most SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks spend most of their time on pavement, despite what we see in advertisements or social media. But sometimes those of us who enjoy the great outdoors need more traction than a highway tire can provide. This is where BFGoodrich has aimed with its new Trail-Terrain T/A+.
It’s a more capable tire than your vehicle’s highway-centric rubber, but not as aggressive off-road or as durable as a full-blown all-terrain or mud-terrain tire, such as BFGoodrich’s KO3 or KM3.
Most buyers don’t need the level of off-road performance or durability that all-terrain or mud-terrain tires provide, and those tires have higher noise levels, lower comfort, and less on-road performance. BFGoodrich representatives refer to their new Trail-Terrain T/A+ as a tire for everyday adventurers. These are people looking to drive dirt roads to their favorite places to recreate.
Why BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A+?
I went to Vail, Colo., to experience these tires and the GoPro Mountain Games, which BFG sponsored. The tie in? Many GoPro Mountain Games events — kayaking, climbing, biking — require a vehicle capable of navigating dirt and gravel roads to a trailhead.
Those trails can be rough and craggy, requiring a more aggressive tire than your vehicle’s stock highway tire. BFGoodrich’s Global Product Manager, Brandon Sturgis, said the Trail-Terrain T/A+ is a tire for the everyday driver who occasionally spends time in the dirt.
“[The Trail-Terrain T/A+ is] designed to do what most people love,” said Sturgis. That includes things like getting to favorite fly fishing spots, mountain bike trails, or hiking locations. Yet, these tires still offer many of the comforts of a highway tire in terms of noise levels and performance.
A New and Improved Trail-Terrain Tire
The original Trail-Terrain T/A debuted in 2021. It offered a mix of on- and off-road performance, while looking like a more aggressive all-terrain. Now in 2026, the tire has been revamped to offer three major improvements, all linked to a new rubber compound. In fact, the tread pattern is the same as the previous Trail-Terrain T/A, but that change in compound makes all the difference.
Longer Wear Life, Extended Warranty
The first improvement is 25% better wear performance than the outgoing Trail-Terrain T/A. The tire’s optimized footprint shape and full-depth 3D sipes help make this a better tire. The tire now offers a 65,000-mile warranty (versus 60,000 on the outgoing Trail-Terrain T/A) and a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.
Increased Wet Traction
The second improvement is 10% better wet traction. This can be attributed to a high level of silica in the tire’s new compound. The BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A+ is also three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMS) rated, giving it improved traction in winter weather compared to a standard M+S (mud and snow) tire. If you’re unsure of which tire to get, I’ve written about different tire types in the past, so check that out.
Better Rolling Resistance for a Quieter Ride and Increased Fuel Economy
Thirdly, there’s 5% better rolling resistance. The lower the rolling resistance, the better the fuel economy. Additionally, the Trailer-Terrain T/A+ is engineered for minimal road noise. Sturgis said these tires meet the European noise threshold, a level allowing them to be sold in those markets.
BFGoodrich uses software that optimizes tread blocks for a lower noise threshold. This means they’re quieter than an all-terrain tire. As someone who owns BFGoodrich’s All-Terrain KO3 tires, I can say the Trail-Terrain T/A+ is definitely quieter than the all-terrains on the highway.
Various Sizing
The company will offer 50 replacement tire sizes in 2026, covering a swath of SUV, CUV, and light-truck sizes. Initially, 33 sizes will be available, with some already on sale and more to come through 2027.
FYI, these are not LT-rated tires; rather, they’re designed to be a direct OE tire replacement. Those looking for a more aggressive all-terrain tire should look to BFGoodrich’s All-Terrain T/A KO3 or Mud-Terrain T/A KM3.
Trail-Terrain T/A+ Driving Impressions
BFGoodrich put together a scenic drive through the mountains outside Vail, on both pavement and dirt/gravel. This allowed us to experience the tires as buyers would use them.
I started the drive in a 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe. The road noise was completely unobtrusive, although we didn’t have the chance to experience wet traction. We eventually took to the dirt, where the tires performed admirably, maintaining traction, even navigating small rocky obstacles without incident.
I switched from a full-size Tahoe to a compact Ford Bronco Sport Badlands. The story remained the same, where the tires were quiet and offered adequate grip on and off the tarmac.
On both vehicles, the Trail-Terrain T/A+ looks good. There are some true all-terrain tires that don’t look as rugged as these do. They mimic the more aggressive KO3’s looks while offering more comfort.
Why didn’t BFGoodrich push these vehicles further off pavement? Maybe more aggressive or technical trails? Because that’s not how most buyers will use them. These tires are designed for dirt trails and gravel forest service roads, not running the Rubicon Trail or competing in King of the Hammers. And while I would’ve liked a bit more time on the dirt and some wet roads for testing purposes, BFGoodrich made its point.
Tames Tamer Trails, Ideal for the Mass Market Adventurer
Let’s be frank: These tires will be able to perform above the threshold of most drivers’ off-road ability and use. The masses aren’t rock crawling, running the Baja 1000, or pushing their rig’s capabilities. The BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A+ is a tire designed primarily to get people to their recreation sites, and less for those looking to use the vehicles for recreation.
The target market is Subaru Outback owners, Toyota RAV4 drivers, or anyone with a Toyota Tacoma who wants to reach a more remote rafting location. And for these people, the Trail-Terrain tires could be just what they need to get farther out and get back home safely.
BFGoodrich is one of the most recognized brands for driving in the dirt, whether that’s the majority of your driving surface or if you’re just headed down a dirt road to your favorite fishing hole. The Trail-Terrain T/A+ shows the brand’s commitment to continual improvement, and its sponsorship of the GoPro Mountain Games shows it’s in touch with its end users, as well.
Read the full article here