37” BFG KO3 Load C

[2021Willys]

Has anyone got the new BFG KO3 tire in 37x12.5 in Load C? They were supposed to be released in June. Do they run smaller like the K02? Anyone have any pictures?

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[AustyPosty]

KO2's don't run "smaller". In reality all all-terrain tires run smaller than mud terrain tires. This was a big misconception when most people were only running Ko2s and didn't have experience with other all terrains. I think this is due to the KO2 being alot of peoples first "big" tire, thus its the first tire they really paid attention to the tire size on, and are shocked to find its smaller than the advertised size. When in reality you'd be hard pressed to find an all-terrain that measures exactly its advertised size under weight of the vehicle. This is normal.

 

[bleda2002]

KO2's don't run "smaller". In reality all all-terrain tires run smaller than mud terrain tires. This was a big misconception when most people were only running Ko2s and didn't have experience with other all terrains.

When people say they run smaller it's that they are measuring hub to floor not actual circumference. Bfgs aren't really any smaller but they do squat quite a bit more than most AT. I've had bfgs in 39 and 37s, both required 38.75 and 36.5 to get accurate speedos which was a different measurement than if I just went hub to floor x 2

 

[Zachattack50]

Every bfg ko2, ko3, and km3 I have purchased runs small. I have 5 work trucks with them in various metric sizes, wheel sizes, and load ratings. The current set of km3's i have listed here even unmounted barely measure 35"

 

[AustyPosty]

When people say they run smaller it's that they are measuring hub to floor not actual circumference. Bfgs aren't really any smaller but they do squat quite a bit more than most AT. I've had bfgs in 39 and 37s, both required 38.75 and 36.5 to get accurate speedos which was a different measurement than if I just went hub to floor x 2

Exaclty I agree with you, it is all tire brands that measure up smaller to get an accurate speedometer. Heres two examples of 37x12.5R17 tires, Top is a falken 37" measuring at 35.5 and bottom is a Toyo (a brand everyone says runs "true" to size coming in at 35.5.) This is perfectly in line with my 37" Ko2's measuring up at 35.5 with the weight of the vehicle. I just fail to see how they uniquely run small when people call out the Ko2 specfically.

 

[Zachattack50]

I can only speak to personal experience. In my group there are several different choices of tires, and we mount/balance them because we have a tire machine. I have never seen a bfg be even close to marked size, however, toyo, falken, tsl, and milestar will generally be much closer. Those overall heights are mounted tires in free standing (no weight) situations. Obviously those measurements get even "farther off" when on the vehicle loaded.

 

[Cadguy]

You can't measure a tire diameter from the ground to the top of the tire while it is loaded.
You can't even divide the measurement by two to find the radius.

One good method is to jack the axle until the tire just barely touches the ground, which would be unloaded, then take a measurement at the top, then drop the jack to the fully loaded condition, take another measurement, and that difference would be the radius change from zero load to fully loaded, Then multiply that difference by two, and subtract that number from the unloaded measurement, and THAT's your true diameter.

Ultimately, if you could measure from the centerline of the hub or axle to the ground while loaded, that would be your true radius, then simply multiply by two.

 

[GuzziMoto]

Just about all offroad tires we run on Jeeps tend to actually be smaller than their stated size. But in my actual experience BFG KO2's (I have not yet run the KO3) run more smaller than most other brands. As in, a 37" KO2 sitting next to a 37" Nitto RG will be around a half inch smaller than the Nitto RG. That is measured with the tires mounted but not under load.
I have experienced the same effect with other size KO2's. Compared to most other brands the KO2 will be a little smaller than the other tire. It isn't opinion, it is an observable fact. And it isn't really a negative, it just is. Personally, I like the BFG KO2. But I do suggest you know that they run small going in. In some cases you may want to buy the next size up.

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