BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires

BFGoodrich vs Mickey Thompson: Which mud-terrain tire is right for you?

The legendary American tire manufacturer BFGoodrich has over 150 years of innovation behind some incredible high-performance, all-terrain, and off-road, technology-backed products. On the other hand, the motorsports icon-founded Mickey Thompson focuses on extreme off-road tires that are aggressive and an excellent fit for drag racing and other extreme off-road use.

Drivers looking for quality mud-terrain tires are sure to stumble upon the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 from BFGoodrich and the Baja Legend MTZ from Mickey Thompson. The BFGoodrich mud-terrain tire offers superb grip on slick rock and uneven surfaces. It offers a rare combination of refined ride quality and strong low-pressure rock crawling.

Similarly, the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ loves to play around in deep mud, snow, and loose soil. With exceptional self-cleaning attributes, the mud-terrain tire delivers strong puncture resistance and deep-mud traction. As off-road tires, both do not come with any limited manufacturer tread life warranty, just like most mud-terrain tires on the market.

So, which one is ideal for you? Let’s compare the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 vs. Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires in this article using our SimpleScore. It’s our in-house scoring mechanism that rates each tire on a scale of 0 to 10 for traction, durability, and longevity. Without further ado, let’s compare them to help you make an informed decision that better aligns with your needs and budget.

BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires

Introduced in 2018, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is an incredible mud-terrain tire that offers superior durability, outstanding grip and traction, and a strong tread life. Designed for SUVs and light trucks, the BFGoodrich tire features an advanced Krawl-TEK rubber compound that helps it produce effective grip on slick and rocky surfaces.

Similarly, in aired-down conditions, the Linear Flex Zone improves the flexing capability of the tire and provides excellent traction and grip. The Baja Champion also comes with Coregard Max Technology – derived from Baja T/A KR3 desert-racing tire line – for superior durability and a longer service life.

Scoring a strong 8.8 in its overall SimpleScore, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 assures impeccable traction and durability along with superb tread life.

Get BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires

Engineered for SUVs, 4x4s, and light trucks, the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ is a mud-terrain tire that offers great off-road grip and traction. Engineered with PowerPly 3-ply sidewall construction, the Mickey Thompson tire offers improved puncture resistance, cut-and-chip protection, and precise steering responsiveness.

Its advanced T4 rubber compound teams up with an aggressive tread pattern and stone ejector ribs to deliver reassuring grip on rocks, gravel, mud, and sand. Lastly, its optimized tread pattern curbs road noise while providing long-lasting tread life.

Securing an 8.3 overall SimpleScore, the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ promises great grip, traction, stability, and durability in challenging conditions.

Get Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires on traction

Traction is critical when you are traversing rocky terrain or loose surfaces. The BFGoodrich and Mickey Thompson mud-terrain tires are effective in this regard and deliver confident grip. One of the tires is exceptional in traction. Let’s do their traction analysis.

Boasting a superb 9.4 in traction, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is the master of off-road grip. With ‘mud-phobic’ bars on its outer tread, the BFGoodrich tire pushes compacted mud out of the tread for enhanced grip and traction in deep mud and soft soil conditions. Additionally, the Terrain-Attack tread design features big tread blocks that provide superior grip from any angle of approach. The Linear Flex Zone, Traction-Armor Sidewall Sculpture, and notched shoulder area further boost traction in soft soil, mud, and on rocks.

Securing a fine 8.2 in traction, the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ is a dependable tire when it comes to providing effective grip and traction on challenging terrains. Its integrated four-pitch Sidebiters improve hold on and off the road, while Mickey’s high void ratio and T4 silica-reinforced rubber compound clear mud, dirt, and water from the tread for consistent grip and traction on slick and soft surfaces. Additionally, the variable-angled tread grooves keep mud and stones at bay for improved traction.

With an outstanding score, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 wins the first round.

ADVANTAGE: BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3

BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires on durability

Durability is at the core of mud-terrain tires, and it has to be, given the extreme obstacles it needs to encounter to make way in challenging conditions. Between the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 and Baja Legend MTZ, one turns out to be tough enough to beat the other with a comprehensive margin.

The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 secures an incredible 9.1 in durability and solidifies its position as a strong mud-terrain tire with a tough carcass and robust construction. Thanks to its chip-and-cut and pinch-flat resistance design, its sidewalls offer more than 20% extra toughness over its predecessor. The use of race-proven CoreGard Max technology lends incredible strength to its carcass to take on the toughest challenges head-on.

On the other hand, the Mickey Thompson mud-terrain tire offers decent durability compared to the BFGoodrich. Scoring an 8.3 in durability, the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ features a high-silica rubber compound that resists friction and heat on freeways while also protecting the carcass from sharp debris and rocks. The 3-ply sidewall offers triple-layer protection to safeguard against cuts, abrasions, and punctures.

The BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 clears the second round with another big win. It leads 2-0!

ADVANTAGE: BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3

BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires on longevity

Mud-terrain tires do not last longer, as their tough rubber compound is exposed to some of the toughest terrain in the world. Both mud-terrain tires from BFGoodrich and Mickey Thompson offer decent tread life, but one lasts longer than the other.

Securing a decent 8.0 in longevity, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 features robust construction and an advanced rubber compound that not only safeguards the tire against impacts and damage but also prolongs its tread life. However, a high void ratio means the load falls on the tread blocks to keep the tire moving, which leads to slightly faster wear on paved surfaces. Nevertheless, it still manages to be on par in longevity with other mud-terrain tires.

Contrarily, the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ offers incredible tread life with an 8.6 in longevity. With a patented PowerPly 3-Ply construction and heavy-duty casing, the mud-terrain tire resists uneven wear and promotes uniform wear on paved roads. Thanks to its T4 silica-reinforced compound, the Baja Legend MTZ prevents cuts, chips, and abrasions from damaging the casing for a longer service life. Additionally, the deep tread design improves wearability on paved roads.

With a higher score, the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ is a better tire for drivers wanting a long-lasting tread life.

ADVANTAGE: Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ

When to use each

Mud-terrain tires are designed to offer superior grip on sand, rocks, gravel, and deep mud and moderate snow. For those drivers who do not want to compromise on grip, traction, and durability, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is an excellent option. Similarly, the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ appeals more to the light truck enthusiasts eyeing better tread life from their mud-terrain tire.

However, both tires lack the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, which means they should not be used in severe winter weather conditions.

The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is available in 55 sizes ranging from 15 to 22 inches, while the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ comes in 15 to 20 inches tire sizes.

Which one should you choose?

To sum it up, the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is an overall better tire (8.8 vs 8.3) than the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ. However, each tire has its unique characteristics which should be considered and matched with your driving needs and budget.

That said, let’s compare the prices of the LT265/70R17 121/118Q E tire size: the cost of each BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is around $320, which brings the price of four such tires to $1280. On the other hand, one Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ costs around $307, which means four such tires would cost you approximately $1228.

Based on SimpleScore, you should buy the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, and the Jeep Wrangler
• Want a mud-terrain tire with incredible traction (9.4 vs 8.2)
• Prefer a highly durable set of mud-terrain tires (9.1 vs 8.3)

On the other hand, you may go for the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Ford Ranger, GMC Sierra 1500, and Ram 1500
• Want a set of mud-terrain tires with a longer service life (8.6 vs 8.0)
• Prefer an affordable yet capable mud-terrain tire

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.