1 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Big screens everywhere for race coverage.
2 of 16
Perry Mack photo
671 three inch studs per BFG tire for traction.
3 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Blue sky day at Sunday River in Bethel, ME.
4 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Clouds of snow and exhaust cover the race course.
5 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Every truck launched at the media line.
6 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Good crowd out for Redbull Frozen Rush at Sunday River.
7 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Head to head Pro 4 racing.
8 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Land Rover Defender ready to roll.
9 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Nose first into the obstacle.
10 of 16
Perry Mack photo
One obstacle included logs, rocks and a stream.
11 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Perry Mack in the pits with driver Brian Deegan.
12 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Pro 4 cars hit the gas on landing to maintain control.
13 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Starting line for Frozen Rush.
14 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Sunday River Ski Resort across the valley from the test trail.
15 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Trail rigs with BFG KO2's across the valley from Sunday River Resort.
16 of 16
Perry Mack photo
Wrangler Unlimited Rubicons to test the BFG KO2.
Story & photos by Perry Mack
It's -21 C and with the wind-chill it feels like -32 C. My spit doesn't quite freeze before it hits the ground, but it's close. US Airways lost my luggage, including my hat, gloves, winter coat and boots. I've lost feeling in all my extremities wandering around in the dark looking for my room, so it’s a good thing that I don’t plan to have any more children.
Conditions are pretty much perfect.
Perfect for testing winter tires - not for having children.
When I last reviewed the new BFG KO2, I gave the tire high marks for having the snow rating but couldn't comment on snow performance with any confidence. Apparently the folks at BFG also read 4WDrive and they took my comments to heart.
So they flew me to Bethel, Maine to see some BFG tires race in Redbull's Frozen Rush at Sunday River Ski resort, and to crawl the snow covered forest service roads in Wrangler Rubicon’s, and a Land Rover Defender, with the new KO2 tires. I had a chance to drive different sizes with the tires aired down to 16 psi. Aside from the frozen knackers, I was pretty happy with the situation.
BFG hired a 4x4-training company to clear roads and build obstacles on private land for select Canadian media and tire dealers to put the KO2 through its paces. The same company trains drivers to handle extreme off-road conditions, including training US soldiers to drive their Hummers.
After a cold day at Sunday River watching the Frozen Rush Qualifiers, our convoy of Jeeps and the Defender set out into the White Mountains of the Appalachians, just a short drive south of Quebec and west of New Brunswick.
The sun was already setting as we began our crawl though the forest. Yes, we were in 4WD with lockers and sway bars disconnected to cross the obstacles. No, they are not a miracle tire that will allow you to ford ice-covered streams, snowy rocks and icy logs in two wheel drive (we tried, ... they'll be able to fix that Wrangler). But they are a tire that provided inspiring traction over obstacles and on packed snow through ascents and descents.
My co-driver Woody, from www.ihatemud.com, has been driving a set of 315's for a month. He doesn't like the sound of the tires. 'But they're relatively quiet' I said, thinking I misunderstood his Wisconsin accent. 'Which is why I hate them', he replied. 'I'm hearing all sorts of new noises from my 80 series Toyota.'
BFG says the KO2 has 19% better snow traction than their beloved KO tire, originally designed 15 years ago. In case you’re wondering how they determined this, it’s called the ASTM F1805 test, which was conducted by a third party.
I spoke with Andrew Comrie-Picard (professional race car driver, stunt driver, automotive journalist and spokesperson for BFG) during the test drive and his comment with respect to traction was, ‘What can't be measured is the consistency in the performance of the tire. You always know what it will do' he says. 'In off-road racing, it lets you push the vehicle to the limit, in everyday life it means you drive confidently knowing the traction will be there regardless of the conditions.'
The improved traction is a result of a combination of improved rubber compounds, the dog bone and C shaped lugs - at varying angles that grip and shed snow throughout the turn - and improved siping to disperse water. A Canadian winter day can start with frozen morning ice, which then becomes covered in snow, which turns to slush as the day warms, and then icy cold water as the sun continues to shine - or rain begins (and repeat).
If you're looking for one tire on your 4x4 light truck to work well off-road, in mud, on dry, snow and wet pavement, this is your tire. The $200 you save on a cheaper tire isn't worth the aggravation in early wear, less traction and the stress that results from inconsistent performance.
The Redbull Frozen Rush is the only Pro 4 short course race on snow. 900 horsepower 4WD machines, essentially designed for desert racing, compete head-to-head on custom spiked 35” tires from the BFGoodrich Research and Development Team.
Bryce Menzies beat defending champion Ricky Johnson to take the 2015 title. Read and see more at www.redbull.com.