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Tires & Wheels

Cooper STT pro vs BFG KM3: Which One Should You Get?

Cooper STT pro vs BFG KM3
Last Updated on Aug 16, 2023 By Paul Lucas

The Cooper STT Pro and BFG KM3 come up in the conversation when you’re looking for mud tires. Both are great tires, but each offers different features that make them stand out.

Here we’ll make a side-by-side comparison of the Cooper STT Pro vs the BFG KM3 and check the pros and cons of each.

Cooper STT Pro

Cooper STT Pro

Features

  • Flex groove
  • ARMOR-TEK3 Carcass Protection
  • 3-2 inner tire ribs
  • Alternating shoulder lugs
  • Anti-stone retention
  • Mud release dimples

Pros

  • Design is cutting-edge and pleasing to the eye
  • Excellent off-road capabilities
  • Low noise in the cab makes the ride enjoyable

Cons

  • Durability is in question

BFG KM3

BFG KM3

Features

  • New Krawl Tek compound
  • Traction Armor sidewall construction
  • Terrain Attack tread design
  • Linear Flex Zone
  • CoreGaurd Max Technology and Deflection Design

Pros

  • Increased Road traction
  • Excellent durability
  • Best performing mud terrain tire

Cons

  • Tire is on the expensive side

Cooper STT Pro vs BFG KM3: How They Differ

1. Traction on-road

Cooper STT Pro

With its low void ratio and dense block design, the STT Pro grips the road better than the KM3 during on-road driving.

BFG KM3

On-road KM3’s lack of tread face and high void ratio affects its ability to grip the road like the STT Pro. In addition, its lack of tread blocks severely affects its road grip capabilities.

Winner

The Cooper STT Pro drives away with this one with its dense block design and low void ratio.

2. Traction off-road

a) Mud

Cooper STT Pro

The deeper tread on the STT Pro keeps mud from getting stuck in the tire using an angled shoulder scoop, but not as efficient as the KM3.

BFG KM3

The KM3 handles the mud using aggressive wider grooves and treads with symmetrical groves to toss softer dirt and mud behind the truck.

Winner

The BFG KM3’s wider grooves and treads drive away with this one!

b) Snow

Cooper STT Pro

The STT Pro’s shoulder blocks with micro sipes and deep grooves keep the vehicle from hydroplaning, but they are not as wide as the KM3 and don’t do well in the snow.

BFG KM3

What the KM3 lacks in on-road traction, it makes up for in wet and snowy weather. Along with the high gaps between the treads, it has large single sipes that throw water and snow to help prevent hydroplaning.

Winner

The BFG KM3’s wider tread gives them the advantage over the STT Pro.

c) Rocky

Cooper STT Pro

The STT Pro has fewer stone ejectors making its drivability on rocky terrain inferior to the KM3.

BFG KM3

The abundance of stone ejectors makes handling rocky terrain a breeze for the KM3s.

Winner

The winner is BFG KM3 due to the rocky terrain traction created by their stone ejectors.

3. Comfortable rides

Both tires offer a comfortable ride. These thick mud tires cushion your ride as they absorb the reaction force from bumps. This carries over from rocky terrain to on-road driving.

Winner

There is no winner here. It is a tie for comfort!

4. Accelerating

Cooper STT Pro

The STT Pro was designed for off-road driving where speed is not required. Consequently, its sidewalls offer no enhancement for high-speed driving.

BFG KM3

The sidewalls of the KM3 are durable and flexible. While not made for high-speed driving, they do better at high speed than the STT Pro.

Winner

The BFG KM3 is the winner in acceleration.

5. In-cab noise

Cooper STT Pro

The smaller gap space between treads traps fewer air particles, cutting down the noise.

BFG KM3

The significant gaps in the treads of the KM3 trap the air particles in the tread’s grooves, tossing them back and forth to produce an abundance of cab noise.

Winner

The Cooper STT Pro, with its smaller tread gaps, offers the quietest ride.

6. Load Capacity

Cooper STT Pro

The STT can handle loads between 1984 and 4079 pounds.

BFG KM3

The KM3 can handle loads between 1764 to 4079 pounds

Winner

The Cooper STT has a slight edge because its load capacity starts at a higher range, but both can only carry up to 4079.

7. How Durable are they?

Cooper STT Pro

The STT Pro’s high rolling resistance results in a higher contact patch, decreasing the durability of the tire.

BFG KM3

Requires less force for the tires to roll on the KM3 due to lower rolling resistance and lack of contact patch. The KM3’s thicker sidewalls and CoreGard technology prevent punctures and splits in the sidewalls

Winner

BFG KM3’s CoreGard technology and lack of contact patches make it a more durable tire.

8. How they maneuver

Cooper STT Pro

While not designed for acceleration, the sidewall design of the STT Pro offers less cornering stability than the KM3.

BFG KM3

The KM3 was not designed for speed either. However, compared to the STT Pro, it offers more cornering stability than the STT Pro.

Winner

As a high-velocity tire, the BFG KM3 has more cornering stability than the STT Pro and is the clear winner.

9. Fuel usage

Cooper STT Pro

The thickness of the tires decreases fuel economy by 13.4 miles per gallon.

BFG KM3

The KM3 “tire anywhere capability” compromises fuel economy.

Winner

Neither tire offers excellent fuel economy. It is a tie for poor fuel economy.

10. Weight of tires

Cooper STT Pro

The Cooper STT Pro weighs 66.6 pounds.

BFG KM3

The BFG KM3 weighs 74.4 pounds.

Winner

The winner is the Cooper STTpro with the lighter tire by 7.8 pounds.

11. How the treads wear

Cooper STT Pro

The increased contact patch and treads with serrated edges increase its rolling resistance and enhance the tire’s design, preventing stones from getting stuck in the treads.

BFG KM3

The tread wears slowly because of the lesser contact patches of the KM3.

Winner

The BFG KM3’s lack of patch contact increases its tread longevity.

12. How they perform

Cooper STT Pro

The STT performs well on muddy and rocky terrain and in on-road use. But it doesn’t do as well in snow and on wet pavement.

BFG KM3

The KM3, like the STT, performs well on rocky and muddy terrain yet does not do as well on-road. However, unlike the STT, it does excellent in snowy and wet conditions.

Winner

The BFG KM3 wins for its superior performance in snow and rain.

13. Cost

Cooper STT Pro

The STT offers fewer mud-terrain features and costs less than a KM3.

BFG KM3

The KM3, with its increased mud-terrain features and costs more than the STT.

Winner

The BFG KM3 wins with its multiple mud-terrain features.

When should you use Cooper STT Pro?

When should you use Cooper STT Pro

The Cooper STT Pro is the ideal tire for SUVs and Jeeps. Their best use muddy and rocky terrain and on-road driving, but they minimize hydroplaning.

When should you use BFG KM3?

When should you use BFG KM3

The BFG KM3 does well on CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks. It is the perfect tire for rocky and muddy terrain. In addition, its treads make it a great tire for wet and snowy conditions.

About the author

Paul Lucas

I grew up in a classic car-oriented family, and was taught how to differentiate between a Ford and a Chevy by my dad when I was just five years old! With special feelings for anything Italian, I enjoy driving and restoring old cars.

Over the years, I became tired of those cookie-cutter auto blogs that copy content from each other and decided to take matters into my own hands! So, I am here to bring you the latest auto industry news, tech innovations, the hottest cars and their specs, reviews, test drives, tuning, and more.

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