I researched and tested dozens of tires to find the top 275 inch all terrain tires available today.
Automotive designers often sketch vehicles with massive wheels and low-profile tires, mainly because larger rims simply look better.
This is why many modern SUVs and pickup trucks come equipped with 20-inch rims, similar to high-performance cars.
However, aesthetics aren’t the only reason.
Bigger rims can also enhance vehicle performance by improving braking, which results in quicker stops and added safety—features that many drivers appreciate.
Plus, car manufacturers understand that most people rarely take their vehicles off-road, so they’ve increasingly been opting for low- and medium-profile tires.
That said, while 20-inch rims paired with 275/60 tires may seem low-profile, a 60-aspect ratio is still considered standard.
Interestingly, back in the 1970s, even a 70-ratio tire was thought of as low-profile!
Despite their popularity, 275/60R20 tires do come with certain drawbacks, particularly due to their shorter sidewalls. The best 275/60R20 all-terrain tires are the ones that minimize these issues, offering a balance between performance and comfort.
Here, I’ve rounded up the top picks for 275 tires on 20-inch stock rims.
1- Falken Wildpeak AT3W
20-inch rim tires tend to be a bit stiff, which can reduce ride comfort. This stiffness also leads to higher levels of vibration, causing some cabin disturbance.
To address these issues, I found the Falken Wildpeak AT3W to be the best all-terrain tire in the 275/60R20 size.
When considering overall performance, this tire stands out for me in many areas:
- Quiet and Comfortable: It’s the quietest and most comfortable all-terrain tire I’ve experienced, even outperforming the BFGoodrich T/A KO2.
- Great in Snow and Rain: It offers excellent grip in snow, rain, and slushy conditions.
- Smooth Ride on the Highway: It maintains ride comfort and doesn’t increase noise, even at highway speeds.
If you’re looking for a tire that performs well in snow, wet conditions, slush, and occasional off-roading while still offering a comfortable ride, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W is an excellent choice.
Though I currently use the BFGoodrich T/A KO2 for off-road convenience with its LT tire, the Falken has options in both SL and D load ratings. The BFGoodrich KO2, in contrast, only offers a D load in this size, which may not be practical for everyone.
My personal favorite, though, is the Falken Wildpeak AT3W in its standard load (SL) version.
SL vs. LT Load Tires
The differences between LT (Light Truck) and SL (Standard Load) tires are pretty consistent across brands, and this applies to the Falken Wildpeak AT3W as well.
Most tires in the 275/60R20 size come in D load rather than E load. The 8-ply D load tires offer a middle ground, reducing the harshness of E load tires while retaining durability.
For light off-roading and better fuel efficiency, the 4-ply SL tires are ideal if you:
- Don’t regularly tow heavy loads,
- Prioritize road comfort,
- Want quieter tires.
On the other hand, if you prioritize durability and regularly tow or go off-roading, the D load LT tires are a better choice, offering:
- More robust sidewalls,
- Stronger casing,
- Improved longevity.
That said, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W differs slightly in performance between its SL and LT versions.
While both versions share a similar tread design, the SL tire uses a silica compound that enhances grip in wet and snowy conditions, giving it top-tier performance in these environments.
However, the LT version doesn’t include silica, which slightly reduces performance but greatly improves the tire’s longevity and durability.
The SL version of this tire absorbs road impacts better, making it quieter and smoother than other all-terrain tires, particularly on highways. While the tire comes with a 55,000-mile warranty, it’s not uncommon for users to get 65,000 to 80,000 miles out of it.
Performance and UTQG Rating
The tire’s UTQG rating reflects its superior tread life.
The Falken Wildpeak AT3W has a UTQG rating of 660, meaning it can last up to 6.6 times longer than a standard tire.
Other tires typically range between 500 to 620 in their UTQG ratings, showing how much longer the Falken can last.
Why I Lean Toward BFGoodrich KO2
While the Falken Wildpeak AT3W excels in many areas, I personally lean toward the BFGoodrich T/A KO2 because I prioritize off-road durability. For those who do more off-roading, the KO2’s sidewall strength puts it a step ahead in terms of durability.
Key Features of the Falken Wildpeak AT3W
The Falken Wildpeak AT3W is highly regarded for its performance in wet, snowy, and wear conditions. In fact, the “3W” in its name stands for Wear, Winter, and Wet—the three areas where this tire truly shines.
TireRack tested the Wildpeak AT3W against its main competitor, the Toyo Open Country AT3, to compare their wet performance.
The Falken Wildpeak AT3W took about 127 feet to stop from 50 MPH on wet roads, while the Toyo Open Country AT3 took 137 feet.
This shorter stopping distance highlights the Wildpeak’s superior wet performance.
Additionally, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W outperforms the BFGoodrich T/A KO2 in snow conditions.
On one occasion, I was able to park on a snow-covered lot without realizing how slippery it was until I stepped out of the car—testament to the tire’s outstanding traction.
The tire’s superior performance in wet, snowy, and slushy conditions can be attributed to its numerous sipes, deep tread, and silica compound, all of which enhance grip. These features also reduce road noise and vibration, ensuring a quieter ride.
In terms of noise and vibration, the Wildpeak AT3W is the smoothest and quietest tire I’ve come across in the all-terrain category.
While many tires become noisy and uncomfortable at speeds over 60 MPH, the Wildpeak AT3W, along with the BFGoodrich KO2, remains quiet even at 80 MPH on the highway.
The tire’s lateral and circumferential grooves also disperse water effectively, preventing hydroplaning. In comparison, the BFGoodrich KO2 doesn’t perform as well in this area.
Off-Road and Dry Performance
The Wildpeak AT3W performs admirably on dry roads thanks to its mildly aggressive tread, providing excellent straight-line grip. However, I did notice higher rolling resistance in the SL version compared to the LT version, which had lower resistance.
For off-road enthusiasts, I would recommend the LT version of the Falken Wildpeak AT3W. However, for me, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 remains the best choice for off-roading due to its superior durability.
2- BFGoodrich AT T/A KO2
Normally, BFGoodrich T/A KO2 LT tires are available in E-load ratings, but for the 275/60R18 size, they come in D-load.
This is great news for many people who prefer not to use E-load tires on their trucks but still expect the performance of LT-rated tires.
The D-load tires in this size offer a more comfortable, quieter, and smoother ride, making the BFGoodrich T/A KO2 a solid choice.
The primary reason I prefer this tire is its durability, combined with its all-around capability across all four seasons.
I’ve tested many tires, and often there’s a trade-off—if a tire performs well off-road, it tends to compromise on-road comfort. This tire, however, balances both exceptionally well.
I chose the BFGoodrich T/A KO2 for both my daily driving and off-road adventures.
While it may not deliver superior performance in every single category, it offers reliable performance in all conditions—and that’s why I trust it so much.
Key Benefits:
- Super durable
- Performs well in all four seasons
- 70k-mile lifespan
- Excellent daily driving and all-terrain capabilities
- Quiet and comfortable at highway speeds
- Outstanding off-road endurance
- Great for towing and hauling
- Features 3-ply sidewalls for added toughness
All-terrain tires are unique because they combine the characteristics of both mud and highway terrain tires. Their goal is to offer a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride on paved roads while retaining the power and stability to handle rough terrain off-road. And, of course, they must perform well in all seasons.
Many all-terrain tires struggle to perform well in all areas, often sacrificing performance in one condition to succeed in another. However, the BFGoodrich T/A KO2 manages to provide a balanced, consistent performance across the board.
One standout feature is how quiet this tire remains, even at high speeds.
Whether I’m cruising at 80 MPH on the highway or just running errands in town, it never gets noisy—a common issue with many tires once they wear down. Thanks to its full-depth sipes and interlocking tread blocks, it remained quiet and comfortable up to around 55,000 miles.
The braking is also impressive, making it a safe choice for city driving as well.
Despite the large 20-inch rims, the BFGoodrich T/A KO2 delivers excellent braking power, which adds another layer of safety to my driving experience.
Another notable feature is its low rolling resistance.
Despite being an LT load tire, it doesn’t impact fuel efficiency as much as other tires in this class. This makes it a smart choice for daily use.
Performance Overview
- Noise and Comfort: I have no complaints, and neither does anyone I know who has used this tire. It’s also great at cornering, offering stable and sharp handling thanks to its stiff 3-ply sidewalls.
- Wet Roads: The only downside is its performance in wet conditions. Its thick, steep sidewalls, while excellent for durability, limit its grip on wet roads. This is a common issue among all-terrain tires. The interlocking tread design makes it quieter on highways but doesn’t channel water effectively, making it prone to hydroplaning in standing water. To counter this, I simply drive more cautiously in standing water conditions—there’s no need to push my truck like a sports car!
- Snow: On the other hand, its snow performance is fantastic. The BFGoodrich T/A KO2 is 3PMSF and M+S certified, meaning it performs well in severe winter conditions and muddy terrains. Its sipes and tread compounds allow it to grip snow just like a dedicated winter tire.
- Dry Roads: The tire’s tightly packed tread blocks ensure a strong contact patch, delivering responsive steering, sharp handling, and reliable braking and acceleration on dry roads. The BFGoodrich T/A KO2 excels in dry, hot conditions—no tire I’ve tested offers better performance on dry pavement.
Towing and Off-Roading
For me, the main attraction of this tire is its towing capacity and off-road prowess.
I’ve towed a 3-ton trailer with ease and still managed to get 70,000 miles out of these tires, making them the best option for heavy-duty towing.
Off-road, the KO2’s capabilities are unmatched.
Whether you’re navigating rough terrain, rock crawling, or overlanding, this tire handles it all. While the E-load tire is ideal for extreme off-roading, the D-load version offers a bit more comfort without sacrificing too much capability.
This makes it an excellent choice for light trucks, which benefit from less strain while still getting off-road performance.
The aggressive sidewall tread provides extra traction when tire pressure is reduced, and the strong 3-ply sidewalls are puncture-resistant, offering great protection against off-road damage.
Final Thoughts
The BFGoodrich T/A KO2 is, without a doubt, my favorite all-terrain tire.
It’s the perfect blend of durability, off-road capability, and daily driving comfort. While there are alternatives, like the Falken Wildpeak AT3W, I always come back to the KO2 for its all-rounder performance.
3- Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S
This tire falls into a slightly different category. As an ATR (All-Terrain Road) tire, it’s designed for 70% on-road and 30% off-road performance.
Tires in this segment focus on reducing noise and enhancing road comfort.
One of the top ATR tires is the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S, which is ideal for daily drivers who primarily drive on paved roads.
Here’s when it could be the right choice for you:
- You need a tire for daily driving.
- You occasionally drive on light off-road surfaces, such as dirt or gravel roads.
- You want all-terrain tire performance with the comfort of a road tire.
- You’re looking for a highway-friendly ride with four-season capability.
The best part?
It’s an affordable tire, which is a major reason for its popularity. The performance is excellent for its price.
It’s also 3PMSF and M+S certified, meaning it provides reliable traction in wet, snowy, muddy, and dry conditions. For 20-inch rims, having a tire that grips well in snow is crucial, and this tire delivers.
Its performance in snowy conditions is nearly on par with the Falken WildPeak AT3W, though not quite identical. Both tires are great for daily drivers, but if you’re looking for a 100% on-road all-terrain tire, these two are top contenders.
That said, the Falken WildPeak AT3W outshines most tires in wet and snowy conditions and offers full off-road capabilities, even in its standard load variant.
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S, on the other hand, is more of a highway terrain tire.
It delivers a quiet, smooth, and comfortable ride, perfect for those who don’t venture far off-road. It may struggle with rougher terrains, but if you occasionally need to drive on gravel, fields, or flat surfaces, it will perform just fine.
For those living in rainy areas, I personally recommend the WildPeak AT3W.
- It has a stopping distance of 127.30 feet in wet conditions,
- while the Toyo Open Country AT3 requires 150 feet.
This makes the WildPeak AT3W superior on wet roads, ranking it second in the category.
Finally
However, I don’t recommend Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S for heavy-duty trucks like the F-250, F-350, or Ram-2500. Most negative reviews come from heavy vehicle owners.
But, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly tire that’s perfect for highway and daily driving, this tire is a great option. Just steer clear if you’re planning on doing serious off-roading.
4- Toyo Open Country AT3
The Toyo Open Country AT3 is another well-rounded all-terrain tire, and it’s been getting a lot of attention lately—so you might have already heard about it.
Though Toyo is a Japanese brand, their tires are manufactured in the U.S. and have a solid reputation for producing high-quality tires. The Toyo Open Country AT3 is performing exceptionally well in the all-terrain category.
This tire comes in both SL (Standard Load) and LT (Light Truck) versions in the 275/60R20 size.
Most LT tires in this size usually come with a D load, so if you need E-load tires, the Toyo Open Country AT3 is an excellent alternative to the Falken Wildpeak AT3W or BFG T/A KO2.
That said, I would recommend going with the Falken Wildpeak AT3W SL over the Toyo Open Country AT3 SL tires. But why avoid the SL version when so many people are buying them?
Here’s why:
- The SL version has relatively flat, non-aggressive sidewalls, whereas the LT version has much more aggressive sidewalls.
- The UTQG rating of the Toyo Open Country AT3 SL is 600, compared to the Wildpeak AT3W’s 660. The higher the rating, the longer the tire’s tread life.
However, the Toyo Open Country AT3 SL is significantly lighter, weighing about 43 pounds, compared to the Wildpeak AT3W’s 48 pounds. But for me, tire quality is more important than weight—so I don’t necessarily seek out lightweight tires, but rather the best ones.
Both tires have a tread depth of 13/32nds, so there’s no difference there.
The Toyo Open Country AT3 also offers a solid 65k mile warranty, which is impressive despite its 600 UTQG treadwear rating.
One thing to note is that the tread design of the Toyo Open Country AT3 is very similar to the Wildpeak AT3W, and because of this, its performance in the snow is nearly identical.
However, when it comes to wet traction, the Wildpeak AT3W pulls ahead. This is clear from TireRack’s test data:
- The Falken Wildpeak AT3W stops from 50 MPH in about 127 feet on wet roads.
- The Toyo Open Country AT3 takes 137 feet.
A shorter stopping distance is always better, so it’s evident which tire performs better in wet conditions.
That being said, the Toyo Open Country AT3’s wet performance isn’t bad at all. In fact, the Wildpeak AT3W is the top performer in both wet and snowy conditions, so being slightly behind it isn’t a major issue.
To put it in perspective, many tires have a wet stopping distance of over 147 feet, so the Toyo Open Country AT3 still outperforms 95% of other tires in wet traction.
Its performance on dry and snowy roads is also commendable, and being 3PMSF-rated, it’s designed to provide grip in harsh conditions.
The LT version of the Toyo Open Country AT3 is particularly great for off-road driving and towing. Despite being an E-load tire, it’s slightly lighter than the D-load versions of the BFG T/A KO2 or Falken Wildpeak AT3W, so weight isn’t a concern.
This tire is perfect for those looking for E-load options for off-roading or towing heavy trailers or RVs.
However, if you’re into rock crawling or need extra-strong, thick sidewalls, I would opt for the BFG T/A KO2 with its 3-ply sidewalls.
Interestingly, the LT version of the Toyo Open Country AT3 has very aggressive sidewalls, unlike its SL counterpart. It also comes with a 50k mile warranty on LT models.
Now, how do these tires perform for highway driving and daily use?
I’d say the Toyo Open Country AT3 has 50% aggressive tread, yet it produces minimal noise and vibration. It’s quiet and smooth even at highway speeds.
If you’re comparing it to the Falken Wildpeak AT3W and want an E-load tire, there aren’t many options beyond the Toyo Open Country AT3. However, I personally think the Wildpeak AT3W is a better choice. In terms of performance, the difference between the two is like night and day—just my opinion.
When compared to the BFG T/A KO2 LT load, the Toyo Open Country AT3 may be slightly ahead in wet performance, but the KO2 would win in terms of durability.
5- Michelin LTX AT2
It’s more accurate to call these tires highway terrain tires rather than true all-terrain tires.
So, if you’re looking for a full all-terrain tire, this may not be the right choice for you.
These tires have gained popularity in the all-terrain category mainly because of their excellent on-road comfort and quiet performance.
They aren’t great for off-roading, but they perform decently on roads. Off-road, they’re manageable on gravel and dirt roads, but nothing more.
According to Michelin, these tires are designed for 40% gravel and 60% on-road driving, and that seems to be a perfect fit.
So, if you’re in need of a quiet, comfortable all-terrain tire for the road—not for aggressive off-road adventures—then this tire will suit you well.
To put it simply, it’s a reliable road tire for daily driving, as long as you don’t expect too much in terms of off-road performance.
When it comes to snow, it handles light snow fine, but for those living in areas with harsh winters, be cautious—it struggles in heavy snow.
These tires are M+S-rated, not 3PMSF-rated. The 3PMSF rating offers snow grip and traction that’s about 10 times better than M+S-rated tires. This explains why it’s not ideal for heavy snow conditions.
On the upside, it performs significantly better on wet roads and has good dry traction. However, it tends to slip on wet grass and mud due to its tread design, which lacks a strong biting edge.
It’s fine for towing an RV or trailer on paved roads, but towing off-road will wear the tread down quickly since the tread is quite soft. This softness provides better grip but results in slightly worse fuel economy due to increased rolling resistance.
One of the tire’s best features is its long tread life when used primarily on the road. Michelin backs this up with a 60,000-mile warranty.
However, for those driving super-duty trucks, this tire is not a reliable option.
It wears out quickly on heavy vehicles like the F-250, F-350, or RAM-3500. Additionally, in the 275/60R20 size, it doesn’t come in an LT load, so it will wear out faster than an SL tire. Super-duty truck drivers should stay away from it.
In summary, this tire is best suited for on-road and highway driving, offering a smooth and quiet ride, much like a standard road tire. However, if you compare it to the Cooper Discover AT/3 4S, the difference is like night and day.
The Cooper Discover AT/3 4S is part of the ATR segment and is also quiet, smooth, and comfortable, just like a road tire. But it’s 3PMSF-rated, so it performs better in snow and wet conditions, and it has far superior off-road capabilities compared to the Michelin LTX AT2.
The Michelin LTX AT2, in particular, hasn’t seen any significant improvements in nearly 20 years, even in the era of the AT3 tires—it’s still stuck in its AT2 version.
So, consider carefully which tire will serve you best.