We were eager to test this tire, as we'd been trying for some time to get our hands on a set of the BFGoodrich Baja T/A KRTs-a tire that's made in race-only versions (not DOT-approved) but is available from BFG through its race program. Now, before you whine that you'll never be able to get a set because you're not part of the race program, we'd like you to know that it's actually not hard to sign up after contacting BFGoodrich. You just have to actually take the time to do so, and you'll have access to good deals on race tires you can purchase directly from BFG. When this new set of Baja T/A KRTs arrived at our offices, we were a little excited to go test these: We've had experience with the standard Baja T/A in both street-legal and race versions, and have also tried the smaller and more aggressive Baja T/A that comes in a 33-inch and 35-inch sizing, but this is the first time we've been able to try the big dogs-the tire made from a need for more traction while still meeting the requirements of a tire that can stay together for an entire race. When we got the BFGoodrich Baja T/A KRTs (long name, huh?) we mounted them on a wheel worthy of such a cool tire: the Centerline I.C.E. three-piece beadlock with a built-in runflat. We couldn't really ask for a nicer package to try on a truck that probably didn't deserve them.When we got the BFGoodrich Baja T/A KRTs (long name, huh?) we mounted them on a wheel wort Notice the sticker! "For off-road use only." They are not DOT-approved, and are therefore not legal to drive on the highways. There are no street-legal versions like there are with the standard Baja T/A.Notice the sticker! "For off-road use only." They are not DOT-approved, and are therefore We mounted our Baja T/A KRTs on Centerline three-piece I.C.E beadlock wheels to give the ultimate performance package to our test truck. Unfortunately, the test truck broke before we were able to test them, and we barely got the truck back together in time to get some hours on these tires. In the future, we'll be giving you some long-term updates to let you know how these work out, but so far they've been excellent and we haven't chunked any tread out at all. These tires are obviously purpose-built, and while we're not racing on them we will be using them hard and putting them through their paces. Race trucks do not run super-aggressive tires because the tread lugs will get ripped apart by the high horsepower and high speeds while traveling over rough terrain. The BFGoodrich Baja T/A KRT is a sort of hybrid for racers looking for more traction out of a race-style tire. The tread design is much more aggressive than a standard Baja T/A, but the KRT still has a low-profile tread depth to keep the lugs from being ripped off even though the void spacing is large. Also, notice the ribs on the sidewall of the tire? That's how you can tell a BFGoodrich race tire from a street-legal one. The Baja T/A KRT has no street-legal version, but the Baja T/A has one-and with no ribs on the sidewall.Race trucks do not run super-aggressive tires because the tread lugs will get ripped apart Here was a tire that was only made in a race version, and it gave more traction than other comparable desert race tires while still being smooth enough to hold together and not have the lugs rip off. Admittedly, we didn't get as much time as we wanted on the tire because the transmission gave out and we had to cut our time short. We'll definitely be giving you a long-term update in the future.Here was a tire that was only made in a race version, and it gave more traction than other Though these tires are not street-legal, we did get a chance to try them out on a closed highway. They were nothing special rolling down the road, and performed like any smooth-treaded tire should on dry pavement. We doubt the wet pavement traction would be much good since there is no siping on the tread blocks.Though these tires are not street-legal, we did get a chance to try them out on a closed h We did have a quick few minutes trying to chew the lugs up a bit in rocks. They actually seemed to deflect any damage pretty well. We didn't even bother lowering the tire pressure past 20 psi, but we managed to smoke them on a few rocks and flex them out pretty well. The sidewalls are definitely on the thicker side-something expected from a race tire.We did have a quick few minutes trying to chew the lugs up a bit in rocks. They actually s Just in case you're interested, here's a 39x13.50R17 Baja T/A KRT (left) next to a 39x13.50R17 Krawler (right). The dimensions of the unloaded tires are pretty much identical, with the Baja T/A KRT being just a tad wider. The tread design is similar, but the lugs are a little closer together on the KRT. The tread depth is not as great on the Baja T/A/ KRT either, as too tall of a tread lug would rip off during racing.Just in case you're interested, here's a 39x13.50R17 Baja T/A KRT (left) next to a 39x13.5 SPECS (AS TESTED) MAKE/MODEL: BFGoodrich Baja T/A KRT (race only) MOUNTED ON: 17x9 Centerline I.C.E three-piece beadlock wheels SIZE ON SIDEWALL: 39x13.50R17 TREAD DEPTH: 68 on tread, 58 on sidewall with type-Atire durometer MEASURED DIAMETER UNLOADED: 38.50 inches MEASURED WIDTH UNLOADED: 14.00 inches MEASURED TREAD WIDTH: 11.50 inches AVAILABLE SIZES: 39 inches tall AVAILABLE FOR: 17-inch wheels Sources BFGoodrich Tires P.O. Box 19001 Greenville SC 29602 877-788-8899 www.bfgoodrichtires.com By Jerrod Jones Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
