Tested on dirt and road

I have long preached that all-terrain tires are the most important upgrade for any adventure vehicle because they provide the traction and stability needed for steep, rough, unpredictable roads. I personally use BFGoodrich KO3s on my 2024 Toyota Tundra, and I’m often glad I have them. Just last weekend those tires helped me and my family safely climb a rocky, steep and difficult mining road up to my favorite camping spot at 11,000 feet outside Silverton, Colorado.

But what if you drive a small, crossover vehicle like a Subaru Crosstrek or Honda CRV that isn’t designed for all-terrain tires? What if you have no interest in off-roading or rock-crawling and you just want to find a dispersed camping spot on a forest road without worrying about getting a flat? You’re far from being alone: ​​This is the case for many, if not most, outdoor adventurers, and that’s why BF Goodrich makes Trail-Terrain.

Originally launched in 2021, the Trail-Terrain T/A received an update in June (now called the T/A+). This new version sits among a small group of crossover-specific, all-terrain tires that includes the Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT, Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT, and the Falcon Wildpeak A/T Trail. All tires in this range will add significant performance, but BFG’s Trail-Terrain T/A+ is the most up-to-date. Early testing shows that the Trail-Terrain T/A+ is a smart choice for drivers who don’t want to go too crazy but still need more performance and protection than an all-season tire.

BF Goodrich Trail-Terrain T/A+

The most significant upgrade in the new Trail-Terrain T/A+ is an updated rubber compound, combined with a special design, making the tire more durable. The design helps the Trail-Terrain T/A+ resist “cut-and-chip” on gravel roads – a phenomenon where small cuts in the rubber eventually cause major issues with the tread.

Thanks to a larger dose of silica in the compound, the Trail-Terrain T/A+ is said to have 10 percent more grip on wet roads than the original Trail-Terrain. The tires also have a Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating, so they’ll grip the road well for commutes to and from the ski area.

BF Goodrich knows that most adventurers do most of their driving on pavement, so they lowered the rolling resistance of the Trail-Terrain T/A+ by five percent from the original, which will make a noticeable difference in gas mileage. To round things off, the Trail-Terrain T/A+ offers a respectable 65,000-mile warranty (up from 60,000 on the original) and reportedly last 25 percent longer so you can use them on your daily driver and not worry about ruining your investment.

I tested the new Trail-Terrain T/A+ on several different vehicles – a Subaru Outback, Toyota 4Runner, Chevy Tahoe and Ford Bronco Sport – during a BF Goodrich event outside Vail, Colorado. My first and foremost impression is that they ride like regular street tires. We spent a lot of time driving down I-70 at 75 mph, and I never felt like I was riding a big heavy all-terrain vehicle that slowed the vehicle down on big hills or felt unstable when rounding turns.

Large lugs and tires with extra grip often create extra noise on the road, but I couldn’t hear any rumble from the Trail-Terrain T/A+. Overall, I was so impressed that I installed a set on our 2015 Toyota Sienna minivan so we could comfortably and confidently take it camping and skiing as well as drive it over 2,000 miles to California and back this summer.

We spent about an hour on rocky dirt roads during Colorado testing, and the tires provided secure traction and support when I put the pedal down and drove fast over washboards and some heavy switchbacks. Whether the tires will actually hold up over hundreds of miles of dirt roads is TBD, but I trust BFGoodrich’s claims. I have used the company’s tires on all my vehicles for the past five years and have abused them regularly without any problems.

Finally, we know looks matter when it comes to tires, and the Trail-Terrain T/A+ doesn’t disappoint; Thanks to chunky tread blocks, the Trail-Terrain T/A+ tires exude a rugged, outdoorsy vibe. (The tire shop staff joked with me that I was upgrading my “dad van” when they fitted Trail-Terrain T/A+ tires to our Sienna.) They don’t scream “I’m an off-roader!” But he does give some heroic credit.