BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A+ Keeps Off-Road BiteBF GoodrichJack-of-all-trades tires have always been a bit of a futile engineering exercise. There's no free lunch when designing and building a do-it-all tire, and BFGoodrich (BFG) acknowledges that. Beefy all-terrain tires might be brilliant off-road, but they're noisy, inefficient nightmares the second they touch tarmac. That's where BFG's recently updated Trail-Terrain line comes in: It aims to be a road-biased all-terrain tire that still prioritizes comfort, fuel economy, and reduced road noise—while retaining some off-road ability.We were invited to Vail, Colorado, earlier this month to experience the latest Trail-Terrain T/A+ in its predicted environment. BFG's press materials tell us the new tire balances "off-road-inspired style and capability with the on-road comfort and longevity drivers need for daily commutes and weekend getaways." Let's see how it lives up.BF GoodrichBetter by DesignThe ethos of the original Trail-Terrain product line has always been about prioritizing daily drivability without compromising off-road performance. It's clear the new and improved T/A+ variant keeps much of its DNA. The new tire builds on the success of its predecessor, with BFG prioritizing three areas for improvement:All-Weather CompoundA high silica content in the new rubber compound delivers a 10 percent improvement in wet traction over its predecessor. New for 2026, the tire also gains a three-peak mountain snowflake rating. BFG global product manager Brandon Sturgis mentioned that few OE tires they've designed are 3PMS rated, as manufacturers often prioritize higher fuel mileage.Durability and Wear PerformanceThe existing "footprint" shape evenly distributes stress for extended wear. Locking 3D sipes also enhance treadblock stability for even wear over time, helping to deliver 25 percent better wear performance. We should note that the tire tread design is unchanged from the original Trail-Terrain, and all improvements in durability are made through the new rubber compound.Ride Quality and NoiseWhile we'd love to list specifics here, it's not surprising that BFG isn't entirely forthcoming about how the sausage is made. However, it did mention the Trail-Terrain T/A+ rolls 5 percent more efficiently than its predecessor.BF GoodrichThe Driving ExperienceBFGoodrich had quite a few vehicles—all fitted with its new tire—available for us to drive, and we gravitated toward the Subaru Outback Wilderness as it's familiar territory for us. You may remember that we recently tested our long-term 2026 Outback Wilderness fitted with Bridgestone's Dueler A/T tires.AdvertisementAdvertisementBefitting the tire's purpose, we spent most of the drive on the road, where they performed adequately. While we'd love to have had a car fitted with the outgoing tire to drive back to back with this one, the new tire was well-behaved on the road. We were particularly impressed by how quiet and composed they were on tarmac—the lack of added NVH means these would absolutely be daily drivable. For context, as we built speed on the highway, the buffeting from the paddleboard BFG mounted on the roof was louder than any rumble we perceived from the tires.BF GoodrichUpon reaching beautiful Leadville, Colorado, we took an abbreviated detour through nearby dirt roads that lead to some basic off-road features. Let's not forget the Outback Wilderness is already a very capable vehicle, and it didn't lose any of its off-road DNA when fitted with BFG's latest rubber. Even operating at 10,154 feet of altitude, it was clear the Outback was just scratching the surface of its capabilities as we crawled down a rocky descent.BF GoodrichHave Your Cake and Eat It, Too?A closer look at BFG's press material shows its latest Trail-Terrain T/A+ rubber was designed for "those who primarily drive on paved roads and occasionally venture onto unpaved roads." As you can imagine, the goal wasn't to sprinkle in magic fairy dust and crank out a tire able to prerun Baja while optimizing highway fuel efficiency. As much as we'd love to see that, it would miss the entire point.As we were escorted on a whistle-stop tour of the best roads and trails in the greater Vail area, it became clear that these tires are more about evolution than revolution. The real question was whether BFGoodrich's engineering division worked its magic building a road-biased all-terrain tire that performs adequately on tarmac and dirt. That might sound like a relatively straightforward job, but the reality is a very different story.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor a quick bit of context, the tread pattern features size-specific pitch sequencing to reduce perceived cabin noise. "If you look at the tire, these blocks are actually different sizes as you go around," Sturgis said, "and so the size of those, what we call pitches, the size of those blocks, and then the arrangement of those pitches is really super important for low noise." These noise requirements are particularly important for European markets, where tires must meet a 68-dB threshold to even be sold in the E.U.Everything Else You Need to KnowYou may have noticed the new and improved Trail-Terrain T/A+ fills the same role as its predecessor, serving as an OEM+ upgrade for many SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks. BFG still markets its Trail-Terrain rubber as a "replacement tire" for vehicles like the Ford Bronco Sport, Toyota Tacoma, and Subaru Outback.The Trail-Terrain T/A+ will initially be available in 33 sizes, with 17 more sizes available in August. A further expansion is planned for 2027 with additional 17-, 18-, 19-, 20-, and even 22-inch options. The company also announced the Rivian R2 will be shod with the new rubber as part of its available All-Terrain package. Other specifications of the car will likely retain Pirelli Scorpion MS all-season rubber.Photo credit: BF GoodrichPhoto credit: BF GoodrichPhoto credit: BF GoodrichPhoto credit: BF GoodrichAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: BF GoodrichPhoto credit: BF GoodrichPhoto credit: BF Goodrich