BFGoodrich releases All-Terrain T/A KDR2+ for ‘increasingly tougher’ Dakar

In order to build on its successful performance during the 2017 Dakar, BFGoodrich has prepared for the next edition of the world’s most demanding cross-country rally by developing a bespoke new tyre: the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KDR2+.

The newcomer incorporates the latest technologies developed by the off-road tyre specialist to deliver even greater versatility and resistance than its predecessor. While BFGoodrich notes that the original KDR2 was the “benchmark” tyre in the sport, it believes the new generation provides competitors with a “plus” when dealing with the increasingly tougher challenge presented by the Dakar’s organisers.

“For the drivers, a good tyre is one that enables them to showcase their ability,” says Matt Hanlon, the engineer in charge of the BFGoodrich KDR2+ project. “To achieve this, a tyre must be capable of responding perfectly to input via the steering wheel and playing a part in maximising the efficiency of the vehicle’s suspension. It also needs to perform consistently in a wide range of weather conditions and over a broad spectrum of surface types. A good tyre also needs to be reliable so that the drivers can focus on their speed and navigation.”

When designing the BFGoodrich KDR2+, the development team’s work focused on the two essential priorities for a Dakar tyre, namely versatility and reliability. The end-result is an all-new tyre that addresses the needs of two- and four-wheel drive vehicles alike.

Efficient in all conditions

BFGoodrich shares that the KDR2+ was engineered to combine enhanced grip with improved steering response and traction – especially on muddy ground – with no detriment to overall performance. At the same time, it carries over the very best of its predecessor to guarantee optimal efficiency when running on hard-packed or sandy terrain, climbing dunes or driving along aggressive, rocky trails in extreme temperatures – useful characteristics, given that Dakar stages visit altitudes ranging from sea level to more than 4,000 metres.

Improvements made to the BFGoodrich KDR2+ include a new, more open tread pattern, while the casing has been reinforced to provide added protection against punctures.

For the first time, on the 2018 Dakar, the BFGoodrich KDR2+ will be fitted to both two- and four-wheel drive vehicles; the manufacturer says the tyre will “deliver the same level of performance for all the brand’s partner teams, irrespective of the type of vehicle they run.”
A more efficient tread pattern and reinforced casing

The BFGoodrich KDR2+ features a completely redesigned tread pattern. Compared with the 2017-generation BFGoodrich KDR2 for two-wheel drive vehicles, the KDR2+ features a more open tread pattern – especially along the shoulders – for enhanced performance on mud and soft ground. In comparison with the BFGoodrich KDR that was available for four-wheel drive vehicles in 2017, the KDR2+ stands out through its flatter profile which ensures a bigger contact patch, while its overall diameter has been increased by two millimetres. At the same time, the KDR2+’s construction has been strengthened to cope even more efficiently with aggressive conditions.

For each of the sizes in which the BFGoodrich KDR2+ is available (two-wheel drive vehicles: 37/12.5-17 / four-wheel drive: 245/80-16), there is a choice of two compounds: soft (S) and medium (M). This will allow the brand’s partner teams to run different strategies as a function of the stages’ respective profiles and the prevailing weather conditions.
Teamwork: the key to performance

According to BFGoodrich, the improvements delivered by the new KDR2+ are the fruit of first class teamwork and data sharing. Indeed, BFGoodrich’s latest Dakar tyre incorporates technologies that come from a wide variety of fields, from aviation, agriculture, civil engineering and mining, to trucks, light vans, conventional rallying and circuit racing. Working this way allowed BFGoodrich to take advantage of the extensive expertise of engineers operating in a wide cross-section of areas.

BFGoodrich’s teams also worked closely with the brand’s partner teams and drivers throughout the development process. From the initial design phase and simulation work to testing in real-world conditions, X-Raid, Toyota Overdrive, Toyota Gazoo Racing and Peugeot Sport all played active parts, and the result is a product said to perfectly meets their needs.

Tested and approved

Testing is a key moment in any tyre’s development cycle. In the case of the KDR2+, the process began with finding a location that was representative of the terrain visited by the Dakar. The next step was to analyse the tyre’s performance in the sort of conditions competitors will actually face, which involved travelling to destinations as varied as Morocco, the USA, South America, China, Russia and Hungary. This work always needs to be extremely meticulous in order to make sure that the data collected during each phase is coherent and transposable. While simulators or artificial terrain can be used to investigate specific aspects of a tyre’s specification, nothing can replace actually running on the sort of diverse and unpredictable terrain that drivers can expect to come across during a typical Dakar.

At the end of the day, however, the most effective test for this kind of tyre is the Dakar itself. Here, BFGoodrich engineers worked closely with the brand’s partner teams to harvest the indispensable data for fine-tuning its products, thanks notably to feedback from the drivers. After the finish, tyres are analysed in detail, then dissected with a view to inspecting their casing. “It is this rigorous process that has helped BFGoodrich to forge the unique expertise it boasts today in the world of cross-country rallying,” comments the tyre maker.