While BFGoodrich Tires captured its 31st overall SCORE Baja 500 win, it wasn’t the only milestone achieved by the brand at the 47th running of the Bud Light SCORE Baja 500 in Baja California, Mexico.
Bringing a new product to the grueling terrain that accompanies Baja desert racing often causes heartache. But just as the brand did in 2013 with the original KR2 for Trophy Trucks, BFGoodrich introduced its new Baja T/A KR2 UTV tire which was lauded as a “game changer” by the two teams that ran on them in the UTV class.
Two race teams trusted in the brand, its heritage at Baja and engineering the new tire, based on the widely successful Baja T/A KR2 race tire which has now won 12 overall desert race titles in the past two years.
The Jagged X Racing entry and Glazzkraft Bomber both strapped the new tire under their Class 19 UTV ready to make history. In the end, while the record for UTV finishing time stayed in tact, the new tire withstood the grueling punishment the Baja desert served up.
“It’s very clear that this tire was designed for a UTV,” said Brandon Schueler, driver for Jagged X Racing, which crossed the line in 15 hours and 47 minutes and rolled across second in class, but placed fourth on corrected time. “It’s not a rigid truck tire, and it’s not a quad tire in a bigger size. This tire has all of the characteristics – outstanding traction, great handling and extreme durability – to make it the best UTV tire period. We pounded this tire relentlessly for the 510 mile race, and there was almost no wear on them.”
Alonso Lopez piloted the Glazzkraft Bomber, which ran into mechanical issues and had to give up their run for history. “One of the benefits of the new tire is definitely the lighter weight,” said Lopez. “It gives you better acceleration and when it came to going through silt and climbing rocks, its traction was superb. In some sandy areas, we did not even need to use the four-wheel drive, which gave us the option to save the front differential for a better use when it was really needed. We had no flats at all and the tires look just like new. Overall, this new tire surpassed our expectations, and we can’t wait to use them again in the next race.”
The BFGoodrich Baja T/A® KR2 UTV is the first UTV-specific tire produced by BFGoodrich, offering increased mobility in soft soils, enhanced traction in mud and improved braking in loose and rocky soil. The tire is available for racers and enthusiasts exclusively through race distributor Jackson Motorsports.
Jackson Motorsports is a leading motorsports and events company and race tire distributor, as well as the exclusive provider for BFGoodrich Tires’ non-DOT off-road race tires. Racers and UTV enthusiasts can learn more about the BFGoodrich Baja T/A KR2 UTV tire by calling 1.800.RACEBFG or visiting www.beat1301.com.
Desert racing continues later this summer with the Best In The Desert Vegas to Reno race (August 13-15) and the SCORE Imperial Valley 250 in September.
