Ford has released the second video in its six-part series detailing the all-new 2017 F-150 Raptor. (Check out part one here) The minute-long clip shows why Ford engineers chose BFGoodrich’s completely revised All-Terrain T/A tire for the Raptor, all while the truck blasts through the desert in slow motion glory.

For those unfamiliar, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tire is largely credited with creating the all-terrain tire category more than 30 years ago. In those decades, the tire has undergone four generational changes, the latest of which comes standard on the 2017 Raptor.

This new generation of All-Terrain T/A is called the KO2. It replaces the previous KO tire with a new internal construction, thicker sidewalls, larger sidewall lugs, improved rubber compounds, and a revised tread design. The KO2’s tread still recalls the original tread of previous generations, but its new design is said to provide better traction in every condition, including snow and ice. In fact, the KO2 earns the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol – a big deal for any tire.

Thanks to all these advancements, the KO2 is said to be 20 percent stronger than the KO, while gripping 19 percent better in the snow and 10 percent better in mud. BFGoodrich says it’s designed to last twice as long on harsh gravel roads and 15 percent longer on conventional asphalt then the outgoing All-Terrain T/A.

While those numbers are based on corporate speak, the All-Terrain T/A’s long-standing reputation is widely known. It’s easy to see why Ford was keen on adopting the new KO2s for the 2017 Raptor. We just can’t wait to get behind the 2017 Raptor’s wheel and see for ourselves.

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Why It Matters

Tire choices are extremely important – that goes for everything from the latest Corvette Z06 and Mazda MX5 Miata to the rough-and-tumble Raptor. It doesn’t matter how much power the engine makes or how well the brakes work if those forces aren’t properly sent to the ground. Those in the off-roading community will instantly recognize the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tire and the solid all-around performance it has on the street and trail. There’s even been several vehicles to use the All-Terrain T/A as original equipment from the factory. A few include the Hummer H2, the Ram Power Wagon, and of course, the F-150 Raptor.

Beyond the tire, the 2017 Raptor is a big deal for Ford. The factory-built Baja runner has sold incredibly well, even in its early years during the Great Recession. The Raptor is undoubtedly Ford SVT’s greatest sales achievement, surpassing the F-150 Lightning by a long shot. Though the Raptor is no longer under the SVT umbrella, it’s still a “special vehicle,” and one no less desirable.

The 2017 Raptor comes powered by Ford’s heavily updated 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, which is said to produce more horsepower and torque than the previous Raptor’s 6.2-liter V-8. That puts the EcoBoost above 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque. Power is now routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission and a two-speed 4WD transfer case. A terrain management system allows the driver to dial in the conditions, allowing the computer to better manage the traction control and ABS operation.

The 2017 Raptor should arrive in showrooms in the fall of 2016.

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

Read our full review on the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor here.