Thread: BFGoodrich KM2 high tyre wear + pressures?

Alignment done. Toe-in was off by -0.5deg and -1.0deg

I asked if this was a lot and the tyre guy said "sh*tloads". I guess it must've been like that for a while. I also got asked if i'd been bashing the car around.

"well, it is a Defender..."

Originally Posted by Samblers

Alignment done. Toe-in was off by -0.5deg and -1.0deg

I asked if this was a lot and the tyre guy said "sh*tloads". I guess it must've been like that for a while. I also got asked if i'd been bashing the car around.

"well, it is a Defender..."

Defenders toe OUT, not in. (Spec is 0-2mm toe OUT, but those values do seem along way out)

Originally Posted by Samblers

Post up your tread depth measurement when you have done them

Cheers

Will do mate,

I'm still searching for my tread depth gauge. I put it somewhere safe, so safe, I can't find it. I even went to Super Cheap to guy another but they are $7 and since I already have one somewhere, I figured it was a waste of money. I might just use a ruler.

Happy Days

Originally Posted by rick130

Defenders toe OUT, not in. (Spec is 0-2mm toe OUT, but those values do seem along way out)

Umm, yeah, toe out, oops

Guy said 15 minutes is about 1mm. So i guess 1 degree is waaay out.

It's alright everyone. You can stop helping me look now. I found my tread depth gauge.

So the undriven spare is a smidge over 14mm and 3 of the running tyres with just over 7,000km a smidge over 13mm. The 4th running tyre is on the passenger (left) side front and it's about right on 13mm (round abouts, in town).

I know a couple have posted and guessed your tyre size at 235/85-16. Can you confirm as different tyre sizes of the same brand and model vary greatly in construction. Just an example, 31.5x10.5R15 are 6 ply where the 245x75R16 that I have are 10 ply. The higher ply rating means less tread flex, this means less heat and therefore longer mileage. The lower ply ratings are however on the wider tyres which means for the same weight they have a wider foot print compared to a narrower tyre that has a longer foot print for the same weight. So as the wider tyre has a shorter foot print, this means less tread flex, less heat and therefore longer life. It's very hard to make head or tails of peoples comments on tyres and tyre life for particular brands without considering tyre sizes. For example the standard Disco 2 tyre size is 235X70R16 (6 ply) but many fit 245x75R16 (10ply). If you were to compare tyre life the 245x75R16 should greatly outlast the standard tyre. Its wider, larger diameter and higher ply rating every point that reduces tread flex which reduces heat and extends life. If some one was to replace a standard size tyre and change brands at the same time the later tyre would look ridiculousness better but be a product of the dimensions rather than the brand or model of tyre.

Further to Joel's post, tyre sizes can vary batch to batch, let alone between makes.
Just because a tyre has 235/85-16 on the sidewall doesn't automatically mean it measures up at that.

In another lifetime when I raced, the Dunlop race tyre blokes would run the stagger tape around the tyres and match them in pairs, they varied so much in circumference/diameter. IIRC in some cases by more than 1/2" and these came out of the same factory and were ostensibly the same tyre !
When running on an open wheeler that's huge.

These were English Dunlops (and IMO were ****) the Japanese factories are much more consistent, but they do vary.
One of the Japanese Bridgestone engineers reckoned one of the hardest things in the world was to make a tyre round too !

[edit] FWIW I've measured two sets of Maxxis 762 Big Horns in 255/85-16 and they all measured damned close to 33.3" diameter when running the tape around the circumference at IIRC around 20-25psi, which is bloody consistent.

Originally Posted by joel0407

So the undriven spare is a smidge over 14mm and 3 of the running tyres with just over 7,000km a smidge over 13mm. The 4th running tyre is on the passenger (left) side front and it's about right on 13mm (round abouts, in town).

Given my measurement on the fronts for the same mileage (down to 9mm) i'd say youre doing good.

For ref, my tyres are 265/75/16

BFG tyres tend to be smaller than advertised - my 315/75R16 are quite a bit smaller than advertised - supposed to be about 35" in the old size but in reality are about 34".

Garry