Thread: Best mud tyres for Defender

Originally Posted by disco-dave

My brakes are not good, but then they werent before the new tyres either. The tyres have amplified the problem (couldnt hold the car on a steep but easily driveable hill without it rolling back, the wheels rotating, not slipping!) so i am going to change fluid and check pads and give them a general service on the weekend, see if that makes things better!
Dave

Yeah..I can relate to the bad brakes being amplified by larger tyres issue.
I also have Bighorn 255's.
I have drums on the back of my County too...can you imagine!

I finally got scared into action when I had the whole family in the car, loaded up for a camping trip and travelling down south.

When I got home, i stripped the front calipers and put new pistons and seals in (pistons were pitted), new brake pads in the front, new rotors ($24 each for new solid rotors) replaced the perished (probably 26 years old) rubber brake lines with SS braided lines, bled it all and adjusted rear drums (everything else was fine on the back). Holy Crap....what a difference....suddenly I discovered that us County and Defender owners have a choice to NOT live with bad brakes.

Cheers
Andre

Everyone seems aware of the Maxxis Bighorn but they also make another, the Maxxis Buckshot Mudder. Very similar to the Bighorn but with a slightly more open tread. I've got them on my 300tdi Def. and can't fault them. Reading some 4wd mag and I read the guy who owns Opposite Lock Sydney South also runs them on his Defender.

Most manufacturers have their range on the web for asthetic comparison..

Just put a set of BFG MT's KM2 265/75/16 on the Fender and I couldn't be happier. Off road (mud, sand, crap) they have performed exceptionally well and on road they are surprisingly quiet. And just as important they look friggin awesome!!! The 265's are marginally taller than originals but the speedo is now spot on and makes no difference to the drive.

Hey JayWalk - nice looking truck (been checking out your gallery too).

I'm looking at the same tyres (265/75/16 BFG KM2's) for my 2009 110 wagon...factory boost alloys (currently still with the General Grabbers on). From what I can gauge reading plenty of threads they seem to be a straight swap and will run on standard suspension without rubbing either the rear towers or the radius arms at the front???

Have you found it to be a trouble-free mod on the boost alloys with standard suspension?

Thanks

Chops110

Originally Posted by Gav110

OK this one ought to get some comments flying. I need a set of proper traction tyres - sufficient to cope with mud, clay, wet grass etc. Sand is less of a concern - happy to air down.

Most MTs cope well with mud, but anyone who has tackled sticky clay knows that even 'serious' tyres like Cooper STTs (which I have now - 265/75) will fill the voids up and hold it unless spun hard - which is downright dangerous on steep slopes.

In a recent 4WD Action review, the overall winner was the BFG Mud Terrain KM2, however the judges were surprised how well the Mickey Thompson Baja Claw faired on road - and it scored very highly overall.

The Silverstone M117 also scored extremely well offroad, but was penalised on road - but I know it is highly regarded in the group.

Given Defender drivers are (generally) realistic about the nature of their vehicles and set them up for more offroad bias (why else would you really buy one?) I am not considering 'softer' options.

I am leaning towards the Baja Claw, or possibly the NEW BFG MT KM2, but would possibly consider something more extreme if the onroad aspects are at least safe.

Keen to hear experiences and views of these 3, and any others. I should add that I need at least some road safety as this is a kiddie transporter and tourer when not hitting trails.

I am also interested in any views on the best after market alloy wheel (prefer over the look of steel) which can increase track without needing a new set of guard extensions, while fitting up ideally 285/75 or 265/75.

Have seen offerings from Zu/Landrover Tuning which look impressive but pricey (Landrover Tuning :: Defender Alloy Rim 7"x16" offset 25mm, Light Strong - Exterior Defender - << Defender >> - Default Store View) - will they fit these tyres on a standard Puma without rubbing?

Also impressive looking is the Outlaw from LRA: Alloy Rims

I want the max. track I can get, without modifying the guards, to run ideally 285/75 or fallback 265/75

Again, any views appreciated.

There was a post earlier that commented on Simex. I think almost every tyre that has been talked about in this thread has been a MT type pattern which will be designed with similar intended uses for what you already have. If you are looking for something more aggressive you will reduce your streetability, but thats the compromise. If you're after a bog style tyre so that you don't get bogged in clay etc, then radial muds just simply wont cut it - and that includes the claw and the latest BFG MT from what I've seen. You really need to be looking at Bog style tyres such as the Simex Jungle Trekker 2 which are fine on the road except for the typical bias ply tyre cold morning flat spots. These tyres like the Simex JT2 or maybe the ET are where you need to be for any clay work. Be aware that many like the Maxxis Creepy, Swampers etc are not necessarily legal for road work due to their ratings, where the Simex are (verify this yourself)

Just a quick heresay type comment from a miner I know.

He reckoned that the pit he works at (Bengalla) tested Big Horns, the new BFG MT and Cooper STT's and the Big Horns did the worst in terms of wear, chipping and shredding.
This did surprise me as I've run two sets of BFG MT's (old style) and now 762 Big Horns and mine have been fine so far.
They cop a caning on the roads around here, which are mainly shale which is usually hell on tyres, and the 762's seem to be about on par with the BFG's.

I wish more 255/85's were available, there are many more brands and tyres in that size available OS but the companies won't bring them in, too small to non existent market they reckon.

One interesting one is a Toyo MT with three ply sidewalls. It's also slightly taller than most 255/85's at 33.5" diameter. Toyo's are bit on the exxy side but have a fantastic reputation with tour operators for durability. Shame they won't bring that tyre in.

Time for a "buyers update" report:

Have now got just under 10,000 km on my 285/75/16 BFG MT KM2s and absolutely loving them. Those tread blocks don't hold anything - mud and goop just flies past my window, and almost no stones in the tread blocks unlike my old Cooper STTs.

Noise is similar to the STTs I had on my TD5 but because the rest of the car is quieter I tend to notice them more. Not unpleasant though. Rid and handling, plus wet road grip - all outstanding.

I've just fitted Roadstone Roadian MT Tyres to my County. I've gone back to 235/85/16 on Wolf Rims and am going to use these for mainly road use ( and the occasional play after work ) They are really smooth on the road and for the first time I can appreciate my new springs and shocks. Also only cost $210 each fitted.

For purely off road playing I've decided to get a set of those Insa Turbo Special Track Tyres.I'll stick to 265/75/16 on the Disco rims. They look like a copy of another brand but at half the cost.

Anybody else use them ???