Best mud tyres for Defender

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Originally Posted by Drew90

The problem I have with these Tests are; who is doing them, who do they work for or are sponsored by or what tyres do they use on their vehicle etc. etc. etc.

[snip]

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Case construction also has a huge bearing on this.

What suits one vehicle may be bloody terrible on something else.
Suspension design, components (springs and dampers), geometry and critically weight balance and transfer all vary even within chassis families, as do driver expectations and abilities.

That's why I've always taken comparative tests with a pinch of salt (and I've been involved in comparative tests and major manufacturer race tyre testing in the dim dark distant past)

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Originally Posted by TwoUp

Have to agree with Mudders, first noticed the amount of debris flying up from the KM2s 255/85 on my 98 110.

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Ditto - with the windows open it's free fascials.... Have also fitted a set of MTZs on the camper trailer. The KM2 and MTZ get my gong for best mud tyres.

My 110 has KHUMO Road Venture MT's on it in 33 x 12.5 x R15 LT on 15" alloys that have extra offset.

They are directonal so are not that loud on the road ( not that it matters on a defender) but it dosent seem wallow around like my patrol with bighorns used to on the road.

off the road they are like nothing else i have ever used and just grip on anything, nice big side biters aswell. the flares and mudflaps have been extended about 50mm outwards but it still throws mud and dirt all over the place.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3915679_n.jpg

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Cheers

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Originally Posted by rick130

Case construction also has a huge bearing on this.

What suits one vehicle may be bloody terrible on something else.
Suspension design, components (springs and dampers), geometry and critically weight balance and transfer all vary even within chassis families, as do driver expectations and abilities.

That's why I've always taken comparative tests with a pinch of salt (and I've been involved in comparative tests and major manufacturer race tyre testing in the dim dark distant past)

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So what you got on the 130 Rick and why??

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Originally Posted by Josh_WA

My 110 has KHUMO Road Venture MT's on it in 33 x 12.5 x R15 LT on 15" alloys that have extra offset.

They are directonal so are not that loud on the road ( not that it matters on a defender) but it dosent seem wallow around like my patrol with bighorns used to on the road.

off the road they are like nothing else i have ever used and just grip on anything, nice big side biters aswell.

Cheers

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I had a set of the Khumos when they were first released fitted to my rangie, agree with your comments, but also found they wear reasonably quickly. They were also slightly under stated size. But would more than likely get them again because they were brilliant offroad.

Changed to MTZ's for a touring trip. Mixed feelings about them, handle most things quite well. They are wearing much better than the khumo's. Wet weather handling on road is very good - I missed hitting the idiot that pulled out in front then stopped:eek: although I did end up beside her partially on the footpath. Don't like that rocks etc get caught in the tread because its a V shape between the lugs. I imagine that as they wear out they will become less effective as the space between the lugs becomes less due to the V shape. Quite a few members of our club have them fitted to 110's.

Next I'm going to try Federal Couragia M/T on the 110. Several of the club members have them. They are reasonably priced and have nice open tread pattern.

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Originally Posted by lardy

So what you got on the 130 Rick and why??

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255/85 762 Big Horns, 'cause they're cheaper than BFG MT's :p

The Big Horns are fine, a bit softer in the sidewall (I need to run more pressure than I did with the BFG's) but I suspect the BFG's had a bit more directional stability.

I don't (or didn't) like 235/85 Bridgestone MT's.
It felt like they had too hard a compound, they'd slide around on wet/greasy bitumen at the drop of a hat, but Bridgestone may have changed the compound in the last eight years.
The BFG's and Maxxis tyres were a huge improvement on and off road.

Any idea on new tyre types coming out in 255/85? (doesn't have to be available in AU)

Current list of 255/85 (any others to add?)

Toyo M55
Toyo Open Country MT
Cooper Discoverer S/T
BFG MT
Maxxis Bighorn
Dunlop Grandtrek M/T
Eldorado/Tempra Trailcutter Radial R/T
Remington Mud Brute
Mastercraft Courser M/T
Trxus M/T
Interco Thornbird

any other recommendations for a tall narrow tyre (around ~33")

having a hard time finding aggressive 8.25-16

Well after much research and a whole lot of umming and ahhing, I eventually went for a set of 265/75/16 BFG MT KM2's. They are a good fit on the factory "boost" alloy wheel and they look great too :D.

I also use the 'Fender as a kid transporter and on Tassie's west coast we have lots of wet and slippery bitumen as well as plenty of mud and clay. So far the BFG's have been great on and off road, although they are new and they may not be so good once they've worn in a bit.

My only problem is that the Financial Controller has instructed me to sell the near-new General Grabbers (4 have done 5,000kms, 1 never used) to offset the cost of the new BFG's.....

Cheers

Chops

I have used Maxxis 235/85/16 Bighorns for some 10000km now and I am now noting some things that are interesting (to me at any rate).

The compound is softer than I expected. On road the grip is better than expected on wet, dry and gravel roads.

In the bouldery rock river beds the grip is good but the slime at this time of the year will still trap the truck in larger rocks.

From the broken 'rotten' rock found in the hills here, there are some cuts and nicks appearing in the lugs whereas the last tyres were good.

In the silty mud found in these parts and in the clay elsewhere they perform as expected (great :cool:) and any issues I have are forgotten by the time I get to the other side of the mud.

Treads were 15mm deep when new, 10000 km later I am at 12.5mm in a 110 flat deck. This is a higher wear rate than I was expecting. Daily driven appox 30km round trip to work and back. Regular offroad excursions fishing so sees rocky rivers and rough rocky and muddy tracks. Averages 65km per day over a six month period. Several trips over this period have seen between 600-800kg weight in the trayback as it was firewood gathering time. Each firewood trip sees on and off road hard work. At this rate of wear and for the jobs I expect from the truck I am estimating between 35000-55000 km of use before they will need replacing. Not quite as high as what I was hoping for. I hope they remain a well priced tyre!

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Originally Posted by rick130

I don't (or didn't) like 235/85 Bridgestone MT's.
It felt like they had too hard a compound, they'd slide around on wet/greasy bitumen at the drop of a hat, but Bridgestone may have changed the compound in the last eight years.

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When I retyred last year I couldn't afford the BFGs and went for the Bridgestone MTs D671. Have been well pleased with their off-road performance in grass, sand, and mud. They must have changed their compounds because I have not found any problems on-road in the wet.