D4 19" Tyres - Confused

[Next_Door]

I'm hoping to get some advice and clarification and if anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

I am taking delivery of a Discovery 4 SE 3.0L (eDiff - Sat Nav) at the end of April. In August I'm travelling the Savannah Way to Darwin, Gibb to Broome, back tracking the Tanami to Alice, Simpson to Birdsville.

I had intended to trade the original Good Year HP's in on Pirelli Scorpion ATR's but I've just called Pirelli Australia and no available stock for 6 months. 40 tyres arriving in 3 weeks all committed, next shipment committed and so on.

Called Continental after reading about them here in the forums, they are not releasing an AT in 19" in Australia at this point in time.

I don't want to do this trip on the original HP's.

I can get 255 55 19 in Good Year MTR's.
Does anyone have any experience with regards to road noise from the MTR's? There is still alot of bitumen on my trip.
Also any advice with tyre pressure on corrugations with MTR's?
And are there any other 19" tyres I should be looking at?

Appreciate any comments:confused:

Cheers

[gghaggis]

The MTR's are significantly noisier than the original HP's - they seem to drone loudest (at least on the RRS) at around 80 kph. However, the stereo is pretty good .....

The General Grabber AT2 is being released in a 19" size, but the specific release date varies depending on who you speak to :(

Cheers,

Gordon

Edit - if you're prepared to go to a slightly larger tyre, the 275/55/19 (25mm dia oversize) sizes are available via the US/Europe - Continental CrossContact 4x4, Pirelli Scorpion Zero, Hankook Ventus AS, Michelin 4x4 Diamaris. None are real AT's, but they're better than the OEM tyres and give you a bit more sidewall

[chuck]

I am currently running the 19" MTR's.

They are noisy in comparison to OEM tyres however I am used to running mud terrains.

I have found the MTR's to be OK although I would prefer bigger tyres with more side wall.
I have the option to use 17" 18' or 19" in the D3.

On gravel & corrugations I air down to about 30 and after having two flats on medium hard trips I now only air down to 25.

I guess snow & sand would allow you to air down lower ie 19lb.

RMP gave me a rule of thumb to air down to the size of your rims as minimum pressures except for sand.

If I was going on the sort of trip you are going on I would get the MTR's as currently they are really your only option.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Chuck

[Graeme]

If I was going on the sort of trip you are going on I would get the MTR's as currently they are really your only option.
X 2.

I had 225/75-16 MTRs on my D2 which got a bit noisy towards the end but I'd readily put up with the tyres if in your position.

As you have until August, it may be worth waiting to see if the 18" GMAX rims eventuate, if only enough people would quickly put their hands up for a set. Mine's up for 6 - come on people! By the time my Pirelli ATRs need replacing (next winter?) I'll have organised alternate rims, perhaps even use the 8 17" rims stacked in my shed.

[Next_Door]

Thanks guys.
Looks like I will run the MTR's on my touring trips and keep the originals for around town work. Just the expense of the change over post trips but guess thats better than stuffing the original HP's or worse getting stuck somewhere.

[Dingmark Jim]

Dear Next Door,

You might have a sniff about on e-bay, etc for a set of spare wheels. I got a set of 4 for <$1000 (they were 19" x 9" wide for the RRS) off e-bay. Lots of RRS types were blinging up at the time. I use the "new" set of wheels for the HT tyres and use the narrower original wheels for the MTRs. Saves having to constantly re-mount tyres and you can run what you need when. I found that the MTRs on my old D3 V8 were at their noisiest at 60 km/hr on fresh bitumen - they really exacerbated my tinnitus in my ears.

For the trip you're doing, I would use the MTRs instead of Scorpion ATRs if I had the choice. The 19" MTRs are surprisingly tough in sand and rock. Just watch that you don't get the pressure so low that a rock impacts and cracks a rim. I run about 16psi in soft sand and they work great! This way if you're tempted to take the right turn on the Gibb River Road to the Mitchell Plateau you've got the right tyre for the job.

[Dorko]

I'm taking ownership of my D4 tomrorow and they were meant to have the scorpion ATR, however as posted its over a 6 month weight. I decide to go with the Good Year MTs, but i just hope to hell they arent too loud.

When you guys say loud, how loud are we talking?

Also i have heard they arent as good in Sand.. true?

Dorko

[chuck]

It depends on the road surface.
On coarse bitumen they are fine.
On smooth freshly laid bitumen they can be loud.
On gravel no difference.

They are fine on sand as long as you air down.

Regards

Chuck

[gghaggis]

I'm taking ownership of my D4 tomrorow and they were meant to have the scorpion ATR, however as posted its over a 6 month weight. I decide to go with the Good Year MTs, but i just hope to hell they arent too loud.

When you guys say loud, how loud are we talking?

Also i have heard they arent as good in Sand.. true?

Dorko

Not true - on sand run them at 16psi - don't muck around at any other pressure. They'll hold form (won't run off the rim) just fine and with the 600 NM on tap, float your D4 over almost anything WA can throw at you. On rocks and in mud they really stand out - makes you forgive any noise they might make on-road ....

Cheers,

Gordon

[Next_Door]

Dear Next Door,

You might have a sniff about on e-bay, etc for a set of spare wheels. I got a set of 4 for <$1000 (they were 19" x 9" wide for the RRS) off e-bay. Lots of RRS types were blinging up at the time. I use the "new" set of wheels for the HT tyres and use the narrower original wheels for the MTRs. Saves having to constantly re-mount tyres and you can run what you need when. I found that the MTRs on my old D3 V8 were at their noisiest at 60 km/hr on fresh bitumen - they really exacerbated my tinnitus in my ears.

For the trip you're doing, I would use the MTRs instead of Scorpion ATRs if I had the choice. The 19" MTRs are surprisingly tough in sand and rock. Just watch that you don't get the pressure so low that a rock impacts and cracks a rim. I run about 16psi in soft sand and they work great! This way if you're tempted to take the right turn on the Gibb River Road to the Mitchell Plateau you've got the right tyre for the job.
I am turning right. Thanks for the advice. I'm more confident with my decision to purchase the MTR's now.

[Dorko]

Just picked up the D4. Drove about 80kms tonight. The MTR are quiet in my opinion. Yes you can hear them over 80kms/hr. But with the radio on normal volume you dont hear a thing. I am very happy and they look tough as! :D

I will post up a pic :cool:

Dorko

[Next_Door]

Just picked up the D4. Drove about 80kms tonight. The MTR are quiet in my opinion. Yes you can hear them over 80kms/hr. But with the radio on normal volume you dont hear a thing. I am very happy and they look tough as! :D

I will post up a pic :cool:

Dorko
Excellent. Look forward to the pics, Vehicle and tyres. :-)

[Dorko]

For sure... i have to get the pics before i get it dirty :angel:

Dorko

[Piddler]

For an all round tyre I have had many sets and would not buy anything but a MT/R. I also think they are better than A/T types on wet bituamin.

Especially with the amount of sound insulation in new vehicles.

Those that think they are to loud should have 1/2 a glass of cement and harden up.

Cheers

[Dirty3]

Anyone had experience with the Yokohama GEOLANDER G012?
They make a 265/60/18, look reasonably aggressive for an A/T.