2 sets of rubber?

[Tikirocker]

Anybody running two different sets of rubber ... road tyres on one set of rims and off road rubber on another? I've got a spare set of 110 rims that's been sitting about from my old IIa days and I'm thinking about doing this and having two sets for best of both worlds travel and wear.

As an aside ... how big could you expect to safely go on original 110 rims? I am completely deslyxic when it comes to numbers so idea's and suggestions are mandatory ... pictures for us dummies are even better! :D

Simon.

[numpty]

Anybody running two different sets of rubber ... road tyres on one set of rims and off road rubber on another? I've got a spare set of 110 rims that's been sitting about from my old IIa days and I'm thinking about doing this and having two sets for best of both worlds travel and wear.

As an aside ... how big could you expect to safely go on original 110 rims? I am completely deslyxic when it comes to numbers so idea's and suggestions are mandatory ... pictures for us dummies are even better! :D

Simon.

Original 110 rims are 5 1/2" tubed type. Technically I believe 750/16 is the largest you can run on them. 235's, as on the later Defenders with alloys (7"), need at least a 6" rim.

I run 2 sets of rims, one for road and one for trips. At the moment the trip rims (Disco steels 7") run the same tyres as my road wheels (alloys), but I will be changing these to a set of muds for touring.

[weeds]

i used to run two sets but have moved back to one set........changing four wheel over doesn't actually take too long, its just that both sets neeeded replacing around the same time and could not justify the outlay. if my MT's wear out a little quicker than so be it

[DeanoH]

Used to run 235/85 R16's on 5 1/2" split rims on my old Troopy. As Numpty says supposed to have minimum of 6" rims, but had no problems. From memory, gave me just under 2" extra tread width for about the same diameter as the old 7.50R16's.

Deano:)

[DeanoH]

Run two sets of tyres on SWMBO's D2. Standard 255/65 R 16 Kumho road pattern on the factory optional 8" rims for highway/urban use and 255/70 Cooper ST's on a set of standard (I think 7 1/2") alloys for outback touring. The best of both worlds if you can afford to have $1500 worth of tyres/wheels hanging around. Having a rattle gun and trolley jack makes life a LOT easier if you are considering changing over regularly.

Deano:)

[Homestar]

I am going down this road shortly, only because the set of road tyres I got with the Rangie have heaps left in them, and I want a set of A/T's for the weekends I do go off road - but these are not nearly as much as the on road stuff I do. I will be getting a set of steelys for the A/T's, and keep the original alloys for the roadies.

[Tombie]

The ONLY time this is viable is if you do enough kms to wear BOTH sets out before they are over 5 years old.

Once they are 5 years old for your safety you should consider throwing them out and replacing..

I've just thrown out 3 never used spares due to age.
They have no cracks or damage etc, just too old to safely use.

[Ranga]

The ONLY time this is viable is if you do enough kms to wear BOTH sets out before they are over 5 years old.

Once they are 5 years old for your safety you should consider throwing them out and replacing..

I've just thrown out 3 never used spares due to age.
They have no cracks or damage etc, just too old to safely use.

agreed - it's not just kms but also age that you need to consider.

[Homestar]

Thanks Tombie2 & Ranga, that's something I never thought of. My RRC is only a toy, so I doubt I'd wear either set out in 5 years.... I will re-think this now I believe.

Yet another piece of useful info gleaned from the forum...

Cheers - Gav.

[Tikirocker]

Yup, great advice and gives me pause for thought also ... but now comes the issue of trying to find a tyre that offers a good all around compromise.

Simon.

[Homestar]

Indeed, I think you will get as many opinions as there are tyres available. On the recommendation of 2 of my mates that run them, I will be going for the BF Goodrich AT's, but now I will be putting them straight on the alloys, and ditching the road tyres. Size wise, I will only go for about a 265/70/16, as I doubt the stock 3.5 would like me to use anything bigger, and I don't want to sacrifice what power it does have on the road...

Cheers - Gav.

[DeanoH]

The ONLY time this is viable is if you do enough kms to wear BOTH sets out before they are over 5 years old.

Once they are 5 years old for your safety you should consider throwing them out and replacing..

I've just thrown out 3 never used spares due to age.
They have no cracks or damage etc, just too old to safely use.

Have heard this statement before and it does sound a reasonable one and, being cynical for a moment, can understand why tyre companys would promote such a concept.
What I question is do you actually know anybody who has had a tyre fail because of deterioration caused by age? Not saying it can't happen, just don't know anybody who has had this problem.

Deano:)

[Homestar]

Have heard this statement before and it does sound a reasonable one and, being cynical for a moment, can understand why tyre companys would promote such a concept.
What I question is do you actually know anybody who has had a tyre fail because of deterioration caused by age? Not saying it can't happen, just don't know anybody who has had this problem.

Deano:)

Short answer - YES. After Tombie2 posted, it jogged my memory when I was a kid, Dad bought a Torana that had been sitting in next doors garage for 8 years unused after our neighbour died - his widow did not drive, and eventually sold it on. I remember Mum coming home one day and saying that one of the tyres had burst. Several days later, another did the same thing. Dad replaced them all after that. It's not something I have ever thought of since until today.

[samuelclarke]

Have heard this statement before and it does sound a reasonable one and, being cynical for a moment, can understand why tyre companys would promote such a concept.
What I question is do you actually know anybody who has had a tyre fail because of deterioration caused by age? Not saying it can't happen, just don't know anybody who has had this problem.

Deano:)

Yes. I had a BFG MT made in 2001 that I was using only as a spare till a new BFG MT KM2 arrived (took 3 months!)...the tyre had around 60% tread left of it and seemed to be fine until one day it just fell apart. Tread blocks separated from the wire casing - it hadn't been exposed to any chemicals that could've caused it either, just old age.

It was a good reminder - thankful I hadn't needed it as a spare tyre. :o

[Lucy]

Have heard this statement before and it does sound a reasonable one and, being cynical for a moment, can understand why tyre companys would promote such a concept.
What I question is do you actually know anybody who has had a tyre fail because of deterioration caused by age? Not saying it can't happen, just don't know anybody who has had this problem.

Deano:)

Happened to me, but the tyres didn't fail, they just got so hard that the disco slid sideways off a wet road when the wife was driving - no grip at all; compared them to a new set which were much softer. Until this time the wife kept blaming my driving. Had a new set of tyres within the week.

[F4Phantom]

I run road tyres every day on my car because they handle better, are quieter, stop better, wear better, accelerate better, cheaper to replace, and use less fuel. I have run AT's and MT's on the road before but they dont compare well a road tyre. I also have stock RR rims with hancook MT's which are a nice MT tyre in 16 inch. I change them when I go off road.

My vehicle is a work car which tows and gets used every day. I like to think that I go off road a lot but in KM on vs on road I dont. So it makes sense to run HT's for the 90+ % of driving I do.

[Ranga]

Indeed, I think you will get as many opinions as there are tyres available. On the recommendation of 2 of my mates that run them, I will be going for the BF Goodrich AT's, but now I will be putting them straight on the alloys, and ditching the road tyres. Size wise, I will only go for about a 265/70/16, as I doubt the stock 3.5 would like me to use anything bigger, and I don't want to sacrifice what power it does have on the road...

Cheers - Gav.

Can't go too wrong with BFGs, either in AT or MT.

[Tikirocker]

I am running BFG AT's right now and have always had a high opinion of them but there have been some odd reports recently about serious quality issues with some batches of the BFG AT's ...

Simon.

[d2dave]

The ONLY time this is viable is if you do enough kms to wear BOTH sets out before they are over 5 years old.

Once they are 5 years old for your safety you should consider throwing them out and replacing..

I've just thrown out 3 never used spares due to age.
They have no cracks or damage etc, just too old to safely use.

I know this is not quite the same but I wonder how many of us with ten year old Disco's have pulled out their SRS airbags and thrown them away.

About ten years ago a bloke I know got some reasonably cheap tyres from a tyre shop because they were more than four years old and no longer had manufactures warranty.

My boat trailer has recaps that were on the trailer when I purchased it new back in 1996. Ok 2 years ago it did blow a tyre, but this was the day before the black Saturday bush fires. It was 43 degrees when it happened.
I'm sure mine wasn't the only recap to blow that day.

Many people have a spare in their boot or hanging off the back that would be 10 years old and these would go on a vehicle when needed.

If a tyre was unsafe at five years there would be an ADR that says tyres must have a manufacturing date and must be discarded after this, like gas tanks, after 10 years have to be tested.

Dave.

[Ranga]

I reckon how and where they're stored has a big bearing on life span. I wonder what the prime storage conditions would be?

[Homestar]

I reckon how and where they're stored has a big bearing on life span. I wonder what the prime storage conditions would be?

On my Rangie!:D If someone has a set they want to store here, they are most welcome...:p

[dullbird]

I have two sets....and I wont be throwing mine away....

I have two sets because I think its safer to run on road with the road/at tyres more so then the mud tyres

[isuzutoo-eh]

I have two sets, and keep the set not being used under the house out of sunlight.
I actually bought the roadies for the 2a but they've been in use lately on the County instead of the larger/wider muddies

[DeanoH]

If a tyre was unsafe at five years there would be an ADR that says tyres must have a manufacturing date and must be discarded after this, like gas tanks, after 10 years have to be tested.

Dave.

Manafacturing date and factory code are stamped into the tyre wall at manafacture.

I recently bought a set of 305/70R19.5 Brigestone Tyres for the OKA. Normally around $730 each were 'on special' at $300 + GST ($330) fitted and balanced. The reason for the cheap price, I was told, was that they were over 12 months old. They were 14 months old. It had something to do with what defines a 'new' tyre. Anyway at a saving of $2400 for a set of six I wasn't complaining.

Deano:)

Deano:)

[Lucy]

I know this is not quite the same but I wonder how many of us with ten year old Disco's have pulled out their SRS airbags and thrown them away.

Off topic, and I can't be bothered searching, but somewhere on this forum was a post that said LR had extended this to 15 years! That was also my understanding from my dealer.

I rotate my spare in with the rest of the tyres, and replace all 5 each time. I used to do a lot of miles (and kilometres;)) on a motorbike, and that taught me not to stuff around with tyres, at the end of the day they are all that connects you to the road. My wife used to think I was too anal about the whole deal until she had a lttle mishap thanks to hardened tyres - instant convert:twisted:. A good set of tyres to me is cheaper than comprehensive insurance and probably money better spent - I'd rather avoid the accident.

[Tusker]

The ONLY time this is viable is if you do enough kms to wear BOTH sets out before they are over 5 years old.

Once they are 5 years old for your safety you should consider throwing them out and replacing..

I've just thrown out 3 never used spares due to age.
They have no cracks or damage etc, just too old to safely use.

I can't believe that people who know better use a worn out, ancient tyre as a second spare on a big trip, or sell a tyre as suitable for a 2nd spare..

I'm with Dullbird. My play tyres are replaced when the splits, cuts etc are getting dangerous, well before they're worn out.

I'm much more confident then on the road/touring set that they haven't bruised or otherwise knocked about.

Regards
Max P

[VladTepes]

Who can be arsed? I just have MT's on mine and leave it at that.

[Bushwanderer]

Hi Ranga,
Ideally, cool and dark.

The aging of "rubber" is actually oxidation. This is accelerated by both heat and sunlight. The sunlight impact is mainly due to the UV (high energy) light.

Best Wishes,
Peter

[wardy1]

" but now comes the issue of trying to find a tyre that offers a good all around compromise"

There isn't one really. An AT won't do real mud and a mud won't keep you happy for the blacktop due to noise andless than ordinary wet road performance.

[twitchy]

Working on the 2 sets of wheel now!!!

One for street & one for play..... ( almost sounds Freudian...lol)

[DeanoH]

" but now comes the issue of trying to find a tyre that offers a good all around compromise"

There isn't one really. An AT won't do real mud and a mud won't keep you happy for the blacktop due to noise andless than ordinary wet road performance.

Too true, I remember the original 'AT', the Dunlop Roadtrack Major, came standard on Landrovers back in the'70's. A true compromise tyre, awful both on and off road.
Tyres have come a long way since then. My compromise tyre choice today is the Cooper ST, which I'd describe as an agressive AT. Stronger side wall than the BFG AT and a more agressive tread. BFG is quieter and handles better in the wet on bitumen, as you would expect from the less agressive tread, but I find the ST is better off the bitumen and still OK on the bitumen.
Still, no such thing as a perfect all rounder, which is why people have two sets in the first place.

Deano:)

[Rosco]

Have heard this statement before and it does sound a reasonable one and, being cynical for a moment, can understand why tyre companys would promote such a concept.
What I question is do you actually know anybody who has had a tyre fail because of deterioration caused by age? Not saying it can't happen, just don't know anybody who has had this problem.

Deano:)


Another to add to your list ... I bought a set of 2nd hand Olympic Steel Treks for the camper trailer. Had them for only a relatively short time (perhaps 18 months) and they died. Didn't go bang. Just found them dead and flat one day. Old age got them.

[zuno555]

Maybe its the way I drive, but I have NEVER had a problem with MT tyres in the wet. Even after a long dry spell, then rain (you can tell when this happens when all the %$#@heads in commodores spend more time sideways than pointing forwards...... sorry for generalisation but you get the idea).

I have Nankang Mudstars - the old original style MT pattern. I have had them on my petrol prado and the disco. Been a fantastic tyre for the money (they are cheap).

A fitter at work has 35" claws on his 180rwkw diesel patrol, always loaded up with tools etc, and they have lasted WAY longer than I would have thought possible.

So unless you do mega km's on highway or do extreme 4WDing that requires simex centipedes etc, I would just stick to one set of tyres that suits your overall use, either AT or MT.