Another tyre thread..

[damo_s]

Hey guys.

Yes, another tyre thread. I DID do a search and looked around at a lot of the discussion, but it didn't really answer the question as to which would be best for me, so i have decided to start a new topic!

I have a 2004 D2 (since october last year) and I have just had a tyre replaced because it was cracking badly, and the others are on their way out too.

I do most of my driving in the city, but I like to get away as much as possible (mainly involving driving on sand and dirt tracks). Im looking at an A/T tyre, nothing ultra aggressive like mud terrain.

I dont really know much about tyres at all.

Im basically looking for advice as to which tyres i should go for. Im not too concerned about price, as long as it is worth it in terms of longevity of the tyre.

My tyre size is 235/70/16, and im not really looking to deviate from that.


Appreciate your help


Damo

[Scouse]

The basic BFG All Terrain is a decent tyre & available in the standard Disco size.

Is there a reason you don't want to go slightly larger though?

[Blknight.aus]

personally I like something with a nice square shoulder on it when fitting to a beam axled vehicle.

the BFG AT is a good allrounder and I find handles everything I want to chuck at it without too much hassle if you pick the right pressures.

[big guy]

BFG or Coopers are my only experiences apart from Michelins which are no longer made(XPC's).
I have Cooper ATR's LT in similar size and they wear well and are pretty quiet and still good off road.

Keep an eya on pressures and air down when off road like you would for all tyres and you should be fine.

Pirelli make a good ATR also but I can only comment on own experience.

Good luck

[Toppa]

My Disco came with Cooper ATR's on it. Ive had it for a year and have no complaints yet. They are extremely quiet on the road and surprisingly capable off the road - again pressures help greatly. I posted a tyre comparo in the last tyre thread which rated the ATR's very highly. Having said that, the next set i put on are going to be BFG M/T KA2's, but this will be a second set i pull out for trips. The ATR's will stay on for the daily commutes.

[mattg]

I love a good Tyre thread

[clubagreenie]

Have a look at the Bridgesrtone D694's available in both 235, 245 and 265. Nice square shoulder.

I'm running BFG's at the moment, have a set of 694's waiting but also looking at continental cross contact at's

[scarry]

personally I like something with a nice square shoulder on it when fitting to a beam axled vehicle.

the BFG AT is a good allrounder and I find handles everything I want to chuck at it without too much hassle if you pick the right pressures.

X2

And if you do happen to get the pressures slightly wrong they still seem to handle it:o

I also recon a square shoulder will reduce damage to sidewalls.

[damo_s]

Cheers for the input fellas.

I looked at some Bridgestone D694's because they are about $290 a tyre compared with around 350 for the others.

I heard that they have been known to wear prematurely??

[clubagreenie]

All the reports I've read/got from users is quite good in the wear capacity.

[strangy]

I looked at some Bridgestone D694's because they are about $290 a tyre compared with around 350 for the others.




So is it tyres according to price or according to actual driving requirements?

My 2 cents
I have Pirelli ATR Scorpions 245/70 on my D2. I have found them to be outstanding.
Not sure how much they are going for these days mine are 18 months/20thousand old.
I've had BFG AT'sand Bridgestsone 694's. BFG's were good, the Bridgestone ok also though would take the BFGs over the Bridgestone if other options were not available.
My son has Cooper ST's on his D2 and has had nothing but trouble driving the same terrain as mine. Currently on his second complete set replaced under a pro rata warranty. Lugs constantly torn off (not chipping) to the plies and tread delaminating from the carcass.

I wouldnt hesistate to fit the ATR's again unless I was planning regular mud driving.

cheers

[chuck]

Damo

If you can afford it go the BFG's
You will recoup the extra cost in higher mileage.
It is not unusual for the BFG AT's to get 80,000 Km.

In addition I have found the D2 to benefit from a wider tyre, I used to run265 x 75 x 16's but this was with a 2"lift.

The BFG also comes in a 245 x 75 x 16 which is a higher load rated tyre.
you may also find it cheaper as it is a more common size.

It is ironic that bigger tyres can sometimes be cheaper.

Regards

Chuck

[clubagreenie]

I actually have a set of 267/75 ko's at the moment. Were free when I picked up a winch on ebay 2nd hand, about 30% left. Still an outstanding tyre and yesterday managed to pull both the D2 and trailer through 20m of deep muddy (nil water) creek bed after the old mans D1 got stuck (no trailer and on new cooper at's) and winch ploughed his way out. But apparently traction control and autos don't have a place off road.

[gofish]

What about the Silverstone AT 117? Looks VERY similar to the BFG AT & a LOT cheaper. I have heard fairly good reports on them. Was thinking about them as I am due for a set of tyres soon too. Any thoughts on these tyres?

[clubagreenie]

I can say that silverstones wear well. I removed some HT's for the BFG AT's and the mfg date was 1995. They were down to a semi slick and still held well (even wet) and in the disco down at Yawal in the wet clay the TC just had to work harder.

[Narangga]

I have had a good run with Goodyear tyres and have Wrangler Silent Armor's (4 rib USA made) on mine.

Haven't had them long enough to give a wear report but am happy with the ride.

Others have used the Wrangler AT/ST (5 rib made somewhere - in Indonesia? or Thailand?) and have given good reports. Many around town here use them.

[Solly]

We have been using Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armour (US made) on our fleet vehicles for the last couple of years. They were pretty good both on and off road, but didn't really wear all that well. They do cop a flogging and spend a lot of time off road on rocky, dirt roads.

We have recently swapped to Yokohama Geolanders. They have fantastic on road grip and seem to be doing pretty good on the off road stuff (not chipping as much as the Goodyear's). Time will tell how well they wear, but they are looking good so far. I will seriously consider them for my D2.

[damo_s]

Thanks for all the help guys.

I think now i am leaning towards the BFGs.

Some people have mentioned tyre sizing and perhaps going for a larger tyre.

If I go to a larger tyre, what are the pro's and con's?

Im a bit of a noob when it comes to cars, so you will have to speak in lay terms :)

Thanks again!

[clubagreenie]

Too big and you're speedo goes way out. A 265/85/16 BFG goes out about 6%.

Theres a really good sizes calculator and comparitor here.
(http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp)

[imatt]

From my experience tyre manufacturers will produce a tyre of a particular size but the rolling diameter will differ between brands. With the D2 tyre size depends on your transmission and engine eg V8 auto or manual diesel, I have a V8 auto and run 245/75/R16 Cooper ST's and noticed a difference in gearing from the bridgestone 235's that were on the car when I bought it. The biggest notice is on hills where the auto keeps jumping around trying to keep at a constant speed, I now drop back to third and its better. I believe on a manual you can run 265's no problem but on my auto I would consider changing diff ratios and jumping up to bigger tyres. Tyre sizing will affect gearing on and off road, bigger tyres will give taller gearing which is fine on flat open roads but not so good on hills or for low range work.
Cheers Matt

[damo_s]

Ok, so, according to that calculator, the difference between 235/70/16 and 245/70/16 is 1.87% diameter, and -1.9% on the speedo

Is there any real benefit to getting 245/70/16 over the standard 235/70/16??

cheers

[clubagreenie]

Depending on the tyre you could see quite a difference in actual width at the shoulder. BFG's and Bridgestone D694's have a very squared shoulder while others like the silverstone's mentioned have a rounded shoulder