D4 Low Tyre Profiles

[ramblingboy42]

I know this is slightly off thread from the OP but I am interested in the ever ongoing chatter about the D4's wheel/tyre life.

Has the lower profile tyre given problems to any owners?

I currently run 8 ply tyres on my d2.- 245/70x16

I do not know what a puncture is....in several hundred thousand of bush kilometeres.

I carried a tech screw in one of my tyres for about 6 mths before I had it removed and internally vulcanised.

What I'm hoping to hear in response is real stories about the D4's tyres.....problems if any...how to rectify.....I don't care what brand really unless there is a brand problem.

Every year I do about 10-15,000km on the 4-5 notorious SA tracks so the tyres get punished.

Does anyone do this sort of mileage on these tracks in a D4 or am I going to be the first?

If this needs a separate thread I'm quite happy to move it rather than hijack the OP.

Dennis

[scarry]

I know this is slightly off thread from the OP but I am interested in the ever ongoing chatter about the D4's wheel/tyre life.

Has the lower profile tyre given problems to any owners?

I currently run 8 ply tyres on my d2.- 245/70x16

I do not know what a puncture is....in several hundred thousand of bush kilometeres.

I carried a tech screw in one of my tyres for about 6 mths before I had it removed and internally vulcanised.

What I'm hoping to hear in response is real stories about the D4's tyres.....problems if any...how to rectify.....I don't care what brand really unless there is a brand problem.

Every year I do about 10-15,000km on the 4-5 notorious SA tracks so the tyres get punished.

Does anyone do this sort of mileage on these tracks in a D4 or am I going to be the first?

If this needs a separate thread I'm quite happy to move it rather than hijack the OP.

Dennis

What rim size do you plan to run?

Are you buying new or second hand 3.0l?
If so it will come with stock 19's.you will be able to fit after market 18s.
Finding a good LT,you may have to go oversize.

If you are buying second hand,a 2.7 and 17s is the only way to go.
My bfgs in 17's have had and absolute flogging,haven't changed one yet,nor did i on the D2 or the D2a.:)

They really need replacing but i am waiting for the KO2 to appear,looks like they won't be available in my size until late 2015.:(

[ramblingboy42]

not sure about new or 2nd hand yet......money.

hopefully theres no need to go aftermarket if the tyres can do their job.

the question remains and appears unanswered , are their any tyre problems on the D4?

arent d4 owners going bush in their vehicles?

[Graeme]

Its not just the tyres that need to be considered as there have been several instances of bent 19" rims on both late D3s and D4s from outback use.

[ramblingboy42]

Graeme , do you think the bent rims are a result of the tyre choice or the rim size?

Can anyone who has bent 19" rims comment?

Has it happened when deflated?

I can't help thinking that if you've bent a rim you would also have major tyre damage.

Next question ....does anyone know what is the largest tyre can fit under a D4 on 19" rims?

I'm thinking the higher aspect ratio I can get, the better offroad capability and endurance.

I don't care too much about final drive and or speedo accuracy at this point of time.

[Fatso]

Seen a Top Gear show where captain slow pushed a new RR competing against a bush truck/vehicle through the Canadian wilderness , he explained that he had standard out of the factory wheel and tyres , he went over all sorts of terrain imaginable but somehow did not suffer any wheel/tyre failure to which he was surprised . he also did not beat the bush truck .


IMHO I believe that if low profile tyres are driven with a certain amount of respect they will get you where ever you want to go , not had any problems with my 255 50 19 tyres or rims on my RRS over most types of surfaces , will go up to 255 55 19 when the current ones are done .
The only real problem may be tyre availability in remote areas ,but then again not insurmountable .

[PhilipA]

I went on a Range rover NSW club trip over Christmas and New year to Geehi Walls.
Over the week 2xD4s had 19 inch Goodyear Wranglers fail, one on a normal dirt road to Geehi Dam, and another on the Mt Pinnibar track which this year is gnarly. Both tyres were write offs, one completely destroyed and the other with a 25mm slit in the wall.
Last year one D4 lost a sidewall on the Mt Pinnibar track.

The owner of the failure last year has now bought Compomotive 18 inchers and Bridgestone D697s.

No D2,RRC etc had any problem.
Regards Philip A

[jon3950]

I went on a Range rover NSW club trip over Christmas and New year to Geehi Walls.
Over the week 2xD4s had 19 inch Goodyear Wranglers fail, one on a normal dirt road to Geehi Dam, and another on the Mt Pinnibar track which this year is gnarly. Both tyres were write offs, one completely destroyed and the other with a 25mm slit in the wall.
Last year one D4 lost a sidewall on the Mt Pinnibar track.

The owner of the failure last year has now bought Compomotive 18 inchers and Bridgestone D697s.

No D2,RRC etc had any problem.
Regards Philip A

Yet I went all over that area last week without a problem (and some of those tracks are in a very bad way at the moment). I do think the Wranglers aren't up to it, but there are better tyres out there.

I can only relate my own experiences, but in the nearly 2 years I have owned the D4 I have managed 5 High Country trips, one northern Flinders trip and one trip out around Innamincka way on 19"s and not had one tyre failure. Driven sensibly these tyres are fine on most outback roads. Heat seems to be the big killer either through overloading or underinflation.

Having said that, they are certainly not ideal and an 18" or 17" is a much better alternative. Although I have not had a problem the rims are more susceptible to damage and this is purely down to the sidewall height - they are much closer to the road and not as well protected.

If you want a D4 I wouldn't be put off by the tyre problems, they are not as bad as people make out. A 19" is obviously not going to be as good out there as your 245/70x16s. They will do the job but have a lower safety margin and need to be driven accordingly. However a set of 18"s or 17"s and decent tyres will be very reliable.

Cheers,
Jon

[Graeme]

The tyres on the various reported bent rims were still inflated but could have been at low pressures after sand travel.

I had been on a couple of desert trips in my D2 fitted with LT225/75R16 that included some cross-country desert driving. I did not want to risk taking the 19" rims over such terrain or tracks such as the Pedirka PAR, considering the extent to which the D4's Pirelli ATR sidewalls reduced to nothing on the edges of small potholes on my driveway.

[Tombie]

One of the biggest problems with a D4 is you can travel at a speed far above that of lesser vehicles and feel comfortable and safe.

What this equates to is that the vehicle is copping a flogging underneath and shielding you from it.

Where all the others in the group travelling to Maralinga were on 70km/h at one point (about 20 km in front of me) due to corrugations - I caught up to them cruising at a leisurely 120km/h :cool: and felt like riding a magic carpet...

In fact, I called Basil135 (there is 3G along the rail corridor) to stir him up...

Throw on some 18s and chuck on some D697s they are an incredibly strong carcass and more than up to the task on the tracks you refer to...

[jon3950]

One of the biggest problems with a D4 is you can travel at a speed far above that of lesser vehicles and feel comfortable and safe.

What this equates to is that the vehicle is copping a flogging underneath and shielding you from it.


That is a very good point and easy to forget.

Cheers,
Jon

[ramblingboy42]

One of the biggest problems with a D4 is you can travel at a speed far above that of lesser vehicles and feel comfortable and safe.

What this equates to is that the vehicle is copping a flogging underneath and shielding you from it.

Where all the others in the group travelling to Maralinga were on 70km/h at one point (about 20 km in front of me) due to corrugations - I caught up to them cruising at a leisurely 120km/h :cool: and felt like riding a magic carpet...

In fact, I called Basil135 (there is 3G along the rail corridor) to stir him up...

Throw on some 18s and chuck on some D697s they are an incredibly strong carcass and more than up to the task on the tracks you refer to...

yeah thanks Tombie.....I've got 697's on the D2.....they throw stones though....

[SBD4]

I think the other mistake people make with 19's is to use the same approach to tyre pressures as you would for a tyre with higher sidewall. End result is a damaged tyre.

I will not take my 19's below 30psi when doing any rough work. This helps the tyre maintain what little side wall it has which helps to protect the rims but that means that I'm not going to get the same molding around track irregularities or lengthening of the foot print of tyres that can be lowered much further - in short, harsher ride and less grip over the rough stuff.

[wbowner]

I think the other mistake people make with 19's is to use the same approach to tyre pressures as you would for a tyre with higher sidewall. End result is a damaged tyre.

I will not take my 19's below 30psi when doing any rough work. This helps the tyre maintain what little side wall it has which helps to protect the rims but that means that I'm not going to get the same molding around track irregularities or lengthening of the foot print of tyres that can be lowered much further - in short, harsher ride and less grip over the rough stuff.
Sean,
Is this 30psi cold or hot.

Richard

[SBD4]

That's hot Richard.

[wbowner]

That's hot Richard.

Thanks Sean. I suppose I should have guessed that.

Richard

[Epic pooh]

Mine has 19" wheels and I've been through 4 sets of tyres over the years ... only punctures have been on the road ... as has been said great care must be taken (speed down, careful lines, tyre awareness) and it is unwise to lower the pressure much (frankly I rarely lower mine at all). I'm not hardcore like some around these parts, but my Disco has been many places on many trails on many differing types of terrain on 19" road tyres ... with a minimum of fuss, no significant tyre damage and no getting stuck (touch wood!).

In an ideal world I'd have a set of 18" with D697 on them and a set of 19" with high performance road tyres ... may happen one day ;)

[wbowner]

Mine has 19" wheels and I've been through 4 sets of tyres over the years ... only punctures have been on the road ... as has been said great care must be taken (speed down, careful lines, tyre awareness) and it is unwise to lower the pressure much (frankly I rarely lower mine at all). I'm not hardcore like some around these parts, but my Disco has been many places on many trails on many differing types of terrain on 19" road tyres ... with a minimum of fuss, no significant tyre damage and no getting stuck (touch wood!).

In an ideal world I'd have a set of 18" with D697 on them and a set of 19" with high performance road tyres ... may happen one day ;)

You are sure tempting fate of the tyre gods

When towing it sure is hard to comfortably drop the pressure


Richard

[Epic pooh]

I think I should make some kind of offering to please the tyre gods after that post.. Perhaps if I burnt some Chinese made tyres whilst singing a tyre themed song ...

[wbowner]

I think I should make some kind of offering to please the tyre gods after that post.. Perhaps if I burnt some Chinese made tyres whilst singing a tyre themed song ...
That might help

Hope so

Richard

[Fatso]

I think I should make some kind of offering to please the tyre gods after that post.. Perhaps if I burnt some Chinese made tyres whilst singing a tyre themed song ...


Most of em are probably made in china anyway !!! , how would anyone really know .

[RHS58]

Bridgestone Dueler AT D697's on my Prado were made in Indonesia.
Probably doesn't matter where made, as long as made to good specs.

[Epic pooh]

My wranglers are made in Germany; the bridgestones on another vehicle are from Japan; the ones on my van are from Malaysia and my little car is shod with pirelli which have no country of origin ... Deliberate move by pirelli who trade on reputation and don't want folk to know that their tyres could be Chinese made.

Quality standards ... Yes known tyres seem ok (read a test of Chinese vs European made Goodyear eagle f1 asymmetric which seemed to say that they were identical) but I'd not know as I will not knowingly have Chinese made tyres of any brand on any vehicle that I drive serious distance in.

[ramblingboy42]

nothing wrong with chinese made tyres at all.

if you buy cheap, that's what you get.

the chinese manufacturers will make anything you want to whatever specification you want.

they make some extremely good products....but theyre not cheap products.

you will get what you pay for....especially from china.

[RHS58]

My local tyre guy says a cheap new Chinese tyre is better and safer than a baldy worn out brand name tyre. I agree with him.

[~Rich~]

As with anything, technology and production methods have improved around the world (mostly)
China has rapidly improved quality of goods as has other countries such as Thailand.

I bought my Atturo MT tyres which are made in Thailand for a good price and have found them to be an excellent build quality tyre, they balanced up with lighter weights added than with other brand tyres I have had.

[BMKal]

Was only commenting a couple of days ago how well the Chinese made GT Radial tyres that I had fitted to my old D2 years ago now have lasted. The young bloke is still driving the D2, still with the same tyres on it, and there's no significant sign of wear on any of them yet. They must have done at least 80,000 km now.

At the time I had them fitted, they made the vehicle track a lot better and ride a lot quieter than with the Michelins previously fitted. ;)

All the "experts" at the time told me not to fit these tyres - but I'm not known for listening to keyboard "experts". :angel: Hell, some of them even tried to tell me that I should have fitted Coopers. No chance of them ever being fitted to any vehicle I own after my past experiences with them on work vehicles I'm afraid.

[Epic pooh]

Some of the best tyres i ever had were Australian made Goodyear eagle f1 gs-d3. Sadly globalisation and FTAs has seen the end of tyre production in Australia.

It's an ideological issue for me ... it's a sad world where we are beholden to sweatshop suppliers for the bulk of our goods. My personal approach is to be aware at all times of the country of origin of everything I spend my money on ... so personally speaking, whilst there is an alternative to made in China tyres I will support it. Just my opinion of course.