It finally had to happen....

[spudfan]

Yep it finally had to happen. Today the origional tyres (General Grabber TR's) and brake pads were replaced on our 2008 Puma at 68197 miles (109729 kms). Have booked her in for March 2022 for the next change:)

[PhilipA]

Maybe you were not game to touch the brakes with 68K Mile tyres.
It must have been interesting in the wet, and AFAIK Ireland is usually wet.

Regards Philip A

[spudfan]

There was still some life left in the pads. I could have let them stay on for another while but I'd be checking them regularly. It's the family car and mostly driven by the wife and yes you are correct about the rain here! The brake pads lasted a lot longer than the origional clutch!!!

[DiscoMick]

You're a bit ahead of me. My Defender has done 60,000kms on the original General Grabber TRs and they seem fine to go a lot longer. I'm actually impressed with their lifespan.

[Bundalene]

I replaced mine the other day as the tyre noise was getting to me, especially on those concrete road surfaces. IMHO BFG muddies are super quiet by comparison. You are correct about the high number of kms these tyres will do.






Erich

[numpty]

I replaced mine the other day as the tyre noise was getting to me, especially on those concrete road surfaces. IMHO BFG muddies are super quiet by comparison. You are correct about the high number of kms these tyres will do. Erich

I got 125000 out of my original Grabbers. Second set are bedding in nicely.

BFG Muddies quiet? Whilst not particularly noisy, I found the Grabbers quieter. I have noticed the Muddies are quite squirmy though, but mine are only used for trips.

[J RAD]

You're a bit ahead of me. My Defender has done 60,000kms on the original General Grabber TRs and they seem fine to go a lot longer. I'm actually impressed with their lifespan.

One would probably be safe to say that the road conditions in AUS are worse than Ireland.

I went from General Gabbers to BFG KM2 and the road noise was bugger all! In saying that they are a bit skinnier than the GGs.

[DiscoMick]

My GG TRs had an easy life under the previous owner, who only drove them to church on Sundays (a slight exaggeration). We'll see how they go.
I have heard it claimed that GGs are not particularly strong in the sidewalls, but I'm not sure if that is true. Be interested to know what others have experienced.
I see Bob Jane's have both the GG AT and AT2 at quite reasonable prices. Might look at them when I go for some replacement tyres.

[Rurover]

Yep, got close to 100,000km from the original General Grabbers on my previous Defender Td5. Mainly bitumen driving, but some off road and dirt roads.
Did a fair bit of towing of tandem trailer.
Very happy!
When I came to replace them, the tyre dealer was unable to get the GG's so suggested I go with Continentals as he claimed they were in fact the owners of the General Grabber brand.
Not sure how the Contis fared as I sold the vehicle soon afterwards.
I see that Contis are standard fare on the Pumas (or at least they are on my 2013 Puma.
Hope they last as long as the General Grabbers.

Alan

[DiscoMick]

Yep, got close to 100,000km from the original General Grabbers on my previous Defender Td5. Mainly bitumen driving, but some off road and dirt roads.
Did a fair bit of towing of tandem trailer.
Very happy!
When I came to replace them, the tyre dealer was unable to get the GG's so suggested I go with Continentals as he claimed they were in fact the owners of the General Grabber brand.
Not sure how the Contis fared as I sold the vehicle soon afterwards.
I see that Contis are standard fare on the Pumas (or at least they are on my 2013 Puma.
Hope they last as long as the General Grabbers.

Alan


Yeah, the German company Continental owns the American company General Grabber.
Had a look at a GG AT at the Brisbane camping show at the weekend on one of the tyre dealer stands. Looked pretty aggressive.

[numpty]

My GG TRs had an easy life under the previous owner, who only drove them to church on Sundays (a slight exaggeration). We'll see how they go.
I have heard it claimed that GGs are not particularly strong in the sidewalls, but I'm not sure if that is true. Be interested to know what others have experienced.
I see Bob Jane's have both the GG AT and AT2 at quite reasonable prices. Might look at them when I go for some replacement tyres.

They're not. Whilst a good general purpose tyre, especially in sand, at low pressures they are very susceptible to staking.

[Pickles2]

I got 125000 out of my original Grabbers. Second set are bedding in nicely.

BFG Muddies quiet? Whilst not particularly noisy, I found the Grabbers quieter. I have noticed the Muddies are quite squirmy though, but mine are only used for trips.
125000!!!???.....That would be a record that I've heard of for any tyre.
Pickles.

[spudfan]

Here are three different tyres I've used. All are 235/85/16
The first is the General Grabber TR
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/03/349.jpg (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/spudfan_2006/media/IMG_1366_zpstdqw2rxj.jpg.html)
This one is the Continental Contitrac, which replaced the TR's as I got a very good deal on these. They probably won't do the mileage the TR's did as they are a more open thread and probably a softer compound, but I am very pleased with them. These are now on the 2008 Puma "Zulu".
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/03/350.jpg (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/spudfan_2006/media/IMG_1367_zps8ufgfhln.jpg.html)
The next one is the General Grabber AT. The 2011 Puma "Masai" is shod with these.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/03/351.jpg (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/spudfan_2006/media/IMG_1368_zpskyzcmscr.jpg.html)

[koaster]

I'm glad I found this thread, just ordered a set of General Grabber MT's I hope I get a bit of life out of them. I know I won't get as much as you guys since there muddies. Has anyone had anything to do with the GG MT's?

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[DiscoMick]

Hey Spudfan, mind if I ask which of the three you would buy next time and why?

[numpty]

125000!!!???.....That would be a record that I've heard of for any tyre.
Pickles.

Stunned me too. ;)

[spudfan]

Hey Spudfan, mind if I ask which of the three you would buy next time and why?
Can't say anything bad about any of them but given a choice I think I'd go for the Continental Contitracs. I think that the wide spacing of the grooves would be less prone to getting clogged with mud/snow.
This year in the snow the General Grabber AT's performed well but I think that the Continentals might just be able to up the game a bit. I've only had the Continentals for a week or so I can't comment on the snow stuff yet but I'll get a good idea of their capabilities in the muck and wet grass soon enough.
The Continentals look that they might not be the best for soft sand unless aired down as the thread looks too aggressive for sand. You Australians have different conditions to me!!!! Hard to advise anyone as neither tyre is cheap. The TR was a good mainly road biased tyre. The AT betters it in the rough but might not last as long. The Contitrac might be the least road biased tyre of the three but probably has the edge in the rough. They might not give the mileage of the other two. The wife drives the 08 Puma "Zulu" with the new Continentals and has made no adverse comment regarding handling or braking so that speaks for itself. On the road all are good and not too noisey. None are open blocked enough to be a danger of braking in the wet. Put it like this, when the AT's need replacing I'll go for the Continentals, unless experience urges otherwise. If it does I'll let you know.

[spudfan]

P.S. On the 200 tdi 110, I had steel wheels fitted with 7.50x16 General SAG tubed radials. I was very pleased with this set up. If I had steel wheels on the Pumas I'd go for the tubed SAG radials again. Always thought that if I went overlanding like you lot, that's what I'd use. I'm going on the premise that tubed tyres are better for remote areas but I'm open to being educated on this if anyone cares to elucidate.:D

[Lionel]

I'm glad I found this thread, just ordered a set of General Grabber MT's I hope I get a bit of life out of them. I know I won't get as much as you guys since there muddies. Has anyone had anything to do with the GG MT's?

Sent from my HTC_0P6B6 using AULRO mobile app

I have a set of GG MTs which I use for trips on steel wheels. TRs on the original mags for general use (good pun that! ;))

They have done just under 30,000 Kms, & would be about 50% worn. Certainly they won't last as long as the TRs. At least 30% less distance, I would say roughly from my observations. If I can find my tread gauge I'll take some measurements for a more accurate assessment, as I know the mileages accurately.

They are good tyres, I think.

Cheers,

Lionel

[DiscoMick]

Can't say anything bad about any of them but given a choice I think I'd go for the Continental Contitracs. I think that the wide spacing of the grooves would be less prone to getting clogged with mud/snow.
This year in the snow the General Grabber AT's performed well but I think that the Continentals might just be able to up the game a bit. I've only had the Continentals for a week or so I can't comment on the snow stuff yet but I'll get a good idea of their capabilities in the muck and wet grass soon enough.
The Continentals look that they might not be the best for soft sand unless aired down as the thread looks too aggressive for sand. You Australians have different conditions to me!!!! Hard to advise anyone as neither tyre is cheap. The TR was a good mainly road biased tyre. The AT betters it in the rough but might not last as long. The Contitrac might be the least road biased tyre of the three but probably has the edge in the rough. They might not give the mileage of the other two. The wife drives the 08 Puma "Zulu" with the new Continentals and has made no adverse comment regarding handling or braking so that speaks for itself. On the road all are good and not too noisey. None are open blocked enough to be a danger of braking in the wet. Put it like this, when the AT's need replacing I'll go for the Continentals, unless experience urges otherwise. If it does I'll let you know.


Thanks for that. I don't know anything about the Continentals, so I was curious.
Do you think the Continentals are similar to BFG ATs?

[koaster]

I have a set of GG MTs which I use for trips on steel wheels. TRs on the original mags for general use (good pun that! ;))

They have done just under 30,000 Kms, & would be about 50% worn. Certainly they won't last as long as the TRs. At least 30% less distance, I would say roughly from my observations. If I can find my tread gauge I'll take some measurements for a more accurate assessment, as I know the mileages accurately.

They are good tyres, I think.

Cheers,

Lionel

Thanks for your reply. Perhaps I'll look I to the AT tyres that they make to get a bit more life out of them. Not sure yet depends on what price I can get.

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[Plutei]

I'm going on the premise that tubed tyres are better for remote areas but I'm open to being educated on this if anyone cares to elucidate.:D

I've got a 200Tdi 110 as well and am actually going to be switching to tubeless steelies (from the stock tubed R16x5.5j). My reasoning is as follows:
- From accounts on here most people find tubeless tyres get fewer flats, a few reasons are: stickers left on the insides of tyres by careless shops abrade the tube (stupid error), when aired down sand can enter between the tyre and rim under cornering loads and will abrade the tube, etc.
- Convenience: to repair a tubeless you find the leak (and if small enough) plug it (temporary). On a tubed tyre you have to take it off and patch and then remount. However, for a proper permanent fix you need to take the tyre off and repair from the inside, so the advantage of tubeless is reduced
- I don't go out to properly remote areas
- I'm more familiar with tubeless.

Prevention is better than a cure, and getting less punctures and easier repairs (when possible) put tubeless ahead for me.

Where the argument gets really heated is split-rim vs tubeless. Tubed but not split rim is (in my opinion) the worst of the three options. Have a read of this for a detailed and experienced opinion.
Beadell Tours - Tubeless vs Split Rims - Safety & Tyre Repair issues by Mick Hutton (http://www.beadelltours.com.au/rim_debate.html)

Edit: Forgot to mention that you can run tubes in tubeless rims and (compatible) tyres if they won't hold air anymore, giving you the best of both worlds

[spudfan]

Thanks for that. I don't know anything about the Continentals, so I was curious.
Do you think the Continentals are similar to BFG ATs?
I'm afraid that I cannot make a comparison as I have never used the BFG A/T. However looking at photographs the thread on the Continentals seems to be more open than the BFG. I don't want to go further as it would be only speculation as to the pros and cons of each and how they compare in actual usage. The BFG seems to have a thread similar to the General Grabber A/T2.

[numpty]

P.S. On the 200 tdi 110, I had steel wheels fitted with 7.50x16 General SAG tubed radials. I was very pleased with this set up. If I had steel wheels on the Pumas I'd go for the tubed SAG radials again. Always thought that if I went overlanding like you lot, that's what I'd use. I'm going on the premise that tubed tyres are better for remote areas but I'm open to being educated on this if anyone cares to elucidate.:D

I run the GG TR's on the alloys for general road use and have found them excellent. I had another set on steel rims for trips, but as said earlier they do stake quite easily.

I now run a set of BFG Muds on the steel rims and when aired down I have found them to be very good in the sand. All my tyres are run tubeless for ease of fixing in the bush and we have done some pretty remote stuff over the last few years and no flats on our last trip.

[DiscoMick]

I'm afraid that I cannot make a comparison as I have never used the BFG A/T. However looking at photographs the thread on the Continentals seems to be more open than the BFG. I don't want to go further as it would be only speculation as to the pros and cons of each and how they compare in actual usage. The BFG seems to have a thread similar to the General Grabber A/T2.

BFG ATs have three-ply sidewalls, as do several Coopers, but I don't know about the Continentals or GGs.

[spudfan]

Just checked, both the General Grabbers and the Continentals have 2 ply side walls.