Bridgestone Dueler 697?

[Lionel]

Has anybody had experience of the Dueler 697 on the Defender? I will need to replace the Grabbers soon & am wondering how the 697s perform as an everyday tyre. They would be used mainly for road use, as I have another set of wheels with mud tyres on for bush work.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Lionel

[dromader driver]

661's got a better write up from the commercial users during the last discussion.

Bridgestone 661 (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/233233-bridgestone-661-a.html)

[Lionel]

661's got a better write up from the commercial users during the last discussion.

True, but on my Defender, (2004 110 Xtreme TD5), they are un-roadworthy in the "Peoples Republic of Victoria", as the speed rating is only M, & the tyre placard dictates at least R rating. Vicroads dictate that the tyre speed rating must be at least that of the tyre placard!

Not that I'm so worried about Vicroads, but I am fearful of my insurance company in the event of an accident. They could easily void the claim if the vehicle is deemed un-roadworthy. It would be just what the buggers would be looking for!

One could no doubt fight it, but I don't want the hassle.

Cheers,

Lionel

[PhilipA]

In NSW you can use an M rated tyre as long as it is marked as M&S and you print out a little notice for the dash saying Warning do not exceed speed rating of tyre or somesuch.


Tyre speed rating If the speed rating of the tyres specified for your vehicle is less than 140km/h you must not fit tyres with a lower speed rating.
It is strongly recommended that the speed rating of the tyres fitted should be equal to or better than the rating of the original tyres fitted by the vehicle manufacturer, however: • If the speed rating of the tyres specified for your vehicle is higher than 140km/h, you may fit tyres with a lower speed rating but not lower than 140km/h. • If the replacement tyres fitted, including winter tread tyres (commonly called “mud and snow” tyres) and retreaded tyres, have a speed rating less than that shown on the vehicle’s tyre placard, a warning label must be affixed to the vehicle (usually by the tyre dealer) which states:
WARNING This vehicle is fitted with tyres which have a lower speed rating than that specified on the tyre placard. RTA VSI No. 9
The label must be at least 40mm x 40mm in size, made of durable material, with not less than 2mm high black lettering on an orange coloured background.

from RMS site
Regards Philip A

[Lionel]

In NSW you can use an M rated tyre as long as it is marked as M&S and you print out a little notice for the dash saying Warning do not exceed speed rating of tyre or somesuch.

from RMS site
Regards Philip A

I can see this thread getting sidetracked somewhat!

I do appreciate your input - really - but I actually asked for feedback on the 697. I think for my purposes the 661s would be overkill, & not, for me, worth the fuss of getting approval to use them.

Does anyone out there have feedback on the 697s?

Cheers,

Lionel

[disco gazza]

I've got 697's on my rangie. Done 51 odd thou on them. For my driving ther've been a very good tyre. Lots of hwy + lots of paddock bashing collecting firewood. They still have good amount of tread left on them.

[DiscoMick]

The 697s have a good reputation.

[cripesamighty]

My D697's are on a D1, but they have been well used (abused?). Apart from some local day trips and weekenders, they have seen a 7,500km trip to Cape Leveque via Mt Augustus (lots of dirt/corrugations/rocks) and another trip to Cape Leveque, but via Port Augusta and Darwin from Perth with lots of side trips for 11,500km+ on that trip. The only gripe I have is they do tend to flick rocks/pea gravel out of the tread blocks. I can't really fault them apart from that little quirk. I would definitely buy another set given they are a reasonably priced tyre which do the job as a good all-rounder touring tyre.

[PhilipA]

I also had them on an RRC.
They were good tyres which had to me a couple of little quirks.
They had a sort of "bouncy" fell at normal RRC pressures.
They had a peculiar "hum" which got louder as they got older.
Other than that they were fine on wet and dry bitumen and on dirt.
I would buy them again if 255.70x16 weren't so expensive compared to others eg BFG TA KO.
Regards Philip A
Oh , make sure you get the LT version. There are two versions in many sizes and the LTs are more expensive.

[ezyrama]

Morning All
Not on a Fender, but on a 3.0ltr 4JX1 Jackaroo, a few years ago I destroyed a set of Yokohama's on a run out to Birdsville, Mt Isa, Adele's Grove, Gregory Downs, Karumba. By the time I got to the gulf I had no spares left, so I went to a servo there and asked if he had any good tyres in stock. He said he could get anything I wanted overnight from Cairns but he had plenty of 697's in stock. I asked if they were any good as I had destroyed 5 tyres getting here, he said he fitted these to all the mine's Patrol's in the area, so that was good enough for me. I bought 4 of them that day, he gave me a good 2nd hand for a spare as we went from 245/70/16 to 265/75/16 and I had them on the car for another 2300km to get home and about 4 years after that. Never had one puncture or balance problem with them. Quiet, comfortable, quite good off road and in the sand as well.
Cheers Ian

[Tote]

Again not on a Defender but I have been running them on my RTV ute for the last couple of sets. I have found them to be a bit vulnerable to punctures when down to 25% legal tread but they provide a very good grip in wet and dry, better than the factory road based tyres.
They are also no noisier than the factory Goodyear Cargos

Pretty happy with mine and will continue to buy them for the RTV. Getting about 60,000Km from a set which is a bit less than the cargos which went to 80K.

I considered them for the Defender but ended up going for Hankook Dynapro muddies on the Zu rims in 265/75-16 as my use cases were mostly dirt road work. The Hankooks have been a pleasant surprise after the factory MTRs, quieter and a better ride.

Hope this is useful.

Regards,
Tote