Not Another tyre question.

[dirvine]

I am soon to go off on a trip and need to purchase new tyres for my new 18"rims. I have looked on many web sites for 265/65/18 BF Goodrich TA KO. I am NOT interested in any other tyre. The issue is that some companies (tyresales.com.au) import cheap BA's at that size with a rating of 117R and no LT. They are priced at $330. The 119/122 are LT construction and are $386. I was told the non LT are imported from overseas, and would have a less strong side wall. Yet when I get on the internet and google them, they state the lower rating ones are just as heavy in weight as the LT ones. I would have thought the LT would be heavier. As the rating is so close (117cmf 119/122) I wonder is it worth an extra $280 for 5 tyres? Other than the cheaper ones not being supported by BF Australia (and really what support do we really get?) is there any compelling reason I am missing why I should outlay the extra cash?

[scarry]

Where are the cheap ones made?
The genuine ones are made in the US.

You could ring BFG,they have a customer support line and ask them for their opinion,but i can guess what they will say.

They won't be very happy about it no doubt,and it could give them a bad name if they aren't as good as the made in US ones.

As for the weight,who knows?

I wouldn't stuff around,i would get the genuine made in the US ones,but thats me.

One destroyed tyre is worth more than $280,and then there is the inconvenience.

[Russrobe]

I found every price on that tyresales.com.au to be a massive rip off. Could get it at least 25% cheaper at a local franchise, make sure you add the fitting charge, and if you plan on getting them fitted yourself remember you've added an extra party when it comes to making warranty claims (which are already difficult at times with tyres). Personally I'd avoid buying tyres at this price range online.

On LT spec, after what I've put mine through over the last 12 months, I wouldn't buy anything else but light truck. The increased strength actually comes from the ply thickness, not that of the sidewall, with most LT's having a min of 8ply and some with 10ply.

The more strength I can get to the contact patch the better IMO, others may or may not agree, but the LT's i'm currently running have been bullet proof. Also depends on what you plan on carrying, I usually sit right on the limit of GVM and therefore even an incremental load rating increase is beneficial.

Remembering that $30 spent in the city could save you $300 in the bush, people can charge whatever they like out there, not to mention price of freight if you have to fly one in which is also likely.

[Tombie]

Slight correction - minimum 8 ply *rating* or 10 ply *rating*

Usually only 2 or 3 actual “plies” are fitted.

[Russrobe]

Slight correction - minimum 8 ply *rating* or 10 ply *rating*

Usually only 2 or 3 actual “plies” are fitted.Without the LT rating though, tyres are not required to meet the equivalent 8 ply rating, correct? And if they did meet it they would advertise it as LT therefore without it you have a slightly weaker ply rating...

[RHS58]

So, do the sums.
An extra $280 for 5 probably better tyres.
Lets say they last 3 years.
What does that work out at?
$93.33 per year.
$1.75 per week.
36 cents per tire per week.
Thats not much for peace of mind, eh?

[Russrobe]

So, do the sums.
An extra $280 for 5 probably better tyres.
Lets say they last 3 years.
What does that work out at?
$93.33 per year.
$1.75 per week.
36 cents per tire per week.
Thats not much for peace of mind, eh?Blowout a tyre at 80kmh on corrugations and you could end up in a ditch. So the tyre would be the last of your worries and cheapest of your expenses ;)

Just saying if you think you will be pushing the gvm limits then yes it is worth getting a higher ply rated tyre. With a higher load rating. Simple logic really.
Who said the spare has to have the higher rating for one. Mine was second had and free so deduct 20% from your $280 Then factor in what it's going to cost to replace the blown out tyre that you may not have had... $350??
Besides all I've done is laid out some reasons why I prefer the LT, all you've done is type a useless already known expense. Congratulations.

[dirvine]

Having now googled around the world a bit more, it appears these tyres can be bought in UK, Germany, South Africa. All are on BF Goodrich sites so they must be a legit tyre. In regards to LT or not, from my limited knowledge, it appears that a rating over 114 seems to imply LT "Strength". I note a number of people on this site have Nitto tyres and these are rated at 112 to 114, so I feel that these tyres are higher rated than some other brands that others recommend. Yes I could have a blowout, yes its only XX cents per day, but other than a small difference in rating, (which is a higher rating than other brands), I am still not convinced that there is a big difference. I have rung BF Australia, and they say they do not import nor do they support this tyre in Australia as they believe it is not suitable for our conditions. However they did acknowledge that the tyre is available in many other countries and providing I am careful about lower end pressures, the tyre would in all probability be suitable for me. So I am biting the bullet and ordering them. Thanks for everybodys' input.

[Tombie]

Look forward to hearing of your experience with them.

[101RRS]

Of course they are a legit BFG tyre made in the US - they are just not a model brought in by BFG Australia - hence the grey imports. I would personally go the LTs but really if the load rating is correct and your happy with them then they will be fine - it is not as if they are a sub standard tyre - they are just a different model.

I have passenger grade tyres on my vehicle of a higher load rating than is needed and they are fine. Wary in rough country where sidewalls might get damaged but no issues - remember that LTs have a stiffer sidewall so do not dissipate heat as well as passenger grade tyres so in some circumstances the "P" rated tyres might be more suitable but there is not much in it.

If you think you need LTs then get them, if not I am sure the non BFG LTs will be fine - similar issue on the Bridsgestones - same tyre available in LT or Passenger only this time both are brought in Bridgstone so no grey import.

[Russrobe]

Having now googled around the world a bit more, it appears these tyres can be bought in UK, Germany, South Africa. All are on BF Goodrich sites so they must be a legit tyre. In regards to LT or not, from my limited knowledge, it appears that a rating over 114 seems to imply LT "Strength". I note a number of people on this site have Nitto tyres and these are rated at 112 to 114, so I feel that these tyres are higher rated than some other brands that others recommend. Yes I could have a blowout, yes its only XX cents per day, but other than a small difference in rating, (which is a higher rating than other brands), I am still not convinced that there is a big difference. I have rung BF Australia, and they say they do not import nor do they support this tyre in Australia as they believe it is not suitable for our conditions. However they did acknowledge that the tyre is available in many other countries and providing I am careful about lower end pressures, the tyre would in all probability be suitable for me. So I am biting the bullet and ordering them. Thanks for everybodys' input.'. I have rung BF Australia, and they say they do not import nor do they support this tyre in Australia as they believe it is not suitable for our conditions. '
I do hope you never have to make a warranty claim with that statement in mind. Good luck with them though I'm sure they will be fine. There's only 2 AT tyres I would consider and they are BFG or B/Stone.

[DiscoJeffster]

Tyre. Warranty claim. Oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one. I’d love to hear how many successful claims have been made.

[RHS58]

Tyre. Warranty claim. Oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one. I’d love to hear how many successful claims have been made.

LOL.
NEVER seen the words Cooper +tyre + warranty + claim in the same sentence.

[Tombie]

LOL.
NEVER seen the words Cooper +tyre + warranty + claim in the same sentence.

Yes you have....

+ rejected [emoji48]

[BrianElloy]

I ha e 265/65R18 122 LT BFG K02’s on my Compo wheels and love them

However if I had to buy them again I’d go for the 60 profile as (a) not being able to carry the spare in the factory location is a pain (b) the rubbing from the front while on full lock while very minor is annoying.

I’ve got my K02’s for sale on gumtree for this very reason. Approx 1200 Km’s on them.

[dirvine]

I was of the opinion that if the spare is deflated it would fit underneath. Are you saying it wont?

[letherm]

I was of the opinion that if the spare is deflated it would fit underneath. Are you saying it wont?

It's been stated before on this forum, without contradiction, that they will fit. From memory, even if deflated it may need a nudge to get it to sit right.

Martin

[BrianElloy]

Cool I’ll definitely give it a shot

[david@bolacplains.com]

I would drop the BF's and head straight across to the Cooper AT/3's. fantastic all purpose tyre.

Buy 5 and rotate all 5 every 10k km's.

Cheers

[DiscoClax]

Tyre. Warranty claim. Oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one. I’d love to hear how many successful claims have been made.
I actually made a claim on some early BFG KOs close to 15 years ago. Internal delamination causing a bulge. Michelin own BFG so one of their local agents handled it. I got a decent pro-rata refund, fairly quickly. No dramas. I'd bought my D1 with those tyres already on there and they had done some work, but I suspect strongly the failure was due to the PO running too low pressures for comfort, rather than an inherent tyre issue. Anyway...

So, do the sums.
An extra $280 for 5 probably better tyres.
Lets say they last 3 years.
What does that work out at?
$93.33 per year.
$1.75 per week.
36 cents per tire per week.
Thats not much for peace of mind, eh?

[madden]

Hi,
Sorry if this is a bit off topic but in what sequence would you rotate the 5 tyres?

madden

[letherm]

Hi,
Sorry if this is a bit off topic but in what sequence would you rotate the 5 tyres?

madden
Here's a link which shows various methods of tyre rotation. You may have opened a can of worms here as there are differing opinions on whether you should rotate 5 tyres or 4 only. Personally, I only rotate four - same side front to back and vice versa.

How and why you should rotate your tyres | Tyreright - The Right Tyres and Advice (https://www.tyreright.com.au/sidewall/blog/maintenance/2011/november/21/how-and-why-you-should-rotate-your-tyres)


Martin

[Tins]

I would drop the BF's and head straight across to the Cooper AT/3's. fantastic all purpose tyre.

Buy 5 and rotate all 5 every 10k km's.

Cheers




Horses for courses, I guess. I'm sure that Cooper tyres are as tough as they claim, but in my experience of them they lack the one thing I want MOST from a tyre: grip. I had 'em on my D2 and they scared the bejeesus out of me on wet roads, common where I am. I switched to Maxxis MTs and haven't looked back. I can always turn the volume down on my hearing aids!

That said, If I was going to go and do something like the Canning ( in a D2 that is unlikely ) the Maxxis would be coming off. But I'd go BFG in that case.

[dirvine]

Today I went and got my tyres fitted. After listening to everybody and thinking I would get the 117R ones, I did further investigation and found a place that would fit the 122R ones for $350 or an extra $100 more. So I bit the bullet. I did not fit them to the car as I still have bit of meat on the Maxis 19" ones. But will do so before my Big trip in Jan to March. As they were loading the tyres into the back I had a look at the tyres. Blow me down they were the LT266/65/19R 117/114 rating not then 122 rating. I immediately went and said this is not what I ordered. They said they got the tyres directly from BF Goodrich. I said not possible they are not supported in Aus. They then dug out then invoice, and blow me down its true. So who do you believe? They have given me a written guarantee as I was very concerned and wanted the tyres removed. Even went as far as giving me a refund so i only paid $330 per tyre. Tyre is made in USA. so I presume its a legit BF tyre! I just wonder how many other out there think they have the 122 when in fact they have the 117. If so note the price difference and haggle.