18 inch tyres for touring while towing a camping trailer

[kenh]

Hi all,

Yes, much digital ink has been spilled on this topic, but forgive me as I spill some more... I've acquired a set of Tuffant steel rims (yay!) as a second set of wheels for some 2-3 week touring trips I plan to do pulling a camping trailer w/ kids + granddad in the D4. Planning to go outback Oodnadatta / Mereenie loop / etc and Fraser island, but not mud ruts or anything like that. They'll sit in the storage locker when not in use, and I'll go back to my 19s for looking good at school pickup in Manly.

I'm looking at 265/60r18, wavering between the BF Goodrich ko2 ($410) vs/ Kumho MT51 ($250). The BFGs are the gold standard, but gah the price, esp not for daily use! What would folks on the forum do?

[loanrangie]

Falken Wildpeak AT3, get a good rap worldwide and around $100 cheaper per tyre than a BFG.

[kenh]

Yes, they do get fantastic reviews. But not LT rated (114T) and the trailer is 1500kg.

Open for feedback on whether they'd still be more than adequate re: puncture resistance.

[John_D4]

Pretty sure that Falken do make an 18” AT in LT. the tyre shop quoted me the other day

[loanrangie]

They do come in LT rated but you'll find most don't opt for them.

[kenh]

LT in 265/60r18? I haven't found them anywhere, but agree they'd be a brilliant choice.

On Falken's site it looks like you need to go up to 65 aspect ratio for LT construction: https://www.falkentire.com/tires/light-truck-suv-cuv-tires/wildpeaka/t3w-tire

[BMKal]

Toyo Open Country A/T II. [thumbsupbig]

It's what I have been running since replacing the Mickey Thompsons on my Disco 4 and I highly recommend them.
Currently the most common tyre fitted to 4WD's in the mining industry throughout WA because they outlast just about anything else.
Mine have done well over 60 thousand km and still have plenty of life left in them. Don't even look half worn yet.

Not as cheap as some options out there, but nowhere near the price of the BFG's.

If you want something a bit heavier duty without going to a M/T - the Open Country R/T looks good. Is available in the same size and is LT rated (though I think that "Light Truck" rating is a load of **** these days anyway).

[DieselLSE]

Despite BMKal's scepticism, LT tyres should be significantly stronger in the sidewall, tread and load rating than similar sized XL tyres. Heavier and noisier too if talking off-road treads.
On my 18" alternate wheels I use MT51 265/60 R18 and have been very happy with them. Load index 119 (1,360Kg). Only used for off-road and trips and I will use them for any outback travel (towing a Tvan).
My 19" tyres are Pirelli Scorpion AT+ 255/55 R19 with a load index 111 (1090Kg). Whilst excellent tyres on any surface, I am always wary of sidewall damage on rocky tracks.

[trout1105]

Toyo Open Country A/T II. [thumbsupbig]

It's what I have been running since replacing the Mickey Thompsons on my Disco 4 and I highly recommend them.
Currently the most common tyre fitted to 4WD's in the mining industry throughout WA because they outlast just about anything else.
Mine have done well over 60 thousand km and still have plenty of life left in them. Don't even look half worn yet.

Not as cheap as some options out there, but nowhere near the price of the BFG's.

If you want something a bit heavier duty without going to a M/T - the Open Country R/T looks good. Is available in the same size and is LT rated (though I think that "Light Truck" rating is a load of **** these days anyway).

What didn't you like about the Mickey Thompsons?

[scarry]

BFG have a new model called Trail Terrain,although the load rating isnt that flash in the size you want.
Its higher in some of the other sizes.

I have had many sets of BFG A/T over the last 20yrs,no issues,only a bit of a drone around 60 to 70Km/hr,on the D4.
Every other vehicle i have had them on,they were fine no noise at all.

Nitto are a very good tyre as well,but difficult to get at times.

[ozscott]

The best offroad tyres i had used bar none (and i have used a lot from Pirelli Scorpions to Michelin stock LR XPC and a few in between...albeit never BFG) were the Wrangler Duratracs in LT. However slightly better in my view are the Nitto Ridge Grappler in LT on an 18 inch rim. Fantastic tyre on and off road from a company that specialises in off road tyres (very big following in the US offroad scene and growing here). Cheers

[BMKal]

What didn't you like about the Mickey Thompsons?

Nothing - I was very happy with them. But I had the STZ's on mine, and when I went to replace them, these were no longer available. The "equivalent" that I was offered was the "Deegan" which had a more aggressive tread pattern, and not what I was looking for.

While I was happy with the STZ - the Toyos are definitely quieter so far (the Mickey's got louder as they wore), and I'm pretty confident that I will get considerably longer life out of the Toyo's.

[trout1105]

Nothing - I was very happy with them. But I had the STZ's on mine, and when I went to replace them, these were no longer available. The "equivalent" that I was offered was the "Deegan" which had a more aggressive tread pattern, and not what I was looking for.

While I was happy with the STZ - the Toyos are definitely quieter so far (the Mickey's got louder as they wore), and I'm pretty confident that I will get considerably longer life out of the Toyo's.

Did you look at the ATZ P3's?
A cross between AT and MT and yes they are a bit noisy But they seem to last pretty well (40k on the 79 series and 30k on the D2a so far without any problems) and are very effective off road.
I went for these because some of the Bush boat ramps I frequent have steep gravelly surfaces and wanted the better traction that the p3's provide over standard AT tyres.
I also put a set of Degans on the van 235/75/15 4 years ago and after more than 20,000K's they still look mickey mouse?

Not a cheap tyre But you do get what you pay for[thumbsupbig]

[BMKal]

Did you look at the ATZ P3's?
A cross between AT and MT and yes they are a bit noisy But they seem to last pretty well (40k on the 79 series and 30k on the D2a so far without any problems) and are very effective off road.
I went for these because some of the Bush boat ramps I frequent have steep gravelly surfaces and wanted the better traction that the p3's provide over standard AT tyres.
I also put a set of Degans on the van 235/75/15 4 years ago and after more than 20,000K's they still look mickey mouse?

Not a cheap tyre But you do get what you pay for[thumbsupbig]

In the end, I went with the recommendation of the owner of the tyre service I have been dealing with here in Kalgoorlie for years now. He told me that by far the biggest seller in the mining industry around here has been the Toyo due to longer life etc and better performance / value for the dollars spent. So far, his words have proven to be spot on. I've done well over 60 thousand km on this set, have not had to replace any of them, no punctures, and still plenty of life left in them. The way I use the vehicle and where I drive it (mostly bitumen with a little bit of off road) has not changed.

My son had the Mickey Thompson STZ's on his Amarok as well, and has since replaced them with Coopers (there's no helping bad taste [thumbsupbig]). He is not happy with the Coopers (surprise, surprise) and is currently looking around to see what he will replace them with.

[John_D4]

The Toyo open country at2 look interesting.

I’m currently running Maxxia 771 in 285 60 18LT. The tyre shop guy is recommending Falkens (which I had on the D2 and loved them).

Would anyone be able to compare the Falken to Toyo?

[hpal]

I would get the Falkens in a heartbeat when the time comes, they look great and they are pretty well priced. 114T is fine in my opinion, they'll be more than adequate. I'm fitting Toyo's next but only because I picked up a great 2nd hand set for next to nothing. My brother has a set of Nitto's, terra grapplers I think (A/T) and they were pathetic, one of them delaminated with only maybe 20,000km on it having done no off-road work at all. Very dangerous and I wouldn't buy a set myself after that.

[Arch]

I would get the Falkens in a heartbeat when the time comes, they look great and they are pretty well priced. 114T is fine in my opinion, they'll be more than adequate. I'm fitting Toyo's next but only because I picked up a great 2nd hand set for next to nothing. My brother has a set of Nitto's, terra grapplers I think (A/T) and they were pathetic, one of them delaminated with only maybe 20,000km on it having done no off-road work at all. Very dangerous and I wouldn't buy a set myself after that.

X2 that. The Falkens are the best tyre I've had on my personal vehicles. The 114T is perfectly adequate, mine have been many place with no problems.

[Tombie]

BFGs havent been gold standard for over 2 decades...

Falken, Radar etc will all do far better for you

[gtmurph]

Have a set of Falken Wildpeaks fitted now for over 18mths on Tuffant alloys, no issues with them and tow a camper trailer (Cub Frontier) as well from time to time. Been very happy with them over the Monsta AT's on 20's.

[akovach]

Yes, they do get fantastic reviews. But not LT rated (114T) and the trailer is 1500kg.

Open for feedback on whether they'd still be more than adequate re: puncture resistance.

I've got them and it says 114T on them. 265/65R18

[Seldarb]

Hi All,
I’ve been a member for 4 years & this is my first post, I have always found great advice for my D3 on here
My personal experience with a set of 17” Falken Wildpeak’s is that I’ll Never touch them again !!
I bought them for my Pajero & they were walking all over the road to the extent that I thought a front & back were half flat, but they were all on 40psi
My steering corrections were up to 15 degrees left & right from straight ahead @80 Kph
Tyre shop redid the wheel alignment twice ( Bob Jane )
(They were going to swap them for another brand, but at the time I couldn’t afford the difference)
I found another guy in a Triton with 17” Wildpeaks & he had a similar story with constantly having to correct the steering
They may have improved them over the last couple of years, But I won’t buy them again

[Clemente0756]

Hi All,
I’ve been a member for 4 years & this is my first post, I have always found great advice for my D3 on here
My personal experience with a set of 17” Falken Wildpeak’s is that I’ll Never touch them again !!
I bought them for my Pajero & they were walking all over the road to the extent that I thought a front & back were half flat, but they were all on 40psi
My steering corrections were up to 15 degrees left & right from straight ahead @80 Kph
Tyre shop redid the wheel alignment twice ( Bob Jane )
(They were going to swap them for another brand, but at the time I couldn’t afford the difference)
I found another guy in a Triton with 17” Wildpeaks & he had a similar story with constantly having to correct the steering
They may have improved them over the last couple of years, But I won’t buy them again

Agree with you on the falkens, I had them on my 16 D4 and were horrible in the snow and mud, I currently run Kenda klever at2 on alpha equipt 18’s and I love them they are a wallet friendly tire with aggressive sidewall tread, you can never go wrong with the ko2 just a little pricier

[DiscoDB]

Interesting experience Seldarb. Going off topic a little bit but what size 17 inch tyre did you try?

I recently changed to Falken Wildpeaks in LT245/70R17 and they drive very well on the D3 - but they are a heavy tyre. I can let go of the steering and the car just follows the road. At most I need to apply some minor steering correction to counter the road camber.

In my case, being an LT tyre they need much higher pressure in them - at 40psi they would feel half flat with the LT version. At present I am at 45 front and 50 rear but if towing I would probably go up to 55 on the rear. Even at 45psi the fronts look like they are low on air.

I wouldn’t want to go wider on the D3. By comparison, I find when I run the 255/55R19 highway tyres the handling is worse and the car gets pulled around by the road much more.

Would hate to imagine what a wider and heavier tyre again would be like although I note plenty of people here do run the Wildpeaks in a wider size than myself, so probably more about how well set up the 4 wheel alignment is.

[nigel1515]

I use Bridgestone 694's have found them to be long lasting and puncture resistant.
LT rated. Had them on for 5yrs, and still roadworthy..

[Celtoid]

BFGs havent been gold standard for over 2 decades...

Falken, Radar etc will all do far better for you

Hi Tombie,

I read a while back you were trying the Renegade RT and were enjoying them at the time. I'm currently wearing out my 19" Scorpion AT+ and am then going to permenantly park my 19" wheels and run the 18" Compos. I was going to do this earlier but it seems a waste of $ to put the 19s under the house when they still have 3/4 tread left on them and will just become hard and useless. Anyway ... I ramble ...

What's your thoughts on the RTs now that you've had more time to play with them?

Cheers,

Kev.

[Chris_Falcon]

I ran with the Falken's when I got my Tuff Ants based on recommendations in this forum and have been happy with them. 30,000ks in 18 months with those tyres and no dramas on the road like you have described Seldarb.
I find them great on road, in the wet or dry and fantastic ATs off-road. 30,000 ks and they still look new and I am hard on tyres.
The only negative was a bit of wobble in the steering wheel above 100 km/h which has settled down over time (had 3 goes at two different tyre shops to get them balanced with no real change).

[Steve86]

The Toyo open country at2 look interesting.

I’m currently running Maxxia 771 in 285 60 18LT. The tyre shop guy is recommending Falkens (which I had on the D2 and loved them).

Would anyone be able to compare the Falken to Toyo?

Few comments on Toyos & Falkens:
Advice for AT wheels and tyres for disco 4 (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/265817-advice-wheels-tyres-disco-4-a-8.html)

Shane linked to his review of the Toyos in the thread.

[John_D4]

Few comments on Toyos & Falkens:
Advice for AT wheels and tyres for disco 4 (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/265817-advice-wheels-tyres-disco-4-a-8.html)

Shane linked to his review of the Toyos in the thread.

It’s really sounding like a Ford vs Holden thing