NEW AT TYRES FOR D2 - ANYONE KNOW OF LT IN 70 PROFILE?

[ozscott]

Hi all. I have failed to properly rotate my Pirelli's AT often enough - shoulder wear. They have always had the problem of following the more severe contours of the highway at highway speeds, which, with a boat on the back isnt a nice feeling in your gut. Apart from that they are sensational, but I think the tram tracking is because they are 265/70/16....although that makes them fantastic on sand which for my unlocked manual V8 is a very good thing. It could be that the tram tracking much worse with the 2 tonn boat off the end is because they are not LTs and allow for quite a bit of squirm? My 95 D2 runs 245/70/16s in the same tyre except it is the LT and it never ever squirms with the boat on the back.

So that is my problem. Is it the softer sidewall and carcass generally that is my problem or is it the sheer width (new shocks, alingment, balance and new steering dampner have not made much difference)....I am reluctant to go smaller because the higher tyres are really excellent on sand and I like the extra height under the diffs generally. I dont think anyone makes an LT in the 265/70/16....any ideas?

Cheers

[Handbrake hates Camping]

Just spoke to my mate who owns a tyre shop and his reply was " I am not aware of any tyres of 265/70 16 in an LT you would have to go up to 265/75 16 to get an LT"

I don't know if this answers your question enough... but good luck hunting.

Doc

[ozscott]

Thanks mate - it does...still have the problem of not knowing whether its the size (width) that is causing the tram tracking (can someone else let me know if they have the wider tyres that suffer the same problem or not at all..especially on the highway with a load, or its the lack of LT....I suppose either way Im stuffed because of no LT in that size and have to go down....cant go up because it will gear up the manual truck too much for hill starts for the boat...

Cheeers

[ozscott]

I see that the Bridgestone Dueler in the newer 694 does an LT in 265/70/16 - local quote $309 fitted and balanced...anyone know these, I havent been a fan of Bumstone since owning some early duelers in the 80's

Cheers

[ozscott]

,,,these are the specs from B'Stone's site

Bridgestone D694 (265/70R16 LT)
265

70

16

117

S

779

OWT

[ozscott]

Ok - I have solved all my problems at the one time...ordered General Grabber AT2s 245/75/16 Light Trucks 10 ply speed rated S. Still go my height (774 versus the current 778) and 10mm wider than standard, so combined with the 120 load rated LT carcass no tram tracking and good towing!

Sweet.

Cheers

[Zute]

I'm running Cooper STT's in that size.(265/70x16LT) Has the largest outside diameter that is still legal in ACT.(if the speedo has been corrected.
The tram lining is prob' because of the negative camber Discos run. / \ .
Mine does this and did so on the AT's it came with.

[ozscott]

The tram tracking must be made worse because of the size though because it didnt do it new with the 235 XPCs on there and my 95 does not do it with 245/70/16s in Pirelli AT LT

Cheers

[ozscott]

You realise just how much better the LTs are when you see that even though the 245/75/16 is a smaller tyre in terms of width than the 265/70/16 the smaller LT is 2 kg heavier and can run a max pressure of 80psi versus 44 for the larger tyre.

Cheers

[Tombie]

Rounded shoulder tyres tend to track more from my experience..

Also, what pressures were you running in the old tyres?

Is your vehicle lifted? How much?

So many variables, but yes the stiffer construction of an LT will help reduce squirm.

[ozscott]

Tombie - not lifted mate (save for the extra height of the tyres:)). Tried different camber settings and pressures (very high - max, medium and low, and combinations from front to back).

Be interested to hear what people like Slunnie make of their big road tyres in terms of tracking - surely it cant just be mine.

Cheers

PS. Looking forward to getting some decent pressure into the LTs, like I do in my 95 with the LTs on when towing....its nice to know that they are solid!

[XHPBT1]

I have a set of coopers STT's 235/85/16 would anyone know if they would fit on D2?

[ozscott]

Yes they will fine mate- just over/one 30 inch (in fact a smaller than my my 265/70/16).

I ended up not being able to get the Grabbers as soon as I would like - in fact they are out of that size until April. So I am getting 235/75/16 Maxxis 751 Bravos....meant to me a great tyre. 3 Ply sidewall and 10 ply tread in the LT.

Cheers

[ozscott]

So far the Maxxis are magic. The fact that they are a smaller footprint does not seem to make the truck handle any less well compared to the Pirelli's. They remind me very much, in the tread structure of the Michy XPCs that came on it when new, save that these are 245/75/16 (with 10 ply tread, 3 ply sidewalls, and 120 load rating...!).

I drove home the other day in torrential rain in Brisbane and at 60kph hitting 6-8 inches of water they cut through and didnt tug the wheel out of my hand...the Pirellis' big problem. They also dont tend to tram track. Cant wait to tow the boat - actually looking forward to sticking 2 tonn on the back end again. New shocks (Dobinsons) new Raw (big bore) steering dampener and new LT tyres...good combo I reckon.

The Maxxis dont look as aggressive as many ATs, like Pirelli Scorp AT, Generals Grabber AT2, or BFG, but my bet is that they will equip themselves well in the dry off road (I have had them on high speed dirt and corrugations already and they are much better than the Pirelli's which surprised me). The truck should still be a weapon in sand, because the OD is still the same, and it is the longitudinal footprint that is most important.

Cheers all.

[ozscott]

Just an update - I did some mud the other day and they did very well...no less well than the Pirellis I reckon. On road they are a weapon now that they have been run in.

Cheers

PS. I will let you know about sand one day when I get chance to get out.