7.50r16 tyres

[bcj]

Hi,time for new tyres for the 110- have convinced the finacial controller that Michelins XZL's are the go but I've just been looking at Goodyear Wrangler TG's (thought I might save enough to buy a new radio:cool:) and am interested for any comments on the TG's, I've heard that forestry are now fitting these? 110 used aroud hilly paddocks mainly but also does a fair bit of hwy, loaded from empty to gvm
Any thoughts on TG's or other suitable tyres appreciated.
Brett

[JamesH]

I'm in the same boat. I've ruled out Michelins due to cost and had decided on the same tyre, Bridgestone 604v. This tyre lasted 60000km which is less than you would expect from the Michies but my allignment was not right for too long so it's my fault. My rear tyres have another 10000km on them I reckon. They have proved reliable and handled rough gravel and shale up north with no punctures. I don't do much muddy farm track work so can't comment on that.

I got quoted in perth about $285 inc fitting and disposal.

I'm going to look at your Goodyears before I commit. I had trouble finding tyres in that size to be honest.

HTH

[spudboy]

The XZLs are as tough as, but they are also noisy. I run them on my 110 from time to time (a swap for the original General Grabbers on the original alloys) and am always struck by how quiet the GGs are.

The XZLs are a bit iffy in the wet on bitumen, but other than that I reckon they are the best hard working/expedition tyre going. Do a search on some of the trans-africa expedition sites. The one tyre that keeps coming up (with rave reviews about longevity and puncture-free kms) is the XZL.....

[wayne1779]

have any of you guys used the 7.5r16 olympic steel trek's, if so what are they like ? Im thinking about putting them on my 98 disco.

[The ho har's]

Well just talking about tyres around here also.

ho har will not buy XZL's again Our '03 130 has 66,000k's which 61,000k's we have racked up since buying it in Sept '07 and the tyres are nearly bald:eek: we have 8 in total 6 new ones have been rotated in that time and the last 2 second hand ones are now on the rear....

we have not had any punctures and have travelled Plenty/Gibb River/ Nathan River/Tanami last year and just completed 4,000k's down to S.A. and back and several other trips as you can see by that mileage;) and all of this is with the camper on which would contribute to the tyre wear


We are thinking of brand???just general LT tyres which will cost us alot less than XZL's and as we always carry 2 spares rotation isin't a prob

will keep reading with interest

Mrs ho har:angel:

[cewilson]

I used 604v tyres for years before swapping to MT's. I used to get nearly 80k out of each set (rotating 6 tyres) without any major issues. Down side to them was lack of grip in muddy conditions - but they are an AT.

It's an older design, but like the Defender one which keeps going because it does the job.

Cheers
Chris

[DeeJay]

have any of you guys used the 7.5r16 olympic steel trek's, if so what are they like ? Im thinking about putting them on my 98 disco.

I've got a set, I think BLKnight summed them up pretty well when he said they do everything just OK. I like em but I would'nt use them everyday.

[JamesH]

FWIW The tyre salesman told me a set of LT tyres is the go if you want a squillion kms, and I kind of do but I also want something that will handled the kind of bad tracks you get up in the Pilbara/Kimberly - and he reckoned stick with AT.

Very interested to hear the Ho-Hars have had no trouble with good old LTs, you don't hear much about them on here.

Ive requested a quote on the Goodyear TGs.

[The ho har's]

FWIW The tyre salesman told me a set of LT tyres is the go if you want a squillion kms, and I kind of do but I also want something that will handled the kind of bad tracks you get up in the Pilbara/Kimberly - and he reckoned stick with AT.

Very interested to hear the Ho-Hars have had no trouble with good old LTs, you don't hear much about them on here.



we haven't bought them yet still thinking about what to get;)



Mrs ho har:angel:

[Lost Landy]

Ive been using 7.50x16 steel treks for about a mounth now on the fender and sofar Iam very happy with them, there ok in the wet as long as you dont treat ur Landy as a sports car lol.
Also had a set of Dunlop super grippers on my stage 1 V8 & i think there a great all round tyre!
The tread is a little more aggrissive then the dunlop road grippers.

[dromader driver]

just rolling through 70 000km with XZA's on the defender.

probably good for near 100 000

:)

[Blknight.aus]

have any of you guys used the 7.5r16 olympic steel trek's, if so what are they like ? Im thinking about putting them on my 98 disco.

its a tyre that doesnt excel at anything and doesnt suck either.

years ago I saw it in a mixed review of tyres and it was the only one to score over 50% in all fields.


Its a jack of all trades tyre and my personal preference because of it.

average life if all is well with the steering and suspension is 75K Km + or about 4 maybe 5 years before they start to suffer hardening.


to best run them on a disco1 you need a 2 inch lift and a little guard work at the rear

[bcj]

Regards my original post-the main consideration for new tyres is grassy slopes as travelling fast downhill not nice and stop at bottom worse:eek: also need to include heavy loads as tyre failure on hwy heavily loaded not good either:(
We run 7.50r16 goodyear TG's as steer wheels on our local firetruck(it used to run steel trek's but before my time) and larger dual MT/R's on the rear.It'll go anywhere-though it weighs alot more than a unloaded 110.
I run 7.50r16's because 110 usually running light(1900kgs) when offroad-though sometimes it's on gvm
I've always found grass the hardest surface to get traction on and a good tyre is required.Hwy performance,wear rate, noise and cost don't affect grip on grass.
A/T tyres can be dangerous as once traction lost it's hard to regain if slipping wrong way on hill- and if grounds wet useless.
Are Steel Trek's still available?-my local shop was recomending Goodyear TG's. Other local tyre shop's told me 7.50r16's are obsolete & to fit wider tyres???They just don't understand.
I think I'm leaning towards the xzl still, I do have a set of Wrangler AT's I can throw on if needed for extended on road drive.
Brett
ps-I've read some good reports on Bridgestone m888 7.50r16 truck tyres for you guy's doing high onroad km's

[Blknight.aus]

yes the steel trek is still available, its still manufactured as its still in use by the defence.

finding a tyre shop that will deal with them is a bit of an issue as there is a lot of other tyres that outperform it significantly in certain areas and people buy those tyres because those tyres do what they want them to.

The only other tyre that IVe run that I consider to be close in capabilities is the BFG AT.

[extreme]

I will soon be up for new tyres also, i previously have used bfg a/t and consistently got 80,000 km's with no punctures. I want to improve my traction in the mud (steady Col. Coleman:eek:), so i'm thinking that i'll try bfg km2 m/t

Regards extreme

[stevencam]

Simex trekkers are available in 7.50 16.
Great for mud and grass, no good on the bitumen.
If you have an irrigated dairy farm, (lots of mud and grass) and another car to drive to town then perfect:D

[Col.Coleman]

I want to improve my traction in the mud (steady Col. Coleman:eek:),
Regards extreme

So you'll take a box of twelve:p

I am a massive fan of Michelin XZL's. For me they tick all the boxes.

On my 130, I don't notice the noise, don't get the wet bitumen thing. I have towed loaded car trailers in monsoon like weather and not felt twitchy in the slightest. Done 4100k round trip in 73hrs on them towing on bitumen with no probs(not with the tyres anyway). Off road in whatever terrain they really perform at their best.

The Ho Hars are after a longer lasting tyre for the load they carry(the camper) which I don't think you'll get from a mud trye.

Another good option is Michelin LTX A/T. Another very tough tyre, longer lasting and VERY quiet. Only come in floataion sizes in 15 inch, so it will be 235/85x16's. Have these on my stage 1 and they are excellent.

Michelins Are expensive. But for me personally I feel the expense is justified.

I also run Michelins on everything I own. The landies, Wifes Subaru(215/60x16 synchrones), Motorcycles and even my push bikes, so I might be accused of being biased.

CC

Olympic Steeltreks are a POS. On a well cambered front axle like a defender, they scollop out badly and the very large side blocks create vibrations, noise and a horrible ride(ask weeds or inc). I know the ADF use them, but remember most of the time they are speed limited on public roads, and are not supposed to drive at the speeds that we normally do. They are on my Field Kitchen and the weak side walls make it sway badly. I keep 75psi in them to counteract this.

[10 inches more]

I run Wrangler TGs on my 120 and it sounds like I do similar work to yourself. I cannot fault these tyres, they are good in snow and on dirt roads, wet or dry. As for paddock work they are good, but our steep country isn't covered in lush grass.... Road noise is not an issue, but that may be because I cannot hear it over the gear box!

I cant say what sort of wear I'm getting as my speedo hasn't worked for years, but I'd reckon I've done 20-30k on them so far, and will get at least that again. I wouldn't expect to get 70-80k out of a set, that is probably 60% bitumen 40% dirt/bush, usually lightly loaded.

[Blknight.aus]

Olympic Steeltreks are a POS. On a well cambered front axle like a defender, they scollop out badly and the very large side blocks create vibrations, noise and a horrible ride(ask weeds or inc). I know the ADF use them, but remember most of the time they are speed limited on public roads, and are not supposed to drive at the speeds that we normally do. They are on my Field Kitchen and the weak side walls make it sway badly. I keep 75psi in them to counteract this.

yeah because 0 degrees of camber is just a massive camber angle (or is the result of your blown up front diff a bent axle housing?)

Your speed limited to the same speed most of the time, not many places will let you do more than 100 and if you've got a trailer on then your limited to the same speed.

funny with a 12ply side wall rating I always figured they had a pretty good side wall. I know the local tyre shop doesnt like changing them because the beads are too hard to deflect.

your trailer sways badly because you probabley tow it too fast and behind something thats lighter and/or got a longer rear axle to tow ball than what the military use to tow it.

The fact that the suspension on the trailer is probabley rooted wont be helping either (but thats just a WAG)

[Col.Coleman]

The only other tyre that IVe run that I consider to be close in capabilities is the BFG AT.

Of the 3 vehicles and 1 trailer you own, not one rim has a steeltrek on it. In fact you chose goodyear high miler for the split rims for fozzy and the cape:D:D:D

That's Confidence. (no wait that's Bridgestone):angel:


0yeah because 0 degrees of camber is just a massive camber angle (or is the result of your blown up front diff a bent axle housing?)

Actually Left wheel -1*16' and right -0*49. So not zero:p
Not bent, as from factory and within spec. Land Rover have checked. The Ho Hars 130 is similar. They have visible inner front tyre wear as well. No scolloping, just that the tyre runs on the inside more. Negative camber makes it steer around coners better Dave:p

The old leaf springs jobs ran positive camber.

Left +1*06 and Right +1*26 in the case of my Stage 1.



Your speed limited to the same speed most of the time, not many places will let you do more than 100 and if you've got a trailer on then your limited to the same speed.

Read your convoy SOP's. What is your maximum convoy speed?



your trailer sways badly because you probabley tow it too fast and behind something thats lighter and/or got a longer rear axle to tow ball than what the military use to tow it.

The fact that the suspension on the trailer is probabley rooted wont be helping either (but thats just a WAG)

Your the guy that fixes them. Or you used to be before you became a toffy nosed RAFFY.:D:D:D

Anything else you want to learn today? Like when you said I couldn't break the bead on a D3 safety rim with a highlift jack, tyre iron and chewing gum.:twisted:

CC




Waiting for the torrent of abuse to start

[Blknight.aus]

Of the 3 vehicles and 1 trailer you own, not one rim has a steeltrek on it. In fact you chose goodyear high miler for the split rims for fozzy and the cape:D:D:D

That's Confidence. (no wait that's Bridgestone):angel:


when I bought them second hand I had a choice 6 tyres for $100 or 2 tyres for $100.... the fact that I got them even cheaper with the split rims was a pretty good motivator to get the hi-milers especially as they were gotten specifically for a purpose and aren't the everyday rubber. The only reason I dont run them (the steeltrks) on the other vehicles or the trailer is

1. The wife drives the red one she wanted something more civilised. the trek is also not suitable for legal mounting on the ally rims on big red
2. The steeltrek doesnt come in a size to suit the trailer (musta missed the lower profile)
3. It also doesnt come in a size to suit the rims on the new thing (musta missed the 15x8 sizing)
4. All my other rims are sporting Free rubber. (that includes the stack of unmounted rubber you obviously didn't find which has 2 treks in it)

A much more cutting remark would have been that ATM I'm actually running Michelins on the front of Fozzy. We'll just assume that thats the same lack of observation that lead you to miss the pair of treks in my standby rubber pile and the different rubber sizes is responsable for that one.




Actually Left wheel -1*16' and right -0*49. So not zero:p
Not bent, as from factory and within spec. Land Rover have checked. The Ho Hars 130 is similar. They have visible inner front tyre wear as well. No scolloping, just that the tyre runs on the inside more. Negative camber makes it steer around coners better Dave:p

The old leaf springs jobs ran positive camber.

Left +1*06 and Right +1*26 in the case of my Stage 1.

yeah that might be what it is but whats the factory spec and in any case even with what it is 1.something degrees per side average Im not going to call that
a well cambered front axle
Dare you to turn up somewhere where they set a real camber on and give that a go.







Read your convoy SOP's. What is your maximum convoy speed?


100KPH just like the rest of the defence force and like a lot of highways

Solo or in small groups of light white fleet we can run faster (providing the speed limit permits or we've got a trailer on in which case its 100 again just like the rest of Australia.)




Your the guy that fixes them. Or you used to be before you became a toffy nosed RAFFY.:D:D:D


That'd be RAAFIE, Ron must be slipping.




Anything else you want to learn today? Like when you said I couldn't break the bead on a D3 safety rim with a highlift jack, tyre iron and chewing gum.:twisted:

CC

Waiting for the torrent of abuse to start

actually If I remember right it was with a highlift, 3 tyre levers, a spacer board and a set of tyre pliers with an extention arm.

it was FIXed with chewing gum.

What Id like to learn is.....

when are you going to fix stuff properly rather than just patching it a bit and then starting a new project?:cool:

[Col.Coleman]

What Id like to learn is.....

when are you going to fix stuff properly rather than just patching it a bit and then starting a new project?:cool:

Already have. Oil pump pick up bolt in the 130:D

and I did notice the 2/3rds worn XPC's on the front of Fozzy.


CC


Go the XZL's:D:D:D

[Blknight.aus]

Already have. Oil pump pick up bolt in the 130:D


I wouldnt be trusting that...

I know for a fact the the mechanic who did that had a ruddy great hole in the back of his head.

And that he fixed the oil pump drive gear bolt and not the pickup mounts

[wayne1779]

its a tyre that doesnt excel at anything and doesnt suck either.

years ago I saw it in a mixed review of tyres and it was the only one to score over 50% in all fields.


Its a jack of all trades tyre and my personal preference because of it.

average life if all is well with the steering and suspension is 75K Km + or about 4 maybe 5 years before they start to suffer hardening.


to best run them on a disco1 you need a 2 inch lift and a little guard work at the rear
Thank you very much for your reply

[10 inches more]

Getting back to the Wrangler TGs.... had to order a new one today as I'd had a flat and was running on the spare (very much a 'spare', the old perished bald one!) for too long and it blew. New TG quote from TyrePower is $325, at that money they are probably up there with other top shelf tyres. Its a good tyre, but maybe not that good! If I wasn't trying to keep a matched set I reckon I'd look around some more.

[bcj]

Recent qoute for TG's $310 but dropped to $280 for a set + tubes.
Read reveiw somewear about possible wall failures under constant heavy loads for TG's- they appear to have a slightly higher load index than xzl's ???

[rfurzer]

I have recently fitted (thanks to advice found at AULRO), OTANI jeep service tyres, super grippy mud tread, super strong sidewalls. Seem excellent to me.
Also were pretty cheap at $160ea. (our dealer supplies them to the mines for their cruisers).

Russ

[Lost Landy]

Had a look at this web site OTANI TIRES QORLD CLASS QUALITY MADE IN THAILAND (http://entireinc.com/otani.htm) and i say its the tyre on the far top right cnr. Looks like the old "Jeep service" & you can go up to 14 ply? I wouldnt mind getting a set in the 10ply ;-)

[Blknight.aus]

I have a set of tyres in that pattern that came on fozzy.

they provided excelent service as the steer tyres for the mud/shale set untill the hi milers on splits turned up.

[isuzurover]

Hi,time for new tyres for the 110- have convinced the finacial controller that Michelins XZL's are the go but I've just been looking at Goodyear Wrangler TG's (thought I might save enough to buy a new radio:cool:) and am interested for any comments on the TG's, I've heard that forestry are now fitting these? 110 used aroud hilly paddocks mainly but also does a fair bit of hwy, loaded from empty to gvm
Any thoughts on TG's or other suitable tyres appreciated.
Brett

A mate in Brisbane has been running TGs on his IIA for a while now. They seem to work quite well offroad. They have been through a lot of serious stuff and never had any issues to my knowledge.

[10 inches more]

I got my tyre, $325 plus everything... the next catch is that they are only available in 10 ply which no one realised til I pointed it out to the fitter when I picked the wheel up. 10s are OK if you're mostly loaded, see previous post re tyre wall failure, but not so keen on them for running empty most of the time. Also interested to see how a set of one 10 ply/three 8 plys handle potholes/corrugations.

[papadad]

Hi,
Spoke to a local tyre shop here in Cairns, he said that the XZL's don't last very well in extreme heat like we have across the top of Aussie, have had problems with them throwing chunks of rubber out of the tread. I was quoted $470 each with tubes and fitting and Michelin won't warranty them in our climate and weather conditions.
I don't if any of this is true or not,its what I've been told.
Rover000101

[JamesH]

I ended up buying the 604vs and i know they'll be OK but it wasn't easy to get them (shutting down the Australian factory) and I wonder if they will import more.

I'm on the old 5 1/2 inch rims so most 235/85s are not an option, they need 6" rims I believe.

I might do the Steel Treks next time and just put up with the downside (though I have to say most of the time my car is unloaded and I read here the 12ply sidewalls may be too stiff ?)

Got a bad feeling that in a few years time when I get to another 70000km I'm gonna have a hard time with these rims.

J

[bcj]

I settled on xzl's-decided it wasn't good to rock the boat after gaining financial approval for these earlier on.
I did try and chase up steeltreks but have been told by a couple of shops that they're not been available for over a year now-though who knows with tyre retailers-I actually had to tell them of xzl's, most had never heard of them!
Been pretty much raining since they've been fitted-nearly 5000k now,early observations-
pro-excelent round farm in mud,places that used to take a couple of go's and a bit of speed in the ruts now just cruise through hardly spinning.
- been surprisingly ok on wet roads,I have been catious due to chat about poor grip ,reducing speeds by 10% but have found they feel as good as old A/T's-still catious though-utes very light in rear!
-audible warning if entering corner to fast or nearing legal speed limit:D( some people said xzl's are noisy-below 100 they're ok)
neg-they like to throw bigger rocks than A/T's on gravel
-price $409ea fitted with new tubes
-am monitoring wear rate as I do a fair amount of on road k's, though they are a mud tyre & got expect it
As Papadad mentioned hot weather I don't think xzl's would like it to much and I have found myself cruising on 90 rather than 100, if not in traffic, feeling this may help wear rate as well-more comfortable anyway & I'm usually not in a hurry
-also been some talk of spliting at base of blocks with high onroad k's, am monitoring this and hope reduced cruising speeds will help prevent this
Very happy with offroad grip,surprisingly pleased with onroad wet perfomance,look good ,noise?

Brett
110 300tdi c/chassis
109 h/top

[The ho har's]

We ended up with BS Desert Dueler 604VT...got a good discount because we bought 6...very quite on the road I can hear the radio again;) good in the wet....now to test them with the camper on...


Mrs hh:angel:

[numpty]

We ended up with BS Desert Dueler 604VT...got a good discount because we bought 6...very quite on the road I can hear the radio again;) good in the wet....now to test them with the camper on...


Mrs hh:angel:

They're not a bad tyre, Mrs HH, and you should get good mileage out of them. Useless in mud though, as most non mud terrains are and I found, once they get close to the end of their life, you tend to get more punctures. (tube type)

[The ho har's]

They're not a bad tyre, Mrs HH, and you should get good mileage out of them. Useless in mud though, as most non mud terrains are and I found, once they get close to the end of their life, you tend to get more punctures. (tube type)

another thing that swayed us is most tyre dealers have them in stock so if we wreck a tyre in Dubbo say they have some...as for mud we try to stay away from that with camper on....unless you are doing the Gibb River Road after heavy rain:(:D

Mrs hh:angel:

[bcj]

towed a commodore 200yds up a grass, basalt soil on clay hill this week on neighbors farm in the rain,why the fella drove down there is hard to fathom as there's no formed road and commodore fitted with wide superlow profile tyres-
they tried to get up the hill for 1/2hr,getting nowhere (I was supervising,then latter driving commodore as two of them pushed-me no get muddy:))Then as 1 went to get tractor I hooked commodore up to 110 and dragged it up hill not even spinning wheel's, XZL's performed admirably-I don't think I would have done it with old A/T's
They were both covered in mud in the end:D, it was amusing to watch,commodore had high performance tyre's with low perfornance driver

Brett
110 300tdi c/chassis
109 h/top