Thread: Intro + KM2 info

Hi there,

'Bout time I actually introduced myself - I've been a lurker for a while now, since I got my RRC in early 2007, in fact. Never thought I had anything much to offer as I was a total LR newbie and I'm pretty web-shy. Let me first say that the combined wisdom on this forum is outstanding and has been a great help on occasion - thanks for all the time you regulars put into it.

Anyhow, I'm in Canberra and bought an '89 RRC in Melbourne after an extensive search: It's a late 89 with the 3.9, updated dash and panels, no ABS, no sunroof, no electric seats, no sway bars. It's in great stock shape inside and out with a full service history.

Since purchasing it my family has been enjoying the sheer comfort and capability as we explore the Brindabella's, Snowies and Vic high country, where it's been getting plenty of bush pin stripes. I've left the suspension pretty much as LR intended and restored the load leveller, installed new rubber bushes and the LR 'heavy duty' (about 20 pounds more than stock) springs; and even got my local RR expert (Ray from Canberra Motor Works) to source some 'comfort' Bilsteins. Yes, it rolls like a ship in a heavy sea on-road but the ride, articulation and ability off-road amazes everyone who rides in it or even just watches it. On-road, I just slow down and take it easy: Good for fuel, licenses and tyres, which leads me to the other point of this post: The recently available BFG Mud Terrain KM2's.

I was really happy with the Cooper ST's fitted to my truck: they provided about 55000kms (down to 3-4mm); they handle and grip off road really well for an A/T and never flatted. They did, however, suffer chunking and cutting in the Brindabellas, so I was after something more cut/chip resistant and more mud capable. I searched the web high and low and found plenty of speculation and a few reviews of 35" versions on Jeeps but nothing LR-specific; the 4x4 Action review of muddies put it at the top so I ordered a set of 225/75R16's. They were installed a couple of days ago ($290/wheel for five) and I went on a good trip through the mountains yesterday. We covered asphalt, dry dirt, deep ruts, sloppy mud, wet clay, sharp rocks and gravel, up and down steep hills (powerline track that drops into Brindabella from the east). To really test them out I left the pressures at 40/45 psi (fr/rr); I usually air down to around 20 psi once I hit the rocky stuff.

In all, I found them to be exactly what I was after: Lots of grip and no punctures, cutting or chipping. The only mild downer is that they have a narrower amount of tread actually on the road than the STs of the same size and I think this has made turn-in on the bitumen a little less stable. It's not a big thing and they do run quiet on road. I don't really care about the mileage they ultimately achieve as the rangie doesn't do many km's in a year anyway.

Here's a few pictures of my truck near the end of our run yesterday, hopefully the massively shrunken images show the tyres reasonably well.

DSC_333100236807websize.JPG
DSC_336700240209websize.JPG
DSC_332800236510websize.JPG

cheers,

bidds

Thanks for the reply.

I now see where I went wrong.

I read your 225/75 as 255/75! A fair difference .