Thread: So you think you need specialised off road tyres?....read on

Originally Posted by Zeros

I still prefer 7.50R16’s for many reasons. They are lighter on the steering, quieter on road, use less fuel, they elongate better when let down for sand, they’re better in mud, and they generally have flatter sidewalls. Wide tyres are the opposite of all of the above IMO.

235/85R16 are the widest I’ll go. But I prefer 7.50R16 if I can get them. They are getting harder to find. I’m keen to try the new BFG KM3’s in 7.50R16 when next I need tyres. Kudos to BFG for making them. They’ve pretty much become ‘specialist tyres’.

Me too. I agree with all that.

Originally Posted by Arch

...and there are good reasons why companies like Michelin make a range of floater tyres. Same reason as well why Arctic Trucks out of Iceland fit their vehicles with balloon tyres. They are heavy and do have a fuel compromise, but the balloon tyres work better off road.

Not in the Aussie desert they don't

Ok, some more evidence:

https://www.farmmachinerysales.com.a...review-107501/

Originally Posted by 87County

Not in the Aussie desert they don't

Super singles on drilling units and asociated vehicles worked very well in the Tanami desert .

Each to their own really. I really like the look of narrow wheels on the defender... and these days you can get some very strong 7.5 x 16in tyres. Too stiff and strong for the sand but they do hold up wonderfully in the gibba and rocky parts of the country. Everywhere else I run balloon tyres.

Originally Posted by Arch

Each to their own really. I really like the look of narrow wheels on the defender... and these days you can get some very strong 7.5 x 16in tyres. Too stiff and strong for the sand but they do hold up wonderfully in the gibba and rocky parts of the country. Everywhere else I run balloon tyres.

Re balloon tyres,....what ones are you running??

I don’t think I’ve seen a modern balloon tyre.