The tyre debate rages on>

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Originally Posted by Owl

You shouldn't believe everything you read in the magazines or on tyre manufacturers websites! Mud tyres are as good or better in the sand under the same conditions as an All Terrain or Road tyre.

If you have 2 sets of rims, why not have best off road rubber for the times you play without having to compromise your on road manners at other times?

I have a set of BFG Muds on 17" rims for playtime and they are awesome on the D3.
Ian

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Thanks Ian, food for thought. How do you find your BFGs on bitumen? The main reason I'm wary is if they are too anti-social for long bitumen trips. For example, at Easter we're doing a trip from Perth to the gold fields, then south via Norsman to the coast before looping back north to Perth. Probably 2,500-2,800 km, maybe 700-800 on gravel roads/tracks, some beach work, pulling an off-road camper. I doubt I'll do much serious mud work with my D3, which is why I was leaning towards some sturdy ATs. Cheers, Gavin

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Originally Posted by Gaviatrix

Thanks Ian, food for thought. How do you find your BFGs on bitumen? The main reason I'm wary is if they are too anti-social for long bitumen trips. For example, at Easter we're doing a trip from Perth to the gold fields, then south via Norsman to the coast before looping back north to Perth. Probably 2,500-2,800 km, maybe 700-800 on gravel roads/tracks, some beach work, pulling an off-road camper. I doubt I'll do much serious mud work with my D3, which is why I was leaning towards some sturdy ATs. Cheers, Gavin

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Hi Gavin,

The BFG Muds do howl , but quietly. The D3 NVH and suspension soaks up most of the agro normally associated with mud tyres, but they are noisier than my AT's. Not overly intrusive, but it is there.

My everyday tyres are Continental Cross Contact AT's, and if I were to do a trip like the one you describe, I'd consider using the AT's unless likely to be towing the camper on the beach. The Muds are for harder play!;)

Maybe you should reconsider the need for 2 sets of tyres. Changing from one set to the other before a trip, then back again after becomes tedious after a few times - a set of good AT's is a good compromise for everyday driving and light to medium off road duties. Decent AT's on the 17" rims and sell off the 18" rims may work well for you. Definitely do it that way round so that you have the additional sidewall height for when you have them at beach driving pressure.

If you do want to play a little harder, the BFG Muds are awesome!

Ian

After beach driving for several decades including towing i am content to say that it is debatable but certainly the hway or at is not a CLEAR
winner especially if climbing in sand or getting out of ruts in which the more aggressive pattern can be better. Cheers

Ian, thanks again.

I've come off the pot and settled for the D694s (265/65 R17 116S). Best price I could find in Perth was $349 fitted and balanced. I came to much the same conclusion you did - if I find we get on with this wheel/tyre combination for general use then I'll retire the 18s once my current road tyres are worn out, and if we do find in the future that we are playing harder offroad than we now think likely then I still have the option to switch to muddies on the 17s and hang on to the 18s.

Roll on the day when a manufacturer comes up with a TRUE All Terrain tyre ..... then we can close all these tyre threads :)

Cheers, Gavin

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Originally Posted by Gaviatrix

Ian, thanks again.

I've come off the pot and settled for the D694s (265/65 R17 116S). Best price I could find in Perth was $349 fitted and balanced. I came to much the same conclusion you did - if I find we get on with this wheel/tyre combination for general use then I'll retire the 18s once my current road tyres are worn out, and if we do find in the future that we are playing harder offroad than we now think likely then I still have the option to switch to muddies on the 17s and hang on to the 18s.

Roll on the day when a manufacturer comes up with a TRUE All Terrain tyre ..... then we can close all these tyre threads :)

Cheers, Gavin

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Good choice Gavin:)
Coming from experience, you will not be disappointed with the investment.
Have a great trip, and post a couple of pics on the forum.:cool:

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Originally Posted by Gaviatrix

Ian, thanks again.

I've come off the pot and settled for the D694s (265/65 R17 116S).......

Cheers, Gavin

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You won't be disappointed with the Duelers. Pics required of course!!

694's - Keep the progress reports coming now. All the more data for us fence sitters.

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Originally Posted by ADMIRAL

694's - Keep the progress reports coming now. All the more data for us fence sitters.

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Will do, and thanks all for the comments/support.

The D694s are going on next Monday. I'll run them in round the suburbs for a couple of weeks and then it's off on our Easter trip - we're very excited about it. It's our first big trip in the D3 and also our first visit to the Goldfields in WA. I'll take some photos and report back on our return.

I'm also having an ARB compressor and bar (in standard black) fitted next week, so our car's going to end up looking much like Ian's (it's also a Zermatt silver HSE), although I already have the LR RAI not the Safari snorkel. Since we'll be pulling the camper I'm hoping to get away without putting on the roof rack for this trip, although having 3 kids and with Mrs G's ability to load up a car that's probably hopelessly optimistic!

Cheers, Gavin