best 17" AT for D3 ??

Did the other vehicles have 245 on 7" rims or a wider tyre? Were your tyres at higher pressures than the others? Pressures too high make sidewalls less flexible and therefore less able to slip past sharp rocks. Did the other vehicles take exactly the same line at the same speed? There are lots of reasons why scrapes can occur but if a particular brand always gets damaged when others don't then perhaps their sidewalls could be more prone to damage.

Edit: Is the cut in the top tyre a scrape or a pinch? I thought a scrape but another look has me thinking its a pinch between a rock and the rim suggesting the pressure was too low.

I have to say I have the smallest tires but the images I have put up are not the most descriptive as the cuts probably come from rocks but all 5 tires show the white of carcass all around Attachment 59309Attachment 59310 overall many cars have been on the same trips and quite often would have taken same lines. I just think that the overall wear is not consistent with anyone else on the club

Yes I see what you mean with the outer black layer coming off the white under layer that's there for the raised white lettering.

Hi Steve
I have the Cooper ST Maxx in 265/70/17 on Performance Wheels alloys 17x8. I have done numerous trips to Flinders Ranges; the High Country last April and the Outback Loop (Birdsville - Innamincka) last Oct towing 1800kg camper and have had no issues like you. Indeed they are excellent offroad and handle fine on road- my only comment is that they are a bit noisy around town but I have kept the OE 19" rims and tyres for city use and keep the ST Maxx for mainly Offroad. Oh and the fuel consumption is higher with the more aggressive tread and larger size~ 1-1.5L/100km depending on all the usual variables!

Previously I had 245/70/17 STT's which were loud on bitumen! I lost a single lug on a rear tyre in Kakadu probably because I had the pressure abit high on a track that became unexpededly very rocky with a heavy load. Fortunately I have a really good relationship with my tyre agent who rang Coopers and recommended they replace my tyre with a new one- which Coopers agreed to without question. So I couldn't really complain about that!

So I agree with Graeme re tyre pressures to avoid damage and regularly adjust them according to weight & terrain. However the ST Maxx have stronger sidewall than the AT3. I think having a good rapport with your tyre agent is just as good as the brand as I have always been well looked after and see no reason to change from Coopers as I am very happy with them and never had a flat tyre. Indeed I once hit a rock (in a Jeep!) on a track near Dalhousie Springs and damaged L front alloy rim (new alloy required!) but the Cooper STT at 26 psi was undamaged. So my experience has been positive with them in contrast to others on Coopers- but I have always had LT tyres offroad and regularly adjust pressures which no doubt helps. Regards, David

Hello David,

What tyre pressure are you running, I consistently run higher pressure then the rest of club members on road full loaded around 55 psi, of road around 32 in the back and 29 in the front ( if I go down to 24 PSI on the back like rest of guys it looks like I'm running flats) though in sand I have been down to 12 psi which was ok.

I have seen a couple of ST MAXX around the tracks and again never have seen the kind of wear in have on my tires. If it was only one tire I put it down to scraping a rock etc but all 4 seems strange.

Cheers

Steve

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steve223

Hello David,

What tyre pressure are you running, I consistently run higher pressure then the rest of club members on road full loaded around 55 psi, of road around 32 in the back and 29 in the front ( if I go down to 24 PSI on the back like rest of guys it looks like I'm running flats) though in sand I have been down to 12 psi which was ok.

I have seen a couple of ST MAXX around the tracks and again never have seen the kind of wear in have on my tires. If it was only one tire I put it down to scraping a rock etc but all 4 seems strange.

Cheers

Steve

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55psi is way too high Steve, I run 44psi back and 36 front touring with the camper on.

I run 28 off road back and front, 15psi in the one and only time I've been on sand.

Baz.

same tires baz? When I picked it up from Tyre place they had 60 psi in Which was reasonably hard and I went down to 55 PSI Which provides a good ride on the road. the lt are rated to 80 psi

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yorkie

is bruce davis selling tyres now? ;)

i went out first time with new bfg km2 and put knicks like that in the sidewall, expect they will be there when i get rid of the tyres in a year or two. :)

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that gives me comfort :D still strange that it seems to be only me....

I guess the next set will show whether it's the tires or me...

Scott from Cooper Tyres comes tomorrow and inspects the tires lets see what he says...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steve223

the lt are rated to 80 psi

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80 psi is only for the short duration max speed max load rating test, not meant for general use. Somewhere within a few psi of placard pressure is about the limit for highway fully loaded.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steve223

same tires baz? When I picked it up from Tyre place they had 60 psi in Which was reasonably hard and I went down to 55 PSI Which provides a good ride on the road. the lt are rated to 80 psi

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No but same type Steve, a tyre place would be the place I'd take pressure advice from.

I run what feels good for grip and handling, I run a few pressures until I find what feels the best, might take me a few trips to get it right, but it's worth it.

I use the tyre plachard as a starting point and go up from there 2psi at a time and that's pretty much for all types of tyres, I run 36 front, 40 rear around town on both my Mud and AT tyres and 36F, 44R for the same tyres when touring, I wouldn't even think of running anything over 44psi unless I had the max ball weight and a big load on the back, I find that when I run my touring pressures when not loaded way to harsh, can't imagine what 55psi would feel like:eek:

Baz.