Thread: Mud Tyres 18"

Hey Rich

I have found some near new AT3 (cooper) tyres, any thoughts on these?

I realise they aren't muds and they aren't the 275/65/18 size i was hoping for but they are going cheap however I'm not sure if they will really be much better than the road tyres i already have? the tread doesn't look very aggressive..

I have 255/60/18 already, these are 265/65/18

Originally Posted by ~Rich~

Well it depends, are you going to use the vehicle off road? If yes then definitely. If it's just a show pony you could get away with it. Remember you won't be able to drive in car parks at Access height.

Thanks for that,

They are definitely for use not just show think I'll stick with the 265/65/r18

Originally Posted by Lukeis

Hey Rich

I have found some near new AT3 (cooper) tyres, any thoughts on these?

I realise they aren't muds and they aren't the 275/65/18 size i was hoping for but they are going cheap however I'm not sure if they will really be much better than the road tyres i already have? the tread doesn't look very aggressive..

I have 255/60/18 already, these are 265/65/18

Mixed reviews on the AT3, they are a Cooper which can be a love / hate brand!
From what I've read check to see if it's a LT construction. If not I'd pass on them.
The tread pattern is better than O/E.

yep, definitely LT strength and some it says.

Part of me says they are good value for the price, the other side of me says they are my spare wheels so they should be more aggressive!

I don't care for mud, but i do want to be able to climb in rocky conditions and definitely beach driving.

decisions decisions..

Originally Posted by Lukeis

I have found some near new AT3 (cooper) tyres, any thoughts on these?

Have had two sets of these and travelled quite a few Klm's on them.
Great on road wet or dry, good off road apart from thick mud as they gunk up very quickly. Good choice in the AT range.
Mud tyres are a different topic all together.


Cheers, Craig

Originally Posted by Lukeis

Yeah I literally just bought the 3 way rods from GOE, I didn't want any switches visible in the car, by the sounds of it the rods shouldn't take long to change either way and a lot cheaper!

Lukeis (and others) - note, if you have GOE rods (like I do) and you go a bigger diameter than 265/65/18, then it gets very difficult to reach over the tyres to get to the rods to swap over height, particularly the rears. A mate of mine has the 275's and whilst they look great you have to be a contorsionist to get to the rods (which is even less fun if the tyres are already grubby). Not an issue of course if you are a LLAMS user, only with rods (which I happen to think are fantastic, particularly Gordon's new versions without the rubber grommets). I too have the 3rd row air and have no interest in tinkering with it at all.

I am also looking for something more aggressive in that 265/65/18 size than my current OEM tyres (which I am trying to use up as quickly as I can!), but the choices are pretty uninspiring. I had the D697s on my prior D4 and they were terrific - until you got into clay soils or mud when they just turned to slicks... The D697s remain my default tyre unless something better comes along.

I have a few thousand Kms left on my current tyres before decision time, so any other bright ideas or suggestions welcome.

In 265/60R18, there is the Achilles X-MT (also now in 285/60R18). Good muddie, got me 1st place in the W4 Land Rover Challenge

Average on-road manners, but nothing uncommon for a muddie.

Cheers,

Gordon

thanx for the suggestion Gordon, I will have a look at these Achillies and make sure they are LT as well (not clear from their website). The various 4WD forums have not been complimentary however about their performance on wet bitumen (which we get a lot of in Melbourne!). Some muddies behave better than others around town/highway, so as always it is a compromise. My fear is the way SWMBO drives around she will end up in trouble - and me in tears! - if the grip of these new tyres is substantially reduced from what is currently 'normal' for us. I was hoping to avoid it but perhaps 2 sets of tyres/rims is going to have to be my solution, a city set and a holiday set.