Thread: Toyo AT2 285/60/18 and High Country trip

Hi all, just put on these tyres onto my new GOE rims. Searched long and hard for which ones I was going to get. I am kind of glad I didnt go the 275/65/18 in the end as I wanted to run these tyres full time and would have had to run the extra height full time which is not ideal.
There is a slight rub on the front and rear but not enough to modify anything or worry about. They are rated 120 load so the strength is there which was priority no. 1 after staking 2 tyres in the desert last year.




The sidewalls are very thick and should stand up to a bit of abuse. The tread is slightly noisier than the Hankooks above, but barely noticeable.
The grip is better than the Hankooks on the road and the ride is more compliant due to the extra profile. It does feel like you are driving on bigger tyres at first but slowly dissapears. Slight loss of acceleration in the first 2 gears, used to it now. Speedo is now correct, economy the same when comparing real KMs now to extra KMs before.
Just came back from a High Country trip where we had lots of rain, the grip and confidence I got from these tyres compared to the previous ones is fantastic. We did however get stuck up one greasy loose slimy hill, not concentrating and not going hard enough at the start saw me end up in the gully on the off camber side of the track and ended back down into the soup that the graders had pushed up the side.






After some winching I was able to get myself back down the hill (sliding backwards mind you) to have another shot. As 2 of the other guys had already gone up (just) while I was stuck, the track was chewed up and there was an even harder bit 50 meters up so I had to get some speed up. In a desperate attempt to find grip I dropped the tyres to 13. Anyway I hit the corner where that tree was above and peeled the front left tyre off the rim, I heard it go but couldnt stop, so just kept on tractoring up the hill on 3 tyres. I did make it to the top where I considered doing the WD40 trick and opted not to as there were too many kids around and thought that wouldnt be setting the best example. Anyway the guy behind me was stuck anyway and he had muds on so he had to spend some time winching, so I jacked the car up, cleared a bit of mud around the bead,got it into position and aired it up. I was expecting the tyre to be stuffed, anyway its still on the car now and not loosing air.



Over all I am very happy with the tyres and would highly recommend them. The spare does fit in, just, but hangs down a little too far for my liking due to the 285 width. I may end up putting a 265/65 in which is 1 mm taller but 20 mm narrower. I didnt hit the spare once while away though so might just keep it this way. Price, $320 each, not bad for a Japanese made tyre.
My last High Country trip was nervy due to me running the 19s which are a soft as ****e, and I never felt confident, but this trip I didint even think about it. I just aired down to 23 F 26 R and drove. Great trip.

Originally Posted by Graeme

Use a lever under the wheel if lifting is difficult. I use the handle of a 3/4 socket set to move 42" tractor wheels into position (I refit duals once a year).

thanks Graeme ... that's a low cost solution.