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Thanks everyone, I'm looking into the Achilles and the Kumho KL71s now, can't rush these things, they also seem to get a good rap, well priced as well, in the end it will come down to price and convenience.
The KM2s were disappointing the way they had worn so quickly and chipped too, big chunks taken out on some.
Anyway still looking.
Baz.
Whats frustrating is Kuhmo site, as with several others hasnt been updated and the 17" versions arent even listed... :mad:Quote:
Originally Posted by Redback
It's OK Mike, I made an inquirey and got an answer back from the NSW Kumho rep, he thanked me for bringing that to his attention and passed the info off to IT, lets see if they do update it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tombie
Anyway, the two new tyres available in 265/70/17, MT51 and KL51, both alternatives to the KL71 and KL78.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...015/08/681.jpg
How awful are the Achilles on the highway and in the wet on bitumen?
My plan is still to put the BFG KO2s on, but they are not cheap. My D3 is now mostly a weekend and holiday car and I am slightly tempted to go cheaper and more aggressive but I still do 2000km highway trips in it a couple of times a year sometimes towing a 1.2 tone camper and ocassionally drive it around town and don't want to significantly compromise on road safety.
The info I've been getting about the Achillies has been good and bad, and noisey is one of the bad, of all of the tyres I have been looking at, the Kanati Mud Hogs get the best rap for noise, this was just scrolling through forums, I don't trust the mobs that do product reviews, I'm not all that fussed with noise, it's part of running mud tyres, something you have to live with.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnD3rew
All the tyres I'm looking at are all under $300ea, most are $230 to $280, the cheapest so far in 265/70/17 is the Comforser CF3000 M/T from Huntsman products at $195ea
Summit Mud Hogs, Kumho are the 2 that seem to be getting the best reviews.
I'll be speaking to John at Helensburgh Tyres, he's looked after us before and he's our local and a great bloke.
Baz.
Thanks Baz.. Appreciate the work you're doing and for sharing it with the group.
Baz, I quizzed the guy who has the MudHogs on a FJ Cruiser. He is impressed not too noisy, they have not chipped as many do ( but has not done outback fast coarse gravel that does the real damage) he would buy them again. Very happy with them.
I ran the Achilles from Perth to Ceduna, then the back of the Ranges up to Cooberpedy, Simpson Desert, Birdsville Track and bitumen back to Clare Valley and Perth.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnD3rew
They're noisy, but not onerously so for a mud tyre (quieter than the Maxis BigHorns). I sat on 110+ on the bitumen, fully loaded, and at no time thought I had less control than normal.
Plus they're pretty bullet-proof, despite the relatively low load rating (for a muddy). I'll be using them for the Land Rover Challenge next month ;)
Cheers,
Gordon
Well I spoke to our tyre bloke yesterday, Kumho MT51 fitted and balanced for $280 per tyre, actually works out cheaper than the Mud Hogs and the Achillies, mainly because of postage for 6 tyres and then fitting on top of that, plus you only get a 30 day money back warranty, whereas the Kumhos have a 80,000k warranty, which brings up something I didn't know, Kumho is now part of the Cooper tire & Rubber Co:mad:
Anyway I'm happy with this price, I've had Kumhos on the D4 before, KL78s and they were an excellent tyre, actually they have been the best tyre we have had on the car so far, they had about 35,000ks on them when we went to the KM2s, hardly looked worn at all, so here's hoping these last, if they are as good as the KL78s, then I'll be happy.
Oh Gordon, nothing is louder than MAXXIS Bighorns;)
Oh just some extra info, if you live in QLD, VIC, or TAS, the Kanati Mud Hogs are a good deal, not so much in NSW, because of freight, especially for 6 tyres, there are no outlets that I could find any where in NSW.
Baz.
The Achilles are the first mud tyre I've ever tried and I agree they are awful on wet bitumen.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnD3rew
I've had them on for nearly a year now. Though I had hoped to do a lot more off roading in that time, unfortunately it has been predominately the commute to work and school runs with the occasional off road trip.
I realise I can't compare them to any other mud tyre, but they're significantly worse than any other a/t or road tyre I've had on the D3 over the last 4 years.
There were times where I would intentionally test the grip levels at low speed around certain corners where it was safe to do so. Needless to say, the stability control kicked in far sooner than I thought it would.
There were also plenty of times during normal driving where I thought I was taking it pretty easy in the wet, and found the stability control still kicking in around corners. I even had the abs brakes kicking in when slowing down for an approaching intersection (slightly downhill). I've been at that intersection 100's of times over the years and have never experienced abs or wheel slippage there before. I've had the abs kick in at least 3 times there in the wet with these tyres. The 2nd and especially 3rd time really shocked me because I was already approaching slower than the last time.
When I bought them, the only thing the bloke said was "You know these things are gonna drive you crazy on the road. The noise in unbearable"
The noise doesn't bother me and I drive highways every day. I only notice the noise up around 100. I can easily live with it, especially with windows up.
I'm keen to try a different set of muddies, which are known to be better in the wet than others. If they are much the same as these, I'll be going back to a/t's.
They're a great looking tyre and they are not wearing as fast as I thought they would. At $250 each fitted and balanced, they were quite affordable too.