Off road tyres

OK...the 18" GEO rims are in the air as we speak, should be here by end of the week. Apparently Bridgestone are out of stock of the D697, was going to go with the BFGoodrich AT KO2's, are these OK? We are definitely planning at least 1 trip per year, Cape York next year so I feel good knowing we have the 18" rims.
Do you think we need a bullbar? ARB don't make one but Opposite Lock do. My concern is that we live in an inner city suburb in Sydney where bulbars are frowned upon. Trying to work out how essential it is. I'll be driving 2nd or 3rd in a convoy of 4 and not at night (apparently!)

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Originally Posted by saljosax

OK...the 18" GEO rims are in the air as we speak, should be here by end of the week. Apparently Bridgestone are out of stock of the D697, was going to go with the BFGoodrich AT KO2's, are these OK? We are definitely planning at least 1 trip per year, Cape York next year so I feel good knowing we have the 18" rims.
Do you think we need a bullbar? ARB don't make one but Opposite Lock do. My concern is that we live in an inner city suburb in Sydney where bulbars are frowned upon. Trying to work out how essential it is. I'll be driving 2nd or 3rd in a convoy of 4 and not at night (apparently!)

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Its a nightmare choosing brands.The KO2 gets a fair bagging on websites,as do Coopers.
Try an online supplier for the Bridgestone if its the one you want,they deliver to a local tyreshop and include fitting/balance.
GOODLUCK
Andrew

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Originally Posted by saljosax

Do you think we need a bullbar? ARB don't make one but Opposite Lock do. My concern is that we live in an inner city suburb in Sydney where bulbars are frowned upon. Trying to work out how essential it is. I'll be driving 2nd or 3rd in a convoy of 4 and not at night (apparently!)

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I got my bullbar so I could mount the driving lights and UHF antenna.:whistling::whistling::whistling:.

Seriously though, it depends whether you need it. Personally I have always had a bullbar fitted but never needed it. The only time I met a moving animal it hit the rear of the car not the front. It really is a judgement call but I feel safer with it on there. I wouldn't worry about what other people think - let them get wrinkles from frowning, it's your car.

Martin

The Maxxis 980 is another option that has been discussed in here in the 19" size but they also do the 18" 265/60. Have read mixed reviews though.

There's quite a few people running the KO2 now but no long term reports in here yet.

Scott

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Originally Posted by saljosax

Do you think we need a bullbar? ARB don't make one but Opposite Lock do. My concern is that we live in an inner city suburb in Sydney where bulbars are frowned upon. Trying to work out how essential it is. I'll be driving 2nd or 3rd in a convoy of 4 and not at night (apparently!)

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Give em the middle finger, bullbars are perfectly legal and your well within your rights to run one. If your not planning to do any running at night then I dont think you'd really need one. Also how much offroading do you plan on doing? Most bullbars improve the approach angles and you dont have plastic at the front to get ripped off - if your not planning a huge amount of offroading then you could easily get away without one

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Originally Posted by LandyAndy

The KO2 gets a fair bagging on websites,as do Coopers.

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I havent read any bagging out of the KO2's, most seem to like them from what I've seen. Not arguing about the coopers but, seen those with my own eyes

Thanks everyone for all your advice. it appears there are no Bridgestone D697's available in Sydney at the moment and won't be before we leave. So the options seem to be the BFG KO2's or the Cooper AT3's.

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Originally Posted by saljosax

Thanks everyone for all your advice. it appears there are no Bridgestone D697's available in Sydney at the moment and won't be before we leave. So the options seem to be the BFG KO2's or the Cooper AT3's.

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K02's seem very good from my experience using them on a recent 13,000 km trip through the outback. The rears still suffer some stone chipping, as did the K0's on every car I have seen and also my previous D697's. I don't think the chipping was as bad as it seemed to be on the previous K0 tyres, however.


Whereas the D697's suffered cuts in the area between the tread blocks there was non of that in the K02's. The sidewalls are thick and suffered no damage at all on our trip. This was the first big outback trip I have done where I haven't had a puncture or a wrecked sidewall.

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Originally Posted by BobD

K02's seem very good from my experience using them on a recent 13,000 km trip through the outback. The rears still suffer some stone chipping, as did the K0's on every car I have seen and also my previous D697's. I don't think the chipping was as bad as it seemed to be on the previous K0 tyres, however.


Whereas the D697's suffered cuts in the area between the tread blocks there was non of that in the K02's. The sidewalls are thick and suffered no damage at all on our trip. This was the first big outback trip I have done where I haven't had a puncture or a wrecked sidewall.

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And they would certainly out do Coopers anytime…....

Goodyear Duratrac 255/55/19

I measured the tread depth today.
New it is 12.3mm deep.
After 7000kms mixed road and gravel, 9.5mm deep.
Driven hard over that time.
I'm disappointed that it wore so much, I'm hardly going to get high kms from these.

Well I joined the "Grabber Club "
It was interesting to feel the sidewalks of the standard tyres - Goodyear wrangler things , but it was quite thick .
The Grabber is thicker by feel ( I have no basis for it , just feels thicker )
There were some ko2 in the stack next to my gg's - they feel THICK and very solid . Tyres were markedly heavier also to pick up .

So my out come was that I have far greater confidence in just the standard tyres , however my comfort level has gone up markedly with the figment of the gg .

i cannot justify the expense of goe 18's but could talk myself into 20's with a ko2

But I also run a set of 22 x 35 mud n snow - they look fantastic but terrify me on gravel !