Thread: Tyres, yet again: 18" re noise in particular

Jesse the issue with any tyre is as they wear past 60% they get noisier. All to do with their design and build internally and externally. We have tested with Bridgestone and Goodyear for the last 15 years and across a lot of different 4WD tyres including development patterns and construction and that includes D693, D694 and D697 for development and durability. I know the tyre engineers well and from that comes a decent understanding and appreciation of how a good tyre gets built in the factory for subsequent abuse.

You have not mentioned if you are worried about load rating but are more interested in noise. So one tyre not so far mentioned is the Goodyear Silent Armour which is available in 18" with a LR of 109. The new GG AT3 also will deserve a look for sure as both tread designs are quite benign.

We do >20,000km each year travelling outback Australia so a lot of time on and off bitumen. We want durability, LR, comfort and low NVH. So for us it stays as the D697 for the foreseeable future. As an aside we have specified the D674 on our new Quantum Plus not for those reasons but as they are readily available in the places we frequent, have a 123LR so are plenty strong enough to run the very low pressures we set in sand and rocky tracks and it has a very good chemical and engineered construction that should see them last quite a while

There is no such thing as the perfect tyre. Everyone has a different view and preference based on their experience and that can be over vastly differing terrain and driving conditions. Per comments in this thread if you are looking for something very quiet then linear tread blocks very close together. But that counts for not a lot if you want to regularly tackle mud for example. From there pretty much all the AT branded tyres are designed as crossovers which is where they immediately try to be not the best of both worlds but good in both.

Rob

I had Grabbers AT2's on my D3. When Pirelli Scorpions put on I would estimate they were 20-30% less noisy on the road than the grabbers. I would agree with the comment if you want quiet Highway rubber rather than ATs would be better. Have you considered a spare set of rims for the off road rubber?

Originally Posted by RobA

So one tyre not so far mentioned is the Goodyear Silent Armour which is available in 18" with a LR of 109. The new GG AT3 also will deserve a look for sure as both tread designs are quite benign.

Has the Silent Armor been re-introduced?

Originally Posted by Graeme

Has the Silent Armor been re-introduced?

According to their website WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR, Goodyear, Australia

Rob

Thanks to RobA, Graeme & others who have replied recently - more useful thoughts there. I'm well aware there is no "perfect" tyre (or we'd all be using them and discussions like this would go the way of the Dodo), but I guess it's a case of trying to create a spectrum from highway on the left to hard-core on the right, and then pick the point that suits one's own uses best.

I spoke to a highly recommended tyre dealer this morning, who suggested that G015s are particularly good value at present, with a buy 3 get 1 free deal running. He also pushed the Scorpion ATRs as a more highway-oriented cross-over - and commented that Pirelli do three versions in 18", with different load & speed ratings. Load rating is an interesting one, with a 110 rating giving 1060kg per wheel - which raises the question that if one is not towing how much more does one need? By my dodgy maths that is 4240 kg in total, which should allow a good 1000 kg or more for load (over the vehicle, even with bits like bars etc added) - or am I missing something here?

Most interestingly, he said that the General rep here in WA told him AT3s are not yet available here - non "on the water" so at least 6-8 weeks away. Which raises the question for those who have GG AT3s already fitted: where did you buy them from?

Originally Posted by Jesse B

Thanks to RobA, Graeme & others who have replied recently - more useful thoughts there. I'm well aware there is no "perfect" tyre (or we'd all be using them and discussions like this would go the way of the Dodo), but I guess it's a case of trying to create a spectrum from highway on the left to hard-core on the right, and then pick the point that suits one's own uses best.

I spoke to a highly recommended tyre dealer this morning, who suggested that G015s are particularly good value at present, with a buy 3 get 1 free deal running. He also pushed the Scorpion ATRs as a more highway-oriented cross-over - and commented that Pirelli do three versions in 18", with different load & speed ratings. Load rating is an interesting one, with a 110 rating giving 1060kg per wheel - which raises the question that if one is not towing how much more does one need? By my dodgy maths that is 4240 kg in total, which should allow a good 1000 kg or more for load (over the vehicle, even with bits like bars etc added) - or am I missing something here?

Most interestingly, he said that the General rep here in WA told him AT3s are not yet available here - non "on the water" so at least 6-8 weeks away. Which raises the question for those who have GG AT3s already fitted: where did you buy them from?

If you're looking at the GG AT3 it's only available in 235/60R18 or if you have 19s 255/55/19, so no 265 or 255/60/18, but only on the east coast at the moment, the AT2 might be a better shot for the west, available in 255/60/18, 275/65/18 and 285/60/18, this is from the Bob Jane website though, GG don't list the AT3 on their webpage.

General Tire - Tyres - Bob Jane T-Marts

Thanks Baz. The European site for General Tyres lists a bunch of sizes in 18", including 255/60, 265/60 and 265/65. Maybe these are not yet coming into Australia? Does this mean folk who are using them on their Disco's are buying overseas and shipping them in? Hopefully somebody who is running them will fill us in - maybe jwb?

Bob Jane may have imported a shipment of various AT3 sizes but now only have a few left. Yokohama didn't release the G015 in Australia (they were in the warehouse though) whilst they still had a fair range of sizes of the G012 so perhaps GG have stocks of AT2 that they want to sell before starting on the AT3.