UNUSUAL TYRE WEAR on D3

**Beardy** · 16th August 2009, 09:19 PM

Hello,

I have a 2005 D3 v8 that did have 19" standard rims with Michelin 255/55 r19 rubber. Given that Im looking to do more off road driving (still once every other month), Ive bought two sets of LR 18" rims (one set with 255/55 R18 Michelin tyres (Ebay!)). Yes,i know that the 255/55 R18 are the wrong size for the D3 and that the standard size should be 255/60 R18. I plan on using the other set for a trailer, plus spare wheels.

I noticed on the 19" rims that the Right hand front tyre (only) seemed to be 'shredding' or shaving the the outside tread- you can literally pull bits of the tread off as it becomes flappy and lifts up. I thought that i'd just run over something when off road. Now having not put on the 18" rims I notice the same thing happening to the 18" tyre in the same area of the tyre after about 1500kms but havent been off road since fitting the 18" wheels.

Im about to change the tyres for something more suited to taking the car off road BUT dont want to keep forking out for shredded tyres.

My questions are:
1) Any idea what causes the tread shredding?

2) What 18" tyres to replace with?
Options are:
a)Gen Grabber AT2 (255/60 R18 -not many places stock them from what i can tell)
b) Continental Cross Conti AT (255/60 R18-similar price to GG AT2 and more readily available)
c) Pirelli Scorpion ATR (255/60 R18- Cheapest-Heard not great off road as they have a weak side wall)
d) Yokohama ATS (265/60 R18- they are a bit bigger but havent seen any write ups)
e) Cooper?? (can find any that fit)

**rocmic** · 16th August 2009, 10:41 PM

Beardy
I don't know where you are located. But in Sydney Conti X contact were of the order of $100 more than GGAT2s. The cheapest AT type tyre I could find was the GGAT2 from Alto at Artarmon ($325).

Cooper ATR have just become available in 265/60 R18, should be able to get them for around $370 or so,but you will need to ring around ( firstly to find someone who has heard of them). I have been =doing some serious research on tyres and prices, unfortunately the scraps of paper are at work. let me know if you need more on this

As for your first question, that is way our of my league. Hopefully someone far more knowledgeable will be able to give you an answer.
Cheers
Mike

**CaverD3** · 17th August 2009, 01:11 AM

Sounds like you need a four wheel alignment.
Dealer needs to put it in geometry set mode before doing it to get the best result.
Get them to check the lower control arm bushes whilst they are at it.

**WhiteD3** · 17th August 2009, 05:09 AM

I paid $390 ea for Scorpion ATR and I'm very happy with them.

**Graeme** · 17th August 2009, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by Beardy

c) Pirelli Scorpion ATR (255/60 R18- Cheapest-Heard not great off road as they have a weak side wall)

Not come across this before for the Pirellis but moreso for the GG AT2.

**Beardy** · 17th August 2009, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by CaverD3

Sounds like you need a four wheel alignment.
Dealer needs to put it in geometry set mode before doing it to get the best result.
Get them to check the lower control arm bushes whilst they are at it.

Ive not heard of the geometry set mode.Can this be done at an independent LR workshop or a tyre dealer?
Cheers

**Beardy** · 17th August 2009, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by rocmic

Beardy
I don't know where you are located. But in Sydney Conti X contact were of the order of $100 more than GGAT2s. The cheapest AT type tyre I could find was the GGAT2 from Alto at Artarmon ($325).

Cooper ATR have just become available in 265/60 R18, should be able to get them for around $370 or so,but you will need to ring around ( firstly to find someone who has heard of them). I have been =doing some serious research on tyres and prices, unfortunately the scraps of paper are at work. let me know if you need more on this

As for your first question, that is way our of my league. Hopefully someone far more knowledgeable will be able to give you an answer.
Cheers
Mike

Hey Mike, like you Ive been researching for a while. Not many tyre dealers had heard of the GG AT2 and the tw that had both quoted c $420 for each 255/60 R18. Didnt try Alto though (im in Frenchs Forest)...Just assumed that a main dealer would be the most expensive.

Id be interested in hearing what else you found out through your research though.

Also your thoughts on a good place to get the geometry adjusted if you have used one.

Cheers

**CaverD3** · 18th August 2009, 07:01 AM

Beardy

Geometry set mode can be done with autologic but I would ask Gary at Alto how much they would charge.

If you are getting tyres from him they would do one at the same time.
Alto are definately the cheapest for the GGs (wish I had known they had them before I bought mine) they also have another make not sure which, ask Gary.

**Beardy** · 18th August 2009, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by CaverD3

Beardy

Geometry set mode can be done with autologic but I would ask Gary at Alto how much they would charge.

If you are getting tyres from him they would do one at the same time.
Alto are definately the cheapest for the GGs (wish I had known they had them before I bought mine) they also have another make not sure which, ask Gary.

4 wheel alignment $143 and GG AT2 at $325 each.
All booked in for 2nd Sept for the allignment and 4 x GG AT2

thanks for your help

**rocmic** · 18th August 2009, 09:54 PM

Beardy
Thought you might go there. Alto's price is too good and also consistent.
To give you some idea of price variation:
General Grabbers quoted at 375 and 481 (different branches of same tyre service run by a Land Rover (amongst other brands) dealer, cheap ones were at Parramatta), and of course 325 at Alto.
Conti Xcontact At 495 ( a week later 430) and 528 (a week later 475) (same dealer as above but the cheap ones in Alexandria - go figure)

The rest of the prices I got are around Blacktown and Parramatta:
Wranglers 375 (Goodyear), 440 (Beaurepaires), 598 (that dealer above again)

Pirelli Scorpion ATR 395 (Jax), 390 (that dealer above in Alexandria)

But the best was Coopers new ATR 265/60 R18. Caver posted an image of a flier somewhere (I can't find it now) but it was intended for tyre retailers and said recommended retail at 529 (+GST) and suggested minimum sell 418 (inc GST), the prices I got were:
373 (Jax), 405 (Independent in Blacktown), 418 (independent in Merrylands), 335 (the dealer above again in Parramatta).

I seriously considered the Coopers, but decided that for my first tyre change I would stick to the original sizing (especially since I did not change the spare). I also considered the comments re the GG side wall being weak, but the posts seem split fairly evenly on whether this is a problem.

I got the GGs last week and so far have only driven the commute from Prospect to Ultimo and a weekend trip to Canberra. Noise levels are good and handling does not seem to be impaired, mind you it has been pretty dry. Looking at the tread pattern I wish I'd had them in the first week of the school holidays when we were touring out around White Cliffs and Broken Hill, there wer some fairly slippery and chewed patched in Muta Wintji NP which almost bald Wranglers were not very good at.

Cheers
Mike

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