Best Tyres D3 (moved from FAQ)

I was quoted USD430 for a set of Offrovering sliders to BNE from SF
by sea ; upto 75 days . 2@85kg in reo boxes for folk lift. There's alot
of folks markups in this game.
Pacific Tyre Group are ***** with a monopoly .
They fight dirty to stop any retailer who imports tyres
to distribute themselves , by threatening the US manufactures
with an distribution embargo/alternative brand promotion to
damage them. Guy in Cairns tried this a couple of years ago ,
and the US Supplier halted the deal after 1st shipment. Pacific
found out and the intimidation of US supplier began.
I was informed of this by a tyre wholesaler in FNQ
There should be a gouging case against this Mob.
Our entire Nation is being stiffed !

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Originally Posted by HedleyLamar

.....methinks the tyre dealers are not passing on the savings?

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You'll find that the price is not being passed on by the importer.
I personally know several importers in BNE , and only one is not
pocketing the huge profits of a strong Aussie . For those of you
wondering,their price goes up when the Aussie declines . They have
it both ways , and a very nice living too , thankyou !
4x4 drivers are seen as Cash Cows . Service costs are no different
in this respect either . 500 Bucks plus , for a can of oil and a filter.
They're taking the **** . All these leased vehicles and the inclusive
services don't help the cause whatsoever.
Bottom line ; no one needs to buy these , it's our choice.
Pity we don't have the same situation for government. I didn't
vote for this ; I'm not paying !

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Originally Posted by DiscoSaffa

Hi George

Only done a few km on them but, for what it is worth, here are my initial impressions.

To date I have driven them on road (obviously) wet and dry, and on our construction site which could be considered light 4x4 (you can’t get around in a 4x2, but it doesn’t come close to testing the D3’s capability) and so far so good.

They are noisier than the standard rubber, but unless it is on your radar, you wouldn’t really notice. Grip on road, wet (some VERY wet) and dry is good. Grip on dirt roads is good, they struggle a little in gummy mud. One issue that I have is that they pick up stones for nothing, but that is to be expected with the aggressive tread (about the most aggressive I have seen on an AT). They also look pretty good…….. :D

Fuel consumption seems to be up a little, but that could just as easily be the sort of driving I have done since I have fitted them (no long distance cruising as yet).

Will keep the updates coming as time goes by.

DS

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Just to follow up on this post. Done near enough 2000km on the tyres now and still think the Contis are great, all the comments above still stand, great in the wet and dry, on or off the road.

The minor annoyance of small stones still remains, the tread picks up and hangs onto small stones. Aside from the annoying sound it makes, they start to throw them at high speed (never drive close behind a grey D3 in the Northern Rivers area of NSW :o). Hopefully as they wear a little and the tread is not so deep this will stop.......

To close out the fuel consumption comment...... my initial impression was that the contis were using more fuel...... with a few more kms under the belt, it would seem I was wrong..... if anything they are using less....... :)

Depending on the mileage I get out of them, they will be replaced with the same when the time comes. :D

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Originally Posted by chuck

I got some firmer pricing from Tire Rack today.

265 x 65 x 18 BF Goodrich All Terrain (true all terrain & light truck)
$246.00 ea x 5 = $1230.

+ freight (Fed Ex)$ 363.28 (5-6 days ex US)

Sub total $ 1593.28

+ 10% exchange rate $160.00 approx

Should be about $1760.00 landed in AUS.

If you ship in 2 consignments avoids GST

I was quoted $550.00 each at Bob Jane - Preston.

Significant savings!!!

Can anyone see a problem with the size?

regards

Chuck

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Hi Chuck,

Just wondering if you did end up getting a set of BFG's from the US or not?

Cheers,
Terry

Terry

I have not purchased the tyres yet, still weighing up some options, including some leads for purchase in Australia.

Will probably buy just before the end of the financial year.

Hankook may have some options with their new all terrain & mud terrain.

Also waiting for some possible suspension option to cater for larger tyres ie 275 x 65 x 18.

It seems that the new Code of practice may be adopted in victoria thus making a 50mm lift & 50 mm bigger tyres legal.

So given the above the wait suits me at the moment.

Will post when I have more info.

Regards

Chuck

Hi Chuck,

I must admit I hadn't looked at the Hankook ATM's, but after your comment I went and checked them out.

Another reason I considered looking at the Hankooks for the D2 was I also had to order some new 255 x 60 x 18's for the wifes Rexton as at 104 ks the final two oem fitted Hankooks needed to be replaced. The front two wore out at 87 k. I replaced them with Kumho's as they were the only reasonably priced tyre in the right size I could get here in Goulburn. Well the Kumho's will need to be replaced in another 5000 ks so they have lasted bugger all and were no better tyre then the Hankooks.

So after I read about 100 + comments on various 4x4 websites around the world on the Hankook ATM's I found that 99% were very positive. I even found a website that had back to backed them with BFG A/Ts and Toyo A/Ts on very similar modified D1 Disco's. Some of the pictures showed them giving all the tyres a reasonable bashing in a rock garden. They rated the Hankooks as being as good if not better in some instances then the BFG's and quieter on road and better in the wet. They didn't say much about the Toyo's.

So I have ordered five of them for the D2a to be fitted this Saturday, they are the same size as the ones you are thinking of, being 275 x 65 x 18. At the very reasonable (meaning very cheap compared to other 18" A/T's) price if they are anywhere near as good as the BFG's A/T's that I'm used to on my highly modified D1 then I'll be extremely happy.

And chances are if they are like with the other Hankooks I had on the Rexton they will last some very big miles.

I guess time will tell how good the Hankooks are but I can't wait to get the Good Year Wranglers off of the old girl as they really are rubbish.

cheers,
Terry

Terry,

Any chance of a ball park figure & a link to those reviews.

I did have some 33" muddies on a 60 series GXL many years ago & come to think of it they were very good.

Thanks

Chuck

I'm thinking its probably time for "rmp" to do a size/pattern/availability chart soon....

Maybe this time a separate one for LT construction ??

Hey Chuck, found the link Welcome to Hankook Tyre Australia Website
They look alright

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Originally Posted by gps-au

I'm thinking its probably time for "rmp" to do a size/pattern/availability chart soon....

Maybe this time a separate one for LT construction ??

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I've had enough pain on that front for a while ;-)