Thread: Olympic Trojans

Id be concerned about scrutiny by an insurance company should any problems arise or you become involved in an incident.

Check their date stamped on the case.

Their only attraction is to mil veh enthusiasts chasing authenticity. They were not good performers in service and would be worse with age due to hardening of the compound. They have very strong cases and overheat if deflated in mud/ sand use.

Originally Posted by Brad110

Id be concerned about scrutiny by an insurance company should any problems arise or you become involved in an incident.

Check their date stamped on the case.

Their only attraction is to mil veh enthusiasts chasing authenticity. They were not good performers in service and would be worse with age due to hardening of the compound. They have very strong cases and overheat if deflated in mud/ sand use.

I believe it's 'suggested' that you replace tyres when they are 10 years old but I don't think there is a legal requirement (yet !).

The compound does go off and you lose grip. my Defender when I got it 12/13 years ago had tyre squeal on roundabaouts. Replaced the tyres and 11/12 years later the tyres squeal on roundabouts again. The compound has hardened and doesn't grip as well as it did (but other vehicles on roundabouts tend to give me more room now ).
On an older LR you need to consider how you are going to use it and whether a bit less grip will cause safety issues.
The problem comes when you have multiple vehicles and you need to replace all 5 tyres every 10 years on each vehicle (I need a new hobby).

As long as it has the correct rating, size, tread depth, no perishing etc. it should be OK for the insurance company. They might highlight the age but unless it's a legal requirement (or in their small print) they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.


Colin

I bought Toyota a light stout a few years back the tyres were about 20 years old but still looked good. I drove around Caloundra for a couple of weeks without any problems. Then I drove down to Brisbane only 100 ks away . 1 blow out and 1 flat later I was in a tyre place in Caboulture replacing the lot after crawling in on a rim and a prayer. When we pulled the tyres off inside the rims was very rusty and it took me quite a while with a wire brush to clean them up good enough before the tyre guy would refit the new tyres.
Something I would not want to go through again in a hurry.
Mike

Rusty rims is not the fault of the tyre.
I have had blowouts on Desert Duellers that were only three years old.

Having said that, I'd leave the Olympic Trojans for the military vehicle enthusiasts.

Why do you want the bar treads? I'd go for a light truck steel belted radial unless it's for a military vehicle. You can get aggressive patterns.

Thanks for the replies

I like the Trojans mainly for their size - they are 6.50 x 16 - tall and skinny with chunky tread - and there is a NOS set for sale nearby.

I have a set of 205R16 Road Grippers on SI LWB rims for my rebuild - practical but not quite the right shape.

I like the look of Defender Mike's Chinese Super Grippers, but not sure of size or name - are they radials?

Having recently fitted radials to replace old crossplies on my dormobile, I'm in no hurry to drive on old rubber again.

Thanks again for the replies

Roger

My 2a had Trojans on it when I bought it - the tyres were about 20 years old, but I suspect even new they would have been a horrible ride. It's bad enough on it's own, why make it worse?

I replaced them with Olympic Steeltreks and haven't looked back

Steeltreks are what I put on my 2a Dormobile - heavy tyres but heavy vehicle too, seem to ride OK. MUCH better than old Hi Miler recaps.

Originally Posted by dreamin'

Thanks for the replies

I like the Trojans mainly for their size - they are 6.50 x 16 - tall and skinny with chunky tread - and there is a NOS set for sale nearby.

I have a set of 205R16 Road Grippers on SI LWB rims for my rebuild - practical but not quite the right shape.

I like the look of Defender Mike's Chinese Super Grippers, but not sure of size or name - are they radials?

Having recently fitted radials to replace old crossplies on my dormobile, I'm in no hurry to drive on old rubber again.

Thanks again for the replies

Roger

Hi Roger,
Mine are Chinese made Grand tour 700..16..LT I am pretty happy with these they were good in the mud back of Wilcannia and oh the hills behind Perth .They are wearing well and I like the look of them nice and chunky. I tried to Google a supplier but there doesn't seem to be much about them on the net.
Mike