Need help with tire selection

[BAZPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BAZPRADO]

Hi there,

I am nearing the tire replacement point, I have the OEM Dunlop Grandtrec AT20 with 92,000 KMs, very minor cracking and weathering, but tread is still very good, I think they have quite a few Kilometers left in them, but I do not want to push my luck beyond 100,000 KM.

My usage is mainly highway, with 2-3 visits to the dunes annually. Have not been and I do not anticipate going on any rocky terrain any time soon. My three main criteria are in terms of priority: Quite Ride, Service Life, and good ability in the soft sand. The available local options within my budget are:

Dunlop Grandtrec AT20
BF Goodrich Long Trail
Hankook RA25
Falken Ziex S/TZ04
Yokohama 903 which is the OEM tire on the Pajero

Do not really want to go to premium brands such as Michelin or other expensive European brands. I have tied both the Yokohama in my 90 Prado and the Falken in my RAV4, both did fine. Your recommendations would be highly appreciated.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Need help with tire selection

what about bridgestone 694s in passenger or light truck?

[bribiejohn Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bribiejohn]

Re: Need help with tire selection

The Yoko's fitted as new to our Pajero are shot at 23000km. I think i would look at Bridgestone my 694 passenger construction have done 50000 and have plenty left, quite a lot of the 50 was whilst towing the van, we find them good on and off road'
Cheers Bribiejohn

[Bear Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear]

Re: Need help with tire selection

what about bridgestone 694s in passenger or light truck?

Second that

[lippa Member Find all posts View Profile Close lippa]

Re: Need help with tire selection

ifyour getting 92k's from the AT20 you'll get 200k's out the d694. i fitted these 10k ago and are very happy, just the slightest bit more road noise. heaps more control in wet.

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Re: Need help with tire selection

Cooper ATR will give you what you need.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

Re: Need help with tire selection

hey baz , ive just gone from at20s to 694 lts , while im happy with the traction and handling of the 694s im not overly happy with the noise of them on bitumen , but i will have to put up with it as i am doing harder terrain now . i personally don't think they are as good on sand or ride quality but it depends on what you want . i drive on the beach at least 3 times a week, my car spends 90% of its time on the blacktop lightly loaded. i know there are at least two diferent tread patterns for the at20s one looks like crap , one not to bad , they never let me down even in the mud , but i have traction control . if i was only doing sand and bitumen i would go back to the at20s . thats only my opinion and ive only had 2 different sets of tires .

[BAZPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BAZPRADO]

Re: Need help with tire selection

Thanks for your recommendations thus far. I was thinking Bridgestones too, but the Monopolistic dealer here, make them at about 30% more expensive. I have never had any issues with the Dunlop AT20 but wondered if there was anything better at the same price point. If the Yokos are that bad, I won't come near them, I want a tire that is at least similar or better than my existing tires. I heard the Coopers were very noisy, have not tried them my self though.

The noise level is an important factor given that the Prado spends 90% of its time on paved roads. Did not know the AT20 had 2 different patterns either. Cheers.

[Hubble80 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hubble80]

Re: Need help with tire selection

hey baz , ive just gone from at20s to 694 lts , while im happy with the traction and handling of the 694s im not overly happy with the noise of them on bitumen , but i will have to put up with it as i am doing harder terrain now . i personally don't think they are as good on sand or ride quality but it depends on what you want . i drive on the beach at least 3 times a week, my car spends 90% of its time on the blacktop lightly loaded. i know there are at least two diferent tread patterns for the at20s one looks like crap , one not to bad , they never let me down even in the mud , but i have traction control . if i was only doing sand and bitumen i would go back to the at20s . thats only my opinion and ive only had 2 different sets of tires .

Interesting you speak of the noise of the 694's. I had the LT construction and on the bitumen roads that I drive on I found them quieter than the AT20s. However on "smooth" bitumen and asphalt I found them to howl a little. Nothing we couldn't handle though!

I'll throw a vote for the 694s, but next time I am thinking of either Dunlop AT3, or Cooper ATR. Probably price dependent but that will be in about 18 months.

[BAZPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BAZPRADO]

Well lads, I am now at 108,000 KMs and still on the original Dunlop Grandtreks AT20, I am nearing the wear marks now and would like to change the tires before I hit 110,000 KMs, the tires are also 4.5+ years from manufacture date, so I would say they are well overdue. There is a different tread pattern on the Dunlop AT20 that are installed on the newer Prados (150), I might just give those a try. Time for another round of exploration at the tire dealers.

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

Heaps of AT20's on EBay...obviously lots of people upgrading to better tyres?

[BAZPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BAZPRADO]

Could be buying on ebay from here is prohibitive for shipping cost reasons!

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Pirelli scorpions A/T have a none aggressive tread are quite, and great in sand...worth a look, as would be the AT3 Coopers.

Truth is a HT tyre is great in sand.

[BAZPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BAZPRADO]

Given my limited budget and the massive confusion over what to choose, I have narrowed it down to two possible options: The Yokohama Geolander G051, which it is fitted at OEM on the Pajero here, and the Falken STZ/04. The Yoko is about 12% more expensive than the Falken, but I believe it would handle some rough terrain better, whereas the Falken's pattern makes it appear like a strictly street tire. The Dunlop AT20s are out of reach now, very expensive