Tyre question from a newbie

[Bodgie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Bodgie]

Hello everyone!This is my first post .Next month I am going off to Central Australia for the first time.We will be towing an off- road camper trailer .My more experienced fellow traveller has advised that I should get better new tyres.I currenttly have have Michellin 265 / 65.They were on the Prado when we bought it 3 years ago.We will be going on the Oodnadatta Track and the Great Central road.
Question : what sort of tyres would you suggest?
My local tyre dealer recommends BF Goodrich AT. Yes he stocks them!.However I have read that they are noisy.
My friend has Mikey Ts but is not all that happy with them.
What about Maxxis AT?
I look forward to your suggestions.Cheers

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Which tyre is best If you get ten replies you'll likely get 15 different opinions

For the tracks you mention, and pretty much anything central Australia has to offer an AT tyre is the go. Having said that I have driven the Oodnadatta track on stock HT Grandtreks without issue and passed plenty of people running "superior" tyres that had issue along the way.

Far more important than the type of tyre you run is the pressure you run, so many variables but you want to be somewhere in the 20 something PSI range depending on conditions. Have a look here as a good guide to the sort of pressures people run http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ssure-Database

I run the BFG AT and wouldn't have said they were noisy, on my third set and cant see myself getting anything else next time round either. Others will tell you equally good things about the particular brand they run.

Cheers Andrew

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Hi Bodgie

We have had an amazing run out of Goodyear Silent Armors. Very quiet and are at the less aggressive end of the AT range which may explain their quietness. They are impressive off road and cope with wet rocks etc amazingly well. Mud not so but I suppose that is the trade off. As a touring tyre I think they are great.

Just make sure you get US manufacture as I understand there are some indonesian ones as well.

Here is a link;

http://www.goodyear.com.au/dotCMS/Ty...&from=nPerPage

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

I have Mickey Thompson STZ's which are quiet an aggressive AT tyre (but not as aggressive at the ATZ p3's though) in 70 profile for the extra height and they are great. Smooth, quiet and much better grip than the crappy Grandtrek AT20's we had before. They weren't cheap but I never skimp on tyres.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Which tyre is best If you get ten replies you'll likely get 15 different opinions

For the tracks you mention, and pretty much anything central Australia has to offer an AT tyre is the go. Having said that I have driven the Oodnadatta track on stock HT Grandtreks without issue and passed plenty of people running "superior" tyres that had issue along the way.

Far more important than the type of tyre you run is the pressure you run, so many variables but you want to be somewhere in the 20 something PSI range depending on conditions. Have a look here as a good guide to the sort of pressures people run http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ssure-Database

I run the BFG AT and wouldn't have said they were noisy, on my third set and cant see myself getting anything else next time round either. Others will tell you equally good things about the particular brand they run.

Cheers Andrew

There are 3 types of people in this world AJ, those that can count and those that can't.....

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

BFG AT are not noisy to any degree. In fact, on the smooth freeways back in the big smoke you can't hear any noise at all. I have a second set of rims with brand new BFG MTs on and they are only marginally louder.

[holidaywagon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close holidaywagon]

I'm currently also looking at what my next set will be with a trip in the planning stage for later this year on the same tracks and beyond. I've currently got Cooper AT3 and am somewhat disappointed with the grip on dirt. They are wearing well at 50% tread after 60 000km (mostly bitumen) but I wont buy again. I've had a couple of sets of BFG AT's on those roads (oodnatta and strezlecki) and Gibb, Tanami, Plenty Hwy, and never had a puncture. I think the BFG's are made for that type of touring and the grip on dirt is the best I've experienced. They do tend to clog in mud/clay. Mickey T's P3 seem too expensive at $460/tyre and I've heard mixed reports about them. Toyo AT2 has been suggested to me by the dealer who sells them (said he'd stake his life on them??). And fella at opposite lock yesterday suggested Nitto. Apparently one of the workers there went from Mickey T's to Nitto and will never go back. Swears by the Nitto. The Opposite lock store sells Mickey T's. Which was interesting later when I discovered Nitto tyres are made by Toyo. So as the countdown continues to September my short list is now Toyo (for something different to experience) and the ever faithful BFG.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I currently run BFG AT, I plan to fit Bridgestone D697 next. No real problems with the BFG, other than wet performance. I know 2 fellow Prado owners who have swapped from BFG AT to D697 and they love them. I've also ridden in these Prados and the D697 is much quieter on the bitumen.

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

I'm currently also looking at what my next set will be with a trip in the planning stage for later this year on the same tracks and beyond. I've currently got Cooper AT3 and am somewhat disappointed with the grip on dirt. They are wearing well at 50% tread after 60 000km (mostly bitumen) but I wont buy again. I've had a couple of sets of BFG AT's on those roads (oodnatta and strezlecki) and Gibb, Tanami, Plenty Hwy, and never had a puncture. I think the BFG's are made for that type of touring and the grip on dirt is the best I've experienced. They do tend to clog in mud/clay. Mickey T's P3 seem too expensive at $460/tyre and I've heard mixed reports about them. Toyo AT2 has been suggested to me by the dealer who sells them (said he'd stake his life on them??). And fella at opposite lock yesterday suggested Nitto. Apparently one of the workers there went from Mickey T's to Nitto and will never go back. Swears by the Nitto. The Opposite lock store sells Mickey T's. Which was interesting later when I discovered Nitto tyres are made by Toyo. So as the countdown continues to September my short list is now Toyo (for something different to experience) and the ever faithful BFG.

I'm guessing we would be looking at the Nitto "grappler" range for or vehicles?

https://www.nittotire.com/TireSelect...=grapplertruck

Have you been quoted any prices?

[holidaywagon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close holidaywagon]

Not sure which of the Grapplers Opposite Lock fella was referring to. Don't even think he sells them? Haven't been quoted any prices on Nitto but was quoted $350 for the Toyo AT2 265/70 17 at local Tyrepower and slightly more, I think about $365 for the BFG AT same size.

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

HH give ace tyres a call in Tingalpa, BFG close to 300.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[holidaywagon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close holidaywagon]

Wow, 300 is good. What size?

[holidaywagon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close holidaywagon]

Just looked up the Ace tyres site. That's the right size 265/70 17. $311 + $25 fitting. Still good price.

[johna Member Find all posts View Profile Close johna]

I currently run BFG AT, I plan to fit Bridgestone D697 next. No real problems with the BFG, other than wet performance. I know 2 fellow Prado owners who have swapped from BFG AT to D697 and they love them. I've also ridden in these Prados and the D697 is much quieter on the bitumen.

Had the D697's since November and much quieter than previous Bridgestone model. Had 110,000 k's from the previous tyres, no flats, and travelled on experimental roads in QLD and around AUS.

[discoveraus Member Find all posts View Profile Close discoveraus]

Hello bodgie,

Any LT rated All Terrain tyre will outperform a HT tyre on these roads

Adjust tyre pressures to suit the road you are on and keep your speed down to 3 times your tyre pressure.

When are you going, if there is good chance of wet roads go for a more aggressive AT in LT.

BHP are fitting Bridgestone D697 to their Prados and get good wear, grip, life and Safety. Avoid Cooper for hot conditions, good in Vic, not Nth WA.

Regards and have a great trip

Ross