Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

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

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

I agree with that sentiment, however also be aware that the wheel without tyre does not always balance clean, so if the fitter doesn't check, the position of the tyre on the wheel may in fact make the inherent tyre balance appear worse than it really is.

I had no idea of this until I noticed a fitter spinning up and marking my expensive wheels a few years ago (not Prado) - he was able to achieve near perfect balance with almost no weights by paying attention to the position of the tyre on the rim. He knew his stuff.

Michael

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

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

"I agree with that sentiment, however also be aware that the wheel without tyre does not always balance clean, so if the fitter doesn't check, the position of the tyre on the wheel may in fact make the inherent tyre balance appear worse than it really is."

Yes this is correct, although wheel technology today is far more advanced today, particularly with alloys than it was a few years ago and we actually did test the runout and balance of my bare wheels, and they did come up at zero. This changed somewhat once we fitted the metal valves and tyre pressure monitoring sensors into the wheels (approx 45 grams each) and we then compensated for this by rotating the tyre into a multitude of positions on the wheel to reduce the amount of weight required for a zero outcome; three of the tyres though still required a considerable amount of weight to balance them.

Fortunately I was training the tyre fitter that was doing the job and was able to point him in the right direction. Of course, the downside of this is that it can take considerable time to do all of these checks and rechecks and in a busy tyre shop it is much easier to just whack the weight on and the customer is none the wiser. I would strongly recommend that if you get new tyres fitted and the accumulated weight attached to the each wheel is more than 150 grams, complain and ask for it to be fixed.

There is another bluff that can be used by the tyre service and that is to use a static balance, which only measures one plane and the weights are then attached to the inner surface of the wheel (generally on alloys) near the hub. This weight will be considerably smaller than a dynamic balance where weights are attached to both the inner and outer lips of the rim. The reasoning for this type of balance is so that "ugly" wheel weights can not be seen on the outside of your nicely polished wheels.

Hope this makes sense

[outback1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close outback1]

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

Sorry i took so long to get back but we just returned from a 8 week journey covering just over 12000km's. never had any problems with the tyers. they were fantastic,run at 44 front 48 rear on bitumen, ( 130kph on stuart hwy )dropped 20% for dirt, and lower again for rocky tracks. crossed the simpson with 18 front & 22 rear, as i was fully loaded, and went over big red 1st time They were outstanding on the steep climbs & decents around Arkaroola.
I purchased the tyers from Kooweerup tyer & brake in Sth Gippsland. from my experience on this trip I'm extremly happy and will continue to use them. It takes a load of your mind when your confident in your equipment
the D4D was outstanding - Ilove this car
Greg

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

Can anyone tell me how you can tell the month and year of manufacture of these tyres. As an example on the Grandtreks there is a number on the sidewall - 4907, which indicates the tyre was manufactured in the 49th week of 2007. I have searched the MTs and cannot find any such sequence. I also checked my Coopers on the other car and couldn't find anything on them either.

Cheers
Andy

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

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

Same deal with the MT ATZs, Andy. There are two rings of text moulded in the tyre close to the rim - the little oblong block with the month/year of manufacture in located in the second row of text above the rim. Mine is just below and to the right of a MT logo.

George

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

Same deal with the MT ATZs, Andy. There are two rings of text moulded in the tyre close to the rim - the little oblong block with the month/year of manufacture in located in the second row of text above the rim. Mine is just below and to the right of a MT logo.

George

Thanks Georgie, I have a closer look tomorrow.
Cheers, Andy

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

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

I've had a look and if I'm reading it right it sits like the following:

(DOT) | (UTAH) (MBX) (WWYY)

The above translates to (I believe):
DOT: US Department of Transportation
UTAH: Plant code where tyre was manufactured
MBX: Additional Manufacturer code markings
WWYY: Week and year of manufacture

The details where sourced from Wikipedia and Tpub:

• Tire[/*:m:2c7h7mrs]
• Tire Code[/*:m:2c7h7mrs]
• Tire Markings and Codes[/*:m:2c7h7mrs]

Now I also discovered that on all six of mine the week and year of manufacture is only visible on the black side. The side with the white writing has a blank text ring.

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

I've had a look and if I'm reading it right it sits like the following:

(DOT) | (UTAH) (MBX) (WWYY)

The above translates to (I believe):
DOT: US Department of Transportation
UTAH: Plant code where tyre was manufactured
MBX: Additional Manufacturer code markings
WWYY: Week and year of manufacture

Now I also discovered that on all six of mine the week and year of manufacture is only visible on the black side. The side with the white writing has a blank text ring.

Spot on Schaffer - now I need to remove each wheel to check the date - my eyesight aint the best!

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

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

Use a LedLenser torch like in CSI and a magnifying glass :wink: :wink:

[butane8 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close butane8]

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

'bout to put a set on my rig, 265/70/17, any last comments b4 the tyres go on at the end of the week, thx.butane

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

I'm happy with mine, but haven't been out in the rough much since fitting them, but they are wearing well on the road.

[butane8 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close butane8]

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

I'm happy with mine, but haven't been out in the rough much since fitting them, but they are wearing well on the road.

have they had to alter the weights on warrenty checks ? , as the tyre wears does the balancing change?or is it just a alignment, not tyre balance ?

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

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

I posted earlier in the "other" ATZ thread my comments on the ATZ 4 Rib after 9000kms.

Have a look here --> Mickey Thompson ATZ

[butane8 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close butane8]

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

put a set on my rig, 265/70/17,tommorrow, going white letter in btune

[butane8 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close butane8]

Re: Mickey Thompson ATZ 4 rib

thx for all posts, they're on ended up with 5rib, will post after i get the feel,
but initial thoughts; no real differnce in road noise, reccommend lift as i already scrubbed a guard,.. mines on order :lol: butane

[30/11/09] p.s been out racin' the buggies over the weekend , both days... Absolutely stoaked with the the handlin' on the tar
...... there is no difference in noise from the H/T tyres, had it floggin' along with the trailer/buggy on country tar roads, up to 'bout 90k's so far

WHAT NOISE? the ride is better , doesnt seem to drill the bumps in the road like the H/T's , very slight loss of power, but thats being, very, very picky..... top tyre so far :lol: butane

:arrow: 29.5.10 finially heard the road noise from the tyre, around the 80k mark , very acceptable, would go 4 rib next time