New Tire Questions - Difficulties finding standard

[ripas Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ripas]

Hi folks

I have had enough of ringing around ! I am trying to find a set of standard BFG AT 265/65 but having some difficulty - allegedly BFG is out of stock ?

I see through the various posts that I can fit 275/65 however I have a few questions:

1. In an emergency can I use my current (brand new) Grandtrek spare 265/65 if I have fitted four of the new BFG.s ?
2. If I have to buy a fifth BFG in the new size will my spare wheel cover still fit ?

I guess I should ask the question if there is a better standard tyre for 98% road use on a 2008 GXL ?

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Re: New Tire Questions - Difficulties finding standard

It appears that BFG is short of the AT and new MT nationwide. I don't think you are the only one having trouble sourcing the right size for the Prado.

If you went with the same size in the BFG ATs, the spare wheel cover should still fit. If you went with 275/65R17 or 265/70R17, then the spare tyre cover will not fit. You will also need spacers to space out the spare tyre carrier.

If you went with a different size tyre, it is always better that the spare be changed to match as well. This is the reason why I do 5 tyre rotations. This way, the spare gets used as well and when it comes time to change tyres, all 5 gets changed. This way, all 5 are the same size and tread pattern.

[ripas Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ripas]

Re: New Tire Questions - Difficulties finding standard

If you went with a different size tyre, it is always better that the spare be changed to match as well. This is the reason why I do 5 tyre rotations. This way, the spare gets used as well and when it comes time to change tyres, all 5 gets changed. This way, all 5 are the same size and tread pattern.

Hmm..... dont really want to have to fork out for 5 new tyres and not be able to fit the spare wheel cover.

Guess I should keep looking around - recommendations other than BFG 265/65 for road use ?

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Re: New Tire Questions - Difficulties finding standard

Toyo Open country
Pirelli scorpion

And others in the Tyres section. Have a browse around.

As for not forking out for 5 tyres, If the tyre rotations involved 5 tyres, then it would be a longer period before you would need new tyres. So the cost of replacing a4 tyres over 2 years is the same as replacing 5 tyres over 2.5 years. Also, tyres have a life, whether it is used or not (around 5 to 6 years). If it is a city hatchback, then it probably does not matter as the likelihood of the car travelling into the country is less than say a Prado which is often used for family driving holidays. The last thing you want is to have a flat tyre 200km from the nearest town and you put on the spare that has passed its use by date.

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

Re: New Tire Questions - Difficulties finding standard

As for not forking out for 5 tyres, If the tyre rotations involved 5 tyres, then it would be a longer period before you would need new tyres. So the cost of replacing a4 tyres over 2 years is the same as replacing 5 tyres over 2.5 years. Also, tyres have a life, whether it is used or not (around 5 to 6 years). If it is a city hatchback, then it probably does not matter as the likelihood of the car travelling into the country is less than say a Prado which is often used for family driving holidays. The last thing you want is to have a flat tyre 200km from the nearest town and you put on the spare that has passed its use by date.

Just a bit more info on this, you will find that most tyre shops, if they are smart will not trade a brand new spare tyre that has sat for several years on the back door of a fourby. I have a client here in the Hunter Valley, whom I train tyre fitters for, that will not trade a tyre in that is older than 12 months and has apparently sat on the spare wheel carrier.
Also, a light vehicle passenger tyre always used to have a four year warranty period from the date of manufacture (not sure if this still stands with some manufacturers) and there has been cases of tyres that have been sitting for many years as spares that have deteriorated through weather conditions leaching the ozones etc out of the rubber and then failing on some poor unsuspecting driver's car and then the litigation starts.
Just because the tyre looks new and has full tread does not necessarily mean it is new.

I did also note in a couple of other posts, comments about tyres being left unfitted to cure out a bit more. Many years ago and I am talking 25+, technology was backward compared with now and it was normal practice to do that but with the curing processes used in tyre manufacture today, a tyre can come straight out of the mold and be fitted to a vehicle and perform to its optimum specifications. When older tyres start to chip, tear and laminate the tread rubber, it is because the rubber compounds have started to break down, the carbon black etc is leached out of the rubber and the rubber starts to lose its elasticity and then you get problems.

Hope this helps