32' Tyres. Which type?

MTR's.

But if you have spare coin, go some Swampers on second rims and AT's for weekdays.

Hi Longy,
Try to have a look at each tyre unmounted. When I bought my last tyres I checked out 32/11.5-15 BFG's and felt that they seemed too flimsy. They are very flexible(which is good sometimes) but the dont seem to be very robust, especially in the sidewalls when compared with MTR's. The BFG's sidewall are noticably thinner. I believe though that BFG's would be better in mud and maybe rockhopping, while MTR's would be better on stoney surfaces,and road use with their sticky silica compound rubber.If you are using one set of tyres for everything go for MTR's they are tough and last well (for muddies), and make a good offroad oriented allround tyre .
I ended up buying 31/10.5-15 MTR's (I only have 7 inch wide wheels),I've done 48K on them so far and expect to get another 15K out of them. Next time I will either go 32/11.5 MTR's and 8 inch rims or 32/10.5 Simex ET's for fun stuff and road tyres when not playing.
Another point worth noting is that MTR's generally seem to be a smaller diameter(damn) then BFG's, while its worth noting that 32/10.5 Simex ET's are actually about 33.3 inch diameter and 11.1 inches wide.
Adrian

I've got 33" MT/Rs at the moment, and am reasonably happy with them. A recent trip from Brisbane to Adelaide via Innamincka and Arkaroola saw the rears suffer from lots of cuts, but no flats. I have a great deal of confidence in their "toughness." They seem slightly noisier than the 31" S/Ts I had previously, although I don't notice the noise when the vehicle is fully loaded. I've had some trouble with balance, but that could be the cheap steel rims too.

For the record, MT/R is for Maximum Traction, Reinforced - they are not supposed to be a dedicated mud tyre, and 4wd Monthly's tests rated BFG Muds and Cooper STT better in mud (all round actually, but let's not split hairs...) The MT/Rs rated best on rocks, and competition rock crawlers do seem to like them.

A somewhat unscientific test here -> http://www.offroad.au.com/features/goodyear-mtr-bfgoodrich-mud-terrain-construction.cfm is interesting too.

If you want ultimate mud traction, go BFG MTs or Cooper STTs (or Boggers...) but for an all-round tyre the MT/Rs are probably the better option.

For the record, next time I'll be going Coopers - possibly S/Ts again, but probably STT.

Cheers,

Scott

Ok this is my thoughts on tyres that I have had over the last couple of years. These are all on a SWB GQ.
1st set - I brought the car and it had 31x10.50R15 on Nissan 15x7. These didnt get much off-road use, but did work really well on road from memory. Did one semi outback trip on them when they where buggered. And only got one flat, which I fixed with a plug (I still have these tyres mounted on rims I dont use, it is the only one that still holds air after 4yrs).

2nd set - Where BFG Muds(old style) 285/75R16 (33x11.5R16 I think) on 16x8trakII. These where a fantastic tyre worked well on road and off. And I got bloody good mileage out of these would have to have been close to 60-70 000km. These where buggered when I changed them except 2, one of those was in good nick that I kept for a spare. The other was a near new spare, so kept it.

3rd Set - Where 2nd Hand Cooper STT in 285/75R16 on 16x8's. These have only just been put out to pasture and they are buggerd. I think I only ever got one flat with these. When I first got them I had trouble keeping them on rims, when using low pressure (10-15psi-ok most tyres would fall off at this). But I think this was more due to the tyre fitter using soap or tyre grease to help fit. As I think the bead was alot tighter than the BFG's. When I got them they where at about 70%, and they came off ARB sth's 100series LC. And from what I have heard had a hard life. Which didnt stop when I got them.
Early on when I first got them I did tear a lug off, which did expose wire. So I always fitted this to the rear (also this was the only one to rarely leak). But they handled well on-road and where fantastic off-road.
I did find that on the shorty I did have to run them slightly lower in pressure compared to what I ran the BFG muds at. Think it was 42 compared with 45psi (and yes I know this is to much, but geez it handled well around the bends).
Sorry the only guide on K's I can give yous is I think I got 40 -50000km out of them.
Early NOV I did a trip from BGO- Broekn Hill - Camerons CNR - Innaminka - Dig Tree (and graves) - Innaminka (had to go back cos playdo need fuel) -Haddon CNR - Birdsville - Peopples CNR - Marree and Flinders ranges on teh way home. Didnt have any tyre problems. And tyre condition at end off trip, was that the wear indictors where starting to wear when we goto Mildura. And due to alot of mud, they wear still producing some pretty good roosters when drving thru it.

4th set - I now have a set of 2nd hand 35X12.50R15 MT/'s on bling 15x8's. Havnt used these much, but I think they are a soft compound and time will tell. But it does seem to have made a big differance in the off-road ability. But they arnt as good on-road (tested using the roundabout method- they slipped).

5set- was a 31" HT that where only used on road.

Buggered in my IMO is wear marks getting wear. As for what muddies to get I think any mud tyre you choose you will be happy with. The 3types I have had have been good. So far I am thinking that 35" cooper ST's might be good for a road tyre.
And as for a tyre being buggered after 15%wear. This is what I think. Yes after this they do seem to taper off abit. As the lugs get rounded. But I have worn my last 4 sets down to the wear indicators, and the performance has always been there for that tyre right to down to 100% buggered. Except on-road in the wet they kind of suck'd right at the end.

Turps
Sorry this was long. I just felt like typeing.