A Tale of Two Tyres

Evening Bernie.

I am not comparing, you are.

I've just stated the facts so far. Might be further down the track things may change. who knows.

What I was getting at more than anything, is the 'religion' of tyre pressures.

There are no set rules, and I firmly believe that lowering to 18PSI on the QAA line, killed those BFG'S. referring to the sidewall splits.

In that vehicle it will be highly unlikely that I will do that again in a hurry, only for a real crap, necesary, situation.

Regards and have a good one.

Ken Robinson

You are in fact also comparing the tyres, your statement of
"I know what type of tyres I’ll be using from now on" is testamony to that.

Bernie is right you can't compare those tyres based on what you have listed in terms of distance etc.

How will the Coopers perform in 30,000 km plus and then lower the pressure in them to 18psi and replicate the loads and ambient temps, driving style etc.

I fail to see what your post sets out to acheive and is actually a load of crap in my view.

By the way I use BFG Alterrains on my Troopy alabet a wider version than yours and I have just replaced 4 after 55,000 km and they still had around 10 to 20 % usable tread depth left.
These tyres had done all the areas you listed plus Vic high country etc with high loads around the 3 to 3.5 tonne and run down to 18psi in sand 25 to 28 in rocky tracks.

I had two punctures in 4 years one a nail, one a stone penetration.
The reason I changed the tyres is I schreded one in the Little Desert, my fault ran to long on a flat in soft sand, why was it flat, not sure suspect that I dislodged the valve on a tree root and did not realise it was down until I went to turn a corner.

When I removed all the tyres all insides in excellent condition, No cracking at all in the side walls.
I kept the 3 left for spare carcases in future outback trips.

I'm in the Toyota Landcruiser Club and to date the vast majority of tyres I have seen fitted to the vehicles in this club are BFG's probably about 60 percent Muddies the balance AT's.
All owners I speak with say they will replace their tyres with the same.

The point is if you have a sudden dislike for one brand of tyres then don't Bull$hit about the reason you want to change just change them because you want to try somthing different, don't feel that you have justify the change by blaming a problem with the tyre

I have no personal objection to Coopers or Nissans for that matter, and maybe one day I will buy some Coopers just for the hell of it.

Hi Ken,
Interesting stuff. I've had a set of AT BFGs (KO series) for 95,000 now on my GU, covering most surfaces except deep mud, about to look for a new set. Stuffed a sidewall on one about 3 yrs ago on a sharp rock (pressures about 42psi on rear), and fitted a spare BFG AT (non-KO; ie earlier version). This has now developed sidewall splits inside and out. Has been suggested that pressures were too low when in sand, causing the damage (I drop them to about 15psi for beach sand). Fair comment, but the other tyres, running the same pressures are ok.
Haven't tackled BFG about the tyre, as it's over 5 yrs old, perhaps I should. But the KOs I can't fault - good life, good off-road, quiet on sealed road and no scalloping on the front. Had a set of non-KOs on the old GQ and was very happy with them.
Gerry

Hi Ken
I was NOT comparing tyre's just that the BFG had done 30,000k & the Coopers only 5000 I hope they standup to there gaurantee.
As John said most at TLC would be or have been running BFG, some still on splits but most on tubeless rims,
I did not pickup on the split rims in the original post and i think they generate more heat which is a problem.
I don't have a problem with - what type of tyre/vehicle/petrol/diesel or any other item that people use, I just like to see people getting out in the bush and enjoying themselves.
We are all free to say what ever we choose on this forum.

When are you going to get your rig pic up ?
Good to see another Member from (Vic)

Cheers

Bernie

Now your on the money mate.

I think ( only think at this stage) that it is/was the Split Rims that may have caused the problem.

So I am going to wack a set of ROH Steels on it and see how that goes, keeping in mind that the BFG's aren't on it anymore. It will increase the width from 6" to 7" .

I spoke to a couple of guys at Dalhousie in May who reckon that it was the splits running at under 30PSI that most probably caused it.

Thats what I was saying in the original post, this time I only ran it under 30PSI once and that was to get over 'little red'.

Also the Cooper sidewalls don't seem to balloon as much at lower pressure. Could be an ST, as opposed to an AT.

Once again it's a 'horses for courses' thing.

Regards

Ken Robinson

Evening Floyd

The 30,000 account for about 65-70% wear, however I am not bitching about that as it was on splits with tyres, higher pressures etc.

It was the myriad of splits on the inside sidewalls of the rear tyres that was the 'interesting part.

I have since searched the internet to death so to speak re this phenomena
and now believe that it was caused by the split rims, tubes, pressures etc etc.

Maybe the answer is, don't run BFG A/T's on those type of rims. Who knows.

I am going to switch to ROH Trak II and give them a run and play around with the pressures in different conditions on the ST'S.

Thanks for your feedback and its all forward from here.

Regards

Ken Robinson.

Good evening Zita

Mate! you're 93 posts behind the 'eight ball', however its good to see the BFG emotion pills are still kicking in. (Just Joking)

If you look at my original post and follow up/s you will ascertain that I am not fussed about the $'s one iota.

I am beside myself with the mega splits in the side walls of the BFG'S

At this stage I believe it is the split rims. Therefore tomorow morning a brand new set of sunraysia'a are going on tubeless) which will widen the the rim walls from 6 to 7 inches. This I am told allows the tyre walls to stand straighter with less ballooning when the pressures are lowered in sand.

I am sure that is what killed my BFG'S. they were going ok untill the dunes on the Simpson.

Now as for weight. Yep! I run at 3.5 ts fully loaded. That includes 170 L of fuel and 200L of water. I couldn't care less about the weight as the suspension has been upgraded to Kings Mining packs, Koni Shocks and polyairs. I have removed everything I dare to, considering I travel alone.

Not a tooth rattle in it. As I have alluded before, if you can't afford it, don't do it.

Also I have yet to be convinced that lower tyre presures are the way to go.

Yes in a tight situation on sand, mud & rocks but nothing else. I do however come down on the dirt, but not as low as you would like/suggest.

Yes I have a compressor which I use on a regular basis for the Front and Rear ARB diff lockers. It also has a 10L air tank which I use for other things as well as raising and lowering tyres.

Now this is another aspect I haven't highlighted before. My troopy does not travel around town as a family car. It is only used for trips into extreme conditions like the desert areas.

Therefore the bitumen use is fairly minimal in the 'abuse stakes'.

In view of the above it is now my opinion the at the COOPER ST's are a better tyre for my conditions of use.

Again I reiterate, its the side wall splits with the BFG's that I have a issue with and a couple of other contributers to this forum have indicated that they have had the same problem.

By the way, I'm picking up a new JEEP Cherokee next week and when the original tyres wear out, I most probably will replace them with BFG A/T's because there is no way in hell that I will be playing around with pressures on that machine. ie it will not be going off of made roads.

It will be interesting how long the COOPERS last and what my opinion of them is at their end.

Regards

Ken Robinson