Bridgestone Dueler A/T 694 Review

Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 14:38

ThreadID: 13362 Views:49724 Replies:11 FollowUps:13

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NathanK

I just wanted to share my opinions on the new Dueler A/T 694 tyre from Bridgestone, which replaces the ever-increasingly popular 693 A/T version.

The new tyre is a lot more aggressive in tread pattern than the previous one, and is quite possible one of the most aggressive All-Terrain tyre on the market. (remember guys, the Cooper ST is NOT an all-terrain tyre, so you can't compare it to that one!). The tread pattern ensures GREAT traction in both road and off-road conditions. I've had them for a couple of months now and have done over 5000kms, about 1500 of them off-road up at Coral Bay and the Cape Range National Park.

Here's a break-down of performance I've experienced:

Wet - Impressive to say the least. My Discovery used to skid if the brakes were hit hard, now i just get a bruise on my forehead from my head hitting the steering wheel - the traction is THAT good!

Dry - Typical great handling - The feeling is slightly spongier than Cooper A/T or BFG's, but that's not really noticable.

Sand - Incredible! Blows the BFG's, Cooper A/T's, Desert Duelers and others away for it's traction. Quickly cleaning and just bites in for traction in some very soft sand on some very steep hills and dunes. On wet sand it's not as good, as it doesn't clean it that quickly, but still very impressive.

Mud - Only had a quick stint in the mud, and as you'd expect from an A/T tyre it's not all that flash. there was ample traction at slower speeds, but anything more than that you'd be going with a M/T tyre anyway.

Gravel - Great traction again, only complaint was the aggressive tread sometimes picked up the stones and flung them out pretty fast - scratched the powdercoating on the underside of my sidesteps a little bit, but once again not a real problem.

On the whole, I'm more than impressed with them. I'm selling my Disco and moving to a SWB Landy, and I'm going to be getting them fitted to my new car most definitely. The price too is a bonus - I paid $210 per tyre F&B for 245/70 R16's, much much cheaper than BFG's or Coopers.

Nathan

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Reply By: Peter Guy - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:05

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:05

Hi Nathan
thanks for your feed back. It was timely as I'm going to have to replace my Gu patrols tyres and the price quoted by Bridgestone Osborne Park Perth WA for 5 x AT 694 265x70x16 f&B @ $235.00 ea.
I have Cooper HT's and they gave me 90k of mixed bush / bituman driving and I was impressed with them but their AT s seem expensive like the BF Goodrichs.

AnswerID: 61206

Follow Up By: NathanK - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:24

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:24

are you an RAC member? if so, Bridgestone dealers will give an extra $5 per tyre discount. they dont advertise that fact, but if you ask they gladly give it to you.

FollowupID: 322769

Reply By: Member -Bob & Lex (Sydney) - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:40

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:40

I'v had them on our Patrol for a while too & think they much are better than the 693. Havn't been off road yet as the beast blew up but will give them a test at Berri on the long w/end

AnswerID: 61211

Reply By: Mrs Diamond - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:43

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:43

have they strengthened the side wall on the new ones and also will they do more than 50000ks

AnswerID: 61214

Follow Up By: NathanK - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:59

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:59

1. yes, they have
2. dunno, ask me in another 45,000kms!! :)

FollowupID: 322777

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 23:55

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 23:55

Bridgestone man yesterday was a little hesitant when I mentioned kms. wifes pathy has 60k on it the bridgestones are DEAD...

they arent known for lasting

FollowupID: 322801

Reply By: Goran - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:47

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:47

Nathan, excuse me for what i am about to say. I have seen you on other forums with the same story about 694's . Unless i am mistaking you seem to have an agenda regarding Bridgestone tyres. Are you in the tyre trade ?

On the separate note, i have look into 694's for my Cruiser and they seem to be decent tyre. Much better than 693 and little more agresive. Thread pattern is only marginaly better than 693. Nothing to rave about. I went for BFG MT myself and have never been happier

AnswerID: 61216

Follow Up By: NathanK - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:51

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 17:51

nah mate, i'm a mechanical designer. got nothing to do with the car trade, i just like sharing when i find something i deem to be a good thing.

FollowupID: 322775

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic) - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 19:04

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 19:04

NathanK, I have seen y o u r testimonials on these before and the more I see them the more doubts I have raised in my mind. As I am checking tyres at the moment and have seen them, I have already eliminated them for much where it is possibly wet just on their ability to self clean. It will be interesting to see tributes from others after 80,000 kms.

If other Bridgestones are an indication they won't last half the distance for traction or stone piercing.

AnswerID: 61236

Follow Up By: NathanK - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 10:32

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 10:32

in the water - great. no aquaplanning at 100kms on the freeway into decent depth puddles. it's just mud mainly as well as reduced ability on wet sand.

but honestly, if you want wet off-road performance, go BFG M/T or Cooper ST or STT. the Bridgestone M/T tyre is crap.

FollowupID: 322820

Reply By: mygu4500 - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 19:07

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 19:07

G,day Nathan

The only problem I have with the d694 is that they are made in Japan, if they are anything like their d693 I would not touch them. The Aust made d693 is a better tyre compared to its Jap equivalent. Different compound, much better wear etc.

Dave

AnswerID: 61237

Follow Up By: Member - Brett H (QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 21:38

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 21:38

That's strange...the 604 Duelers made in Japan are far superior to the Aussie made ones by about 40000km.

Funny how there is so much difference betweent the models.

FollowupID: 322793

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 23:57

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 23:57

The BFG tyres made in Japan are crap, the ones made in USA are the 'good' ones apparently...

also depends who you talk to..

FollowupID: 322802

Reply By: dogart - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 19:25

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 19:25

Nathan

I too have had the 694's on the Jackaroo for about 2 month's.
Dito to everything you said mate.
Did a trip up to Kalbarri. Did gravel/sand/mud (along the Murch)
and performed brilliantly. They are superb and the price was good too.

I purchased 265/70R16 for $218 each in Bawswater, Perth.

Highly rec.

cheers wolf

AnswerID: 61242

Reply By: Big Trev - Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 19:51

Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 19:51

I will keep watching this with interest, I am about to buy a set for the Maverick.

AnswerID: 61246

Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 00:06

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 00:06

"My Discovery used to skid if the brakes were hit hard, now i just get a bruise on my forehead from my head hitting the steering wheel - the traction is THAT good! "

That will happen with nearly ANY new tire... once worn, ANY tire loses that wonderful feel...

"remember guys, the Cooper ST is NOT an all-terrain tyre, so you can't compare it to that one.."

Then what is it? its not a Muddy, thats the STT..

AnswerID: 61296

Follow Up By: NathanK - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 10:27

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 10:27

"That will happen with nearly ANY new tire... once worn, ANY tire loses that wonderful feel... "

hahahha - i laughed at that one! problem is it's not quote right, my Disco used to skid with 95% Cooper A/T's and new BFG A/T's, but not with new Dueler A/T's.

the Cooper ST is rated at more off-road than a normal A/T tyre. if it were an A/T tyre, why would Cooper produce both an AT and ST tyre???? hmmmm.... must be a difference then eh?

FollowupID: 322818

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 22:50

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 22:50

Laugh all you like, you will see where it says "NEARLY ANY"??

Also any NEW tire will work better than any ALMOST new tire 95% is not new.

So the ST is a muddy, if it were an M/T tyre, why would Cooper produce both an ST and STT tyre???? hmmmm.... must be a difference then eh?

Lets just see what the Coopers site says..

"The Cooper S/T has approximately 10% more tread than other brands of All Terrain tyres. This means more grip, and more kilometres for your dollar..."
Hmmmm More tread than other brands of All Terrain Tyres... That means to me its a Ummmmm........

FollowupID: 322898

Follow Up By: Member - Hugh (WA) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2004 at 01:24

Thursday, Jun 03, 2004 at 01:24

Nathan,

The feedback is nice to receive, though somewhat a bit full on. I don't know if we are to get updates every 5000km or so, but hopefully you clock up the kms quickly and let us know how they perform in the long term.

You are correct that Cooper S/T is more offroad oriented than A/T, though interesting that in the 4WD Monthly all terrain tyre comparison the Cooper importer decided to go with the S/Ts. I agree with Truckster that these are really intended to be an all terrain tread pattern. I have A/Ts because in reality most of my running is on the black top, found to be OK offroad and in sand but I think that the S/T would be better suited for trips I do with my 4Wd club. When I next need tyres I'd likely opt toward the Cooper S/TCs, so for me I'm interested in how the B694s compare.

Hugh

FollowupID: 322919

Reply By: Baz (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 19:54

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 19:54

I've only ever had 2 type's of tyre's on my 4x4s and they were Yokohama superdigger's and BFG A/Ts, both were recomended by a mate and so far never had a prob. Just my opinion.

Baz.

AnswerID: 61401

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 22:52

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 22:52

How did ya find the Yoko for wear?

Lookin at the Yoko ATs for wifes car..

Mate had a set of MT's but he said they wore out REAL fast, and they are also LOTS more than other brands..

FollowupID: 322901

Follow Up By: Baz (NSW) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2004 at 13:42

Thursday, Jun 03, 2004 at 13:42

My mate said the wear rate was not to bad, i think it depends on how you drive the car and how much on and off road you do, they were on my Hilux single cab did about 40,000 to 50,000 then sold it, looked OK the front had worn a bit more than the back.

Baz.

FollowupID: 322955