Tyre compounds that can cope with the heat in the Pilbara.
Submitted: Saturday, Jul 17, 2004 at 22:58
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Quartzy
Hi all. Have been investigating brands / styles / compounds and load/speed index ratings of 4wd tyres (mainly 265/75/R16) to put on the GQ up here in the
Pilbara. I have looked at all the posts previously and cant find info on tyres that last under intense conditions both heat and terrain wise. What may be good in Victoria (Cooper ST, STT, BFG's, Wrangler MTR's etc. etc.) in boggy conditions is not necessarily the right tyre for my needs over here. I am after a fairly aggressive tyre, but want something that stands up to harsh ground and heat without chipping and cracking - but realise i cant have everything in one package. I use a 10 ply Hankook 235/85/R16 RT-01 MT on my old troopy up here and while they hanging together and have been good at resisting punctures and chips - they are cracking in between lugs. Before i shell out another $1500 for tyres for the GQ, I'd thought i would seek thoughts from others on this matter.
Cheers
Quartzy
Reply By: V8Diesel - Saturday, Jul 17, 2004 at 23:49
Saturday, Jul 17, 2004 at 23:49
Quartzy, had Cooper 285 AT's on my GU and the chipped corners but held together sort of alright. Mileage was about 50% of what they are supposed to get. A local in
Newman had BFG AT's on his Troopie and they had lost whole blocks of tread.
I used to be involved in mineral exploration in the northern Goldfields and
Pilbara and the only tyre to ever survive were the old crossply Hi-Milers in 8, 10 or 12 ply preferably. We wouldn't even let anyone with radials, wide tyres, mud tyres accompany us because of the constant delays due to flats and irreperable sidewall damage. No kidding.
Phone up South
Perth 4WD Rentals and Thrifty Kalgoorlie and talk to them about what the exploration crews specify. You'll find they have specific Landcruisers with Hi-Milers already fitted due to customer demand. If you still have doubts, talk to the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) people and mineral exploration companies (as in bush bashing rather than drilling) etc.
Saw an Ausdrill HZJ75 at Meeka a couple of weeks ago with a new type of Michelin that looked like they had a truck tread. They also were regroovable. I'd say your Hankook's probably aren't too far off the mark. I think they're the tyre Dominion's exploration crews use.
Depends where you want to go really and how often you want to go there.
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Follow Up By: Quartzy - Sunday, Jul 18, 2004 at 00:44
Sunday, Jul 18, 2004 at 00:44
Cheers V8Diesel! Most of my mates have the old 750 R16
Dunlop Road Grippers 8 plys and get a good run out of them. I have a set of split - rims for the nissan as
well as the 16 x 8 safety rims but i mainly use the Patrol to do beach work as
well as a few inland runs to go camping and prospecting - but to do the latter i usually take my old troopy with the split rims and 3 spares! The reason i wanted to put 265's on the gq is that its a 2.8 turbo diesel and the extra width in the tyres really helps in the deep sand / beach areas. There are a couple of 265/75's that have a 10 ply rating so that i would feel a little better going inland with these.
Regards
Quartzy
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Reply By: V8Diesel - Sunday, Jul 18, 2004 at 02:04
Sunday, Jul 18, 2004 at 02:04
Mate, it sounds like you've got it sorted already. Use split rims for inland stuff and 8" tubeless for road and beach work is the best of all. Cooper AT's are a good tyre for the 8" in my opinion.
On the split rims, I'd stay away from the
Dunlop Road Grippers if you're actually bush bashing. The sidewalls are made from glad wrap. I've torn, and torn is the right description, half a dozen of them from tread to rim. If you're sticking to tracks, they're fine.
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Reply By: Ian B - Monday, Jul 19, 2004 at 13:22
Monday, Jul 19, 2004 at 13:22
Quartzy,
I note in one reply you say that increased tyre width helps in sand. Incorrect!. Elongated tyre footprints from increased diameter or lower pressures is what helps in sand. Extra width is actually a hindrance, especially if tyre pressures aren't dropped.
When I was in Alice, a mate used to run 750R16 Bridgestone V-steels. These had steel up the sidewalls and I don't recall them ever staking even at low pressures with tubes.
If you want to go wider regardless, then maybe
check out the Cooper STT muddies. I've never heard a report of them being soft and wearing quickly.
Regardless of what you decide, I'd stay away from an AT pattern because of the chipping they suffer in stoney country. A muddie or closed shoulder tyre like the V-steel is a better option.
Ian B
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