Tyre problems. BFG vs Bridgestone
Submitted: Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 15:42
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udm
Hi there, we have 2 cars, (80 series gxl) both the same, only that one has BFG AT 33/10.5/15 and the other one has Bridgestone Desert Dueler AT 31/10.5/15, the question is, how come the car with BFG perfomed so bad on mud?
The car with Bridgestones went up, up, up, while the car with BFG´s was all over the place and wasn´t able to climb. Even a Ford ute with road tyres was able to climb it.
I have also noticed that these bfg´s don´t have a flat surface, while other size bfg do have a flat surface.
Before anybody asks, there is no air pressure problem.
Can anybody tell me from there experience what´s the problem, should I have to take this question to the place that sold me the tyres?
Ulises
Reply By: Rod W - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 15:51
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 15:51
Maybe
the nut.
What do you mean by 'these bfg's don't have a flat surface' ?
AnswerID:
104484
Follow Up By: udm - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 16:00
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 16:00
When looking at tyres from the side, you shouldn´t be able to see the tread face, but on these, there is an arc that goes from one side of the trye to the other (tread face), making the tyre look likes it´s air pressure is too high, overinflated. (Hope my english was good.)
And what do you mean by nut?
FollowupID:
361849
Reply By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 16:25
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 16:25
I reckon my BFG AT's perform
well for what they are ie. not a mud tyre. Could the driver be the problem??? perhaps too heavy on the right foot.
As for the "flat surface" thing, I just went outside and looked at the tyres on my Falcon(Nankang), Triton(BFG) and 3 trailers(Barrum, Cooper & Bridgestone)... All bulge slightly in the middle when looking across the tread, all different types of tyre...
AnswerID:
104497
Follow Up By: udm - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 18:54
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 18:54
On trips we swap around the cars all the time, we have noticed that no matter who drives the bfg car, the problem is still there, so I can only think of the tyres.
The bulge (as you called it) is 3cm higher in the middle, doesn´t seem right.
Thanks
Ulises
FollowupID:
361884
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:32
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:32
Yup, 3cm sounds a little excessive, sounds like over inflation but you have ruled that out...
Mine bulge about 5-10mm. Perhaps a trip past a couple of tyre retailers and get opinions on possible issues, if they can name something, you can take that information to the place that fitted them.
Blue
FollowupID:
361890
Reply By: Patrolman Pat - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:03
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:03
That bulge of 3cm sound like it's over inflated to me. The BFGs are also bigger which may be having an effect on the gearing, making on car drive differently to the other.
AnswerID:
104543
Follow Up By: udm - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:36
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:36
Patrolman, I´m inflating the bfg´s from 35 to 40 psi. That´s what the guys at Beaurrepaires have told me when I bought them, any opinions about that?
The size does have an effect on the gearing, but it´s not something that has really bothered me, but probably it does make a lot of difference for the car.
Ulises
FollowupID:
361891
Reply By: Patrolman Pat - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:46
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:46
Never done much mud driving, never rains in SA, and never used BFG's but I'd probably run less than 30 psi off road depending on vehicle loading/ conditions etc.
AnswerID:
104549
Follow Up By: udm - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:57
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 19:57
Sorry, 35/40 psi was the onroad tyre pressure I use, on mud I´ve never gone lower than 35 (maybe we found the problem), but anyway, the Bridgestone´s pressures weren´t lowered for that mud trip.
FollowupID:
361893
Reply By: snailbate - Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 21:07
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005 at 21:07
hi udm
BFG ALLT have a problem in as much as they can be a lot out of balance they are the best tyre when they are balanced but could be 400grms out of balance you tyre person could have static ballance instead of dynamic balance this will reduce tyre wear and giv more shimmy
snailbait
AnswerID:
104582
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 03:10
Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 03:10
udm,
Perhaps the rims that the BFG's are fitted to are too narrow for the tyre size???
This would result in an exagerated curve such as you are describing.
Swap the wheels between vehicles to eliminate all other issues and see if you experience the same problem.
Failing this, ask your local tyre dealer to confirm that the size of BFG tyres are correct for the width of the rim.
I haven't used BFG's myself, but couldn't imagine they would be any worse in mud than the Desert Duelers which I do use.
AnswerID:
104618
Follow Up By: udm - Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 14:05
Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 14:05
Hmm, I haven´t thought of that.
This is a technical chart that bfg has on there website:
http://bfgoodrich.com.au/index.php?a=tires.technical_details&name_copy=off_road_suv.74
It says that they will be ok with rim width from 7" to 9". I am pretty sure my rims are 7" wide. You reckon this might be causing the curve thing?
BTW, I had another look at the tyres and they indicate an air pressure of 50 psi (cold), so 40 psi when hot should be right?
Ulises
FollowupID:
362006
Reply By: Well 55 - Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 07:20
Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 07:20
To higher tyre pressure in the BFG's, and maybe just maybe the LSD is not working in that vehicle (did you say Toyota?).
As someone sujested swap wheels between vehicles and try again.
AnswerID:
104622
Reply By: Disco200Tdi - Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 10:50
Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 10:50
The bigger the tyre diameter, the less pressure is required to hold up a given weight therefore your BFG's should be run at a lower pressure.
Offroad I would try about 25 psi to start with and lower from there. Down to about 18 psi is ok for tubeless tyres so long as your not going fast or doing sudden sharp turns.
The 33's will give you a bigger contact patch so should be able to cr*p all over the 31's but you will need lower pressures.
Cheers
John D
AnswerID:
104648
Reply By: Dave from Fraser Coast 4WD Club - Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 23:35
Friday, Apr 01, 2005 at 23:35
because BFG are not all that they are cracked up to be??!!
AnswerID:
104740