Some info to add to the "which tyres" debate.
Have now done 20,000k's on the ST's now (not the new STC's) including a trip up north QLD via
nebo, mt coolon, burdikin falls dam, chilagoe, palmer river gold fields,
bathurst bay, return via the lynd, to
hughenden, muttuburra,
longreach, as you can see, quite a bit of dirt and some rough 4wheeling in the goldfields area, all done with appropriate tyre pressures depending on the situation, and most dirt sections done at 90-100kph terrain permitting.
I rotated them myself at the 16k mark, a bit late I know, prior to the rotation I had a very slight flutter in the steering wheel at around 80 kph, hardly noticable, but there never the less, considering the mods and lift I thought it was quite acceptable.
After the rotation the 'flutter' turned into a full blown 'shake', 2-3mm either way on the steering wheel, at the same speed, "not good" I thought. I left it alone for a few thousand k's thinking they might 'settle in' a bit, it got no better, so off to Bob Jane's at brown's plains for a balance today.
It was recomended to me to do the "silver" balance, which involved removing the tyre from the rim and finding the 'high' or 'heavy' spots on each and then refitting, with the 'heavy spots' opposite each other, then finish off with a normal balance, this may be a load of codswhollop for all I know, but for the extra 4 bucks a wheel, I agreed, it was also "recomended" to do all 4
wheels, "bugger off, just the 2 that are connected to the steering wheel will do nicely thanks".
An hour later I drove down the highway and not a 'flutter' or 'shake' to be felt, 34 bucks and problem solvered.
Other than a few very small 'chunks' ( a dozen or so, the size of a pinky fingernail) and a dozen or so lugs torn at the base, which according to the tyre dealer in
Cooktown, is pretty good for AT's after going into the gold fields and scrambling along the packhorse route upon leaving, the tyres are still in good condition.
There is 11mm tread left on the 2 rears, and 10mm on the front 2. Remember, the front 2 have been doing the driving up untill 4000k's ago, also all dirt roads were done in 4WD hi.
So, sofar so good and am still happy with them.
I realize a lot of the travel info is repeat for regular readers, but hopefuuly will give newer readers an idea of what the tyres have done.
Will give another update in approx. 20,000k's or so, unless something drastic happens earlier.
Hope this helps some people with the "which tyres" conundrum.
Avagoodn
Pezza