Tyre reccommendations for trip to Cape York
Submitted: Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 03:26
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Jules Brook
Hello All,
I have a 2003 Discovery TD5 and am planning a trip to
Cape York next year (June July) towing a explorer camper trailer. I still have the original Mitchelin XPC tyres (20,000Km) which averall I have been happy with there offroad performance, though I have not driven them through deep mud.
The question is what would you reccommend as a replacement tyre for taking the trip up to and around
Cape York. My first thoughts were Coopers ST, STT or ATR. Alternatively the BFG AT or their MT. For
Cape York do you really need Mud terrain tyres and what tyre pressures would you reccommend. I know they are generilized questions but any comments would be welcome.
Also has anyone been around the Cape area using MIchelin XPC tyres with good results.
All the best Jules.
Reply By: Dodgy - Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 06:35
Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 06:35
Gidday Jules,
We did the cape in september and was using kelly discoveries on a 79 series cruiser and kumho's on the
cape york explorer camper trailer and had no probs at all.. They are just a general purpose tyre and we dropped the tyre pressure 10 pounds when driving on the corrugations to smooth the ride a little and give better handling.. Other than that just take your time and care with side wall damage and you'll be fine.. Enjoy the trip cos we did..
Regards.. Dodgy
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Reply By: Redback - Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 08:44
Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 08:44
Jules your standard XPC A/Ts will be fine they are a bloody good tyre for most conditions, and considering they have only 20,000ks on them i wouldn't bother if you are in
Sydney and want another XPC as another spare so you have 2 i have my original spare at home from my Disco.
But if your a bit worried about them and you want to change them, of the tyres you've mentioned my personnal preference would be the Cooper ST/Cs or STT or any of the BFG range stay clear of the STs in the Coopers they chip bad on rough and rocky roads.
Baz.
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Follow Up By: Member - Pezza (QLD) - Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 13:32
Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 13:32
"stay clear of the STs in the Coopers they chip bad on rough and rocky roads."
Is this 'expert' advice based on personal experience Baz ?
Avagoodn
Pezza
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Follow Up By: Gerhardp1 - Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 17:01
Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 17:01
There's a good reason why Cooper has introduced the STC - that reason is because the ST chips badly on rocky roads.
I don't know that from personal experience, but I did read it in Cooper's brochure.......and they do know what their tyres do.
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Follow Up By: Jules Brook - Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 18:13
Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 18:13
Thanks for all the positive feedback. I will see how my XTC wear during the year and get another spare if they are looking good before June next year. Otherwise BFG AT or the Cooper ATR should be good enough. I'm living up in
Brisbane, if I am down in
Sydney next year I will let you know.
Thanks Jules.
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Follow Up By: Member - Pezza (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 11, 2005 at 19:33
Tuesday, Oct 11, 2005 at 19:33
Ooops! I owe you an apology Baz, just went and reread your reply and saw you did mention that the STC's and the STT's are ok, and that the problem only lies with the ST's, I missed that bit before and it looked like just another 'cooper bashing' comment.
I normally read a thread 2 or 3 times before making comment, to make sure I get the full story, but buggered up on that one, again, my apologies.
Avagoodn
Pezza
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Reply By: GeeVee - Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 08:50
Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 08:50
Jules,
Had a V8 Discovery when I did the Cape and the Kimberleys, ran BFG A/Ts and did not get a single puncture. I have had good sevice out of the BFG's on a couple of vehicles. Fellow traveller had the original Michelins on his Discovery and destroyed a tyre out of
Laura. He replaced it at
Weipa, tyre had to be flown up from
Cairns. Replacement tyre, freight and labour cost about $550 at the time. My experience with tyres and Discos.
Regards,
Greg
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Reply By: Eric from Cape York Connections - Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 16:16
Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 16:16
Jules to date we have had every brand of tyre known to man away with us.
And never realy had any trouble with any one brand and type.
If you have only 20% wear now by the time you go away next year it coild be a heap more.
So if your happy with there all round perfofmance get the same again.
If I was to reccomend a tyre pattern I would say an AT type.
As for brand there are many to chose from and thats another story.
At the moment copers are all the go.
A few years ago it was BFG.
All the best
Eric
Take it easy and keep it open.
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Reply By: Crackles - Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 22:53
Monday, Oct 10, 2005 at 22:53
Jules. The XPC tyres will do fine. The key feature to avoid flat tyres on a trip like the Cape is better than 50% tread. Unless you are going off season or into remote spots that you probably shouldn't then mud tyres are pretty much unnecesary. In reality if you put all the hard driving end to end the Cape has got less than 2 KM of 4x4ing to get to the top,(beaches excluded) the rest is just a long rough track. Most flat tyres up there would be a result of too much speed & weight rather than tyre type.
Cheers Craig.
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