Saturday, May 10, 2003 at 07:04
The problem as I see it, has been started by USA designed "soft roaders"
where the trend appears to be bigger wheels.
In the case of the ML series, the problem is agravated by the fact that from 2002 models onwards, bigger brakes were fitted and you cannot go backwards. Jeep then followed on the Grande Cherokee, and again I believe you cannot go backwards.
Now Toyota have me scratching my head, because unlike the Yanks, they are supposed to spend lots of time here, testing, talking with owners. On our ML270, we really did not have much choice, Pirelli, Grandtrecks, Continental or General. None of these tyres could be clasified as off road tyres, and had stupid prices. In our case as we towed and did not go off road, we were going to use Bridgestone.
The real problem is the various manufacturers, do not talk to the tyre companies, and vice versa. Perhaps I could excuse MB and Jeep, but not Toyota. I have never seen a Toyota 4WD, shod with half decent tyres, off the showroom floor.
A suggestion would be to talk to Coopers in
Brisbane, last time I talked with them, they were only weeks away from landing 17" tyres.
However your options are not good, and I would carefully plan what I would be going to do, for tyre support, if you go ahead with your purchase.
I by the way, would be waiting for the common rail diesel.
regards
Col Tigwell
AnswerID:
19567