Tyre combos for tar and expedition

Submitted: Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 19:59

ThreadID: 5486 Views:2396 Replies:4 FollowUps:3

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enzo

Hi folks

Have nearly made my mind up about a tyre combo: Going for tubeless BFG AT's on 15" alloy rims for tar & mucking about offoad in the UK; and then I am going to fit Michelin XZL's on the 16" splits for my expedition. Any comments on this combo?
Cheers,
Enzo - Bundubasher

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Reply By: Member - Bob - Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 20:16

Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 20:16

Enzo,what sort of vehicle is it and to where are you expeditioning? If you go off road in the UK wouldn't you be in someone's front garden? ;-)

AnswerID: 22693

Follow Up By: enzo - Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 20:33

Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 20:33

Cheeky b@stard!!! But you are right - I usually do end up in someone's front garden!

The vehicle is a 3.0L TD Toyota 4Runner and the destination is Africa.

Enzo - Bundubasher

FollowupID: 14985

Reply By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 20:46

Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 20:46

Enzo,
As mentioned in the other reply where are you going expeditioning to? Unless you are going somewhere really special the BFG A/T's will do you for the lot in the UK anyway. If you are looking to cross over into Europe via the pipe to France a bit different. Tyre selection is very much a personal thing, everbody has an opinion, and this is what I can let you know from my experience. I can't see your reasoning that you would be better with Michelin tyres than BFG's, I'm not familiar with the XZL pattern I don't know how aggressive a pattern this is or is it a bitumen tyre. I would leave the BFG's on and spend the money you were going to spend on the other combination to buy a sixth wheel, seventh for the smarties out there including the steering wheel. The BFG is a good tyre, I've done many puncture free k's in and around Australia on them over many different terrains, weekend work and touring on the bitumen, sand etc etc, you could do a lot worse.... Keep the shiny side up

AnswerID: 22700

Follow Up By: enzo - Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 22:49

Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 22:49

I want to do a raid on Morocco and then a full on trans-africa nxt year (or so). The XZLs are tough "truck tyres" not aggressive but long lasting and relatively puncture proof. I've heard of Landies doing the 30,000 km trans african and not having one puncture. Also they are tubed - the BFG ATs aren't. They may not be much in it as BFG is actually a subsiduary of Michelin - although cheaper.

Actually I was looking for people who had big time off tar / track experience and the Ozzie outback is a fair comparison to Saharan and sub saharan Africa. Anyroad , ATs suck in the mud, Zaire & Congo, so I wanted the BFG for looks and road holding in the UK and the XZLs for sheer lonevity and strength overland.

FollowupID: 14997

Follow Up By: Member - Willem- Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 at 11:25

Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 at 11:25

Hi Enzo,

The only terrain comparable between Africa and Australia may be when one dives through the Kimberley Region in the far north of Western Australia and in Central Australia. Our deserts are covered in spinifex grasses with some isolated clear dune areas. In Central Australia offroad driving is very harsh with lots of plant growth to avoid. Africa on the other hand has dangers like the Camelthorn Tree and other thorny acacias which make mince meat of tyres. Australians wouldn't know what a 10cm thorn looks like. Whilst South Africa and North Africa have developed road infrastructure the rest of Africa leaves a lot to be desired for and therefor you need strong tyres for your intended trip.
My Africa experience equates only to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Congo, Zimbabwe. From what I have seen of other TV images of the rest of Africa the roads/tracks are not in good repair. I have seen quite a bit of Australia and the places where I experienced the most punctures were the Kimberley and northern areas of South Australia( lots of shale rocks and gibber plains). Many years ago we did a North/South crossing of the Simpson Desert in a Suzuki which had tubeless BFG Mud Terrain Tyres. Did not stake a tyre. Just lucky, I guess. If I can be of any other assistance with your trip planning please contact me by email via my website www.kempen.id.au

FollowupID: 15017

Reply By: enzo - Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 at 19:42

Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003 at 19:42

Strong tyres - that's what I am looking for a recommendation on. I want the right tyre for the job, whether it's tubed or tubeless is secondary.

AnswerID: 22805

Reply By: stevesub - Wednesday, Jun 18, 2003 at 09:06

Wednesday, Jun 18, 2003 at 09:06

Stayed at a Game park in the Krugar National Park in South Africa last year and they used 14ply tyres on their Landrovers and still had puncture problems. The tyres looked like they were made of solid rubber compared with what is commonly used in Australia yet they still had puncture problems.

Get the most puncture resistant tyre that you can get is my advice for Africa.

AnswerID: 22851