Real tyres a bit dodgy in the wet

Submitted: Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 17:57

ThreadID: 63566 Views:3662 Replies:10 FollowUps:13

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Willem

I gave the MRF Super Lugs a run over mostly bitumen,some gravel and some fire trails recently.

And like with all tyres...there is a compromise.

Tyres were good all round except when it was wet (as someone had told me in an earlier post).

I was driving along a winding road in the Dandenongs in cloudy and drizzly conditions sitting on 70 in an 80kph zone. Around a hilly bend and there she was...a LOLLYPOP Lady with a STOP sign. Applied the brakes evenly and felt them all lock on and away we went, aquaplaning on the wet surface to about 10 metres past the STOP sign and close to scene of roll-over. Lady(turned out to be a policewoman) asked if I was OK...lol Yep..heart in mouth but OK. Was very careful after that.

In the Pyrenees we had a sprinkling of rain whilst tackling the Old Bluff Track and the tyres just spun for all they were worth and was faced with a tricky reverse down a steep slope. Next day when it had dried out the tyres performed well getting up Old Bluff

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Cheers

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Reply By: Member - lyndon K (SA) - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:13

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:13

Maybe just a tyre for the desert then?

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AnswerID: 335552

Follow Up By: Willem - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:51

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:51

Yes and bought for that purpose too. Hope it doesn't rain out there though...lol

FollowupID: 603263

Reply By: Member - Footloose - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:21

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:21

Having a couple of thousand K's of Tar to get to anything remotely looking like serious bush travel, I can't go past my compromise MT'S
At least a puncture will stop me, which I think is far preferable to the scenario that you have recounted.
Mind you, hitting the anchors on a 3+ton of 4wd on a wet tar road isn't my idea of fun at any time, with any kind of tyre on.

AnswerID: 335555

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:35

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:35

Now Ain't that the truth!!.. lol.

Cheers Axle.

FollowupID: 603258

Reply By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:21

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:21

That and pressures of 13PSI as well for the last section of Old Bluff wasn't it??

Cheers Kev

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He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.

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AnswerID: 335556

Follow Up By: Willem - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 19:02

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 19:02

Yep

FollowupID: 603267

Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:48

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:48

Hi Willem
Have you thought about getting the Tyres re-grooved, there is
plenty of Meat on them lol lol lol.

Cheers
Daza

AnswerID: 335562

Follow Up By: Willem - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:53

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 18:53

LOL

FollowupID: 603264

Reply By: Member - Paul W (VIC) - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 21:11

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 21:11

Should have yelled out Willem, we live in the Dandenongs! and yep ya gotta watch them lollipop ladys!! hahaha

AnswerID: 335586

Reply By: Member - Axle - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 21:24

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 21:24

G/Day Willem, Mate they were always gunna be a tough son of a bitch bit of rubber!! But forklift drivers don't work in the rain And seldom venture into fire trails.HAHAHAHA.! Seriously!, Glad nothing happened with the lollypop operater, been in that situation..lol.

Cheers Axle

AnswerID: 335591

Follow Up By: Crackles - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 21:37

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 21:37

Now that you mention it Axle that is near identical to the tread pattern on our forklift & probably just as hard a compound too :-)
Cheers Craig..............

FollowupID: 603285

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 21:56

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 21:56

Craig, No Joke those tyres have been all over the place for years . Gallion Graders used them!!...lol.... lol.

Cheers Axle.

FollowupID: 603293

Follow Up By: Willem - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:15

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:15

Yerrrrrr...Axle....lol

They are on there for a mega bush trek next year into the Never Never. Trying to be as puncture proof as possible. Actually they give a reasonable ride until yo8u hit a bump in the road...hahahaha

Cheers

FollowupID: 603299

Reply By: Best Off Road - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:16

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:16

I am frankly shocked that such tyres are still available.

The tread pattern does not allow for water dispersion. They must, by thier design, gather water rather rather than dispersing it. Then each block of tread will be "aquaplaning".

Just the thoughts of a simple bloke.

Jim.

AnswerID: 335604

Follow Up By: Willem - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:23

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:23

You said it Jim......LOL

Cheers

FollowupID: 603301

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:41

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:41

Willem !, Thank god for a bit of humour.LOL.

Now, i'm in trouble for dribble!!...lol.

Cheers Axle.

FollowupID: 603306

Follow Up By: Rock Ape - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 23:25

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 23:25

The tyres are great for exploration in remote areas, they resist side wall puntures and wear well if speed is kept down, down side as Willem has stated is their table manners in wet conditions.

They are ok in the dry and on semi flat ground but when it gets wet or really steep hang on.

FollowupID: 603316

Reply By: Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) - Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:54

Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 22:54

yea I recall having a bit of tyre drama and ended up with one bald MFR on the front to go with a radial.
very interesting stopping on wet bitumen at 100kph when a bit of brake pedal locks up one front wheel and not the other

AnswerID: 335611

Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Nov 17, 2008 at 08:59

Monday, Nov 17, 2008 at 08:59

Davoe

One radial...... one crossply? Very naughty but I suppose if it works in an emergency then whatever it takes to remedy the situation. Though 100kmh in the wet would be classed on the risky side...lol

FollowupID: 603337

Reply By: Member - Barnesy - Monday, Nov 17, 2008 at 00:16

Monday, Nov 17, 2008 at 00:16

Willem, how do they perform in the mud?
What is traction like on loose gravel roads with 'marble like' pebbles on the road?
Are they any good on dirt roads or are they a specialist, slow moving, rough track tyre?

Barnesy

AnswerID: 335621

Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Nov 17, 2008 at 08:55

Monday, Nov 17, 2008 at 08:55

Barnesy

I have only encountered one muddy track with them so far and slid down the hill..............backwards.

Tyres give good grip on gravel and rocky outback roads and a softer ride at 25psi or less as long as you keep your speed down around the 80km mark. Not sure what speed they are rated at. They perform well at 100kmh on bitumen as are reasonable quiet depending on the surface of the road.

Mick Hutton and Connie Sue Beadell or Beadell Tours run MRF Super Miler tyres on their vehicles as they do extensive cross country treks every year and they report good wear and minimal tyre damage.

The Super Lugs are sold as a Highway Tyre. I bought them as the price was right = $155 including a MRF Tube. 10ply tread and 6 ply sidewall. Prices went up after that and they were also being phased out or so the tyre reseller aid. My previous MRF Super Tractions gave me 40,000km and I still have three as trailer tyres.

Of late I have been travelling in very remote country once a year and some of it offtrack and these tyres are virtually puncture proof.

Cheers

FollowupID: 603333