Bridgestone D694

Bloody Hell Fred,

I don't know why you didn't buy one of each and give us an acurate report regarding them all in 12 months time LOL ;-) It'd solve the Exploroz tyre debate in one swift blow Ha Ha.

How did you go with the Rema Tip Top stuff?

Cheers Mick

Go to the Bridgestone web site.
It depends on whether they are P or LT, what weight the vehicle will be at, probably what speed and whether it is sealed or unsealed.
I found that outback tyre repair stores recommend lower pressures again, but they assume you are not running at highway speeds.


http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/passenger/care/facts.aspx

Hi Fred
Toyota dealers always put 40 psi on any tyres that are on a 4x4 at any service obviously can't read the plaque on the door.
You wonder if they also read the manuals for any required.
The specs are 28 and 32 psi for 265s I run 34 on the front and 36 on the rear as most of the time I am towing a 18ft 6ins caravan.
The comfort is much better than shaking your teeth out on 40 psi.
Regards
Ted

I am running 45psi. Less heat from flexing and less exposure of the walls. Maybe not as comfortable but on bitumen around town you would not notice. Less flexing means less rolling friction too. Only drawback is less braking efficiency. You might think that critical but the way I drive you would not think I need any help avoiding a prang.

I am convinced at last that changing the wheels front to rear adds a lot of life.

If you do not get the alignment done when you get new tyres make sure you tamper proof the adjustment threads and find a tyre man who does not mind you watching.

Owen

By the way Fred B (NT) i like your choice of Tyre. Thats what i will be shoeing the horse with when i wear out the Banglops. (Thats the name we gave them when carting logs)
DUKE

I've got 694s and the dealer who fitted them last month pumped them up to 40 psi - cold. After running them for a while the heat build up in the tyre will take this up to about 42 which I consider ideal for my NP Pajero with no load. I ran the last lot at about 40-41 and got some very even tread wear for 60k. At the moment the sidewalls look in very good shape but I know that once I let the pressures down to half of that, there will be a bit of a sidewall bulge but that's OK.

Criteria: Fully loaded to GVM (if you promise not to tell anyone, I can tell you my GU Patrol is over GVM). Test bed: 20,000 km of rough track /dirt, every season, incorporating about 33 % bitumen to get "there"

Scenario + pressures I run:

Bitumen at 100 kph - 45psi

fast well maintained dirt roads at speeds of up to 100 kph - 28 psi

Poor dirt roads up to 80 kph - 22 to 28 psi

sand roads - e .g. desert tracks & corrugations, up to 60 to 70 kph - 20 psi

beach sand - 18 psi

deep loose beach or creek bed or desert sand - 12 to 15 psi.

Hope this helps.
Cheers.

Fred,

It doesn't matter what brand of tyre you have on your vehicle.

Start with the Manufacturer's recommended pressure and add a couple of psi.
Drive the vehicle for a few kilometres to warm the tyres up, then check the pressure again.
Using the 4 psi rule, if the tyre pressure has increased by more than 4 psi, the tyres are running too hot and therefore increase the pressure by a couple of psi and repeat the process.
If the pressures haven't increased at all, the tyres are running too cold and you should reduce the pressure a bit until the pressure when the tyres are hot are about 4 psi higher than when cold.

45,000 kilometres from a set of tyres is not very good at all.

I have run both D694's and D693's and returned about 70,000 k's before they needed replacing. I prefer the more aggressive pattern on the 693's but they seem to be getting harder to source, depending on your size requirements.

My Colorado came with factory fitted D693's made in Thailand and I am interested in how they last, compared with the Japanese produced 693's, or the Australian produced 694's in my size of 245/70/R16.

Bill.

I have the D694 LT on my 75 series and have about 45 psi all round

Hi Fred
I have had the same tyres now for a couple of years and very happy with them.
I ruined on my last trip with well over 3/4 of tyre life left, and I was not happy. That's the only problem when you go to out of the way places. I have just replaced the damaged one with two new D694LT and will see how they compare. I was running 28 front and 30 rear. I have checked the book when they gave me the new tyres and they had a recommended pressure of 34 front and rear.

The Dunlops that were standard on my Prado were shot by 40,000 kms. The best thing that I have been very happy with the Bridgestone is that they have not chipped at all, and I can tell you that they have seen some very rocky tracks in their travels. On the dirt I run 24psi front and 26 psi rear. In the real corrugated stuff, I was running 22 and 24 with no problems.


Cheers


Stephen

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Thanks everyone.
Looks like I'll run them at 40psi for a few days and take the "anal" thermometer with me and check the tyre temp and pressure every 10 km... Just kidding.... lol..!

Seriously, will keep an eye on them and see how they go. Will leave them at 40psi for now. Won't be going bush or tracks soon, so won't get the chance to drop pressures and check them out at that level for a little while.
all the best

i was under the impression with the 4 psi rule you checked the psi change after driving about 100kms. maybe that is wrong or too long i am not sure, but it worked out ok on my van and prado too.

i run my prado on 40 and have over 70000 on them. i am coming up for a new set soon and was thinking of changing over to the bridgestone d694lt. what sort of price did you get them for?

also i remember a guy a few years back who worked at eastern creek raceway telling me to run on 40 for increased tyre life and better braking too. the ride can be harsher, as noted by my brother who runs his at 35 and he always gets less mileage out of his. he reckons the comfort is worth it - i just cant afford the extra $. i think i need to borrow his money tree :))

Judging from the size they are on a 120 Prado?

Having been using these tyres for several years now our recommended pressures are

Bitumen and under normal driving conditions 34
Dirt 26
Bitumen and loaded. We run at 2900kg for tours, 36 front and 38 rears
Dirt fully loaded, add 2 to the rears and monitor
Sand 16

Regards

RobA

Tyre pressure is a variable similar to weight, weight distribution and tyre construction. The 4psi rule is a good guide but fiddly.

Contact patch method is instant and the best. Check Jol Flemings site for details. Tyre Pressures

OT

I will be putting the d694LT on at the end of this month.
My current tyres have been running at 40psi for the last 5 years and have no uneven wear, they are the Kumho roadventure 275-70r16. I have not been using the tug on long trips with these tyres, mainly just local south east QLD and down to sydney and on fraser island. worked well, but now at 8 years of age and with only 3mm of thread left it is time to replace for the big round the block trip. these tyres have now done about 70000km and no punctures!!!

I will try the pressure at about 38psi with the new tyre. see how the shape looks and how it feels. with a full load and a caravan I probably pump it to 40 again. Normal highway speed for me is around 85 to 90 km/hr(take all that into consideration when setting the pressure)
down to 28 on corrugated dirt road and reduced speed..