Tyres......again and again and again take 2

That is good news. I think a 13% fuel saving while good news, is possibly a normal variation. It would be good to hear your long term conclusions.

Hi Quentin.
It's difficult choosing tyres because we don't know the result of that choice for quite a long time after our purchase. Particularly when it comes to tyre wear which can take years before we know the answer.
I have used several sets of BF Goodrich AT's over the years and have been very satisfied with them. The BF Goodrich tyres last me for 100,000 ks but as new ones were going to cost me $310 each I decided to try Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S which were only $260 each.
Both brands of tyres are very similar, biased towards road use, similar speed and load rating however the BF G's are 10 ply compared to the Yokohama at 8 ply.
My feeling is that tyre technology would be similar amongst the major players, a bit like comparing holden against falcon. Hence my decision to go for the better price while still using a reputable brand. Like you I am happy so far but only time will tell.
Best regards Cruiser

I think you should be happy with the Wranglers Quentin . I have just clocked up 100 000kms on my first set and have maybe got another 10 000 in the rears left and I travel 60 000 kms a year with a heavy load for work so I have been super impressed with them .I hope you have the same success with yours!!!

Quentin,

Will follow your report with interest. I’ve come off the ST’s to the extreme and pick up the Toyo Open Country MT’s for the ute this weekend. I’ve mounted them on steelies and will keep the standard Toyota tyres and alloy rims for round the town use. I too will be testing them out through Rudall and the Kimberley. Should be in Rudall mid June for two weeks so if you’re about, drop in for a cuppa. Shouldn’t miss us and the quads.

Mick

In my experience, my '02 Frontera came with Goodyear Wranglers as OEM.

Given that they were factory fitted and not store purchased (I am convinced there is a difference) and the fact that my car was built in California, I am willing to forgive Goodyear for my strong bias against them.

My experience with them were flawed from the start. I only got 50,000 km before a serious scare caused me to remove them. They looked as worn as they felt, had as much grip and responsiveness as jelly and were lethal in the rain throughout most of their life.

I replaced them with a reputable french brand and the difference was staggering. These are also due for replacement at only 75,000 km even though they look like they could possibly make 90,000. They are now a bit iffy in the wet weather (only when we travel) and am looking at Bridgestone as the replacements after using them on a number of other cars and 4wd's.

As I said the ones originally fitted to mine may be solely because they were factory spec cheapies from USA, but I just cannot trust them again enough to recommend them (although I am sure the locals are a better tyre, but I don't know where any are actually made)

I am interested in your experience long term with them however.

I don't know how you blokes can get 75,000 out of a set of tyres let alone getting 100,000 out of them.
I wonder if it is a bit journalistic license.
I have never been close to 75,000 & never had someone say to my face that they get anything like that.
I have had BFG ATs, Wranglers, Road Grippers & a few others over the years.
Does anybody else out there find 100,000 out of tyres a bit more than they get?
I do live in NQ & we don't often get cool roads surfaces. I don't know what other environmental effects would reduce tyre life except the terrain surface its self.
My last set of BFGs did about 55,000.