Tyres

Actually both the 693 and 694 were made in both Japan and Australia. The Japanese tyres were always softer and would wear quicker. The Aussie ones were always the best to get and were in the most common sizes. The 693s that come out standard on cars(including my BT50), are only passenger construction and are also made in Japan(they all are now). The Coopers you speak of would have been LTs. If you could get your hands on some Aussie made LT693s or LT694s i guarantee you they will go the distance.

The big question now is, will the Bridgestones Japanese factory up there specs to make the tyres to the same quality as the Aussie made ones. I will be due for new tyres in about a year so will be keeping my eyes and ears open for feedback. I have been very happy with the 693s and 694s and so has alot of other people i know. Actually all my mates and mates mates run Duelers. Our regular haunts include parts of the Gibb Road, Karunjie track, Cape Leveque etc. So there put to the test.

Muntoo,

That may explain why I had issues with a set of D694's I put on the TD100 when I bought it back in 2005 when I couldn't get BFG A/T's. I specified LT but the D694's I ended up with weren't designated LT anywhere on the tyre so may have been the Japanese ones. I only got 30,000KM out of them and had quite a few punctures and sidewall damage. They were run at the correct pressures for different conditions.

I understood that the Aussie factory did not make LT 694s, they only made passenger ones.

I have had both passenger Cooper ATRs and 694s AT (in both LT and passenger) on my Pajeros. The Coopers I got ca 55000km against 55-60000 from my Aussie passenger 694 ATs. Therefore I didn't think the Coopers were worth extra $s, nothing discernible in the way of punctures. I would do 7-10 000km on dirt, balance bitumen. I got 52000km out of the Japanese HT 694s that came with my present vehicle 3 years ago.

I am about to replace my first set of LT694s (I have been waiting 5 weeks for some to come in, still no sign of them in NSW), slightly dissapointed with the 50 000km I got out of them, but they did have a harder life this time withy more dirt.

So far for me?
Can't say one will give more kms, comes down to $s and how important the LT construction is for you (towing, weight carried, maybe better puncture resistsance).

member mark
what size tyre are you waiting for i can check stock tommorow and see whats around nsw if you like
cheers