Tyres for Outback Travel

AndyMort

I can only disagree with you about BFG ATs. I have done a lot of outback travel and on some of those tracks you mention and not one tyre with any damage whatsoever. My last set were replaced at 95,000 kms with probably 3/4 of the travel on lesser tracks/roads.

I have seen and heard of Coopers chipping on a regular basis.

A friend who did the same with, the heavily advertised, Coopers had to not only replace tyres but also has changed to BFG MTs. His tyres did not reach the 90,000km mark. Most of the tyre cases on the roadside include numerous Coopers.

My preference is obviously BFG ATs and to air and speed down as required.

DW

Can't comment on other tyres, however I can recommend Bridgestone 694's, I've had two sets which have done general off road work around the South East and a trip to the cape with no punctures. Both sets were the Light Truck construction.

Regards

I think the key to all of this is the Light Truck tyre specification, whatever brand you choose.

Hi Andy

Buying tyres is like Nissan v Toyota, Engel v Waeco etc.

When receiving advice keep in mind
Was the vehicle towing?
How much weight was being carried?
How much off road v on road?
How long was the trip/s?
Were tyre pressures reduced and monitored?

You’ll get people say I reckon X are great I got 80,000 kms out of them; when you question them it’s a daily driver mostly on bitumen with two trips a year down the coast.

If you’re a series off roader and do extended desert/high-country trips that require real off road tyres make sure that’s the advice you take on board.

I fit into that category. I’ve been doing extreme off roading for 15 plus years now and do about 80-100 days a year 4Wdriving mostly in the Western Deserts of WA. Mush of the travel is off road, with washed out, rock areas, jump ups, cross country, dunes etc.

I have used BFGs and gotten around 60,000-70,000 out of them but most of the time I’ve damaged them beyond repair before then. Yes they have chipped a bit but not blocks like the Coopers.

I have been very disappointed in Coopers because of chipping, loss of blocks of rubber and delaminating etc. I’ve lost confidence in Coopers.

On my currently vehicle a 100 series I have two sets of off road rubber, BFG and Wrangler Kevlar MTRs.

I am finding I am getting better mileage out of the BFGs (as I have experienced previously) than I am out of the Wrangler Kevlar MTRS.
Although a much softer compound and I will be lucky to get 40,000 kms out of a set of Wrangler MTRs; I have found however that the MTRs are almost puncture proof and give great floatation when tyre pressures are reduced.

I therefore only run my MTRs when doing a really serious off-road trip with lots of cross country stake infested country and use my BFGs for less arduous desert trips. I don’t tow and I’m usually heavily laden, I also run a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Presumably you’re only after one set of tyres and from the country you’ve described the BFGs are what I would buy if I was driving that country.
I hope this helps, PM me if you wish to ask more in depth.

Cheers

Have been running BFG's on a camper trailer, 2 fourbies and now our 'offroad' van, collectively over 12 years - yet to have a flat, and they have taken us along plenty of ordinary gravel roads and tracks (but I'm not a bush-basher :-o). I still put our happy tyre run down to very conservative and alert driving, plus airing up and down as often as indicated by terrain. Just to be a devil, I've got Cooper ST's on the tug at present (saved a few hundred in the Alice last year - they are still happy, but have had an easy run to date - they have virtually the same specs as the BFG's). The last time I looked, Coopers promoted the STT's as having the greatest resistance to chipping and other rough going damage, but they acknowledge that this is at significant cost to service life. Re the Cooper Mileage "Warranty" - just what value anyone could see in that has me baffled :-o).

Andy,

Our approach is different from most people's.

Hoping to get high lifespan out of any tyre on remote tracks is unjustified optimism!

When in Birdsville a few months back we went to the local garbage tip to dispose of some rubbish. The pile of spent tyres there is pretty impressive. Had a good look, but didn't see any bald ones. Lots of expensive ones with virtually 100% tread left. Pity about the big stake-holes in the sidewalls. On the sort of tracks you're talking about it isn't km that determine tyre life.

We've done a lot of km on cheap tyres, and for remote travel have now standardised on Maxxis Bravos. They perform well but cost a fraction of the price of the big expensive names, so it hurts less if you do put a gidgee root through a sidewall.

I think a key factor in tyre preservation on these tracks is reduced tyre pressure and obviously reduced speed. On the CSR , in the Simpson and the like we run at about half bitumen pressure. Be aware though that reducing tyre pressure dramatically reduces the tyre's load handling capacity. For a comprehensive coverage see member Rob D's blog here.

Cheers

John

I've always been happy with BFGs.

I think the crucial physics is how hard the rubber hits the rocks... so much of the wear is down to driving technique and tyre pressure.

Tyre technology seems to pretty much up to date with most brands.

Hullo AndyMort

You might like to have a look at Mike O's blog re Toyo Open Country MTs.

I have a set of both Bridgestone 694LTs and Toyo Open Country MTs, and use one or the other depending on conditions. So far, good run out of both.

I had Toyo 4x4 tyres on my last 4WD and when I gave it to my daughter/son-in-law, they had done 80 000 kms and still had another 20 000+ left in them.

The Federal M+S on the CT are OK, just wearing a bit quickly, especially as they do not have a traction role.

Cheers
Andrew

Your original question should be more along the lines of " what tyres do the locals use around the areas I'm planning to travel ?" ,,,, Once a year outback trips mean zip to tyre life , phone up tyre resellers in places in places like Longreach Qld or Katherine in the NT ,Kunnanurra ect and ask the Question on what locals use ,, not the once a year tourist ,,,,

I've had a run out of both BFG, Cooper ST's, Dick Cepeks and a couple of the cheapies over the years. I've had no real issues with the Cooper even after a 46,000 km trip in, around and over Oz towing a camper trailer. They all have issues if they are not driven to the conditions. They will all fail if overloaded and they all have sidewalls that make them a consumable when you're out in the rough.

If you're going to be carrying heavy loads in rough conditions and/or need heavy duty sidewalls for some less than pedestrian outback travel, then I'd have a look at the Toyo Open Country MT's.

Micks Toyo Review

If it's average outback travel with a few of the iconic outback tracks here and there, They are all much of a muchness and I echo Phil B and John and Vals comments about driving to the conditions and adjusting your tyre pressures accordingly.

Cheers

Mick

Hi Mate,
Lived in forsayth in outback far north Qld and did 50,000km per year mail run on all dirt roads for 5 years. Not one flat. Lived in Kununurra for 3 years, did most of the gibb etc. Not one flat. Crossed the Simpson and the Anne Beadell hwy last year. Not one flat. Googs track and Gawler ranges last year. Not One flat. Cape York a few years ago. Not one flat.
In fact have only had one flat in 15 years and that was a 3 inch Teck Screw in the middle of town on the bitumen.
Moral to the story.
BFG Mud Terrains with pressure NEVER over 30 PSI regardless of the loads.
Works for me.

The tyre discussion is never ending. I drive a landcrusier cab chassis with a slide on on the back. Total Weight 3300kgs and run Wrangler Sient armour AT tyres. Generally -32 psi highway and 26 psi on dirt roads and16 pson very sandy envronments. So far 55k travelled and still 50% tread left. Most driving is on outback roads like Simpson, Strezlecki, Birdsville, Oodnaatta both in dry and very muddy conditions.
My mates on these trips have driven land crusise wagons with similar total weights but with higher tyre pressures, using Cooper AT then changed to Cooper STT ( lost lot of blocks with both types of Coopers) and even one has Mickey Thompson Mud tyres. None of them are happy with their tyres.
This not a plug for Wrangers but I think that Speed, tyre pressure, weight for the road conditions is important.
With my previous vehicle a Subaru foester MY06 (standard set up) I used Cooper Highway tyres and covered the Mereenie loop, Tanami trek, Kimberleys Top End ad Gulf areas with a light load and had no issues. Got 68k from the tyres.
Still have the Subaru as a town vehicle.

Andy,

Like you. I found BFG AT's to chip readily, but don't think I ever had a flat, over 10 years, and maybe 200K. Also would have been delighted to get over 40K too, but usually replaced them at about 35-38K.

Ran these tyres at 32 all round, unless loaded up, taking kids back to school, when would bump up rear pressure to 36. I put the poor wear down to gravel roads, high speeds(well, 100-110 on gravel) and most of bitumen running, being through the hotter months.

Last year, bought a set of these GT Radial Adventura M/T's, and over 5-6K, have found them to be very good, with no chipping or accelerated wear. They've been down the Birdsville Track to Lake Eyre and back, then across the Plenty to Yulara, and back up the Sandover to Camooweal, then down the bitumen to Winton.

Don't know how strong they are, or how long they'll last, but will do me for time being.

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Bob.