Kelly Safari TSR Tyres

Submitted: Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 16:47
ThreadID: 95267 Views:9270 Replies:12 FollowUps:7
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Planning to do the Simpson again in July. Only catch is I need a new set of tyres before I go.

Currently I am running a set of Cooper STTs (265/75/16) which have served me well given the belting I have given them. They have only done 40000kms however that has included 2 outback trips and some work in the high country. In that time I have had no punctures and they have provided plenty of off road grip.

As a tyre I have been very happy with them. Sadly Cooper have raised their prices since I last bought them 2 years ago (given fall in Aust Dollar won't have thought they would have needed to) and at now $400 per tyre I don't think they are worth it. In my opinion they are a good tyre, but I wouldn't say a great tyre. Not $400 worth.

So taking an open mind I am looking at other options. So far have found the following options
1) Mickey Thomson MTZ's $350 per tyre (tempting)
2) BFG Km2 $397 per tyre (effectively same as Cooper. How do they compare for Quality and wear rate??)
2) Kelly Safari TSR's $350 per tyre.

All above are Load/speed rated 123Q, All are 10 ply. All have solid side wall protection.

Given the Kellys and Mickeys are $200 less for a set, must admit I'm leaning that way. Heard plenty of reports about Mickey's, but does anyone have first hand experience with the Kelly's?

Now I know people can get emotional about tyres (not sure why), but lets keep it factual and not personal.

I don't mind spending on quality. Just looking for the best bang for my buck.

Thanks for any advice.

Geoff

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Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 17:10

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 17:10
Geoff,

I am on my second set of Mickey's and the first set gave me around 75000kms trouble free motoring.

I will go for them again for my third set.
AnswerID: 484646

Follow Up By: 2000 Red Rodeo - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 17:33

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 17:33
Thanks for the reply.

Are they MTZ's or all terrains?

My brother has MTZ's which he is very impressed with as well. However he will only get about 60000kms at best with the way they are tracking. But to be honest that is very good for mud tyres anyway.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 759901

Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 19:05

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 19:05
MTZ's all the way mate. I don't run 2 set of tyres like some for off-road and some for highway/city they are my only tyres.
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FollowupID: 759908

Reply By: breaka - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 17:46

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 17:46
MTZ,s great tyre
AnswerID: 484650

Reply By: Member - Andrew L (QLD) - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 19:12

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 19:12
Geoff, where do you get the ...factual...info that the tyres nominated are 10 ply..?
AnswerID: 484659

Follow Up By: Member - Krakka - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 19:23

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 19:23
Hi Andrew, you will find that info on each of the manufacturers web site.

Load rating E = 10 ply rating
Load rating 123 = 10 ply rating

Hope that helps.
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FollowupID: 759909

Reply By: Rockape - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 19:39

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 19:39
Geoff,
I have had 2 sets of Coopers.The ST's did me well. It is a pity that the second set had many K's on them but they had a heap of tread left. Well they started to fail big time. They lost lugs on what I would call a moderate gravel road and started falling apart at about 60000 K plus.

What caused that I don't know but I was not willing to buy them again.

Mickey Thompson tyres are made by Cooper.

RA.
AnswerID: 484661

Follow Up By: 2000 Red Rodeo - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 22:49

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 22:49
I have had a pretty good run with Coopers, but I know others haven't. Other than the price, I'm keen to give another tyre a go if only for the point of having something to compare.

Part of leaning toward the Kelly's instead of the Mickey's is the fact that the Mickeys are made in the same factory.

Thanks for your thoughts
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FollowupID: 759946

Reply By: Shaker - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 20:39

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 20:39
Our local Tyrepower have been fitting Kelly TSRs to the mine vehicles here & getting excellent results.
On the basis of that I have just purchased 8 for the vehicle & camper.

AnswerID: 484666

Follow Up By: 2000 Red Rodeo - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 23:03

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 23:03
I was speaking to Tyrepower today and got a similar story. Some contractors who do most of their driving in the high country have switched to the Kelly's with good results. Less issues with tyre damage.

I bought my current STT's from these guys 2 years ago. They still have the Coopers in stock but the impression I got was that their preference was to sell the Kelly's as they get less hassles with tyre faults.

A few of the tyre stores I have spoken to are quite sore about Coopers pricing. These guys get the flack from the customers when they get asked about pricing It does appear Cooper are believing their own advertising too much and priced themselves out of the market.

Your comments about the mining industry are telling. What they put their cars through says a lot about their tyres.

Thanks for your input

Cheers
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FollowupID: 759949

Follow Up By: Shaker - Tuesday, May 01, 2012 at 10:08

Tuesday, May 01, 2012 at 10:08
Wonder why the strong $AUD hasn't affected Cooper's pricing??

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FollowupID: 759968

Reply By: Tim Owen - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 20:43

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 20:43
I have the Kelly safari TSRs on my 130 Defender 235/85R16, can confirm 10 ply inc 3 ply sidewall. They were $265 a tyre a year ago at tyre power. I've just decided to put Federal Carougia AT on as spares - exact same spec (10 ply, 3 ply sidewall) and only $210 a tyre - purely motivated by price, no complaints with the Kelly's

Only 15,000kms so far on the Kelly's but no problems. My only other experience is with Goodyear wrangler mt's, and the Kelly's seem to be lasting much better IMO.

There appear very few real life reports on Kelly's - not sure you can read too much into this.
AnswerID: 484667

Reply By: Member - Jason B (NSW) - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 21:14

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 21:14
Geoff


Give me a ring mate I may be able to help you out witha decision.

0408 860 360.

Regards


Jas
AnswerID: 484670

Reply By: 120scruiser (NSW) - Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 21:43

Monday, Apr 30, 2012 at 21:43
Have you considered the Toyo MT?
I was quoted $350 a tyre for 265/75x16.
The tyre dealer stated to me that he sells them to a couple of tuff truck competitors and they cant kill them.
My MTR's are just about done and I am considering them but haven't made up my mind yet.
Scott
AnswerID: 484671

Follow Up By: Member - 2000 Red Rodeo - Thursday, May 03, 2012 at 20:19

Thursday, May 03, 2012 at 20:19
I went and had a chat to my local Tyrepower today.

I had a look at the Toyo MT and was amazed at the thickness of the side wall. Much thicker than all the other options I had been considering. They also had them on special at the moment for $355 per tyre.

Picking them up tomorrow.

Thanks for the tip

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Reply By: Gossy - Tuesday, May 01, 2012 at 12:16

Tuesday, May 01, 2012 at 12:16
I just changed to Kelly's for exactly the same reason. I've had coopers for years and been very happy with them. The last set of ST-C's had done about 70,000km's. Started to peel and chip but to be honest with the hammering I had given them (90% of the km's was off road) I would have gone them again.

I changed because I'm doing a 10,000km round trip in Aug. Tyres had seen better days (half tread gone but most important they were nearing 8yrs old). I had organised to meet a Cooper rep and we discussed my tyres. He would not budge on his price even though i was leaning up against the Kelly and put him on the spot "match this price and I'll buy your tyre". He wouldn't budge so with a handshake I looked at the tyre guy and said "5 of these thanks mate".

I've only had them for a few weeks so I haven't been off road. Their aggressive 4 rib AT tread was very attractive to me with the type of driving I do compared to the new AT tyre from Coopers.

I think I got them for a better price than your quoted $350 (maybe low $300's) so worth shopping around a bit more I reckon. I saved about $100 per tyre. This was my argument to the Cooper guy " prove to me your tyres are worth me spending an extra $500 today". He couldn't.

Either way you can't lose. All the tyres you have mentioned are good but price does need to come into it also. Over priced products in any industry need to prove their worth or they will risk losing market share.
AnswerID: 484704

Reply By: olcoolone - Tuesday, May 01, 2012 at 13:32

Tuesday, May 01, 2012 at 13:32
We have used Cooper ST/C's and Toyo Open Country M'T's, currently have Mikey Thompson MTZ fitted.

The Coopers we destroyed within about 2000K due to stacks in the side walls when running low pressure <20psi in the deserts and found them to weak for our use.

The Toyo's... what can I say.... the best you can get but you pay a price, very quiet, handled well in the wet and was fantastic off road.... the down side is you have to run lower pressure then you are use to.

The Mickey Thompson MTZ..... worst tyre I have used, noisy on the road, has a lot of rolling resistance and have torn chunks of in real rocky ground..... read a long term report in one of the 4x4 mags where the jurno was paising them and saying they are the quietest M/T tyres he have ever used...... obviously never tried the Toyo's.

Have a look at MickO's post regarding the Toyo's, Toyo's are very under rated here in Australia but do a search on the USA forums and Toyo will come out on top against everything else..... people rave about them.
AnswerID: 484710

Reply By: Bazooka - Tuesday, May 01, 2012 at 17:51

Tuesday, May 01, 2012 at 17:51
This may be of some use.

Tire Rack
AnswerID: 484727

Reply By: 120scruiser (NSW) - Friday, May 04, 2012 at 01:48

Friday, May 04, 2012 at 01:48
I was going to go with the Bridgestone D694 AT tyre but I think the Toyo MT might be the go.
Alot of great feedback and not one bad reply.
Scott
AnswerID: 484931

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