Standard tyres on 2010 GU Nissan Patrol. Dangerous!

Thank you for your feedback.

The road conditions creating the dangerous handling characteristics of the Nissan Patrol occur when the road surface is wet but not enough rain has fallen to wash away the oil, grease etc. Obviously any tyre will struggle to maintain grip under these circumstances. However, the Patrol feels like it is on a skid pan in these conditions. Is this a normal habit for 4wd vehicles in these road conditions? As mentioned, I frequent the Snowy Mountains area and have experiece driving in snow with snow chains and driving up and down Talbingo Mountain with black ice on the bends. Even in these conditions, the Patrol feels OK As for driving style/experience, I have over 30 years experience as a professional driver and instructor of heavy rigid and articulated vehicles.

Cheers,

Drummy

I run a 1998 Range Rover with constant 4WD and Bridgestone Duelers. I have absolutely no trouble with the tyres. Brought then in Derby after the GRR, have travelled back to Victoria on them and since been to Birdsville and Longreach towing a camper trailer. No trouble at all, perhaps it might be a Nissan fault.

Lyn,

The tyres are Bridgestone Dueller A/T 693.

Cheers,

Drummy.

I am sure the factory pressure are misleading. Being from the tyre industry, I would never suggest to run any factory recommended tyre pressure. Yes it gives you a great ride inside the car, but for 1, it is no good for the longevity of your tyres. Please could I suggest 38psi day to day driving, and up or down depending on your circumstances.
Cheers Chris

Thank you for your feedback,

I can inform you that at 50-55psi, the Patrol felt like it had no suspension and the steering wheel wanted to snap my arms off! These tyre pressures were present when I took delivery of the vehicle from the Nissan dealership. I then adjusted pressures to 29psi front and 32psi rear as displayed on the glovebox notice. Airchair ride on the road but the steering was extremely vague. 38psi is OK in most road conditions. However, I am talking about wet road conditions but not enough rain to wash away the oil, grime etc. Then the handling becomes dangerous, similar to driing on a skid pan. Is this normal behaviour for a 4wd vehicle? Yes, this is my first 4wd, however, I have 30 years experience as a professional driver and instructor of heavy rigid and articulated motor vehicles. I have also completed an extensive 4wd driver training course and have experience driving in snow on the Snowy Mountains Highway and 'black ice' on Talbingo Mountain, NSW. BTW, I still love my Troll!

Hi all,

I'm a little surprised that this particular phenomenon has only reared its ugly head with this specific tyre and this single vehicle under the conditions mentioned.

After 30 years of driving heavy vehicles and training other drivers, I'd have thought the OP might have come across it much sooner!

Fundamentally, this is the same issue that SAPOL, at least, has been warning drivers in this state about for decades, every time there has been a dry spell followed by light rain.

If it rains lightly when there is dust, and rubber, and oil, and diesel on the road, ANY vehicle and tyre combination is going to have problems. I'm certainly not proud of the fact, but many years ago, I was driving a car that was written off as a result of a crash when faced with diesel fuel on a road that had become slightly damp. And I didn't think I was driving stupidly. That incident, however, did give me whole new perspective on "driving to the conditions"!

If you'd ever driven in Whyalla in older times in ANY vehicle, on ANY tyres, when it had rained after the entire city had been blanketed in red iron ore dust, you'd know exactly what I'm talking about. Let me give you a strong tip - ice would be far easier to drive on! Drivers there learned the hard way to treat those circumstances with EXTREME caution.

Similarly, if you've just bought new tyres and haven't had enough time to remove, from the tread, the release agent they use in the manufacturing process, you can run into the same problem. Motorcycle enduro and road-trial riders are well aware of that and make sure they remove the release agent by abrasion (or ride them on dirt for quite a few k's) before hitting the bitumen.

Personally, faced with the same issue, I think I'd adjust my driving, rather than suggest a pretty reasonable tyre manufacturer has provided an unsafe tyre - unless, of course, independent testing has demonstrated that it has done so. :-)

Regards,


Charlie

Good morning Charlie,

I enjoyed reading your contribution. Most informative and great example of driving conditions requiring extreme caution. I realise now that considerably more adjustment of my driving style is required in a 4wd vehicle on wet sealed road conditionsfollowing a dry spell. And yes, I do find ice easier to drive on!

Cheers,

Drummy

"Bridgestone HT's that are original fitment are dangerous"

Wiko

In what way do you find them dangerous? I have a set of them as well as another set of off road mud/rock tyres in standard size. I have used them everywhere from all over Sydney to the Oodnadatta Track and a few other places where that type of tyre should not be used and have never had a problem with them. They have always been on factory pressures.

Hi Splits,

The hilux isn't the most powerful unit yet when I picked it up new I struggled not to have the thing sideways on tar especially in the wet (They may be OK on dirt). The HT (as fitted) isn't wide enough nor is the diameter large enough. I fitted Larger and wider tyres (and rims) in the AT style and haven't had the same issue.

Cheers Wilko

Wilko

I don't know why mine is different. It is a 03 single cab with an alloy tray. There is not much weight on the rear when empty but it does not slide around.

The worst trip I have ever done in it was an overnight trip from Sydney to Parkes a couple of years ago in heavy rain through the mountains. The car was empty so I used the factory HT pressures of 25 front and 32 rear. I had no problems at all.

When loaded with its usual camping load it is 25 front and 39 rear. Maximum rear fully loaded for HTs is 44. I use 33 rear for the off road 205R16 LTs for the same load and 25 front.

I can't see any reason to change them. The car handles well, the wear is even and both sets are going to die of old age before I wear them out.