time for tyres....?!

Hello,

Bought a 200tdi 90 in Feb (a pretty abused rough looking one) and have for the past 10 month been making it more presentable - painted it, sorted the interior and engine etc (in my spare time). Now I know its not a complete lemon, I want to splash some cash and get some tyres and wheels for it so.......

What do you reckoln I should get? Its certainly not a commuting vehicle by any means (being a sound engineer, the tinnitus would seriously impair my carer!) Its just a toy for greenlaning, off road activities and festival sites during the summer. I have been looking at BFG MT 235/85/16 and Kumho MT KL71 265/75/16. There is about £100 difference in these tyres from my local 4x4 emporium and they both seem to good but offer different advantages. I know BFG have the reputation and are long lasting, good street manner etc, but have read that the side walls are sometimes vulnerable to gashes that can sometimes be terminal? The kumho look great and are starting to get some great reviews....

Anybody had any good/bad experiences with either of these tyres? Especially the Kumho MT KL71, what are they like, are they a hard compound? or do they ware easy on road (commuting to and from greenlanes etc) pray tell....

Ta

I'm sure the kumhos are ok performance wise but has anyone had some in long term use. They aren't very much cheaper than bfg's and if they only do half the mileage??

They're both good tyres, but why pay that money for a weekend toy, with the risk of damaging them off road long before wearing them out?
Get some Insa Turbo Dakar or Sahara for half the price.

That reminds me, not managed to road test mine yet, took em to college and found the balancer jig wasn't big enough :lol: trew do you want the dollah before crimbo or in jan? :battingmyeyelidsbecausei'mskintforchristmas:

Hmmm.. wise words, confirming things I have been pondering....

I had looked at the insa rage, they are well cheap but remoulds, this doesn't seem to have stopped them getting a good name for themselves. Has anyone ever had an BGF side wall damage? Is it common or just the review I read?

The other thing with the KL71 is they are directional, so buying/carrying a spare would only work for 50% of punctures?

decisions, decision.....

Yes they are remoulds,

Yes they are good,

No they won't shred going down the road..

Theres a difference between remoulds and retreads. Also, how fast are you planning to go on mud pattern tires?

i was about to say buy BFG but trewy has a VERY good point.

what you read is crap. ALL tires are suseptiple to sidewall damage under certain conditions. Predominantly flint from quarry sides or bedrock cuttings on greenlanes in Wales. If you want a bombproof tyre from sidewall damage then buy BFG krawlers. Ive been running BF MT's for about 4 years now and not had a puncture or sidewall damage. BFG are the peoples choice when it comes to driving the length of Africa or around the world. its all about reliability.

my only concern with remoulds would be road handling. I had a set of grizzly claws that were absolute ****e. replaced with BF MTs and it was fine. friend of mine has run insa turbo specials which were all over the place on the road. But this was probably due to them being more agressive tread pattern. From what you have said, i think you should stick to an MT pattern and lke trewy said, If they are only being used offroad maybe go for the cheaper option.

maybe worth looking at these: Land Rover Defender TD5 Tyres and Rims on eBay, also, Wheels with Tyres, Car Wheels, Tyres Trims, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 30-Nov-08 15:36:52 GMT)

G

forgot to say, go for 265/75's if you can to. most common size and usually the cheapest in any range. good fit on a 90 with no lift and wont limit your articulation. KL71's are directional, but if you had to change the spare for a 100miles or more it wont make no odds.

Griff, Trew, Many thanks for your input. Have been looking at the Insa'a and BFG MT's. Will bite the bullet and place order soon - I sound like my f+$%&*g misses fretting about shoes or handbags! I usually man up to situations like this, just want to make the most informed choice I can! I think it will be the BFG MT 265/75/16 feeling pretty flush at the mo and it is nearly Christmas after all!

Thanks again

-Dan

Give Dan a call at 4x4Store Exeter, he's always doing some keen deals on tyres.
I've been running retreads for ages now and have never had a problem with them, as long as you are sensible where speed and temperature are concerned I doubt you will either.
If you wreck one off road they are not so expensive to replace either.
I can recommend Insa Turbo Dakars, they are BFG Mud Terrain copies but under half the price.
I have just put Recip Trial tyres on my latest Disco and after the mud we encountered yesterday I can confirm that they grip like **** to a blanket!
Surprisingly quiet on the road as well.
Here's what they look like:

Mr Elephant,

My on Road speed is usually depicted by what lorry I am driving close behind in the slow lane, trying to kid my self I can dramatically increase my motorway MPG by reducing wind drag!! So i guess thats 56 miles an hour on UK roads...
Comments on Insa taken on board, thanks

-Dan

echo

The Mad Hat Man said:

echo

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Boomer they look proper filthy! Something you wouldn't take home and introduce to your mum....

326Dan said:

Mr Elephant,

My on Road speed is usually depicted by what lorry I am driving close behind in the slow lane, trying to kid my self I can dramatically increase my motorway MPG by reducing wind drag!! So i guess thats 56 miles an hour on UK roads...
Comments on Insa taken on board, thanks

-Dan

Click to expand...

why would ya want t go any faster!

exactly!

326Dan said:

exactly!

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my fedima's are only rated t 66mph so about 55mph is sound in my book!

326Dan said:

Boomer they look proper filthy! Something you wouldn't take home and introduce to your mum....

Click to expand...

Highly recommended they are!

jimbot90 said:

my fedima's are only rated t 66mph so about 55mph is sound in my book!

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Recips are 'Q' rated - 99mph, just in case you are wondering Dan.

Not sure that even going downhill with the wind behind me I could muster 99mph!