Tyres to avoid on a Disco !! DANGER DANGER

I just thought I would relay experiences I've had on a new set of tyres on my Tdi300auto Disco.

Old ones were worn out so I searched the market and came across a bargain deal of 4 new tyres for 270 euros. The make was Continental and they were road-biased "Contact 4x4 m&s".

Ok so new tyres always makes your car feel nice, but one day in Limoges I had to brake sharply (not paying enough attention ) and she locked up and slid, so I was into the old cadence braking like a man possessed and all was resolved without further drama. The road was slightly humid after a dry spell so I assumed it was muck and shîte on the roads, not yet washed away.

Got to Guéret, going round a roundabout and lost the back end !!!! Didn't like this at all. When I got home I told the wife and she said get some more tyres!! I said no, it'll be fine.

In the mean time I bought her another Disco and fitted it out with General AT2's - very confidence-inspiring.

So, we went out in mine yesterday gently ambling along some country roads, through a series of bends, when the car starts doing a walzing Mathilda, first the backend slides to the right, steer into it and she slides violently to the left and we are heading for the edge of a ravine about 50mtrs deep !!! :shock: Managed to brake to stop us going over the edge.

Damage? just a little bit of scrape (most of it will polish out??) down one side and nothing else - fortunately.

Got home, straight on the phone to Paddocks - "4 General AT2's please - quick as you like !!!)

You can only speak as you find, but I've NEVER lost traction on-road before with any of my Landys, so I can only put it down to these tyres.

You have been warned :shock:

Cheers and a Merry Christmas to all our readers
Dave

Glad you (and the car) are OK. Thanks for the note.
Can't beat BFG AT's!!!

Scary stuff! Have you contacted Continental about them?, might be a design fault.

MartinK said:

Glad you (and the car) are OK. Thanks for the note.
Can't beat BFG AT's!!!

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So I understand, but the General AT2's were £20 a wheel cheaper so................................................................

General AT2's it is then !!!

Cheers and Merry Christmas and a Happy and SAFE New Year

Dave

so what is wrong with the tires(compound or tread errors)?Cant you take them back to where you purchased them?Surely they must be subject to some sort of recall?

contact Continental

they state quite clearly "Superb traction both on the road and in general off-road usage through high sipe density" on their web site.

That is possibly mis-representation, if not "not fit for purpose".

To be honest the more I think about it the more I become motivated to contact Continental and report the problem, but I don't know where to start.

If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears (as the Ferrengi said), we could have been killed.

Cheers
Dave

Use THE LINK above

defo contact them should get at least a refund

goonarmy said:

so what is wrong with the tires(compound or tread errors)?Cant you take them back to where you purchased them?Surely they must be subject to some sort of recall?

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Hiya GA, thanks for your interest. I bought them off the internet from one of the largest internet tyre suppliers in France, but I suspect I might get more mileage (fnar fnar!!) going direct to Continental.

But I just don't know, I've no experience in this sort of thing, plus I'm in France and normally I get by with my communications, but putting in a complaint is something else again, in terms of the ability to commmunicate in a different language.

Cheers
Dave

Just explain factually...
1) when and where you bought them.
2) take pics of the sidewalls (manuf info).
3) explain what happened under what circumstances (speed/weather conditions/etc)
4) Say you have (or are going to) replace the tyres, because you fear for your families safety.
5) ask for their considered response.

consider it as an accident (about to happen) report.

Check your Disco first ...

Mate had a similar problem with BFG's and had 'warned' me about them, saying they were ****e and that he'd never use them again.

His problem was eventually traced to the A-frame ... one of the front brackets had broke, but not completely and still held the front bush, but at certain suspension levels and on certain corners it 'came out' and the axle beasically twisted causing handling problems! He was absolutely certain it was the BFG's as he'd swapped to Colway muds and didn't get the problem for two weeks ... until he went for an MOT and it was spotted.

We reckon when he put the Colways on he drove 'differently' as he only went out twice and then only two miles to town and back and never replicated the circumstances of the BFG 'skids'.

The Mad Hat Man said:

Just explain factually...
1) when and where you bought them.
2) take pics of the sidewalls (manuf info).
3) explain what happened under what circumstances (speed/weather conditions/etc)
4) Say you have (or are going to) replace the tyres, because you fear for your families safety.
5) ask for their considered response.

consider it as an accident (about to happen) report.

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Thanks very much MHM, I'm in the process of formulating a reply exactly along the lines you suggested.

I don't know how far it will get me, but I feel I have to try.

Thank you very much for your clear and considored help, it is appreciated.

Cheers
Dave

It might be worth making drawings (or googlemap pics) of the places where these things happened - (just to show you werent tanking it down a norfolk lane, or summat similar).

The Mad Hat Man said:

It might be worth making drawings (or googlemap pics) of the places where these things happened - (just to show you werent tanking it down a norfolk lane, or summat similar).

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Good idea MHM, I've started the ball rolling with Continental, so we'll see if they are interested or not.
I just checked my file and I reckon I've done about 10,000mls on them up to now, but they were showing signs of misbehaving before I went to Morocco, so that would have been 5,000mls ago !!

I reckon I'll go and take some pictures of the area of the 'incident' just to capture it.

Cheers
Dave

Paul D said:

Check your Disco first ...

Mate had a similar problem with BFG's and had 'warned' me about them, saying they were ****e and that he'd never use them again.

His problem was eventually traced to the A-frame ... one of the front brackets had broke, but not completely and still held the front bush, but at certain suspension levels and on certain corners it 'came out' and the axle beasically twisted causing handling problems! He was absolutely certain it was the BFG's as he'd swapped to Colway muds and didn't get the problem for two weeks ... until he went for an MOT and it was spotted.

We reckon when he put the Colways on he drove 'differently' as he only went out twice and then only two miles to town and back and never replicated the circumstances of the BFG 'skids'.

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Hiya Paul, it's chucking it down outside at the mo' so I'll check later, but I don't think there can be too much wrong mechanically with the car, as I never get any grip issues on dry roads or when I went to Morocco??!!

Cheers for the response tho'

Dave

I agree with Paul - deffo worth checking yo car is Ok - else yu will have egg on yo face :behindsofa:

The Mad Hat Man said:

I agree with Paul - deffo worth checking yo car is Ok - else yu will have egg on yo face :behindsofa:

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Well I don't want that !!! I don't even like eggs

Yes, I will check over underneath to make sure nothing is awry, but as I said, she handles fine in the dry when I drive her a little more briskly, no trouble at all.

She also breaks traction if I brake hard in a straight line on slightly wet roads, so I reckon it's down to the tyres myself.

Anyway my new proper tyres are on their way !!!! I knew I needed to get her a Christmas present - she just has a slightly unfortunate way of reminding me

Paul D said:

Check your Disco first ...

Mate had a similar problem with BFG's and had 'warned' me about them, saying they were ****e and that he'd never use them again.

His problem was eventually traced to the A-frame ... one of the front brackets had broke, but not completely and still held the front bush, but at certain suspension levels and on certain corners it 'came out' and the axle beasically twisted causing handling problems! He was absolutely certain it was the BFG's as he'd swapped to Colway muds and didn't get the problem for two weeks ... until he went for an MOT and it was spotted.

We reckon when he put the Colways on he drove 'differently' as he only went out twice and then only two miles to town and back and never replicated the circumstances of the BFG 'skids'.

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This is very interesting as General ATs are also made by Continental for General Tires. I would suggest that PaulD might have a point so its worth checking out all your linkages, suspension etc.

I absolutely swear by my Conti's on my car and its the only tyre brand I have used for the past 8 years (I do lots of miles and have had many sets of Conti's on several differents cars)

Medusa said:

I absolutely swear by my Conti's on my car and its the only tyre brand I have used for the past 8 years (I do lots of miles and have had many sets of Conti's on several differents cars)

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Mite be a cheap set going, if yu want em .