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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 2 Dec 2007
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Tyre dilema...

Not a big "what tyre would you choose to drive round the world" type question, just wanting to see what people would choose for a trip from Ghana up to Mali - of course such a trip is mostly asphalt miles, but I do like to get off the beaten track once up there. I won't have time to get much beyond Pays du Dogon, so terrain is sahel as opposed to sahara! Sitting in our tyre store I have the following choices available to me:
- originally fitted split rims with Dunlop sandgrippers (XS type sand tyre).
- Toyota steel tubeless rims with 235 Dunlop roadgripper
- Toyota steel tubeless rims with 50% worn 265 BF Goodrich MT
- Toyota steel tubeless rims with 265 Maxxis 751 AT

Hmmm. I am leaning towards the Maxxis. So anyone got an opinion before I get busy with a wheel spanner?
Gil
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Old 2 Dec 2007
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I'm a goodrich slut, so my choice would be easy!
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  #3  
Old 2 Dec 2007
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tyres

Gil,

For me too the BFG's. Especially the MT's. Good enough in sand, very strong on rocks and superior in the mud!!

Cheers,

Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl
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  #4  
Old 3 Dec 2007
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Sorry, can't comment on the tyre choice, never used any of those, however, just a quick hijack of the thread if you don't mind.

Is the following tyre readily available in Europe/UK?

Mickey Thompson - World's Toughest Traction Tyres!

I will be using this on our trip, and will probably need to get a new set by the time we get to London.

hijack over
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  #5  
Old 3 Dec 2007
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Gil

- originally fitted split rims with Dunlop sandgrippers (XS type sand tyre).
- Toyota steel tubeless rims with 235 Dunlop roadgripper
- Toyota steel tubeless rims with 50% worn 265 BF Goodrich MT
- Toyota steel tubeless rims with 265 Maxxis 751 AT

You're on the right track with Toyota steel rims.

My choice of tyre would be dependant on whether or not I was going to see much mud. So if the wet season was looming i'd be on the muds.

Your tire size choice is interesting....- is the standard size over there not 7.5/16 or 235/85/16

Good luck

Niall
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  #6  
Old 3 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gilghana1 View Post
Hmmm. I am leaning towards the Maxxis. So anyone got an opinion before I get busy with a wheel spanner?
Gil
Whatever tire you decide to go with...make sure that IF you needed to, you can pick a up a local in the same size and continue onwards...might not be optimal, but you are rolling!!


You don't ever want to know what it would cost to DHL a Mickey Thomson...you don't!!!!!
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  #7  
Old 15 Dec 2007
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The quiet life...

Thanks for the replies folks. Final choice is going to be 235 Dunlops (brand new pulled of a std 105 cruiser on the toyo rims). Reason - the BFG MTs are the only tyres I actually paid for! So I want to keep em for the mud - and the Dunlops are quieter. I am lucky to have such a choice really!
Niall, yeah you might think 7.50 but actually most 4x4 here get fat 265 tyres. A few miners run around with 7.50 cheap and cheerfull tough x plies and loads of light trucks run that size. The Maxxis are interesting - great priced AT tyre which we are trying on 105 cruisers, so far results are good and I would have tried them but the 235s are all balanced and just ready to go. As far as limping home on inappropriate tyres, with a std toyo tubeless rim a 7.50 will work as will a 265, and a lot else.
One week and I hit the road!! Can't wait for christmas camping in Dogon
Gil
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