Tyre connundrum
 

With 8 weeks to go until my wife and I set off from Japan to Europe in our Toyota FJ62, it's time to get the car sorted out with a fresh set of tyres. My current plan is to travel with 2 spare tyres (one on the spare wheel and the other unmounted)

We currently have Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S LT225/75R16 110/107R fitted, which came with the car. The DOT code on the tyres dates them to Nov 2011.


So, I guess my questions would be:

• What tyres have people used on similar journey in their 4WD (Russia, Mongolia, The 'Stans, Turkey)?
• What tyres are available to purchase in these countries in the event that I have to buy a replacement?
• Is 2 spares a sensible approach?

And a bonus question:

• Is it sensible to consider using 2 of the 5-year old tyres as my spares?

Thanks!

Have you considered BFG 225/75R16 110 Q MudTerrains T/A KM2?
I only use BF Goodrich on mine.
I always carry 2 new spares fitted to spare wheels ready to use.
+4 new fitted to vehicle.
Bonus question- you can but for me it's a No! for the sake of a few $'s - new tyres buy peace of mind especially as you can't pick them up anywhere and they are heavy to ship out to you which = $$$
Remember to rotate them to get best mileage

Hi Bertrand,

All good advice - thanks!

I put the same question up on a different forum as well and the BFG's seem to be a popular choice there. Out of interest, why the mud terrain over the all terrain?

Re. the bonus question - I was 80% of the same mind so asked the question. As you say, in the long term re-using the old tyres will be a false economy.

Thanks again,

Mark

M&S (mud&snow) = cover all the bases:) :)
I enjoy both but also like to be able to get through both with as little pain as possible!
Using old tyres can be an economy but also can become a false one!
For me, I don't skimp on tyres, brakes and steering!

Ha ha!

Thanks again :)

As Bertrand says you could use these all terrains, but as soon as you hit some wet slick sticky clay / mud any A/T pattern becomes clogged and fairly useless, also the M/T tread has better puncture resistance.
I haven't driven this route before, but we used BFG M/T's in Africa and had to cross a few bog holes and rivers so I was glad I went with the M/T's - I wouldn't use anything else for overlanding. Im guessing you will drive from Vladivostok?, that route is pretty hard on tyres, so carrying 2 spares is a good idea, consider picking up an extra rim and having them both mounted.

I believe the FJ62 came originally with 15 inch rims, so at some point those have been upgraded to 16's, but the same size BFG tyres would be fine. You can buy BFG tyres in Russia and Kazakhstan, though if you do need one order ahead as they may not keep your size on the shelf.

http://www.unityre.kz/page/show/name/about.html



@ Bertrand, how do you find the M/T KM2's compare with the original M/T KM ?

I am still on my originals - 21610 miles (to be specific !) Since fitting - tyres now a smidge less than 50% used . I rotate and balance every 5000 miles .

Nice!


how do the KM2's grip compared to other tyres you have used in different terrain? much road noise, handling on wet asphalt?

Hi Gipper,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

From what I can gather about our route, it's do-able on AT tyres as there is either asphalt or hard-packed track the whole way.

That said I think I'm maybe coming down on deciding on the MTs for the reason you mention - that if we hit a sticky patch then the ATs become a bit useless. And I think having the MTs will give us a bit more confidence to break away from the 'beaten track,' as it were.

Good to know the BFGs are available in Russia and Kazakhstan.

Thanks again,

Mark

No problem, just watch the rains in August - depending on your route it can be quite a mud bath.

I used to run BFG. Good tyres, but I found the grip on bitumen in the wet to be less than desirable.

I prefer Cooper STT. Not as aggressive as the BFG Mud, but then not as noisy on the road either

Hi Squily,

Thanks for the recommendation :)

I'll check out the Coopers and add them to the list of potential candidates...

Cheers,

Mark

rotating tyres, especially heavy tread ones like MTs actually increases wear rates, as the leading shoulder rounds off. When you rotate them, you then change the leading edge so it rounds off again, and then again, your constantly rebedding the tyres. Sorry Bertrand but rotating tyres is 1950s motoring!

It's interesting that most paris dakar racers run BFG MTs when you would have thought that for all that desert work ATs would be better, but the reason is the MTs are much more durable, with a greater resistance to cutting from rocks.

I would say 2 spares is a minimum. I took 3 to Kazan with me (via Ukraine) and used them all!! I carried 2 spares to the Gambia, and had to buy 2 new tyres en route. My mistake was taking old tyres as spares with an unknown history, because I could only afford 4 new tyres, which I think is what you are suggesting. Both failed within a couple of hundred miles of each other due to the heat (desert tarmac) and load, and my original (new) tyre that had come off the truck was too badly damaged to repair. If your carrying 2 I would say also take an inner tube or 2 as an emergency get you safe measure.

225/77 16 is quite close to 7.50x16 size so a good choice as this size is a common fitment for landcruisers and landrovers as stock, so even if you can't get the exact same tyre, you could probably get close.

Rotation' may have been the wrong word to use Mogs as I meant moving the better tyres to the front in a straight line. My bad! This method was advised for my 4x4 by the manufacturer which I have to go with. It makes sense as my front brakes do most of the braking and because of steering. In a situation where 4x4 drive is needed it would make little difference.
I use theBFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 which are 'S' rated. Works for me.
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Hi moggy 1968,

Thanks for the comments. Interesting to read that you needed so many spares!

Having got lots of feedback, both here and on Overland Sphere, the current plan is to go with BFG Mud Terrains in 235/85R16. Hopefully getting them ordered and fitted this week :)

Cheers,

Mark

I would suggest you use up the oldest tyres first. Then fit pairs of new ones keeping a pair as spare and use them to replace worn out tyres and load two new spares then. I think it would be foolish to keep old tyres for any longer than necessary, certainly not as spares unless nothing else was available. If practical, buy another wheel so both spares are mounted and ready to go.

Ah I'm with you, I think, so you swap the fronts to the back? that makes more sense. ON most rwd cars the rears wear first because of wheelspin and a naturaL tendency to slight oversteer, but on most 4x4s thats not really an issue!! So I guess the fronts might wear a little quicker for the reasons you give.
the main thing is not to swap from one side to the other as they used to advise with the old cross plies, because, especially with off road tyres, your leading edge now becomes your trailing edge and vice versa and wear rate increases

Have used the BFG MT for decades, The old pattern lasted longer , but the new pattern in slightly quieter at speed on bitumen. Tyre pressure monitoring is very important for longevity . Under inflation is worse than over inflation . You can check if you are at right pressure for a given load by checking the pressure change , you are looking for a 4psi rise from cold (before use) to stabilised in use. less of a rise is too hard to start , more of a rise is too low before use. Ideally tubeless , and take t/less repair kit , and also tyre levers , and compressor. Weight is your enemy so 1 mounted spare , plus 1 unmounted tyre casing , also a tube for when its not possible to tubeless repair . I went all the way UK to Oz without any tyre problem
In Oz lost one tyre to a star picket (steel fence post) that had been graded into the road surface , that one wasnt tubeless repairable :)

Bit of a late reply - sorry!

Thanks for the info, tacr2man.

You'll be please to hear we have a new set of BFG MTs being delivered in the next few days :)

Out of interest - what PSI did you run your MTs at when on the road?

Thanks!