Tyre choices

[TransplantCanuck]

I'm trying to choose between several options for replacement tyres on my '00 Hilux. Most of my driving is city/highway, but I do the occasional offroad stint, so I'm looking for an A/T tyre, not a hardcore offroad or mudding tyre. We are, however, planning a trip to Cape York, so they can't be completely useless offroad.

I think I've narrowed the field to the following:
-Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA: Quoted at $228 each from Beaurepaires.
-Bridgestone Dueler D694: $245 each from Jax Quickfit.
-Yokohama Geolandar: $280 each from Bob Jane.
-BF Goodrich A/T: $289 each from Jax Quickfit.
-Maxxis 7S: $225 each from Bob Jane.

Advice?

[SIM79]

The only tyre I have run out of your list is the BFG AT and I wouldn't recommend them as they useless on wet roads.
The Yokohama Geolandar ATS+ is getting reviews, do some searching.

[-Scott-]

Have you tried the Tyre Topics Index?

I've posted this before, but what the hell, I'll post it again.

I think the days of classifying tyres as "A/T" or "M/T" are long gone, and we should all get over it.

To me, tyre technology has advanced to the stage that the distinction between the two is blurred beyond practical significance. Is the Cooper S/T an A/T or a M/T? The original MT/R stood for "Maximum Traction / Reinforced" and wasn't considered (by Goodyear) to be a Mud Terrain. ProComp once refused to submit a tyre to a Mud Tyre Test because they didn't want it to be labelled a "Mud Tyre".

Think of tyres as a continuum from mild off-road (traditional A/T) through the traditional Muddy to the more extreme off-road stuff like Claws, Boggers and Centipedes. To me, some of the current crop that are currently considered "muddies" are more like aggressive A/Ts designed for all-round off-road traction than "mud" performance.

I'm looking for new tyres, and will probably buy the new Cooper ST Maxx, because I think it's probably a good compromise (for me) between on-road performance and off-road strength.

YMMV.

[TransplantCanuck]

Yup, I checked out the Tyre Topics index - only the Goodyears are in there.

[love ke70]

also consider what GT radial have on offer.
at the end of the day cape york can be as hard or as easy as you like...

[A*D*A*M]

I've currently got the yoko geolandars, best tyres I've had for 'all-round' use.

Positives
Great on road- quiet, grip well in the wet and don't aqua-plane, wearing OK Currently 50,000ish and plenty of tread left.
Great on hi-speed dirt tracks- predictable, good lateral traction at speed, haven't chipped so far (even if I couldn't be bothered letting tyre pressures down when moving from bitumen to dirt)
Great on sand- OK at highway pressures, great at 16-18 psi (in a patrol)
Great in dry low range- bag and grip really well at 16-20 psi (lower when necessary). I've been quite impressed at just how well they go in rougher terrain. Even when wheeling with mates with more agressive ATs and MTs, I have never felt the tyres are holding me back.
OK in mud - did a 'damp' Vic High-country trip recently plus messing around in Brindabellas without being let down by tyres. Obviously they're not mud tyres, but they do clear the treads with a few revs and at right pressures keep digging.
Very minimal chipping or tread damage to date- This is in massive contrast to the Cooper STs that they replaced. Same driver, same car, similar terrain driven, same lack of constantly adjusting pressures as recommended, no chips, no missing/torn lugs. Very even wear.
They perform much better than they look like they would (see below)

Negatives
They're not a tough looking tyre- Stupid I know, but they don't do anything to make the truck look tougher.

I will buy Geolandars again when they wear out for touring, daily driver duties and weekend playing. If I had the luxury of having just a play-toy, I would probably get something more agressive.

Performance is in comparison to Cooper ST, BFG AT, Bridgestone Desert Duelers, Kumho ATs, older Yokos (Super Diggers I think), Dunlop OEM, Wild Country MTs, Super-swamper Thornbirds plus a few other brands that I can't remember. I'd choose the Geolandars over any one of these for any purpose, except maybe 'bling'. Guess the thornbirds win there, but were crap at everything else.

Good luck with the choice,
Adam.