First impression of Simex ETs

[Maxtd5def]

Omigawd! The doc says the ringing in the ears will stop any day now.

The ET 32 10.50 16s go underneath a Defender on standard 7” rims quite easily. There’s less than ½” clearance at the rear spring tower, but everything clears. There’s the slightest rubbing on the radius arms at full lock. Easily adjusted.

They measure up at 10” across the tread, & 33” at 35 psi.

Offroad – I dropped them straight to 15 psi on advice from Slunnie that they just don’t work at road pressures. The change in feel is immediate – much more sloppy, even if they don’t look bagged out.

Sunday was loose and damp – Simex territory. They gripped at just about everything I threw at them. An amazing improvement over radials. They did just fine on rocksteps too. The only hill I couldn’t get up was coz of diff/chassis clearance. No-one else got up either.

Diff locks were superfluous most of the time. Simexes & ETC get up & over without smash & bash momentum.

But in the really gnarly stuff, the Simexes compliment diff locks somehow. The diff locks move the car forward if just one wheel has grip – which the Simexes provide. All at a really slow pace.

My only concern was sideslopes. I really felt the sidewalls were folding under. It felt horrible. I’ll need to do some testing with a helper & a camera, but I suspect wider rims are coming. Soon.

On-road – well you don’t buy these for their Eastern Creek lap times. My into was the Bells Line of Road in dry, wet & snow/slush conditions. A bit hairy..

Apart from the noise, they’re actually OK. There’s no wandering or tramlining. Ride is fine, better than radials. They don’t turn in as well of course, and the limits are lower. Its just more understeery. When dodging something like a pothole at speed., the car washes out both ends. It feels like the roll oversteer you get with a heavy roofrack. All quite controllable, its just a different sensation after the relative precision of radials. But no surprises.

I haven’t hit the anchors yet, hopefully braking distances aren’t too much greater.

Apart from the daily flatspots, there’s also a vibration though the car at very low speeds – coasting up to traffic lights. It feels like clutch shudder, I think its each individual lug being felt.

Gearing is fine going from 32” to 33”. 4th is a better overtaking gear now.

Not too sure what can be done about the noise though. You forget to change gear, you can’t hear the engine. And I got a headache after two hours of the droning coming home.

Hopefully the noise is something I’ll get used too!

Regards
Max P

[Slunnie]

Great stuff Max! You'll get used to the noise. The flats spots you wont.

[mickrangie]

I love the sound the ET's make at 100kmh!!

Flat spots suck big time so i put stands under the car or take them off if i know it's going to be sitting for a while...

I also found running them at 38 - 40psi helps with the noise a little but the ride get harsh... lucky i drive a rangie ;p

good luck with em they are a great tyre!!!

Mick

[110 TUFF]

Hi max, just to let u know ive just fitted the 33 x 10.5 JTs on my 110. i cant give them anymore praise they are great, there fine on the beach too. they seem to act a bit like paddels and now i cant get huge rooster tails happening in the sand." never thought my defender could do that!!
Drew.