Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Doing a trip to the Cape in 12 months
Just wanting to no what tyre has the toughest construction.
As in will resist side wall punctures...etc.

Only care about strength, not how good it is in mud, sand or whatever.

The toughest tyre by far is the Mickey Thompson Baja Claw.

Compared to the Tsl's and other hardcore tyres it is just out and out the toughest constructed tyre.

Also good grip in the mud and can be used on the road. Its probably the most road friendly Hardcore tyre aswell!

Most people in our club doing the cape use BFG AT/MT, Cooper ST, or other AT's. they are strong enough..

but also depends on how many tons your carrying.

TSL/SX is pretty near indestructable - but are hella expensive

Currently have cooper st's.
Just wondering if there would be a better choice as I don't want to go through as many tyres as my mate did. More to the point don't want to carry too many spares.
4 tyres. Maybe just unlucky though. he was running BFG muddies.

bubs wrote:TSL/SX is pretty near indestructable - but are hella expensive

How could you prove that???

Don't forget MT/R's....and they're legal!!!!

POS wrote:

bubs wrote:TSL/SX is pretty near indestructable - but are hella expensive

How could you prove that???

Its pirate hear say

I got a u bolt pin through my 35" mtr when thay had 3000kms
on them and it was on tar

I also have 235 by 85 by 16" cooper st`s on split rims
with no probs over 60`000kms and still with tred left on them

Go the coopers

POS wrote:How could you prove that???

goto a shop and ask how much they are.. that proves they are hella expensive

What about standard cheesecutters ?

Or michelin truck tyres ?

Shorty40 wrote:What about standard cheesecutters ?

Or michelin truck tyres ?

hmmm XMLs

Sounds like the new Cooper STT's are gunna be about the toughest "all round" tyres available but I guess that's yet to be proven ...

Go the cheese cutters

why do you say cooper stt?

People seem to blow or stuff tires by doing dumb things or running the wrong tire pressure.
I know lots of people that have done big trips. Like the cape, simpson, canning, kimberlys etc and have had no flats.
Last year I ran bald copper and BFG muddies and had no flats. Ran the tyres at 27-28psi hot and cold (exept on sand had them at 18 then) and had no problems between the to cars. Other car had relatively new cooper st's.
Parents have done a number of trips on there coopers with little problems.

I did a club desert trip on very,very bald BFG AT's (they where just passible for road use), was supposed to run some others but the rims didnt fit. But anyway I got one flat and that was in the tread area. We just pluged and it is the only tyre in that set to still hold air.

bruiser wrote:why do you say cooper stt?

STT's have always had a pretty good rep for strength. Their new design is promoted as being something like 35% stronger than the old model. I know it's marketing hype but worth a try in my opinion. I was always happy with strength and performance of my old ones, when I'm ready for new dd/touring treads I'll be giving their marketing a run for it's money.

As far as your mate going through 4 tyres, well, they were only BFG's after all. Their day has come and loooong gone ...

I have no association with Cooper or tyre retailers but I've just always liked them as tyre. Quality+...

http://www.coopertires.com.au/tyres/stt_new.htm

RoldIT wrote:

bruiser wrote:why do you say cooper stt?

STT's have always had a pretty good rep for strength.

Looking at Awill4x4's ST's the other day ~12 mths old and BIG cracks in the tread, and some look like they go deep under the tread chunks. I'd take em back for their warranty, but andrew has done the rotating himself, so warranty is excrement.

They have a good rep for chipping and shit with old pharts touring on exploroz... and thats the NEW ST-Cs

You dont need muddies for Cape York, its either rock or sand. I have BFG ATs and only got one flat. 1/2 K from the tar mack near Lorra.
But your right RoldIT, the BFGs could use an up date.

I've had more flats with BFG ATs than any other tyre i've owned and i've done mostly hwy klm on the BFG... i won't buy them again if i can help it...

I think there will always be a horror story for every tyre thats out there.

IMHO nothing is perfect as far as tyres are concerned.

K-plus JT2s

ryano from fourbys' where are ya!!!!! i would imagine the new coopers may get a mention

bogged wrote:

RoldIT wrote:

bruiser wrote:why do you say cooper stt?

STT's have always had a pretty good rep for strength.

Looking at Awill4x4's ST's the other day ~12 mths old and BIG cracks in the tread, and some look like they go deep under the tread chunks. I'd take em back for their warranty, but andrew has done the rotating himself, so warranty is excrement.

They have a good rep for chipping and shit with old pharts touring on exploroz... and thats the NEW ST-Cs

Yep, but they are a completely different tyre with a few years less technology/development gone into them. Also smaller tread blocks always damage easier on rough dirt roads. Aside from that, he's after carcass strength to avoid punctures, not tread wear.

yes. I am talking carcass/side wall strength. not interested in tread wear.

rOd wrote:I think there will always be a horror story for every tyre thats out there.

IMHO nothing is perfect as far as tyres are concerned.

yes but some will be more 'accident' prone than others!!

I thought there was one of the Dunlop overlander or some shyte that was a 10ply tyre really popular with outback shooters......have a measured half-life

edit but still not as tough as Crocadile tyres - now they would be hard to better in the tuff trye contest

I was going to leave this one.... because I am a retail tyreman who sells all of the above tyres. I don't want anyone to feel that I am suggesting certain brands for any other reason than that they are the better tyres from my experience and suit the greater majority of peoples applications.
The Cooper and Mickey Thompson tyres are a tyre that I can believe in to get my customers where they want to go...and back again, without fuss or drama. All I have to do is suit the tyre to their needs and wants. Thats not to say that these tyres suit everyones needs/wants, but for the broader majority.........

Bit of info on the new STT.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... cooper+stt

It all comes down to what you do with the vehicle and what you want from the tyres. My choices would be:
If you play off road fairly hard on a regular basis, want maximum traction and don't mind a little extra road noise, the Mickey Thompson Claws are an extremely tough, durable, maximum traction tyre that will withstand regular punishing.
If you play reasonably hard off road on a regular basis, do a bit of touring, want traction off road yet still provide a good bitumen ride, then the New Cooper STT is the perfect choice with it's extra strength and aggressive nature allowing the best of both worlds.
If you play off road moderately hard, do a fair bit of bitumen driving and touring, want a quieter tyre with on road manners and more comfort, the Cooper ST (Sure Trac) would be the tyre to go for. As an aggressive All Terrain Pattern they traverse most off road terrains with ease and has a robust and durable tread block that will handle the harsher gravel roads, provide traction in an unexpected sticky situation, while driving and handling more like an AT on the black top.
Another tyre that a lot of people aren't aware of is the Mickey Thompson/Dick Cepek FCII. They are along similar application to the Cooper ST and are well worth considering aswell.

These are the toughest of the tough Radial Tyres. They are extremely strong American made tyres with wider steel belts, straighter sidewalls ( ) and DEEP tread depths. If you start your trip with these, there is a large reduction in the chance of puncture and impact damage.... Good way to start!!

The biggest killer of tyres on trips is air pressure, load and speed (combined with the harsher terrain). A lot of people run too high a pressure, loaded up with all the gear at too great a speed over the rough stuff. It's like poking an over-inflated balloon. Reduce pressures, and reduce speed to suit.
A really good thing to have if you've got a spare couple of bucks is a tyre pressure monitoring system. It's great to have early notification that a tyre is loosing pressure before the tyre disintegrates from lack of air and heat. This is another killer of tyres on travellers vehicles. A tyre gets a puncture which goes down slowly. After a little bit the tyre heats up due to the reduced pressure and trying to carry the vehicle, all the travelling gear and sit on a highway speed. Before you know it, the temperature and pressure gets to a point where the tyre just can't do it anymore.... one killed tyre.

This is getting a bit long now so...
Cheers,
Ryano

RoldIT wrote:Aside from that, he's after carcass strength to avoid punctures, not tread wear.

This isnt tread wear as such,these are Cracks, adn splits the size of the whole tread block. STs tech aint that old, they should wear, people runnin other ATs arent suffering the same.

For great strength, go them 10 or 12 ply tires, Toyos I think?

bogged wrote:

RoldIT wrote:Aside from that, he's after carcass strength to avoid punctures, not tread wear.

This isnt tread wear as such,these are Cracks, adn splits the size of the whole tread block. STs tech aint that old, they should wear, people runnin other ATs arent suffering the same.

For great strength, go them 10 or 12 ply tires, Toyos I think?

Get him to take it to a Cooper Dealer. If it's manufacturing fault they are still warrantable, regardless of the rotations and what not.