Roob
Member Since: 28 Jun 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 94
 
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| Alternatives to the Duratrac? |
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Hi all,
I've had about 40k miles out of my Duratracs over the last 4 years and have been very happy with them over a variety of terrains.....apart from a rapid deflaton on one at 70mph while overtaking a lorry on a dual carriageway, quickly followed by suspension fault warning and lowering to bump stops before I can pull over safely. Proper squeaky bum moment that 
Interestingly at the garage despite having huge bulges on the sidewall and smelling very much like burnt rubber it held pressure for 24 hours and we couldn't find the source of the problem.
Anyway I digress. My current set probably have about 10k left in them so I'm starting to consider their replacements.
I have been reading that the Duratracs are no longer severe weather rated (3 peak snowflake symbol). While it's not a legal requirement in the UK it did give me more confidence in the tyres abilities, proven during the fun and games of the beast from the east.
I am also hearing rumor's about the Duratrac becoming harder to source and questions over how long they are going to be produced for (first released in 2009 I think).
So, my questions are:
- Can someone with a recent Duratrac purchase / build date confirm the snowflake symbol has gone.
- Even if the snowflake symbol has gone, would it suggest the build of the tyre has changed enough that it no longer qualifies as severe weather rated. Or have the goal posts for being severe weather rated been moved?
- Can anyone confirm the fate of the Duratrac over the next few years? I.e. if I need a spare is it going to be hard to find.
- I've been eyeing up the Cooper ST-Maxx as an alternative. The silica content would help with wet traction but the lack of siping compared to the Duratrac makes me a little nervous. Can anyone speak from first hand experience. I have seen some good feedback but have this niggling worry that the ST-Maxx will behave more like a traditional MT in compacted snow, i.e. not very well.
Cheers.
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 23rd Sep 2018 6:07 am |
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Moo
D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14388
 
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The new Pirelli ATR looks interesting. My Duratracs have about another 5000 in them so I'm also looking. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner 
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
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| 23rd Sep 2018 6:41 am |
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J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
  
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having had the same quandary I am going for the AT3.
AT
3PMSF
correct weight and speed rating
cheap.  2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
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| 23rd Sep 2018 10:03 am |
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LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23824
 
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Yes, the new Pirelli ATR Plus would be a good alternative. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
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| 23rd Sep 2018 11:00 am |
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RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13541
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Have Grabber AT3 on at the moment. Handled the snowy fun well, good on tarmac - quiet - and handled the rocks of Les Comes tracks well. Not done any deep mud in them but would expect them to be as good as any AT really.
I am considering the Scorpion All Terrain Plus next (no such thing as an ATR+). Winter rated, 111XL and 130mph speed rating same as the AT3. Look good too. 
If I can't source the Pirelli when required, I'll go for another set of the AT3. Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
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| 30th Sep 2018 7:47 am |
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1967jester
Member Since: 05 May 2010
Location: Usually in the North East though I have been known to travel
Posts: 4484
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Newer Q rated Duratracs are exactly the same as the older S rated ones but with additional banding to sidewalls, I really wouldn’t worry.
Costco have been running deals over last couple of months. Paul.
06 Java Black HSE - gone
12 Baltic Blue HSE - gone
15 Fuji HSE Lux
Club Biscuits, mmmm nice!
Traxide/Luna hybrid & Yellow top
Some Prospeed bits
+ some other stuff
Club N.E.R.D.s.
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| 30th Sep 2018 8:27 am |
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AJS4X4
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 3224
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We still get fantastic feedback on the AT3's.
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| 3rd Oct 2018 8:35 am |
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PDC
Member Since: 20 Jul 2016
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 174
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I couldn't fault the AT3's during the snow we all had at the beginning of the year....... 2010 RR 5.0 Autobiography
2020 F-Pace SVR
2018 RRSport
2015 Disco XXV
2011 Disco 3.0
2008 RRS HST V8
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| 3rd Oct 2018 1:05 pm |
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AJS4X4
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 3224
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The AT3 is a HUGE plus over the old AT and a very popular tyre choice all round.
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| 3rd Oct 2018 1:29 pm |
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RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13541
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The AT3 is much better than the AT, that's a definite. Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
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| 4th Oct 2018 7:59 pm |
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nearlee
Member Since: 15 Dec 2012
Location: where the sheep are scared
Posts: 1777
 
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^^^^
Your not wrong there, the at was shocking, however the at3 still isn't as good as the duratracs Just remember:-
Amateurs built the Ark
Professionals built the titanic
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| 4th Oct 2018 8:26 pm |
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Pip66
Member Since: 26 Sep 2016
Location: Ely.
Posts: 170
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I ended up buying Cooper LTZ's in the end.
I'm sure Duratrac is a great tyre BUT...... They're only Q rated. And should the worst happen can you live with yourself if any thing happened to your loved ones ????
And will your insurance company stand by you ????? I very much doubt it !!!
. 2008 G4 D3 vehicle No 11. UK selections.
2003 G4 D2 vehicle No 125. South African workshop car.
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| 5th Oct 2018 6:59 am |
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J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
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A)
I'd tell my insurance anyway
B)
aren't Q rated tyres tested at 99mph for 24 hours? How likely are you to do that? How likely are you to spend any time at all over 99mph? Think I've done it twice in my D3. 2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
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| 5th Oct 2018 9:11 am |
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Pip66
Member Since: 26 Sep 2016
Location: Ely.
Posts: 170
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Without the risk of sounding sarcastic and it's not meant to be.....
But you could put lawnmower tyres on and say well I never go that fast. I just think that for my part I'm not willing to take the risk.
Regards Phil. 2008 G4 D3 vehicle No 11. UK selections.
2003 G4 D2 vehicle No 125. South African workshop car.
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| 7th Oct 2018 6:56 am |
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A.J.M
Member Since: 31 Oct 2009
Location: Carluke
Posts: 2847
 
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You did realise the only difference between an S and Q Duratrac is the sidewalls have more Kevlar in them to make them stronger. Otherwise the rubber, tread pattern and ability is unchanged.
They were reclassified so Goodyear could call them a Pro Comp tyre.
The actual construction is identical bar the extra Kevlar in the Q. They haven’t lost anything so the speed concern is null and void.
As I had a chat with Goodyear about the ratings change and that was the answer given to me.
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| 8th Oct 2018 10:38 am |
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