Member Since: 26 Apr 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 35
Tyre Help, what are the OEM tyres like offroad?
What are the standard D3 tyres like offroad for grip and puncture resistence? I try to go offroad every month and tend to use on rocks, dirt and mud. I currently have a Patrol with Cooper ST's but which are excellent IMO and I was wondering whether the D3 in standard is able to cope with places like Appin, Wattagans, Zig Zag etc. I have ordered the active rear diff to try to help out and it was a bargain anyway.
If I should upgrade am I better to swap rims as the only offroad tyres in 18inch seem to be the AT2 Grabbers but I would prefer to stick to BFG, Cooper or Mickey Thompson. Has anyone used the AT2s yet?
How long do the OEM tyres last for?
Thanks James
4th Jul 2007 12:09 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
My Wranglers have never really let me down - only been towed out once and even then I had got further than a Cooper shod D3
They do suffer from cuts and knicks and I would imagine out there where its predominately drier, stone cuts would be more of a problem.
The AT2's seem to be the best balance of off an don road tyre from what I'm hearing and are easier to hold of than MTR's
Tyre life for me is around the 25K miles mark - I think
4th Jul 2007 12:26 pm
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
The Wranglers are suprisingly good for an OE tyre but on Oz roads they wear real fast. Got only 30,000km out of mine. They were easily puctured on sharp gravel roads and at 28,000 the rubber got very hard I ended up writing off one with starburst puncture.
The ATs would be the best option but I had to put Cooper HTs on as the ATs had not arrived and I could not wait.
Coopers have soft compound but the tread depth is greater so should last longer.
I would just let the OEMs wear out and get General Grabber ATs when they get hard.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
4th Jul 2007 12:53 pm
catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
the only place I went to at zig zag was the railway. as stated the tyres are not very resistant to punctures. my At2's arrived in Adelaiade this morning but can't collect till next week . will know more next weekend.
these nicks are on every tyre and the worst on the spare is about 10cm long and quite deep and reaches the lettering
tyre wear at 23k
4th Jul 2007 2:24 pm
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
I did trip to menai with a couple of lifted Pootrols an D1 and a stubby defender.
One of the guys with a Pootrol was vey impressed hw the D3 went with the OEM tyres.
And I didn't even let the pressure down.
Didn't go everywhere they went but one one them put his on it's side as you can see.
I think Yokahama will be bringing some out, slightly oversize to fit the Pajero Exceed but the same size as my cooper HTs (no rubbing). They are on the oz website for Yokahama but have not been manufactured yet.
Could be worth checking out when yours are worn.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
4th Jul 2007 11:52 pm
JamesWyatt
Member Since: 18 Feb 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 92
The D3 traction control system helps hide the shortcomings of the OEM tires, even on mine which does not have the rear active diff lock. I got stuck only once with them and in hindsight, it was a pretty tough spot. A better driver might have made it (or I might have made it the second try if the Mrs.' nerves had not been so frazzled).
Now that I've seen where the OEM tires will take me, I don't have any desire to go back until I get some BFG or Nitto ATs. I could just "feel" the power of the traction control trying to move me through the mud but struggling against the OEMs. It was like hiking up a steep, slick, muddy hill in beach sandals - you just can't overcome the physics.
One good thing about the OEMs is that they will teach you how to understand and maximize the traction control system, and they will help keep you out of places that could possibly cause damage without armor.
5th Jul 2007 2:28 am
Discojames
Member Since: 26 Apr 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 35
Thanks for your responses. Its a company vehicle, so I am not too worried about the OEM tyre life - in fact it will help me upgrade them sooner. It seems that they perform quite well from the feedback although could do with being tougher. I think it may be better to keep the OEM until Cooper or BFG come out with some off road tyes rather than swap now. How about swapping the rims to 17 inch - any thoughts?
Thanks
James
8th Jul 2007 12:37 pm
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
I thought about getting the dealer to swap pre delivery. But thought someone would bring out an AT in the corret size by the time the OEMs wore out. wrong only just arrived here.
The GG AT2s are good and looks like Yokahama will be bringing one out. The 18" tyres are almost the sae as the Pajero exceeds so more tyre manufacturers will want to make them.
The 17" wheels will give you a greater range of tyres to fit but 18" should be good uless yiu wish do do some serious off-road work.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
8th Jul 2007 11:40 pm
Rob Bruce
Member Since: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 687
My OE wranglers were stuffed after 28,000 km, I lost count of the number of punctures, mayby bad luck.
They are quiet on road , but off road the traction controle has to work overtime. They do not grip on slipery
surfaces and rocks chop them up.
The Grabber's were not available by the time my OE wranglers had come to the end of there short life, so my option which I am happy with was to put Cooper HT+ road tires on the OE 18" rims and get 17" Performance rims with Cooper STT's.
The STT's take a real beating with no problems. also the punctures have stoped , not one since Coopers
were fitted.
I must admit it is a bit of a pain to change wheels but only takes 20 mins and a coffee.
That's my six peneth.
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. will know more next weekend.
wrong 
only just arrived here.
