All Terrain Tyres on a tight budget ...what would you choose?

[raamonkhan]

I need to replace my BFG tyres on my Pajero 3.5 '97 LWB.
(Bought the set of 4x BFG A/T 31x10.5x15 in Sept 2009 for R1490.00 each at Hi-Q...about 5mm left on them..done 81 000km on them..never rotated never balanced..no punctures,done about 60% rough back-roads and a lot of gravel roads)

I'm on a tight budget and my only options so far are:

Velocity - Raptor A/T = R1695 per tyre
Conti - World Contact 4x4 = R1650 per tyre
Dunlop - A/T3 = R1600 per tyre
Goodyear - Wrangler AT/SA = R1650 per tyre
Nexen - Roadian A/T RA8 - R1590 per tyre
Toyo - Open Country A/T2 = R2260 per tyre (out of budget)

I had the Michelin LTX A/T tyres on the Pajero when i bought it in 2009 but it had only 2 mm left on it.

What is my best bet on the options above......as replacement tires ?
...or would you suggest another option...?

[Renegade]

When Driving a vehicle like a Pajero, remember the ride comfort is important. Bridgestone Japan developed an A/T tyre specially for the Pajero Japan as the correct application.

At one stage in my career, now retired, I was involved in regional level with Autoquip who at that stage were the accredited Bridgestone outlets.

As a result I know the tyre well. Being retied now I specialise in the buying and selling of Pajeros as I have owned 8 and currently own three.

As u can work out I get to drive many Pajero vehicles every month.

One factor that stands out as making the vehicle either a prefect Pajero ride, or because of the comfort of the vehicle you get treble road noise, is the tyres I have driven on in various Pajeros.

If you want the 100% correct tyre, designed for the Pajero, then you fit A/T Bridgestones.

Tyres are a personal item, so you must please yourself.

I get between 60 000 and 80 000 kms on my tyres, and my Pajero is not a "good look town 4x4". It works very hard in all conditions throughout S A on over the boarders.

When loaded it is 4 tonnes, very over the limit, and I still get that mileage on my Bridgestones, without tyres blowing out or collapsing ot running off uneven, which causes a terrible droning noise and spoils the complete Pajero experience.

As for other makes, I probably have driven on most of them, but none come close to the comfort and all round performance of the correct tyre.

It is amazing as well when a client comes to drive one of my Pajero vehicles I am selling, how many times the road noise and harshness affects the sale. I rather change the tyres before it goes on sale. Problem eliminated.

Remember, they are the only contact with the road.

If you want to look like a real 4x4 "Boytjie: and put on the wrong knobbly tyres to look good, only you must live with the problems and noise and uneven wear they bring.

You should never buy budget tyres for a 4x4 simply because of the weight of the vehicle and also if you go off road a lot of the cheaper tyres just don't have the correct construction to take the punishment.

Save a month or two longer and buy the correct tyres.

Advise is free, the decision is sometimes costly.

[K2l2h2r1]

I agree with Renegade and it will be difficult to convince me to use other than Bridgestone

I also understand your reasoning and know how it is when the monetary side is capture by the state........


Sent as I am running from Sony Z

[G3PajV6]

If it's all about price I would go for the Good year wrangler from your list.

[KurtG]

Yip, Goodyear would be my choice as well.


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[peterpot]

If I can comment on my tyre experience with my Gen3. I got it with Yokohamas and they did well. I replaced them with Bridgestones and they did well. Good Year Wranglers were then on a special and I fitted them. I and the rest of the family had used them before. They were terrible. Now for an old .... I enjoy my performance and vehicle capabilities. I have my wheel alignment regularly checked. They changed the vehicle negatively in a drastic way. I could not wait to get rid of them. I personally will certainly never ever buy them again even if on special offer which I notice quite often.

[Roelf_le_Roux]

If I can comment on my tyre experience with my Gen3. I got it with Yokohamas and they did well. I replaced them with Bridgestones and they did well. Good Year Wranglers were then on a special and I fitted them. I and the rest of the family had used them before. They were terrible. Now for an old .... I enjoy my performance and vehicle capabilities. I have my wheel alignment regularly checked. They changed the vehicle negatively in a drastic way. I could not wait to get rid of them. I personally will certainly never ever buy them again even if on special offer which I notice quite often.

Just shows how experience can differ.
I have only good things to say about GY Wrangler AT/SA on a SWB and later a LWB Pajero AND so did two of my other Pajero buddies.

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[peterpot]

Yes Roelf as mentioned we as a family had used Wranglers for years. I always make a point of being with the techie when they do my wheel alignment. Any adjustments to the wheel alignment that are necessary, I find a good indication that something is amiss or requires attention. So I could not even say the alignment was maybe out. The difference I noticed immediately. It effected the whole vehicle negatively and as you know for a big heavy vehicle Pajero's (especially SWB) do handle exceptionally well.

When I discussed the concern with a good friend at TWT he commented "yes we know about it, it appears they have lost the plot". This was on the previous generation of AT's but his comments about the new ones were not positive either. My feeling is if they messed up, they can mess up again. They also denied any negative aspects about the tyres at the time, nor showed any interest to investigate. To me it appeared they knew about the problem and were hoping it would just "go away". They not only lost a customer, they lost a few generations!

[raamonkhan]

Thank you Guys so much for all your input !!!

..you made think a bit different about replacing them by the choices i have..
...i will definitely wait a bit longer and save up for the correct "application" tyre .

Thanks again!!

[Going 4x4]

Have you considered General Grabber AT? I have them on my Pajero Sport and am very happy with them.