Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Recently I went to Zeerust Koppie to check on our Radio Repeater installation. Normally I take Bulldog there because there are one or two bad rocky bits on the trail where one needs ground clearance and traction but this time I took White Fang, who has sufficient ground clearance as well. Bulldog is shod with 31" Cooper STT tyres and has no issues whatever on the trail, but White Fang has road tyres, 31" Cooper AST. White Fang coped very well with the trail but at the one tricky bit I experienced loss of traction and a slight sideways slide, resulting in a slightly damaged sidewall step. No problem here, I was deciding in any case to replace the standard running boards with something more suitable but what really irked me was when one of those stupid white thorns penetrated the tyre's thin sidewall. I carried on driving until we reached level ground where I could stop safely and there was a nice round little hole about 1-2mm in diameter in the perimeter of the tyre, just where the tread blocks begin. So I am going to change the tyres as well.

Requirements:

* A more aggressive tread pattern
* Thicker sidewalls
* Better sidewall protection, similar to the STT tread where it actually extends up the sidewall for a bit
* 31 x 10.5 x 15.
* And the tricky one... Cooper STT is a fantastic tyre, but very noisy on a tarred surface.

White Fang is my touring vehicle therefore it is more on tar than any other surface, but does a fair amount of gravel roads as well. But good road grip is essential, I have experienced sideways loss of traction on a shale surface and I don't want that happening, scares the living daylights out of me. The Cooper STTs would be my first choice again, but the noise they make on a tar road is making me think twice.

Please post some suggestions.


-F_D

My 1st choice is still BFG ATs.

It is IMHO a bit more than a AT, but not quite a MT. I found them to be as quiet as the current Bridgestone Dueller 694s I have on the Pajero.

I would not touch Cooper STT's with a bargepole, no matter how good a MT tyre they are. They are simply too noisy.

I'm very happy with my BFG AT's and they are exceptionally quiet for an AT tyre, but they are starting to get a bit pricey - R2200 for 31" last time I looked down at the local tyre place

I phoned my Tyre Dealer, and he also recommends the BFG AT.

How do these prices compare? (as at 17 Sept)

BFG MT2 (latest version) @ R1656.00 (I have been told that the newly released version is not as good as the original MT - aany views on this?)
BFG AT R1853.00
Bridgestone D694 @ R1337.00
Cooper STT @ R1975.00
Cooper ST @ R1728.00

All prices include fitting and balancing.


-F_D

FD,

At those prices I would not hesitate to go for the BFG AT. I am running them on the Paj and I am very happy with them.

Bruce

Hi F D

I had BF AT on my colt rodeo and they where really good tyres. I had no problems with them except once on a rocky trail some of the knoblies/tread tore off the tyre. I took them back to Tiger Wheel & tyre and they said it is normal wear and tear. One of my friends on the same trail also had some of his knoblies/tread tear and he took them to the agents and Cooper replaced them under warranty. I just bought a set of Cooper st and I am very happy with them on and off road. Offroad I personelly rate them better than the BF AT but if you are mainly using the car for on road and gravel I would go for the BF AT as its got a less agressive tread and should be more quiet on tar.

I am still kicking myself for having Bridgestone ATR's fitted. My first choice would have been BFG AT.... In a couple of Km's I'll change over.

I would like to add that this is my personal choice and opinion, and would love to do a trail with two sets of tires to do a comparison. But, I know what I did with my Colt and BFG's and I know what the Paj with Duelers can do.... and I think the Paj on BFG's will be a whole lot better

Family_Dog wrote:I phoned my Tyre Dealer, and he also recommends the BFG AT.

How do these prices compare? (as at 17 Sept)

BFG MT2 (latest version) @ R1656.00 (I have been told that the newly released version is not as good as the original MT - aany views on this?)
BFG AT R1853.00
Bridgestone D694 @ R1337.00
Cooper STT @ R1975.00
Cooper ST @ R1728.00

All prices include fitting and balancing.


-F_D

Where did you get these prices from??? I paid R2400 for a new Dueler in Walvis Bay

Kai, from my mate Juan at Champion Wheel & Tyre, in Stilfontein.

Tel: 018-484-1719.


-F_D

Thanks Eric. Will keep them in mind as well as the guys in Nigel