Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

I have Yokohama AT tyres that have about 5mm of tread left. The tyre wear indicators on the tyres show that there is good road life left on the tyres.

At what point do you replace your tyres given that you still want decent traction off road? Do you wait until the tyre wear indicator is reached or do you replace them earlier? If so, how much earlier?

I know this is likely a matter of preference, but I would like to hear some of your answers to help me make my decision.

I don't want to throw away tyres that still have decent road life and pay R10,000 for a new set, but at the same time I would like to capably grip the dirt on my not-often-enough ventures off the beaten track.

Michael

I'd replace before the rains come.... M2CW

I would expect that the performance off road, in the dry, will be little changed while you have not reached the wear indicator on the most-worn tyre.

Once you plan to use the tyres off-road in the wet, then maybe you need to look at changing them, depending on expected trail conditions.

I would expect tyres to be safe on tar, in the wet (as long as not excessive water build up on the tar road) until the wear indicator is reached - I can't see tyre manufacturers putting wear indicators at a depth that would result in unsafe driving.

Once you reach the wear indicator on the first tyre, assuming they are approximately worn the same, then I would change them - either in pairs or all four, depending on difference in wear between axles.

when you get home after being stuck ?

Based on hearsay I have it that the legal limmit is arround 1.8mm but that if you drive in snow or lots of rain you should look at replacing at 3mm

Thanks. I live in CT so the roads are often wet. I guess that if I plan to use the car on wet gravel or mud then it makes sense to replace them before the wear indicators are reached.

I should be able to fetch R1-R2,000 for the old tyres as well if there is still some life on them.

If you are going off road the newer the tyre the better, especially for an extended trip. The new tyres puncture less often and provide better traction over rough terrain. Tar only driving, you can run down to 2mm. This provides adequate water dispersal in wet weather (slow down anyway). Anything below this, you might stand the chance of aquaplaning you Pajero when you hit standing water. There was a court case a few years ago where someone proved that totally smooth tyres provided better grip on a dry tar road, but smooth tyres do turn the road into an ice rink as soon as it gets wet.

Once you start getting punctures.
Peter