TORQUETALK
In the need for new tyres for both Discoverys (Long story! Ed) in the fleet, the thought on what tyres should I get led to that commonest of questions whenever two or more 4WDers get together for a chinwag, “What’s the best tyre off-road?”
Generally the answers are many and varied as the word ‘best’ is too loosely bandied around. Best can mean anything from traction performance, to puncture resistance or even price. Price is often the determining factor for tyre choice though in my humble opinion it should be more about value.
Tyres are a compromise between what you need, what you want and what you may not know you need in a tyre. Most off-road tyre comparison tests compare traction performance between tyres, however with so many terrain variations on the market from all terrain (A/ T) to mud terrain (M/ T) and options in between, traction alone doesn’t constitute the ‘best’ tyre.
That’s not to say that all comparison tests are flawed, just that the best way to compare two or more tyre options is to look at their specifications and how those specifications relate to your (Or in this specific case) my needs.
For me, the choice for the off -oad Discovery has to be mud terrain tyres. For my latest acquisition, a (much) later model D3, I need an All-Terrain as most of its use will be on-road with only some offroad use around the property and the odd safari trip.
When shopping for new tyres, tread depth is rarely mentioned as a comparison when it is actually a good indication to the life expectancy of the tyre and therefore the value. It also suggests how well the tyre will grip, especially off-road in loose terrain and how well it will grip under braking on gravel surfaces.
Tread depth can vary between nine and 16mm for an all-terrain tyre, for instance, with most premium brands featuring a tread depth closer to 13-16mm giving a longer life expectancy than a tyre with less tread depth, so any comparison in price should also include a comparison in value and the depth of tread.
Much like tread depth the weight of a tyre indicates to its valve as it tells us how the tyre is constructed. Such things as the steel cords used, the number of plys (or layers) and the carcass strength of a tyre relates directly to its puncture resistance as well as load rating and steering response.
4WDs are often modified with bull bars, winches, roof racks and awnings, etc, so it’s important to get a tyre that will take the heavy loads we tend to subject vehicles to. For this reason therefore most tyres for 4WDs are LT (light truck) tyres. Get too heavy a duty tyre for load capacity and puncture resistance, however, and ride quality will be affected, fuel consumption increased, difficulty in balancing and your shock absorbers will end up working harder.
A tyre is merely a container to hold air which is essentially what carries the load and the stronger the container the more air pressure and load it can take. Information on pressures and load ratings are found on the sidewall of the tyre. Most LT tyres have a loading rating of around 1350kgs upwards so if you don’t need a tyre with a high load rating your ride quality will be far better and those fillings will stay in place.
We all have different driving habits, needs, and varied ideas on what constitutes an off-road adventure so I stands to reason that we also have different needs as to what type of tyre is required.
All-terrain (A/ T) or mud terrain (M/ T)? The way the tyre manufacturers see it an all-terrain tyre generally has a 70/30 split, 70 percent in favour of road use, 30 percent off-road. An M/ T however, is considered to have an 80/20 split, the 80 percent this time being in favour of off-road use.
Tyre manufacturers like Coopers and Mickey Thompson have realised there was a gap in the market and produce tyres such as the Cooper S/ T Maxx and Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ which are both closer to a 50/ 50 split.
It comes back to what you are willing to live with as far as tyre choice is concerned; as already stated heavy duty tyres do have some downsides.
While price is what many base their tyre purchase on, maybe it should be more about the value taking in the above considerations, cost and affordability. Most tyres are covered by a general defect warranty but very few manufacturers provide a mileage guarantee so you don’t really know how much the tyre is going to cost you per kilometre. While one tyre might be a good price over another, longevity or lack of is a bitter pill that can leave a lingering taste.
Back to the question “What is the best tyre for off road?” Maybe the answer is the tyre you can afford giving you best value for your hard-earned dollar.