Check out our BT-50’s new tyres

We’ve had our Mazda BT-50 for just over a month, and we used the opportunity to put some proper tyres on it.

Abit over than a month ago we received a brand-new Mazda BT-50 3.2 4x4 SLE double cab automatic as a long-term vehicle. The story, however, goes further back. At the beginning of the year we attended the South African launch of the new BT-50. Here we chatted to the Mazda bosses and discussed why the BT-50 wasn’t selling better. It’s after all mechanically identical to the Ranger bakkie – which sells really well.

There is room for improvement

It can probably be blamed on two things: Firstly, its appearance, especially when the first generation was launched a few years ago, was maybe a bit too revolutionary. And secondly, you didn’t see a lot of them doing off-road driving. With regards to the first point, it’s clear that its appearance currently isn’t odd-looking at all, especially if you compare it to the new Navara, Hilux or Triton. And secondly, we believe that it’ll look really good with the right off-road accessories. Which explains why Mazda decided to tackle this project with us.

Tyres, tyres, tyres

Everyone knows the first improvement you make to an off-road vehicle is exchanging its standard tyres with proper off-road tyres. And what’s more suitable for serious off-roading than BF Goodrich T/As? Our recent all-terrain tyre shootout showed there’s no other tyre that’s as tough when it comes to resistance against sharp objects on the tyre’s shoulder as the BFG. But that’s merely the first step to showing how good an off-roader the BT-50 will be with its 3.2 turbodiesel that develops 147 kW and 470 Nm, linked to the 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The best is yet to come

Over the next few months we are going to equip the BT-50 with Iron Man suspension, a bull bar, rear steel bumper, aluminium canopy, and a whole lot of other components to once and for all prove what a formidable off-roader the BT-50 can be. Every month we are going to record every modification and explain what role and function each one fulfils. Nothing will be done for cosmetic purposes – everything will be functional and practical.

Modifications so far

June 2017

BFG tyres

R16 780