New tyre time?

[Towpack]

The tyres on the LC are now 12 years old but still with a lot of tread left. I noticed some further deterioration today, obviously helped by some kerb scrubbing but that's my bad! I asked the MOT guy last September about the fine, peripheral age cracking and he said it's not an issue but this looks a bit more serious. I don't think it's the fabric casing showing through, it feels more like white rubber.
BFG's are renowned for their longevity and strength but I think these my well be end of life.
A new set is around £1k but I know some on here are running Yokohama Geolanders and are pleased with them and the big plus is they're a lot cheaper. Some shopping around to be done I think.

 

[felix2566]

If you get another 12 years out of a brand new set at 1k that's less than 100£ per year, seems like pretty good value to me.

 

[MODVRS]

I put a set of Yokohama ATs on mine in 2013 and they have no cracking at all. They've only done 20,000 miles and have loads of tread left. I think the rubber has hardened and gives a poorer ride than when they were new. I'd certainly buy them again for my use which doesn't include any serious off-roading; I think the sidewalls are too weak for rock crawling.

 

[Gav missin]

Can't see the wires yet....be grand....

 

[Grimbo]

That looks like UV damage ...... mine are a similar age but live in the dark when not being driven .... no cracking to speak of .
TBH my 1944 dated Goodyears on my Halftrack show similar cracking but have a good few years on the BFG's ....
I wouldn't expect that level of cracking from a premium brand in your time span .....

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

As is said TP, UV damage plus a bit of Kerb rash. As is mentioned a few , including myself really rate the Yokohama Geolander GO15's. I have them on the Collie ( replacing BFG AT3's) on the Hilux ( replacing Cooper AT's) and they both seem to be a nicer drive. Although I've always been a BFG fan ( for the last 30 years) and if I was doing a trip to Mongolia I'd definitely have BFG's but I think they are a tyre for a specific job and priced accordingly.
I have BFG MT's on the greenlaning 80 but they are there like I said, to do a specific job.
The choice is yours, there's plenty out there to choose from.

 

[Towpack]

After much googling I'm edging towards the Yokohama's as they get good reviews and probably suit my 100% road use better, the only "problem" being I can't find any one local who stocks them but they can be ordered in. Plus, the tart in me quite likes the raised white lettering and I'm not sure if they can be ordered with it.

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

I got mine from Lodge tyres but they did have to order them in.

 

[Soutie]

You won't be disappointed with the Yokohama. Check out their Geolandar M/T as well.

 

[Towpack]

Turns out the Geolander is no longer available with the white lettering which isn't a deal breaker.
They are cheaper than the BFG's but not by a huge amount, plus I still have a good BFG spare so it's the cost of 4 new BFG's vs 5 Geolandars.

 

[Towpack]

Has anyone used the Blackcicles.com site to source and buy tyres. I can't find a local tyre shop that stocks them (Geolandars) but you can buy on Blackcircles at very favourable prices and have them fitted at a number of local tyre shops.

 

[LandcruisingFarmer]

Has anyone used the Blackcicles.com site to source and buy tyres. I can't find a local tyre shop that stocks them (Geolandars) but you can buy on Blackcircles at very favourable prices and have them fitted at a number of local tyre shops.

Yes many times. Sometimes fitted sometimes just supplied. They’re also fairly good at not advertising tyres that they haven’t got in stock unlike some other online sites.

 

[Grimbo]

Blackcircles work well and are often cheaper for the same tyre than the tyre shop who will be fitting them...so much cheaper often he can't buy them for that price if he's a small indy tyre guy....
Used them many times and also used their customer services when some Michelin tyres started to go out of round.... again they did what they promised and I got replacements fitted at the same indy tyre guy FOC .....

 

[Towpack]

Just ordered a set, for fitting on Bank Holiday Monday, at a price that was, indeed cheaper than any quote I got from local tyre fitting shops.

 

[Towpack]

New Yokohamas fitted today.
Wheels were torqued up to 131Nm/96lb/ft although the owner's manual states 103NM/76lb/ft which is what I've been using for some time after shearing a stud off when using a breaker bar instead of a torque wrench in a previous life but I'm better now.
When I queried the figure with the fitter he checked it via the Haynes live database and apparently the it's the "updated" setting. The new figure for steel wheels is over 200Nm. Hmmmm....
All in all, great, prompt service from Hawleys (now Pro Tyre)

Tried to upload a photo but I can't do this anymore and it takes ages to post anything thanks to repeated timeouts and "site down" errors.


Edit.........A bit of googling has brought up the above mentioned (higher) torque figures for the 200 series, 131Nm alloy and 209Nm steel wheels. I think I'll back them off a bit.

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

New Yokohamas fitted today.

Have you noticed any difference in the way they feel as opposed to the BFG's?

The factory manual for the 250 states the wheel nut torque is 96 lb/ft, same size nuts.

 

[Towpack]

The ride does feels softer, more comfortable, not by a huge amount but noticeable. I thought I may be imagining it on the way home but I've since been out in it again and it's definitely there. This could be down to 2ply sidewalls and new, more compliant rubber vs the 3ply and age hardened carcass of the BFG's. Maybe. I can't recall the ride suffering to any degree when I had the BFG's fitted but it's 13yrs ago and I have a 2 week memory. Dipping the clutch and coasting at 40-50mph, there's also less tyre roar on smooth tarmac but then they are sold as a more road biased tyre.

 

[Towpack]

Checked the pressures today and they ranged from 36-39psi so I've dropped them down to the 32 recommended in the handbook and it's slightly improved the ride even further.
Just found out today that Metal Magic powder coaters in Barnsley are no longer trading which is a shame because I want the spare wheel doing. I had 4 done by MM prior to having the BFG's fitted in 2013 and they still look great.

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

t Metal Magic powder coaters in Barnsley are no longer trading

It would seem so TP.

However my go to wheel refurbisher is a guy trading as Alloy-D. He is north of Sheffield and very well regarded,

His number is 07508 699384.

Hope this helps.

 

[Towpack]

Thanks Andy. After a bit of googling yesterday I dropped the wheel off at RS Alloys at Hillsborough. They said they'll get the wheel done quickly as it's my spare even though they're extremely busy which I can believe going on the number of wheels they have in the place and cars parked up on stands. It's £50+Vat for powder coating.
Can't remember how much I paid at Metal Magic but it seems the going rate these days.