All-terrain tyres

[A Guy Out West]

How things change. When a similar post regarding off road tires was made about a year ago, there was no praise for the BFG ATs. I'm on my 5th set now, last ones got me to 64,000 miles, they were at their max. They are quiet, handle well and are fantastic in snow. I drive a Ford Expedition.

 

[Gunner223]

Anybody use Hankooks ????

 

[User00003]

The last Bfg at ko2’s I had were disappointing on snow and ice, and virtually useless in the mud if there wasn’t a layer of rock right under the surface, they don’t shed mud and snow fast enough and seem to clog the sipes.

More impressed with falken’s than ko2’s.

 

[Youngjm]

I had a Ranger with BFGs. Did about 20k in them (then sold the truck). I was impressed. I drove to the Austrian border from the UK and was cutting around in winter everywhere, other vehicles were stuck in the snow and ice and slush.

However, my 15 year old gran vitara has shitty cheap mismatched road tyres on and thus far hasn’t got stuck even on chalk and clay based tracks on a local cross country track where I stalk. The Suzuki is very light and seems to float over poor ground. The truck did not - it had to be worked.

Though the BFGs were probably better, as much of it is down the the vehicle and how it is driven. Maybe I avoid the worse ground now and didn’t in the ranger? Having said that the BFGs after 20k looked new - I can find fault there.

When the road tyres on my Suzuki wear out I will likely put a tyre on there which is cheaper than the BFG (not sure they make them in my size anyway?) as I only do 10k a year in the 4x4 - the Rest on a motorbike.

If you are doing many many miles then I’d rely on the opinions of those who use them for work. However, much of it is down to the vehicle I believe.

 

[bogtrotter]

Have ran BFGs and Grabbers in the past but no longer now on my third set of
Insa Turbos same tread pattern as the old style Grabber AT2, yes I know they are retreads or remoulds or what they
term remanufactured not sure what the difference is.
But and there is a but first set had done approximately 50,000 miles on a Pajero when sold were still legal but were
ready for a change.
Second set 44,000 on an L200 when sold a good miles still left on the them though the rears wer showing a bit of wear.
Present set on a CRV 24,000 and you can't see the wear still look like new.
Down side a little bit noisy at speed on road in the CRV never noticed the road noise in the L200 or Pajero,
and I have dropped four miles to the gallon with the CRV
On the plus side I was £260 for a set of four, whats not to like!

 

[dartmoordog]

As I stated earlier, I will not have anything but BFGs on my 4x4 vehicles. I don’t care that they cost an extra £30, they are simply the best A/T tyre on the market.

But any tyre is average if the person behind the wheel does not know what they are doing, driving a 4x4 vehicle off road is a skill, and a skill that can only be learned by proper training followed by experience. You have to know what the vehicle can and cannot do, and I reckon that the majority of people who have a 4x4 vehicle don’t have a clue how to drive it off road.

I had a 34 year career that terrain/geography dictated a 4x4 essential, I had Land Rovers, a Discovery, L200s and now a Ranger. The organisation I worked for had a policy of proper training every three years for those needing to use a 4x4 vehicle, off road towing, Quad and ATV. I HAD to do it, and it was absolutely brilliant to have a regular top up, I learned something new every time, sometimes just different techniques, but mainly due to changes in technology. We did use a few different training providers, but none compared to doing a full on Land Rover training course, their instructors were fantastic, I always came away from a Land Rover Experience buzzing. They push your vehicle to its limits, in 2012 I even had the joy of driving a brand new Range Rover over a very demanding course, it was simply amazing off road in the right hands.

I also did a vehicle recovery day with my Aussie mate, and his 4x4 club, in Victoria over serious terrain, he had a rigged out Patrol. It was a great day, with serious off roaders and was very much a learning day with the added checks for snakes!

So, for those that haven’t ever done a 4x4/Off Road Training course, do one with a provider with a good reputation, you will learn so much. Simply putting your car in 4WD and going off road ain’t gonna work, it is a simple as that.......Even with BFGs.

Just to add that anyone who ever says that they use road tyres, or tyres such as Bridgestone Duellers off road, are simply spouting verbal diarrhoea. Tyres and training maketh the Off Roader........And a decent 4x4 car off course, that is why I now have a Ranger!

 

[Malxwal]

I found the OEM Bridgestone Duellers as fitted to the Hilux from new to be absolutely useless. A very mild slope, wet grass, 4wd (I have been driving offroad long enough, but without any training), and I realised very quickly the only way forward was backwards....

 

[User00003]

As I stated earlier, I will not have anything but BFGs on my 4x4 vehicles. I don’t care that they cost an extra £30, they are simply the best A/T tyre on the market.

But any tyre is average if the person behind the wheel does not know what they are doing, driving a 4x4 vehicle off road is a skill, and a skill that can only be learned by proper training followed by experience. You have to know what the vehicle can and cannot do, and I reckon that the majority of people who have a 4x4 vehicle don’t have a clue how to drive it off road.

I had a 34 year career that terrain/geography dictated a 4x4 essential, I had Land Rovers, a Discovery, L200s and now a Ranger. The organisation I worked for had a policy of proper training every three years for those needing to use a 4x4 vehicle, off road towing, Quad and ATV. I HAD to do it, and it was absolutely brilliant to have a regular top up, I learned something new every time, sometimes just different techniques, but mainly due to changes in technology. We did use a few different training providers, but none compared to doing a full on Land Rover training course, their instructors were fantastic, I always came away from a Land Rover Experience buzzing. They push your vehicle to its limits, in 2012 I even had the joy of driving a brand new Range Rover over a very demanding course, it was simply amazing off road in the right hands.

I also did a vehicle recovery day with my Aussie mate, and his 4x4 club, in Victoria over serious terrain, he had a rigged out Patrol. It was a great day, with serious off roaders and was very much a learning day with the added checks for snakes!

So, for those that haven’t ever done a 4x4/Off Road Training course, do one with a provider with a good reputation, you will learn so much. Simply putting your car in 4WD and going off road ain’t gonna work, it is a simple as that.......Even with BFGs.

Just to add that anyone who ever says that they use road tyres, or tyres such as Bridgestone Duellers off road, are simply spouting verbal diarrhoea. Tyres and training maketh the Off Roader........And a decent 4x4 car off course, that is why I now have a Ranger!

it's amazing how the KO2 is the only tyre in the world worth using, how other manufacturers manage to survive I simply don't understand!

Of course, if the KO2's are not up to the task, it's driver error or lack of skill ehh?..
LOL.

where's that 'ignore' button..goodbye

 

[dartmoordog]

it's amazing how the KO2 is the only tyre in the world worth using, how other manufacturers manage to survive I simply don't understand!

Of course, if the KO2's are not up to the task, it's driver error or lack of skill ehh?..
LOL.

where's that 'ignore' button..goodbye

Then why didn’t you just ignore it then! Goodbye.

 

[caorach]

it's amazing how the KO2 is the only tyre in the world worth using, how other manufacturers manage to survive I simply don't understand!
Of course, if the KO2's are not up to the task, it's driver error or lack of skill ehh?..

There are several interesting points here - in terms of the ability of the driver then it is probably reasonable to assume that a good, well trained, experienced driver will always get further that someone like myself that probably only does 1,000 miles a year off the road and, as I'm alone in remote areas with no mobile coverage, avoids trouble and so doesn't gain experience of driving through bog holes. However, this doesn't invalidate comparative reviews - just because I'm not the Nigel Mansell of off road driving doesn't mean to say that I can't conclude that the BFGs aren't as good as other makes of tyre I've used and this still provides people with useful information as long as you keep in mind that it relates to my experiences. Simple logic tells you that my ability is likely to be distinctly average, and also that the abilities of a vast majority of people is likely to be pretty similar, and it may be that BFGs are simply unsuited to normal users who can't "get the best out of them." Unlikely, but possible.

Another thing to consider is that BFG are now about the only people still using the old interlocking "S" shaped tread pattern on their tyres, I don't know what the technical term for it is but you know what I mean when you look at the tyre, there aren't many about that look like a BFG. They've modified them a little bit, but the pattern still looks pretty much as it did as far back as I can remember. Almost everyone else has moved to more rectangular, or modified diamond, type tread blocks and I remember when General Grabber did this, maybe 15 years ago, as they had a tyre that looked similar to the BFG but said they could make a much better tyre using more modern design but it simply didn't look as aggressive. At the time people were very reluctant to accept that the tyre (AT2 I think it was called in those days though there have been many generations of AT2 since) could be replaced by something that looked more like a heavy duty road tyre but that GG said performed better and the general view was that it did. Ironically I think GG still produce tyres with a tread pattern that look the most similar to the BFGs interlocking S type shapes. It could be that 40 years ago BFG discovered some secret tread pattern that could never be bettered despite the progress of science and technology. Unlikely, but possible.

 

[landkeeper]

You can be as cynical as you like about what many to be one of the best all round offroad tyres available , the proof is in the pudding , how long did bfg make and sell the at for ,it was decades , uts only been changed due to 'enviromental' issues such as believe it or nor road noise lol
The fact is it is was and will be one of the best selling compromise tyres out there its tough ,long lasting,and capeable on most terrains if not all terrains

 

[Chasey]

On my old diving forum some idiot reckoned 4X4s were a waste of time and his Vaxhaul Corsa was brilliant in the snow because "he knew how to drive it"

I offerd him £1000.00 if he could get further up Harietshum hill (in the current 18" of snow we had) than my Shogan running Perillie Scorpion tyres with 30K miles on them

He didnt respond so I kept upping the offer. I got to £5000 and said my 17 year old daughter who had just passed her test would drive the shogun

Still nothing

Theres reel skill in off road driving, but when it comes to getting up a muddy track, across a field or through some snow on a road. its pretty much all down to the 4x4 system and the tyres

 

[caorach]

its pretty much all down to the 4x4 system and the tyres

Tyres are the only thing that touch the road/snow/mud and so are the only thing that give you grip. I guess the minor differences in 4WD systems will become important right at the very edges of the performance envelope, and so will be important for a tiny proportion of people, but for almost everyone operating in the circumstances you might reasonably expect to encounter then the right tyres are the key. There's lots of this sort of stuff about and clearly it isn't science but it is well worth watching

 

[John Gryphon]

Winter tyres in use this morning in climbing my way up to the top.

 

[FISH BOY]

Tyres are the only thing that touch the road/snow/mud and so are the only thing that give you grip. I guess the minor differences in 4WD systems will become important right at the very edges of the performance envelope, and so will be important for a tiny proportion of people, but for almost everyone operating in the circumstances you might reasonably expect to encounter then the right tyres are the key. There's lots of this sort of stuff about and clearly it isn't science but it is well worth watching

Cheers for posting that as I run the Eagle F1s used on the test 4x4 car on the Mrs runaround.

Have a set of winters for it but often too lazy to change them, so after watching that I probably should.

Having said all that, I generally put an emergency only use on the cars when snow is down as there are just too many idiots not having a clue to contend with...

 

[User00003]

Anyone using Cooper ST-MAXX? Seems like they’re as close to a proper AT/MT and good in the bitumen along with having good wet/ice grip...according to all the biased reviews of course

 

[@theroedeerguy]

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=110&typ=R-367792&partner=1&ID=psm_rd_uk_billiger&Country=UK#

I have BFG Ko2 all terrain which are reasonable but I don’t think they offer nearly as much grip as some people claim and they can be quite greasy in the wet even with a sympathetic driving style.

I am probably going to replace mine with Kumho Road Venturer MT51 which look like a decent alternative.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Insa Turbo’s seem to be very popular with Suzuki Jimmy owners. Certainly on the Facebook group I’m in. Not carrying the same weight as my Ranger so hard to say if they compare on heavier vehicles.

 

[bogtrotter]

Insa Turbo’s seem to be very popular with Suzuki Jimmy owners. Certainly on the Facebook group I’m in. Not carrying the same weight as my Ranger so hard to say if they compare on heavier vehicles.

Had them on a Pajero, an L200 and a Honda CRV can't fault them a bit of road noise I would say was the only downside.

 

[purdeydog]

BFG mud terrain. Great off road. Great in snow. Not so great in very wet/greasy/heavy frost roads, but not really designed for that and L200 back end very light. Good tyres but drink fuel.