about to buy Good Year AT/R 245/75 R16

5001 Views 20 Replies 5 Participants Last post by JeremyD, Nov 23, 2009

JeremyD

Discussion Starter · Nov 20, 2009

I am about to buy a set of tyres and want some opinions so if you have some free time please let me know your thoughts on

Good Year AT/R 245/75R16

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

vinniman

· #2 · Nov 20, 2009

JD.

Good to here you're back again as I wasn't sure how you had got on with any tyres & shockies for your P38 Rangie in Namibia ?

I've bought and run several Goodyear tyres on past cars numbering over half a dozen which is comforting for your knowledge, except my current Rangie Classic as I've been informed from my well regarded Aussie mechanic that they are tyre sensitive !

The AT/R pattern is an in-between version of the original Goodyear Wrangler AT's which were the first radial 4WD tyres ever made and the Mud Terrain version in the early 1980's while improving wet weather performance on pavement for the 1990's.

All Land Rovers have had poor reviews with Goodyear tyres on this forum whether their shod with 16",18" or 19" inch wheels, except the German made 235/70HR16 Goodyear Eagle GT+4's which came out on 1995+ Land Rover Discovery's down under.

I think the AT/R product still has only 2 ply sidewalls, though there could be an additional Kevlar layer incorporated into the most current versions called Armour-Tek so check this spec. against the proper MT/R which are more suitable for rock work.

My only concern is if you are spending the greatest time on tarmac compared to off highway conditions than go for the AT/R, otherwise if it is the other way around than the MT/R's if you can also source them would be the preferred option.

The speed rating of the rubber is also important from my Zimbabwe mates comments yesterday with respect to the climate, as travelling speed fully loaded over dirt roads at pace will have detrimental effects on the tyres wear characteristics/failure.

Flotation sizes for the 16 inch rims are much better in sandy conditions, otherwise check out the Mickey Thompson range or even Pro-Comp's which I could also help you with if more guidance is needed and also record the individual tyre weight too.

I mentioned earlier I have a Fedex account so if you wanted anything I.P.E.C.'d to a P.O. Box No. then they offer this service.

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

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vinniman

· #3 · Nov 20, 2009

JD.

One more thing just check with your fitting agent if Goodyear will allow the AT/R's in 245/75R16 to fit on 7" or 8" OEM wheels ?

As most All Terrain pattern suppliers will only allow their size mentioned above to fit onto 16x7/7.5" wide wheels-Not 8 inches !

There could also be clearance issues if your EAS system is on a lower setting when traversing quickly over pot holed dirt roads.

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

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JeremyD

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 20, 2009

Wow thank you for the excellent info im going to be moving back to cape town next year and will only be up here every second month so most of the driving will be tar with the odd 100km`s of dirt road I did ask about the speed rating as I like to have a lot of head room with in this regard.

Im not sure about the wheel sixe but will have them check it out before fitment with regard to the EAS issue I dont really travel far on access mode and when I do its very slowly. I am getting these tyres at N$1300.00 a corner were as the BFG`s come in at N$3300.00 a corner so the price differnce is huge!

P.S a standard 15" road tyre in Namibia reatils roughly for N$600 so this is a great deal!

vinniman

· #5 · Nov 20, 2009

JD.

There's an old saying in the car game - "When something is too good to be true - it probably is" if you know what I mean ? BFG's have an awesome reputation and you pay twice as much just for the name, but they are proven on the "Baja 1000". When replacement tyres start to get wider or taller than stock, there is an additional weight penalty your suspension needs to cope with on each corner and the whole E.A.S. system needs to work correctly with proper dampers and springs. If you were to travel at 110km'h along a dirt road loaded to the roof with gear, the P38's E.A.S. would probably sit at a lower height setting (no different to cruising along the motorway) which would cause some serious problems if you suddenly hit a pothole !

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

JeremyD

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 21, 2009

So you recon I should just stay with the standard original size?

996TURBO

· #7 · Nov 21, 2009

I had to make that choice too and i did stay with original tire size.
Why?

-i had 2 spares of the same size ready to go on the roof rack for a trip.
-i didn't want to increase fuel consumption
-i didn't want to make stress on components
-i didn't want to loose on performance on the road (acceleration and handling)
-i'm convinced that a OEM land rover with decent tyres (AT) can be driven very far and since the tyre size isn't the limiting factor in my case, i had to stick to OEM.

After all, any old Peugeot with only a small lift and heavy duty tires can go (if the driver is good) through North African trails. I've readen a website where a guy has done the most difficult trail of Lybia with a Mercedes 190 with a lift and taller tires. Amazing

vinniman

· #8 · Nov 21, 2009

996 Turbo is correct.

When you're living in a developing country one has to rely on each other whether it's business or pleasure in the Third World !

Simply the choices are limiting, not just with whatever is available but what happens when tyres blow out and you're in no-go.

There are numerous cases of EAS failures or punctures to air bag systems off-road which in turn cuts a tyres wider shoulder ?

But the most paramount consideration is terrain conditions the tyres are expected to perform in that will decide which brand.

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

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JeremyD

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 22, 2009

A mojor factor in my decision process was the availability of this tyre the good years are much more widely available that the OEM size.

vinniman

· #10 · Nov 23, 2009

JD.

Well there isn't much option then, just hope Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will allow fitment of this size to your rims dude ?

I've seen the same situation in the Solomon Islands recently where the bloody locals only have one dealer who sells Toyota's and standard cross-ply 16" skinnies for Landcruisers, these are Bridgestone Jeep Service (Old school post second world war design) tread patterns primarily for mud and snow conditions where these buggers are chewing through all 4 them on sand/rocky roads !
At US$200 per tyre every Three months for replacements they are really expensive and unsuited to the vehicles or conditions.

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

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q-rover

· #11 · Nov 23, 2009

Have you considered Goodyear Duratrac?

996TURBO

· #12 · Nov 23, 2009

JeremyD said:
A mojor factor in my decision process was the availability of this tyre the good years are much more widely available that the OEM size.

Yes i know, that's why i did consider going a very common size of tire : 265/75 R16. OEM size for Toyota HDJ100 and Patrols that are used by locals as the 1st choice for offroad tours...
In fact, i may go for this but only as an expedition tire.
I do not want to ruin my fuel economy with a heavy tire

JeremyD

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 23, 2009

I wasnt aware that that was the size used on cruisers I will get them to quoe me on that size

996TURBO

· #14 · Nov 23, 2009

JeremyD said:
I wasnt aware that that was the size used on cruisers I will get them to quoe me on that size

It should go nicely but you'll want as safety and if you still have air suspension:

-recalibrated suspension
-longer bump stops
-a MARS kit just in case

JeremyD

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 23, 2009

I dont want to fettle with the Air suspension.It works fine and Im not playing with it especially when the pound - namibian dollar exchange rate is what it is! Is it really nessecary to adjust it with these tyre on?

SpiggyTopes

· #16 · Nov 23, 2009

Jeremiad said:
I don't want to fettle with the Air suspension.It works fine and I'm not playing with it especially when the pound - Namibian dollar exchange rate is what it is! Is it really necessary to adjust it with these tyre on?

If the overall diameter of the new tyre / wheel setup is the same as before, would you need to adjust the suspension height?

vinniman

· #17 · Nov 23, 2009

Gentlemen.

The P38 Rangie is not like other Tojo's or Datsun's from Japan, that's why each of us acquired one and now have to live with it !

All the standard tyre sizes available in Third world areas can't hide the fact that other compromises have to be made to fit P38's peculiar characteristics and remember none of use will be cruising along the dirt roads out the back blocks of Namibia to help ?

I think that South African 4X4 guru on his www.4xforum.com web-site has some healthy experience with Land Rovers in Africa.

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

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JeremyD

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 23, 2009

I think to play it safe im going to have to pay the extra bucks and buy the OEM tires if I can find another second hand 16" wheel and have two spares if the need arises.

996TURBO

· #19 · Nov 23, 2009

vinniman said:
Gentlemen.

The P38 Rangie is not like other Tojo's or Datsun's from Japan, that's why each of us acquired one and now have to live with it !

All the standard tyre sizes available in Third world areas can't hide the fact that other compromises have to be made to fit P38's peculiar characteristics and remember none of use will be cruising along the dirt roads out the back blocks of Namibia to help ?

I think that South African 4X4 guru on his http://www.4xforum.com web-site has some healthy experience with Land Rovers in Africa.

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

Great website, hours of learning. Thanks :thumb:

vinniman

· #20 · Nov 23, 2009

JD.

There is a bloke in Perth who runs the biggest second hand wheel warehouse in the world apparently called www.mrmag.com.au
I picked up my 16" Rangie Hiline rims from him last year & if anybody has a set of bolt on rims for your P38 this would be him !
This way if you wanted a set of tyres also than I could arrange cartage to Namibia a.s.a.p. if you found what you're looking for ?
My business associate runs a freight operation in Perth, Western Australia under www.worldwidefreight.com.au for assistance.

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

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