[Rowant]

I am slowly going through what needs to be done to my recently acquired ´95 4.6 hse and I will soon need to replace the tyres and brake rotors.
Can anybody give me an opinion of Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus tyres (155-55-18)? I can get them on ebay (a good price) and shipped all the way over here to NZ for nothing. I ask because the cheapest price I have been quoted by local tyre sellers is NZ$480 per tyre - US$340 - (different brand) and ebay prices look so inviting by comparison. Cooper tyres are a little rare over here.
I am also considering the General Grabbber HTS and AT2 but am unsure of them.
My driving is mostly on road (80%) and my off-road is anything from dirt and rocky farm tracks to grassy hills and just plain muddy bits. I am not seeking a super agressive tyre because they are noisey, wear out very quickly on road and can be just plain dangerous on wet roads. More important is quietness, control and a decent tyre life.

I will also need to replace the brake rotors and I am unsure whether there are any real benefits in putting on driller/slotted rotors. Considering the driving that I do I suspect that standard ones would be more than adequate. What about semi metallic/ceramic pads - are they beneficial or just a bit of a gimick?

Just out of curiosity when did the se/hse models finish up - I have seen several adverts for rotors for years 96-98 and different parts for 99-02.

All comments welcome.

 

[NorCal RR]

I will also need to replace the brake rotors and I am unsure whether there are any real benefits in putting on driller/slotted rotors. Considering the driving that I do I suspect that standard ones would be more than adequate. What about semi metallic/ceramic pads - are they beneficial or just a bit of a gimick?quote]

Drilled and slotted rotors are a complete gimick. Ceramic pads usually are quieter and have less dust than conventional pad materials. But high performance pads are still mostly composites or semi-metallics (stock is semi-metallic I believe). I'm on the fence about my next set of pads for the RR, about going ceramic or not. Probably end up staying with stock pads.

 

[vinniman]

Ro.

The General Grabber HTS are ideal for the South Island and are available in 255/55HR18 size load & speed rated for your rig !
Cooper Discoverer H/T's have a reputation for tearing the rubber on coarse chip road surfaces and failing in extreme Oz heat.

I'm sure "Trademe" will have some replacement disc rotors for sale [email protected] prices & just stick with the O.E.M. pad.

Cheerio,


Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

P.S. Looking to enjoy Montieth's Summer Ale or a Speights in the New Year ? Cheers Bro'.

 

[rogan]

Have you rung around the tyre shops. Prices vary hugely in NZ; when I was looking for BFGs for my RRC the price varied from $340 to $570 per tyre.

 

[Rowant]

It seems a little strange to me that my existing rotors are worn down to the wear limit at 115,000K but I have been told by several dealerships (visited through my job) that modern rotors are desighned to wear out. I will have to get more prices before deciding what to get but I will stay with the standard design. Then again seeing gold coloured, drilled and slotted rotors through the mags would make me look a little dorky.
As far as tyres go I am a little wary of some of the brands out there on the market so that is why I would prefer to stay with a better known item. The ones I looked at on ebay would cost me less that NZ$800 a set in the hand over here - as opposed to $1600. I might have to contact the Cooper distributor down here and see if I can get any info. And I won´t even bother to look at Michelins until I win lotto. The old girl currently has Pirelli Scorpion s/t´s on but they appear to be discontinued so I will just keep looking.

Cheers