A Tread Thread about Tyre Nyers...

[Mad Manny]

Some Feedback:
I went to Bots with the old Coopers.
At CKGR, driving at 1.4bar, while towing, in thick sand, I picked notice the Front Left was very soft.
The problem with sand is it's hard to tell if the steering is pulling because of a flat or the sand.
I pumped it & we set off again.
We stopped for lunch under some trees & the tyre looked fine.
But no sooner than we headed off I could feel something was up.
Tyre shredded.
Bugger & Andreas assisted & we had the tyre replaced in no time.
But I now no longer had a spare.

Wessel pointed out that a good TPMS may have saved the tyre.
But it was Fubar - sidewall cuts a plenty.

We still had to get to Sunday Pan, then leave CKGR & head to Kubu Island.
On a trip to Chapman's Baobab I hit a hole with the Front Right, bad.
I drove the rest of the trip (about 1200km) with the steering @ 45 degrees.

But I got home safely - glad I made the right decision - the tyre destroyed had 92000km & had less than 3mm tread left.

[iandvl]

A TPMS is a necessity. Prior to getting mine, I wrote off two tyres. One between Derdepoort and Dwaalboom on my way home from Bots one year. The other on the infamous Ashkam <-> Vansylsrus road. In both cases, I imagine that I would have been able to save the tyre if I'd had decent warning,

A decent TPMS will probably cost less than half of what a single proper tyre is going to cost.

By proper, I mean a good 285/75R16 or similar. I have no idea what low-profiles Fearless runs.

[Mad Manny]

I have no idea what low-profiles Fearless runs.

265/75 17" - like on a souped up Golf GTi...

[grips]

The moment I lose a tyre I feel insecure for the rest of the trip. Think I should add an extra spare wheel carrier on the Cruiser.

[Mad Manny]

christo, fortunately Andrea's has exactly the same tyres and I'm pretty sure his spare would fit Fearless, if not, Bugger had tyre levers so we could just swop tyres.
Carrying a 2nd spare would be ideal, but the additional weight is a bitch.....

[LesseW]

I do not feel comfortable towing without a TPMS even if I make peace with it that I will loose an old tyre.
A TPMS will also teach you very quickly how Boyle’s law works if you don’t get your cold tyre pressure right….

[Mad Manny]

I've ordered a CAWE TPMS for 8 tyres.
This will be my 3rd TPMS.
I find they don't last.
Particularly the one that TW&T sold.
1st & last time I'll ever buy from TW&T.
Hopefully the CAWE one lasts.
I went for the external TPMS this time.
I found the internal sensors greatly increase you inflation/deflation times.

[KurtG]

I've decided to take the Coopers on their last trip.
When I return I'll toss them & probably fit the BFG's.

However, I'm keen on a set of Maxxis too - let's see how the rest of 2022 treats me,

Just start a YouTube channel and get the Maxxis for cheap

[Mad Manny]

OK, some feedback.
I replaced the Coopers.

For those who don't know, I fitted the Coopers at 42 200km.
35 000km later I noticed a cut line on two tyres, about 1cm from the rim all round.
Coopers replaced them under warranty.

Fearless is now on 136 400km.
So the original 3 Coopers did 94 200km & still had 2 - 3mm tread left.
I only had ONE puncture, the one now in Bots, which destroyed the tyre.
This was on one of the original 3.

The two 'warranty Claim' tyres did 60 000km and still have 6mm tread left.
I'll be giving them to Andreas as spares as he has EXACTLY the same tyres.
He'll easily get another 40 000km out of them, BUT... they are getting old.

I must say, those Coopers gave great service & virtually no problems.
Good tyres...

I fitted a set of BFG's that MikePS gifted to me. They have about 80% of their tread left.
They'll be good for 2 or 3 years.