Tyres..........

In message <[email protected]>, Rooney
<[email protected]> writes
>On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 15:34:27 GMT, "Steve" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Rooney" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>> On Wed, 09 Feb 2005 17:36:46 GMT, "Steve" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Yeah, OK, The Nissan X-trail that I have at the moment may not be classed
>>>>as
>>>>a proper 4x4
>>>
>>> It's a highly regarded 4x4, doing extremely well (ie, coming top) in
>>> tests and surveys from the likes of What Car? and Fifth Gear.
>>> It's not a tractor - but it's not meant to be. It's a quality family
>>> car with decent off-road ability.
>>>
>>I know, i was just mocking the pillocks that would either say "go and and
>>get a proper 4x4" (those that think anything less than a defender or shogun
>>etc) or thise that say "why have a 4x4 and use it on road" brigade. The
>>later are the ones that are bashing 4x4's at it seems to be trendy to do so
>>now and they need a bandwaggon to jump on until the next thing comes along
>>to satisfy there ignorant mind. And no doubt those in that group drive a
>>mondeo etc that produces more harmfull co2 etc than my x-trail and many
>>other jeeps produce........ but anyways..........
>
>All very true.
>>
>>Looks like it will be BFG's then. Some of you say BFG All Terrain, is that
>>the name of them or is there a more specific name to them?
>
>Seems to be a couple.
>>
>>Also, only the fron 2 of the existing Dunlops are near replacement, what are
>>my choices, put the dunlops on the front so they wear quicker and the new
>>BFG's on the rear replacing the fronts when they have gone.......... or
>>replace the 4 in one lot? bearing in mind the spare will have to be changed
>>as well at some time?
>
>
>I'll leave that to someone who knows!
>
>>Thanks again.
>>
>>Steve
>>
>
>I've just been looking up BFG tyres - is what is being recommended
>this:
>http://www.bfgoodrichtyres.co.uk/bfguk/front/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=12&
>codePage=BFG_PAG_DETAIL2&lang=EN
>(Long Trail T/A)?
>
No I think its the All Terrain T/A KO

http://www.bfgoodrichtyres.co.uk/bfguk/front/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=13&
codePage=BFG_PAG_PRODUCT1&lang=EN
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

Rooney ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

>>Looks like they dont my size !!!
>>
>>Its 215/65R 16

> I looked again - the Long Trail isn't the one mentioned by the other
> posters. It's the All Terrain T/A KO, which gives the following sizes
> on 16" rims:
>
> LT215/70R16 100 R
<snip>
> Is it possible to use something slightly different from what you've
> got now?

215/70 will be a taller sidewall than 215/65 - 70% of tread width rather
than 65%.

As a result, the handling will suffer slightly due to increased sidewall
flex and the speedo reading will vary due to the greater rolling radius.

I'm not sure, though, that I'd go anywhere near tyres that are only R speed
rated - 106mph max - for a car that I was going to be doing long motorway
runs in.

Steve - What speed rating (the letter after the load rating) do Nissan
specify?

>
> What's your exact model? I looked up the X Trail using the tyre
> locator thing on their site, but got the message that they can supply
> your vehicle but you need to contact them.
>
Nissan X-trail Sport, 2.2Dci Manual, new model (ie 2004>)

Steve

..
>
> I'm not sure, though, that I'd go anywhere near tyres that are only R
> speed
> rated - 106mph max - for a car that I was going to be doing long motorway
> runs in.
>
> Steve - What speed rating (the letter after the load rating) do Nissan
> specify?

Its a H rating. Car will do 115mph (well it says that on my snooper and GPS
navigation) but if police asks it was only 70, lol

Steve

its ok to go a bit wider (too much n u get a rather amusing looking overhang
/ balloon tyre sort of effect), bit deeper sidewall is ok assumin u've got
room in ur wheelarches.. obviously 16" rims will need 16" tyres, only
problem i see is that R = 106mph and S = 112mph....
the size increase may drop ur top speed slightly? i don't know.. but
generally i thought u want tyres rated a good few mph ABOVE ur top
concievable speed, i.e. my old car went 109 top but wore tyres rated T =
118mph, not even S = 112mph.

i'd have to say i'd go for the long trails for ur sort of driving they'll
cope with some mud although u might not wanna accelerate too hard when u
first come off teh field <g> ... LT225/75R16 BSW 104 T should be ok? make
sure you check with someone who a) knows what they're talking about (thats
not me!) and b) can see your car.. only problem i foresee is i don't kno
what your suspension travel or wheel arch depth is like.. 75% of 225 is a
fair bit more than 65% of 215.

apparently theres some bull**** legislation involved with size changing i
have no idea though.. your tyre fitting man will know, and if he doesn't its
his problem not yours <g>

- /\nthony

"Rooney" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 16:45:19 GMT, "Steve" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >
> >>>
> >>
> >> I've just been looking up BFG tyres - is what is being recommended
> >> this:
> >>
http://www.bfgoodrichtyres.co.uk/bf...eRubrique=12&codePage=BFG_PAG_DETAIL2&lang=EN
> >> (Long Trail T/A)?
> >>
> >Looks like they dont my size !!!
> >
> >Its 215/65R 16
> >
> >Back to drawing board maybe!
> >
> >Steve
> >
>
> I looked again - the Long Trail isn't the one mentioned by the other
> posters. It's the All Terrain T/A KO, which gives the following sizes
> on 16" rims:
>
> LT215/70R16 100 R
> LT225/70R16 102 R
> LT225/75R16 110 S
> LT235/70R16 104 S
> LT245/70R16 113 S
> LT245/75R16 114 S
> LT255/70R16 115 S
> LT265/70R16 117 S
> LT265/75R16 120 S
> LT275/70R16 119 S
> LT285/75R16 122 R
> LT295/75R16 123 R
>
> Is it possible to use something slightly different from what you've
> got now?
>
> --
>
> R
> o
> o
> n
> e
> y

Steve ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying
:

>> I'm not sure, though, that I'd go anywhere near tyres that are only R
>> speed rated - 106mph max - for a car that I was going to be doing long
>> motorway runs in.
>>
>> Steve - What speed rating (the letter after the load rating) do
>> Nissan specify?

> Its a H rating.

130mph rated.

That's a BIG step down.

On 10 Feb 2005 17:08:44 GMT, Adrian <[email protected]> wrote:

>I'm not sure, though, that I'd go anywhere near tyres that are only R speed
>rated - 106mph max - for a car that I was going to be doing long motorway
>runs in.

So would S be OK for my car (Terrano), top speed 96 mph (though I've
done 100 according to the speedo)? Does it make any difference if you
are doing long motorway runs or not?

--

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On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 16:59:20 +0000, hugh <hugh@[127.0.0.1]> wrote:

>No I think its the All Terrain T/A KO

Cheers - I've found that one now.

--

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Rooney ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

>>I'm not sure, though, that I'd go anywhere near tyres that are only R
>>speed rated - 106mph max - for a car that I was going to be doing long
>>motorway runs in.

> So would S be OK for my car (Terrano), top speed 96 mph (though I've
> done 100 according to the speedo)?

S is 112, so should be plenty of latitude.

> Does it make any difference if you are doing long motorway runs or not?

Yes - the longer and harder you're using them, the more the heat's going to
build up.

Next time you stop for fuel at the services after a long fast (well,
relatively) motorway run, put a hand on the tyre tread and see how warm
it's got.

On 10 Feb 2005 17:51:32 GMT, Adrian <[email protected]> wrote:

>Rooney ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
>were saying :
>
>>>I'm not sure, though, that I'd go anywhere near tyres that are only R
>>>speed rated - 106mph max - for a car that I was going to be doing long
>>>motorway runs in.
>
>> So would S be OK for my car (Terrano), top speed 96 mph (though I've
>> done 100 according to the speedo)?
>
>S is 112, so should be plenty of latitude.

I like the look of them, and it looks like they are widely regarded as
a good tyre. I might get a set when these need changing. The tread
seems to be going down more rapidly than I expected (Bridgestone -
came with the car).
>
>> Does it make any difference if you are doing long motorway runs or not?
>
>Yes - the longer and harder you're using them, the more the heat's going to
>build up.
>
>Next time you stop for fuel at the services after a long fast (well,
>relatively) motorway run, put a hand on the tyre tread and see how warm
>it's got.

Is this what the speed rating is based on - I mean, is it getting too
hot that causes them to burst, or what?

--

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Rooney ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

>>> Does it make any difference if you are doing long motorway runs or
>>> not?

>>Yes - the longer and harder you're using them, the more the heat's
>>going to build up.
>>
>>Next time you stop for fuel at the services after a long fast (well,
>>relatively) motorway run, put a hand on the tyre tread and see how
>>warm it's got.

> Is this what the speed rating is based on - I mean, is it getting too
> hot that causes them to burst, or what?

It's a whole bunch of things that will affect them, but - generally - the
higher the speed rating, with all else being equal, the better they're
constructed.

Load rating is also vitally important on something the size of a 4x4 -
that's the "100" on the BFGs quoted, which means 800kg per corner.

http://www.blackcircles.com/general/sidewall

hugh wrote:

> No I think its the All Terrain T/A KO
>

That is correct
--
huLLy
VOIP SIP Phone Number 4823176 on Global Village
Or +44 8703 408916 to my VOIP line
email [email protected] (Loon reports welcome)
http://www.giganews.com/customer/gn119503

On 10 Feb 2005 18:04:30 GMT, Adrian <[email protected]> wrote:

>Rooney ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
>were saying :
>
>>>> Does it make any difference if you are doing long motorway runs or
>>>> not?
>
>>>Yes - the longer and harder you're using them, the more the heat's
>>>going to build up.
>>>
>>>Next time you stop for fuel at the services after a long fast (well,
>>>relatively) motorway run, put a hand on the tyre tread and see how
>>>warm it's got.
>
>> Is this what the speed rating is based on - I mean, is it getting too
>> hot that causes them to burst, or what?
>
>It's a whole bunch of things that will affect them, but - generally - the
>higher the speed rating, with all else being equal, the better they're
>constructed.
>
>Load rating is also vitally important on something the size of a 4x4 -
>that's the "100" on the BFGs quoted, which means 800kg per corner.
>
>http://www.blackcircles.com/general/sidewall


I see.
Looks like I'd be perfectly OK doing a straight swap from 235 70 R16
105 H. which is what it came with, to LT235/70R16 104 S.


--

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On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 15:34:27 GMT, Steve wrote:

> what are my choices, put the dunlops on the front so they wear
> quicker and the new BFG's on the rear replacing the fronts when they
> have gone..........

Putting new tyres on the rear seems to be the current best practice.
Appears that having, older, less grippy, ones at the back is not a
good idea as it means the back end will tend to try and overtake the
front...

There is stuff on the web somewhere about this, can't remember now if
it really only applies to front wheel drive or to 4 wheel drives as
well.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

Rooney ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

> Looks like I'd be perfectly OK doing a straight swap from 235 70 R16
> 105 H. which is what it came with, to LT235/70R16 104 S.

You'll almost certainly find 'em crap on-road, though - relative to the
factory-fit.

Dave Liquorice ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

> Putting new tyres on the rear seems to be the current best practice.
> Appears that having, older, less grippy, ones at the back is not a
> good idea as it means the back end will tend to try and overtake the
> front...
>
> There is stuff on the web somewhere about this, can't remember now if
> it really only applies to front wheel drive or to 4 wheel drives as
> well.

It's *regularly* the cause of a flamewar on uk.rec.driving,
uk.rec.cars.maintenance and uk.rec.cars.misc.

It's popped back up in the last couple of days, by coincidence.

FWIW, my take is to listen to what the car's telling you - if one end wears
faster, it's because those tyres are working harder, so that's the end to
put the better ones. On most cars, that's the front.

Reading between the lines, it seems that the "Always on the back" advice is
aimed at incompetent muppets.

On 10 Feb 2005 18:24:04 GMT, Adrian <[email protected]> wrote:

>Rooney ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
>were saying :
>
>> Looks like I'd be perfectly OK doing a straight swap from 235 70 R16
>> 105 H. which is what it came with, to LT235/70R16 104 S.
>
>You'll almost certainly find 'em crap on-road, though - relative to the
>factory-fit.

Now I'm confused!
I don't go off road anything like 50% of the time - much, much less -
but when I do it's likely to be extremely muddy, churned up fields
with a horse trailer in tow. What should I go for?

--

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Rooney ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying :

>>> Looks like I'd be perfectly OK doing a straight swap from 235 70 R16
>>> 105 H. which is what it came with, to LT235/70R16 104 S.

>>You'll almost certainly find 'em crap on-road, though - relative to the
>>factory-fit.

> Now I'm confused!
> I don't go off road anything like 50% of the time - much, much less -
> but when I do it's likely to be extremely muddy, churned up fields
> with a horse trailer in tow. What should I go for?

Dunno.

But it's one of those immutable laws of the universe - tyres that are good
off-road are unutterably pants on-road - and vice versa.

Trying to compromise leads inevitably to something that is very good at
neither.

On 10 Feb 2005 18:26:18 GMT, Adrian wrote:

> FWIW, my take is to listen to what the car's telling you - if one
> end wears faster, it's because those tyres are working harder, so
> that's the end to put the better ones.

Or feel how the car handles under light throttle (ie no drive to the
wheels but no engine braking either) and damp/greasy surfaces. I have
a sneaky feeling that this combination of throttle/road conditions and
newish tyres front and older ones back is the real reason why I ended
up snaking down a road, hitting a wall and flipping over... This is on
a road I knew well and had driven many times before I wasn't late,
just gently driving along.

My current vehicle also has newer tyres on the front and older ones on
the back it has a tendancy to "wander" under light throttle/damp road
conditions. One day I'll swap front to back and see what happens...

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

In message <[email protected]>, Rooney
<[email protected]> writes
>On 10 Feb 2005 18:24:04 GMT, Adrian <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Rooney ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
>>were saying :
>>
>>> Looks like I'd be perfectly OK doing a straight swap from 235 70 R16
>>> 105 H. which is what it came with, to LT235/70R16 104 S.
>>
>>You'll almost certainly find 'em crap on-road, though - relative to the
>>factory-fit.
>
>Now I'm confused!
>I don't go off road anything like 50% of the time - much, much less -
>but when I do it's likely to be extremely muddy, churned up fields
>with a horse trailer in tow. What should I go for?
>
Don't take this 50% usage figure too literally. Full MTs are very noisy
on the road. Road tyres are useless off road. The 50% rating means they
are half way (roughly) between the best off road and the best on road.
They are a compromise between the need for grip in your muddy field and
the desire for a nice quiet safe ride on road. The only way to have the
best of both worlds is to have 2 sets of wheels and tyres and change
them at the gate!!!
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting