js5533

New Member
Is it dangerous to use off road tyres for normal road use. I was thinking of getting some Michelin 750 XZY R16s which are military off roaders. Whats the deal with road use, surely the military must use them on roads to get from a to b at some point. Is it that they wear down fast or is there really a danger issue involved. Has anyone got or using such tyres for normal use and had any problems. Love some feedback.

regards

js5533
 
OK, 'Off-Road' tyres can be split into two catagories, tyres that are ILLEGAL for road use, becouse they dont meet the Construction & Use regulations, and tyres that are legal to use on the road, but aren't very good on tarmac. Think the Mitch Mil-specs are the latter, there are tyres like 'Swamp-Monsters' (I dont know the brand or marketing names, but you get the idea!) That are actually illegal for road use, becouse of teh construction and speed ratings etc, like Dumper-Truck or Tractor tyres.

You'll find that as a general rule the more off-road biased a tyre is, the deeper and more open the tread patern.

This means two things, first there is less rubber to tarmac contact area. Bigger the groves between the tread-blocks, smaller the tread-blocks, so for the same tyre size, less rubber in contact with tarmac.

Not such a BIG problem, as you can 'over-tyre' to some degree to compensate, and the physics of the thing 'self compensates' to some degree as the 'grip' you get is proportional to the pressure between road and rubber. Reduce the area of rubber, keep the weight over it the same you get more pressure, so more grip (per unit area).

Bigger problem is that the tread blocks are taller, so the bit of rubber in contact with the road is less well supported, so it can move about more, making the tread patern less stable, and you can get a phenominan known as 'tread creep' or 'tyre walk' where the treads sort of bend over a bit as you corner, so the tyre sort of creeps sideways as each tread-block comes round, touching the road behind the one informt that has twisted.

To combat this a bit, they tend to make off road tyres with bigger tread blocks so there is more rubber in each block, so more support, but they will still 'creep'.

However, means that there is a much bigger area of rubber between the relief grooves, so in the wet, what water is trapped between the tread block and the tar has further to travel being 'squeegeed' out into a groove, so they dont clear water as well as a full tarmac tyre with smaller treads and closer relief grooves, so dont offer the same amount of wet-road grip.

Again, there are some ways that they compensate, using softer compound rubber, being one, but that makes the treads even more liable to 'creep', and increases wear.

So overall it is a compromise between road manners and off-road grip, tyre life, cost, etc etc etc.

Simple answer to the Q, I THINK is the Mitch's are road legal, so you CAN use them on the road, but they are a noisy tyre, and they dont have the 'best' road manners; they will give less wet grip and they will make te handling a tad more 'wobbly', but I seem to recall that they are not SO bad, as they are classed as a high bias 'All-Terrain', they aren't a full 'mud' tyre.
 
I brought some chunky tyres off ebay for my Disco as I do some laning and pay and play days, but I dont want to keep swopping wheels so have just kept them on.

I've done trips to London (M11, M25, lots of A roads) and its been fine.

I dont know the legality of the matter, but as far as I am concerned there is more then 10mm Tread so they are legal. ;)
 
I use technic trakker mut terrain remoulds on my rangie off roader with no bother,mind you im not a fast driver,steady away thats me.Absolutely no probs the son drives it faster than me ,but hes never mentioned any probs.IF you want to drive it like a saxo or a golf or summat you will get into trouble DEFFINATLY cos its a heavy motor but driven responsibly no probs.....dave
 
Thanxs for the input everyone. I think what was throwing me a bit was, they are an American make sold worldwide and it does actually say on the walls that they are ok for normal use in North America and Canada but we are in the UK with these and we all know the tyre kicking british police and vosa roadside traps. I just wanted some back up and moral, you gave it, cheers

john
 
my landy had that tyres on when i bought it, its an ex navy 110, bit noisy on the road for my likin, they done me till i could afford some cooper stt's, which i find quieter on road and better off road. but no legal reason why not to get them, hope this helps.
 
i use theese simex tyres and silverstone extreme..on road they do wander and you have to allow extra braking distance and they are noisy,but offroad you cant beat em.

Photo0126.jpg
 

Similar threads