by L60Boerne » Mon Jun 20, 2016 6:31 pm
Patrollees, I'm learning the Patrol. But I've been off-roading for 40 years. You MUST NOT put your tire in a place it is not designed to go. For our patrols sidewalls are the most critical design points.
Pro Comp - I've run 35" Pro Comps for ten years, they are awful. After I was set up on them I had to keep replacing them or toss three new ones and re-tire with good tire. Their sidewalls are super thin and their tread surfaces are defeated by thorns and sharp rocks. I think they would be good for sand and smoothly rounded granite outcrops like found in Moab. I expected a sidewall puncture every time I went out in my 84 Jimmy. Actually dumped the Jimmy rather than re-tire it.
BFG A-T TA KO2- Awesome, we run them as if they were bulldozer tracks. I have no fear going anywhere. However, they are poor on mud. 3 ply sidewalls, if they puncture it is a very slow leak that can be plugged or just fixed the next time we are in town. Never have had a sidewall puncture in ten years in W TX.
Cooper STT Pro - Totally forced BFG to provide 3 sidewall plys. Excellent on all surfaces and the equal to BFG A-T TA KO2 but with 25% less life.
Retreads - used them in college on my Turbo Diesel Scout II, rated the Best Ever 4 x 4 ....but I beg to differ,...way under powered...but the retreads were just cheap tires. I had no blow-outs but they didn't last very long either. Just cheap tires that always kept me on edge when on the highway.
Chinese Tires - They dominate the market in Africa. Mainly be cause they are cheaper and available but they are durable too. Off roading friends in Texas really believe in the Maxxis brand. I have no first hand experience but will soon.
Tires for my Patrols
Presidio Patrol will get the Chinese Buckshot Mudders because the selection is not entirely mine and I have a second Patrol that I will drive most of the time. My #1 Patrol - CCV5 will either wear the Cooper STT Pros or BFG Mud Terrains. Both selection based on sidewall protection.
Don't forget, any puncture on the tread can be fixed in the field, a punctured sidewall is a total loss. The greasewood out in W TX breaks like punji spears when run over. We select tires with straight and thick sidewalls. The same straight sidewalls work well on sharp rocks too.
Last Point on Tires - 2 years ago I hunted one of the most barren areas in Africa, far SE Namibia in the Klein Karas Mtns and Zukous River Canyon with Johan Strauss. Johan is the most famous Land Rover mechanic in Africa. He is flown by Land Rover (or whoever owns them at the time) every year to Europe for high priced driving and maintenance seminars in UK and Germany. He is an off road legend. He navigated side hills turns that I would have bet my safari rifle we not possible. Anyway, pictures to follow, when I change computers. He drove nothing but bold tires. Tires with only bias ply cords showing. No rubber showing except between the cords. he said they lasted for years and his rock canyons offered sharp rocks like our chert and flint. He said the rubber lug pattern only served to orient the rocks spears so they would puncture the tire. Without any tread the rock just slides off. Now, you might not forget...these tires never see payment. His Steinfeld Farm hunt is outlined in my book Hunting Namibia.
All Patrols, All the Time,
L60Boerne
63 Soft Top - Command & Control Vehicle 5 (CCV5)
65 No Top - Presidio Patrol (CCV4 -sold)
65 No Top - Santa's Sleigh
66 Soft Top - Phoenix Patrol (CCV6) For Sale
66 No Top - Pinto Patrol (CCV7)