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grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4784

18 inch tyres

WARNING long winded post to ask a question! (Also, hopefully, useful to anyone thinking of fitting a road biased, but also extremely capable tyre).

So, after 40k miles my 285 section Hankook Ventus ST tyres are nearing my wear limit (I don't like running below 4mm).

I have been extremely pleased with them. Road performance is excellent in all conditions - wet being the highlight. Grip levels are astonishing. (I've also whipped it around a lap of the Nürburgring and they gripped tenaciously).

As you can see from my thread I've also used them on various offroad courses and a few days on Salisbury plain (where they impressed not only me but all of the other defender drivers there who were running AT or MT tyres).

There are a couple of downsides that I've come across as the tyres have worn. Although wet weather grip has been unaffected, the reduced tread depth has resulted in unpleasant handling characteristics through standing water (not aquaplaning but pulling into the water) and also much increased tramlining on poor road surfaces - almost definitely caused by the width of the tyre).

Which leads me nicely into my question(s)

To prevent unpleasant handling towards the end of the tyre's life - would dropping down to 265 make a difference? (I suspect it would slightly).

I've been considering BFG A/T in 265/65R18 but am concerned that I've read quite a few reviews saying that wet weather performance isn't great (which is important to me) is this the case?

Are there any other brands/models of tyre that I may not have considered that are road biased - but have enough about them to cope well enough in off road situations?

Thanks all, looking forward to your thoughts/experiences

2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton

29th Aug 2020 6:22pm

Bps

Member Since: 14 Feb 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 785

I run general grabber at3 on the disco td5 family bus in 255/60/18 and can’t fault them. Not much wear after 3 years and wearing evenly at that. I find them very good in all conditions, wet grip seems good, so does snow. The only off road it’s seen is grass and the odd track and they have performed fine. I do find they don’t like being driven at speed into large puddles but I put that down to the d2 it’s self as the Goodyear go wranglers that we’re on it before were the same and had horrible handling once worn. ( uneven wear as well) Hitting any water in the d2 on the near side seems to cause a tsunami of water over the windscreen. They were considerably cheaper at the bfg ko2’s at the time

29th Aug 2020 8:05pm

Zed

Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3019

2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

I find BFG AT's very twitchy in the wet. Still loads of tread on mine but I'm considering Pirelli Scorpion ATP's. WARNING.
This post may contain sarcasm.

29th Aug 2020 8:46pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey

I'm running General Grabber AT3's and find them very confidence inspiring. No hint of loss of traction in the wet and they're winter rated, too. They're also very quiet. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

29th Aug 2020 10:51pm

Alex1976

Member Since: 24 Jan 2013
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 596

I have been running BFG AT KO2 in 265/65R18 for the last 3 years and 40k and I really do like them in every way. I have considered moving to a more road biased tyre when I come to swap them but it will take some convincing to get me to move away from replacing them like for like again.

One thing I have learned is that pressure seems quite critical. It doesn’t take much difference in pressure to affect the handling. I am running my tyres at 36psi all round as that seems to be the sweet spot for my Defender, driving style, use etc.

30th Aug 2020 7:25am

Grenadier

Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey

I run the BFG KO2s on 18” rims at the moment and they are no fun in the wet. Pouring rain, when one really eases off, fine. But it’s the light rain/greasy/damp roads that are a horror. As per the OP I’m 97.9345276% road biased and so looking for a tyre that has a BFG/ST Maxx stance but with road characteristics, (notably in the rain), so like Zed, when it’s time to change, I’m going Pirelli. Heard lots of good things about them. But if you’re looking for a good wet performance road-biased tyre, then the BFGs should NOT be your first choice. IMHO of course....

Edit: Worth mentioning that living in the Alps as I do, I don’t drive ‘normal’ roads. Lots of twists, turns and hairpins to consider with all manner of approach speeds and road percentages, sometimes over many, many KMs of descent. So I might be asking more of the tyre in both the wet and dry, than on the flatter/wider/straighter roads like a-roads and m-ways you might find in the UK. Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey

30th Aug 2020 7:49am

grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4784

Thanks for the replies guys

That has confirmed what I thought - BFG ATs aren't great in the wet. I'm not dead set on an all terrain tyre - I think the Pirelli ATP might be a bit too aggressive.

Alex, funnily enough I think that's the pressure LR recommended for the works V8 on 18 inch BFGs

Unfortunately tyres aren't something you can easily try before you buy as there are so many variables!

My driving situation (although in the UK) is similar to Grenadier's; fast, twisty and usually wet!

Unfortunately I can't find my current tyre in a 265 with the correct profile so I think I'm going to go 285 60 again and stick with the Hankooks

30th Aug 2020 2:02pm

grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4784

DISASTER!

I can't find any Hankook Ventus STs for sale in the correct size (from a source I trust - I'm not keen on buying things like tyres from eBay)

So back to the drawing board. Regarding tyre ratings, the BFG Ko2 has a B for wet weather grip yet there are other tyres (that are road biased so should perform better on the wet) that have a F for example. I'm guessing that manufacturers rate their own tyres? Or that there are other factors that come into play regarding the rating?

Either way, I'm still on the hunt (for 5 now as I'm not having an odd spare) for some tyres either 265 65 or 285 60 R18

Is it worth a punt on some of the lesser know brands? My cousin runs Landsails on his daily driver BMW and finds them excellent (he doesn't drive slowly

) 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton

4th Sep 2020 9:57pm

Maverick XS

Member Since: 07 Apr 2020
Location: London
Posts: 13

Have you considered Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S? They are very good in the wet. They are also smooth and quiet. More road orientated but still retaining good off road ability. I have them on my truck and I'm very happy with them.

4th Sep 2020 11:51pm

grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4784

I hadn't seen them, they certainly look like a good option!

5th Sep 2020 10:09am

BaronDefenders

Member Since: 28 Jun 2019
Location: London/Cotswolds
Posts: 809

As others have said, I used to run KO2s on the 90 and they were fairly useless in the wet. In comparison, my current Cooper STT PROs weirdly seem better in the wet. I wonder if the compound Cooper uses is more wet weather friendly than what BFG uses? Charlie

1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD)
2002 Td5 90 (SOLD)
2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD)

1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored)
1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE)
2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK)
2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build)

Instagram: @BaronDefenders

5th Sep 2020 2:33pm

Likeomg

Member Since: 29 Jun 2012
Location: Lake District / Newcastle
Posts: 2626

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Stornoway Grey

I’m running coopers 285/60/18,

Would never run bfg’s again, Cooper is a far superior tire but don’t think you can get the zeon ltz anymore...

Can guarantee when they wear out won’t be going to bfg.

5th Sep 2020 4:15pm

grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4784

Right then, complete curve ball, I've just fitted Continental ContiCrossContact LX2s.

Reviews seems generally good and first impressions (from a 5 mile drive) is very quiet and seem to grip well

Time will tell but so far, so good

10th Sep 2020 7:58pm

Maverick XS

Member Since: 07 Apr 2020
Location: London
Posts: 13

Interesting choice! I read the description on the Continental website. 20% off-road use sounds about right for those that only venture off-road occasionally. What size did you fit? Has this affected the gearing / speedo reading? Keep us updated on how they perform.

10th Sep 2020 9:41pm

grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4784

I went for 265/65 r18 so very close to original rolling radius. I'll update after I've got some miles on them

10th Sep 2020 10:11pm

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