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Odin



Member Since: 29 Apr 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 237

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
Which tyres - Grabber or BFGs?
I've just bought a four year old Puma which has been recently fitted with Grabber TR tyres. I'm intending to do 20% off-road / 80% on-road with most of the off-road work being on muddy / rutted woodland tracks or fields. Snow is also an issue up here (Aberdeenshire). As I'll typically be on my own whilst off-road I need a reliable set of tyres to avoid a long walk off the hills.

I've not used BFGs before and wondered whether I should expect to see a large improvement over the Generals? I'd anticipate getting the All-Terrain BFGs and wondered whether anyone in the forum would advise sticking with the Generals?

Cheers,
Post #69225 1st May 2011 6:44pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16877

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
My preference would be BFG M/Ts - an excellent tyre with good road manners which should manage 75k plus miles. I wouldn't bother with A/Ts myself, they are not much better on road and very poor in mud.
Post #69227 1st May 2011 6:56pm
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Odin



Member Since: 29 Apr 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 237

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
Thanks. I'd been told the M/Ts were poor whilst on wet roads due to the reduced surface area in contact with the tarmac? Any experience of this?
Post #69235 1st May 2011 7:48pm
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Dave-H



Member Since: 08 Feb 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1507

England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Tonga Green
And my choice would be A/T's. Rolling Eyes
M/T's are very over-rated unless you seriously doing regular muddy stuff. I've never run anything but A/T on all my Landies and never had any issues with Traction ... unlike a few friends with M/T's

You pay yer money and take yer chance lol .. your choice.

Cooper ST are my fave [hard to get now] Guns and Landrovers .... anything else is irrelevant.
Post #69247 1st May 2011 8:23pm
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bm52



Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Havana
i did this debate as well for both my 90's and after much research and thought i bought BFG ATs. Never let me down in the 300 or the Puma, excellent in snow as well Thumbs Up BM52
Post #69248 1st May 2011 8:26pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8578

United Kingdom 
I have been told that BFG are pulling out of European market BUT have not verified that info. Maybe AJS4x4 could? help verify this point?

BFG M/Ts are a good all round tyre, however any M/T has an increased stopping distance in the wet. Yes they are a long lived tyre. We run both our 110's on BFG M/T whereas our D2 is on BFG A/T.

HTH



Brendan
Post #69260 1st May 2011 9:51pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16877

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
It is really a matter of personal preference and you will never get a simple answer to this question!

My opinion as stated above is based on my experiences over the last twelve or so years with disco2 and defender on BFG muds and a Navara on BFG A/T, plus defender on KL71. The A/T is a good tyre but is imho unspectacular, the mud is spectacular. I have done 200k miles on muds in the disco, driven hard, there is still life in the second set, and they have never ever given me a moments concern in the wet. However, I am always mindful that I am driving a two ton + 4wd and drive appropriately.
None of the tyres you mention are bad, and in the end you will have to make your choice and build up your own experience. I hope you enjoy the process!
Post #69273 1st May 2011 10:27pm
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Odin



Member Since: 29 Apr 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 237

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
Thanks for the comments. Notable that no-one has suggested sticking with the Generals - are they that poor in comparison?
Post #69278 1st May 2011 10:45pm
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bm52



Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Havana
Odin wrote:
Thanks for the comments. Notable that no-one has suggested sticking with the Generals - are they that poor in comparison?


Yes in my opinion and much noisier than the BFG ATs.

how noisy are the new BFG MTs? BM52
Post #69281 1st May 2011 11:00pm
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Jimbob



Member Since: 17 Mar 2011
Location: Gower
Posts: 68

Wales 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
I had generals on my d2 and they were very good, but simply dont last as long as bfgs, Id done 10,000 when I had it, the previous owner hadnt long fitted them and I reckon they would have lasted another 5-10,000 miles? Compared to bfgs which I've heard of up to 80-90,000 miles easily! HTH Smile 2009 Defender County Hard Top (gone 😞)
1990 200tdi defender off roader
2015 Defender XS Hard Top (awaiting delivery 😄)
Post #69286 2nd May 2011 12:16am
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Dave-H



Member Since: 08 Feb 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1507

England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Tonga Green
Odin wrote:
Thanks for the comments. Notable that no-one has suggested sticking with the Generals - are they that poor in comparison?


As said .... yes Smile
The TR is not a great 'performer' [hence everyone bins them for replacement brands]
The AT2 is a great tyre, but tread wear may be an issue. Two mates using them, one set lasted 35k, the other set are down to 5mm at 23k. Guns and Landrovers .... anything else is irrelevant.
Post #69315 2nd May 2011 12:22pm
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Fifth Horseman



Member Since: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 322

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
The Grabless TR doesn't seem a good tyre for sticky mud - the tread clogs too quickly. As stated the AT2 is good but wears quickly, it seems that General will be replacing it with an new tyre - the AT http://www.tyrepress.com/News/1/20/20509.html
Had BFG on my old V8 110 and with no problems and very good milage.
Conti Cross Contact AT may be an alternative but not much user feed back on this one yet.
Post #69342 2nd May 2011 3:45pm
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Odin



Member Since: 29 Apr 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 237

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
Thanks for all of the helpful comments. I'm going to run the Generals for the summer then invest in some BFG All Terrains in Autumn. The consequences of losing it on a corner in the rain are worse than those of being stuck in mud!
Post #69398 2nd May 2011 8:49pm
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Green Machine



Member Since: 19 Nov 2010
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1226

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Tonga Green
Odin wrote:
Thanks for all of the helpful comments. I'm going to run the Generals for the summer then invest in some BFG All Terrains in Autumn. The consequences of losing it on a corner in the rain are worse than those of being stuck in mud!


Good choice - I'm planning on doing the same thing Thumbs Up
Post #69399 2nd May 2011 8:52pm
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ken



Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

United Kingdom 
BFG KM2s for the summer and GG AT2's for the winter as they are proper winter rated Thumbs Up That's my choice all in 285 75 16 s on Mach fives Thumbs Up
Post #69401 2nd May 2011 9:00pm
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