Ratty43 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 I'm picking up my 90 on Thursday (after a year away from the fold!) and the front tyres are down to 3mm of tread while the backs are good. Currently it has BFG ATs all round but is it still the best choice for the replacement fronts? I've googled the new General AT vs BFG but all of the results came soon after the Generals were released which makes me suspicious of the views being a reaction to change. Are BFGs still the best AT choice or am I better off changing to the cheaper Generals? The cost s less relevant compared to longevity and performance both on and off road (green lanes only). Thanks in advance for any advice, Barney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomikey Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 i have been of the view for a long time that the ATII's at least (General Grabber) are better than the BFG's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty43 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 Interesting, I had discounted them as being an old pattern without the reputation of the BFGs, added to which they look about the same and that smacks of a copy to me. I'll go and have a gander at them now! Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JST Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 BFGs for me all the time. far outlast the grabber ATs for like to like use in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomikey Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 ive heard a few times the GG's match the BFG's for mileage pretty much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 70K miles on my GG at's on a Hilux .. Never let me down, grip off road was fine, tarmac handling good. But in the last 10k they went incredibly noisy and fuel consumption went up significantly. They were noisy enough for me to think that the rear diff and / or gearbox was about to let go. After a lot of investigation new tyres on rear fixed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty43 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 What about sidewall strength, mileage is all very well if the construction is strong enough to stand up to sharp objects. I'm keen on General tyres winning through as they are 30% cheaper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 What about sidewall strength, mileage is all very well if the construction is strong enough to stand up to sharp objects. I'm keen on General tyres winning through as they are 30% cheaper! Of the fifty odd hilux that I run maybe 25 have at tyres, fifty fifty bfg and gg, there is no statistical difference in the number of punctures nor written off covers. Typically I get fifty k miles out of a set. That's good considering the load and abuse. The others run Bridgestone road patterns and are not used in rocky terrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty43 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 GW8IZR, we were typing at the same time; thanks for your reply, thats very good mileage. It's good to hear of real world experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty43 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 And again, thanks for the second reply, just the sort of evidence I was after. I know that BFGs are the accepted vest but I find it hard to believe that a thirty year old design is still the best 50/50 tyre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 (edited) :-) it was a quick too and fro. I need to replace the five gg mt's on my 90, they are only about 10k miles but although its always garaged and thus out of the UV, they are ten years old.. I think I'm going to put bfg's at's on it but wouldn't hesitate to use gg either. Now a very good Tyre that worked well for me was the Yokohama geolander at, but I seem to remember they were very expensive- but they were one of the few tyres with sufficient load and speed rating. Not that speed rating is an issue with my tdi 90 :-) Edited October 28, 2013 by GW8IZR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanuki Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 I've always considered "long life" and "good grip" to be at opposite ends of the tyre-performance indexes. If it's truly grippy it will wear quickly; if it has as a prime objective a long life it can't possibly hope to grip well. If you've ever driven a car in the wet/ice that's been fitted with ultimately-sticky rubber, you'll be truly amazed at how well it will hang on and launch you out of roundabouts/junctions at full-throttle with total indifference. The downside is that you need to replace all the tyres after 5000 miles or less. [in a previous game I was playing with 240BHP Ford Escorts in Welsh forests and Fred Henderson at Colway complained that I was ruining the reputation of his tyres] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 For sure compound is important, here in Oslo just swapping out for studs.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 The current Grabber is nowhere near as long lasting as either the previous AT2 or the BFG. I have had all three types, and just ordered a set of BFGs to replace the Grabber ATs on my Ranger. They are well mannered tyres, but don't last long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 The current Grabber is nowhere near as long lasting as either the previous AT2 or the BFG. I have had all three types, and just ordered a set of BFGs to replace the Grabber ATs on my Ranger. They are well mannered tyres, but don't last long. Funny as I was reading this and lots of mentions for the General AT2 but none for the current AT3 as the AT2 is no longer produced and has been out of production a couple of years and it is really on stocks being used up if you do find them. I know this as I needed 2 AT2s for my Disco and found them no longer available and when asking around I found they were replaced by the AT3 and were well publicized too. Horses for courses really, our old heavy plant fitters 110s were shod with BFG A/Ts and they were getting nigh on 100,000 miles a set, good mix of mud, sand and motorways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 We are still fitting AT2's to vehicles, nearly a thousand a year, our supplier has not mentioned any difficulty in getting them or that they have been/are going to be replaced. I know that certain sizes are now becoming a different tread pattern, perhaps this is causing some confusion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty43 Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 The current Grabber is nowhere near as long lasting as either the previous AT2 or the BFG. I have had all three types, and just ordered a set of BFGs to replace the Grabber ATs on my Ranger. They are well mannered tyres, but don't last long.Thanks for that. This is the problem with Google, every search brings up the AT2 which I'm not interested in. Looks like I'll be sticking with BFG. On my mileage I'll probably have to chuck them away on sidewall cracks but at least I'll have useable tread depth right up to the end! Thanks for all the responses. Barney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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