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Mud tyres in the sand Mud tyres in the sand
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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 4 Aug 2005
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Mud tyres in the sand


BF Goodrich lt 265 75r 16 Mud terrains. Would I be mad to take these into soft sand??

I know the established wisdom, but they look like they might do OK to me. Quite worn (mostly on tar) so no longer too aggressive. Otherwise good nick. Open tread.

Spoke to an experienced German overlander who swore by them for all terrains including sand.

Budgeting up my vehicle refit. I have a choice between these, some much-repaired lt235 85r16 BFG A/T's or a whole in the credit card. (the A/T's were great until they hit rock roads in Ethiopia and crumbled within days )

Vehicle: LR110 (HD, hence the fat wheels) 300tdi
Route: morocco, mauri, mali

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  #2  
Old 4 Aug 2005
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MT are fine even in sand! But not on wet tarmac.
255/85 R16 would even be better because slightly narrower and taler - I used them on my 109V8.
Yves

[This message has been edited by Yves (edited 03 August 2005).]
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  #3  
Old 4 Aug 2005
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Most of the Dakar competitors run BFG M/Ts, that's got to mean something.
Dunno when you're going, we managed to link up with a Dakar rest day in BF and after speaking nicely to the guys in the Euromaster truck picked out a set of XZLs in excellent nick from the scrap tyre heap. Cheap way of refitting if you're out there. The BFGs had "for competition use only" written on the side: guaranteed to fail you your MOT
(Everyone runs 235/85/16 so the choice wasn't complicated)
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Old 4 Aug 2005
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I did Lybia in January on BFG 255/85 MT and not just tracks but deep dessert, crossed the Murzuq in a almost straight line! With 9 other cars. Some on BFG AT 265/75 and even wider. Similar cars all TLC. No noticable difference in the sand, realy none! But big difference in the Hamadat (stone dessert) The MT are much more durable due to bigger blocks without the small water discharge ruts. The MT did not show much wear after 7000 km but the AT were chewed off quit a bit. For me the MT's !

cheers

Noel
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  #5  
Old 4 Aug 2005
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"Most of the Dakar competitors run BFG M/Ts, that's got to mean something."

Now that's reassuring. Perhaps the published wisdom needs updating ? ; ).
I think I'll stick with the M/T's, they're not the ideal size/height ratio, but they're paid for and they're on the car!

Thoroughly agree about the A/T's. It was distressing to watch an expensive set of tyres disintegrate in a matter of a few hundred miles. Great on tar, good on sand but a poor choice if you're heading anywhere with fast stony piste. Not always a good idea to listen to the overlanding outfitters!

cheers all,
Richard


[This message has been edited by Richard K (edited 04 August 2005).]
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  #6  
Old 5 Aug 2005
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Yep Richard BFG MT's work great - did Atar - Tidjikja with 265's on a 90 300Tdi no problem. Run them at 20psi on softish piste - When it gets real soft drop them down to 15psi and avoid going much lower unless you really have to.
Id like to try 255/85/16's next as long as they dont over gear the LR too much.
Just make sure you keep your LR as light as possible and have a good compressor.
Cheers
Grif


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Old 6 Aug 2005
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Drove a Pajero 2.6 petrol on 235x16 MTs in OMan for a year.Absolute pain in the arse in sand.Overloaded the engine all the time.But,once out of sand and onto stone,no probs.If you have a big engine with plenty of power then no probs.Would not recommend in sustained sand on a LR.Will not be the tyres that will be your ultimate problem!
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Old 7 Aug 2005
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Very interesting comments through out.
I am currently in Morocco/Marrakech. and have to buy new tires (heading to Mauritania in September, later Mali Niger mybe Algeria and back, West Afrika next year). With limited availability of sizes and specifications (here in Morocco)...
BFG MUD are not available at all
neither any MUDs of other makes.
BFG All Terrains the 235/85 R16 are avail (NOT so the wider tires).
Alternatively Pirelli Scorpion A/T 265/75/R16 are avail. These are the ones I have had on so-far and quite liked. Lowering them down to 0.7 kilos (bars) alowed dune and beach driving (Merzouga, Plage Blanche) at ease. Keep in mind the vehicle is a Defender 6 wheel, very heavy, normal 300TDI engine.

The question is how low can I deflate the BFGoodrich 235/85/ R16 A/Ts in order to achive the traction on sand, that I need with a low powered engine??
I am sure the Pirelli A/Ts as compared to the MUDs have the same wear problem you described in detail for the BFGs.

Thanks very much
Manfred
www.thisfabtrek.com
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Old 7 Aug 2005
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We had our A/T BFG's down to 15-20psi without any problems - running tubeless. Forced to choose, I'd pick the BFG a/t's over the Pirellis because of the stronger sidewall (3ply). Scorpion's also seem to have a reputation for falling apart and sidewall punctures. However, presumably you would save some cash by keeping your spares?
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