B F Goodrich AT

Fourbyfour · Post by **Fourbyfour** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:48 pm

when I bought my 92 Nissan Terrano it had BF Goodrich AT tyres fitted after owning the vehicle (bought 1999) about two months suddenly got a viabration in the front end, up to 70 km/hr you would get a slight kick in the steering with every wheel revolution. Initial thought was that a balance weight had come adrift so sent the vehicle in for a wheel balance so problem solved or so I thought, two days later the same problem started again after phoning various mates one suggested that the Goodrich's could be the problem as they had a reputation for coming apart.
The very next morning while driving to work it suddenly felt real spongy on the front right side so stopped and tyre pressure had dropped a little, deciding it was ok to continue I drove on to work without any further problem. One hour later things were quiet at work so went out to check the tyre and found it was flat but closer inspection showed a blister about 23 cm long by 15 cm wide. I thought it was a retread that had come adrift but the guys at Frank Allens confirmed it was not a retread and they also said these tyres had a reputation for coming apart. I replaced the tyre but three weeks later the one on the left side started the same thing so I decided to ditch the lot and get 4 more new ones. So watch those tyres on imports.
Murray

De-Ranged · Post by **De-Ranged** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:25 am

I had a similar thing happen, one of them bulged in the center of the tire...

I talked to the local rep and he said its due to the tire casings on the import ones being a standard car type (less belts and different types) that have an AT pattern cast on them for cheap street use, if they are used offroad they can't handle it...

How much truth is in this I don't know, but considering he was trying to sell me another set of "New Zealand made" AT's... I've taken it with a grain of salt :wink:

Cheers Reece

Jungle · Post by **Jungle** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:05 pm

I reckon its a fault with BFG tyres. I've had three do that on me. All terrain and mud terrain. The tread outlasts the case. On two of them we were able to spot a point where water may have got in to start the delamination.

I've also had one bulge out the side wall. They were all 35 inch tyres so it appears accross all sizes too. I had one delaminate while towing a disco on a tranporter trailer behind my 60 series though porters pass. Quite exciting stuff.

I'm still running BFG though. But I keep a close eye on them.

eatenfuller · Post by **eatenfuller** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:24 pm

B F G

BUGGERALL
FKN
GRIP

hosehustler · Post by **hosehustler** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:33 pm

Interesting, Dad had the same problem with imported BFG all terrains (2 sets delaminated)
I spoke to Shane at Kats when I was looking for a set of 35's for road use to save wear on the muddies :wink:

he told me it was only a problem on imported tyres, so I got a set of NZ new ones off him for $600, touch wood had them a year and no problems

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:47 pm

my old man has run bfg AT's on his prado for the last 5 years and we found them to be a gr8 tire,not to bad off road for the stuff he did and better on road than the dunlop grandtrek that came on the truck got a good 80000 out of them to, my uncle uses his tuck for mainly open road driving and got 100,000 out of them only downside we found was the price....

Fourbyfour · Post by **Fourbyfour** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:43 pm

Pete, did your Oldman buy those tyres here in NZ or were they imported ones from Japan. There doesn't seem to be a problem with the ones available here, only the ones being imported from Japan.
I replaced mine with Firestone Firehawk 60/40s and got 100,000 kms out of them.
Murray

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:18 pm

yep nz new

Fourbyfour · Post by **Fourbyfour** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:14 pm

Pete, It's the tyres that are imported or arrive on imports from Japan seem to be the problem. I know of one guy that close to 100,000 km out of the New Zealand ones but I know in the case of mine there was still about 8mm of tread left when they came apart so my guess is they didn't even last 50,000 km. When I replaced the first one I replaced it with a new BFG AT (very expensive at that time $330 each)and while both tyres were deflated had a good look at them.
What I found was that the Japanese tyres sidewall was a lot softer, my guess is that these two tyres are built to totally different specifications.
The Firehawks were on special for $150 each.
Murray

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:12 am

Interesting problem. I've definitely had a good run out of all the BFGs I've had (apart from sticking a small log through the sidewall of one of my virtually brand new 33" muddies a few years back - tri-guard super strong sidewall my a## )

My Dad has run them religiously for quite a few years and does high kms in his trucks - he gets 100km's out of a set of all-terrains easily - they might be expensive to buy, but really... it works out being cheaper in the end if you pay two thirds the price but only get half the km's on some other brand.

I'd run Krawler KAs on the MU if I could afford them... or if they would sponsor me a set

But I can't... and they won't... dammit

Hey, my little blue Hyundai bomb had a front tyre delaminate the other day... made for a very interesting drive over the old waimak bridge...

Not BFGs... just some kamakoozer brand... BFG muddies on the Hyundai tho... hmmm... I'm off down the shed

Steve

kiwipete · Post by **kiwipete** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:40 pm

Where in chch is the place to go for some of these BFG AT Radials as i will be needing some replacements for my 95 Terrano very soon.

Currently running on the imports that came with it "Winter Duellers" that are 265/70/15. These have served me well with the various club trips I have done, in the Reefton and Chch areas.

Want to keep to the same size tyre and will also need some steel rims to go with it too.

Fourbyfour · Post by **Fourbyfour** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:48 pm

Pete, when I bought an at they were horrendously expensive, $330.00 fitted and balanced for just one tyre, there are cheaper options that will work just as well. Probably pays to shop around and maybe get a discout for cash.

De-Ranged · Post by **De-Ranged** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:05 pm

I'd agree have a look at the "Savero's" I think they are a sumotomo alot of the forestry boys up here run them and at $250 a tire for 33'' (priced them up about 6months ago) you can see why

As for wear, they wear really well!! One of the contractors I deal with reackons he got just under 100k on his last set :shock:

Cheers Reece

IcedJohnno · Post by **IcedJohnno** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:23 am

Try KATs Kaiapoi Alignment and tyres in funnily enough Kaiapoi next to the Shell garage in the main street.

Bought various AT & MT BFGs off them and they seem to compare favourably on price, $280 I seem to recall. If you are in a 4wd club they give a discount but I wasnt.

I find the MT's grip better in the wet on tarseal than the AT's but three of five are x Japan.

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:41 am

Savero's are made by GT radial

Sumitomos make the serengeti (got a good write up in Aus 4wd mag last year)

De-Ranged · Post by **De-Ranged** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:23 pm

:scratch: Hmmm it was one of them

been to many woody's since then

Cheers Reece

4WDbits · Post by **4WDbits** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:46 pm

The construction of the BFG AT available in NZ has changed in about the last two years, softer tread compound and harder casing I believe. If you want a cheap AT for driving to work, check out http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductsListPrice.aspx?CategoryID=6&selection=8. I can't vouch for them as I haven't tried them, my 315/75R16 BFG ATs are still going strong. And from personal experience, they are better than cr?ppy Baja Claw Radials in mud.

B F Goodrich AT

B F Goodrich AT

BFG TYRES

BFG AT

B F Goodrich AT