Why bother with AT's?

[Heath]

Just watched the latest Aussie4wd dvd (still reading the mag) and on Roothy's lates foray up north to the "Tip" via the tele track. Seems they knew it was going to be wet and the track slippery but two of the vehicles (may also have been the support one too) were outfitted with AT's (or perhaps HT's).

My question is "Why the hell would you go on something like that and take a vehicle with what are essentially road tyres?" Roothy had his coopers on Milo (going to replace them after this trip ... ) and he ambled through where the traction controlled wagons used more momentum to smash their way through. I figure its a costly place to have a problem due to increased speed.

The 200 series with all the bits power chips and traction control) was towing a caravan (it had good tyres but not the tow wagon ). The prado had AT's of some sort and was still using speed and momentum to get about.

Seems like the planing was alittle silly. I know most of the driving is on hard road type stuff, but why wouldnt they use mud tyres when they know they will be crossing water and mud?

I wear a seat belt not because I expect an accident but just in case and I will be getting Muddies for my mainly road use wagon as I figure its cheaper to run them and drive slower (with more control) then smash my way around and break something.

Seems like there is more reliance on electronic gimicks now then actual commonsense and these little electrical things do fail.

As an example of this is they showed a newish "mighty unstoppable patrol" parked up awaiting a trip back to civilisation ($2000 on a ferry) because the key had cracked and the little chip in it got wet. Now it wont work. The wagons fine (looks well set up) but that little electrical chip stopped it completely. Seems it needs to be returned to the Nissan workshop for a new key to be installed (why not carry a spare key? )

[Ginzu8]

I would and personally do run AT tyres daily and going to get a set of muddies on a set of rims for when i do go out and play..

I have been to places where my mate have mud tyres and i am on AT tyres and still get through places..

[Heath]

I guess it comes down to planning. If you are going on a dry shiney run then AT's are probably fine but if you have a set of MT's sitting in the shed why not fit them and be prepared for anything.

[juz]

Probably didnt have a spare key because they CAN cost a farking fortune with them chippy things in them.

[NJV6]

Nicer and quieter to drive on the road with.

[Heath]

Nicer and quieter to drive on the road with.

I know what you mean but the price of aseperate set of tyres buy a shit load of ear plugs and life too short to drive fast slow down and enjoy the country side.

[suzukisport]

Yeah I guess you have to match the tyres to the type of terrain you want to tackle with your four wheel drive, AT's good in sand and some dirt tracks.

[sibainmud]

I have a set of both A/T's and Muddies,
Problem is, i don't want to get caught short, so I never pull my mud's off!
You get used to the noise
Just gotta watch when it rains, cause with Simex's you can get stuck on wet pavement

[suzukisport]

Our Simex are on for 95% of the time unless there is a sand run, they dont work well in sand

[albundy]

Got that vid and mag last week as well. Awesome. When I was up there in July, there were trucks up there on road tyres. Although the Aussies have the big glossy 4wd mags that are so popular, alot of their trucks are what we would call glorified shopping trolleys. They only head out on these trips because they see it in the mag. That is why alot of the trucks had road tyres on. The next populer tyre was an AT. MT's were very few and far between on alot of the trucks I saw up there and it was tourist season.
Al

[Heath]

I guess in a gigantic sand bowl AT's are probably good enough. Still think a set of Muds will do me, but good point with extreme tyres being ... marginal on some surfaces.

[MNC]

I guess in a gigantic sand bowl AT's are probably good enough. Still think a set of Muds will do me, but good point with extreme tyres being ... marginal on some surfaces.

I run 33x12.5.15 BGF ATs on 15x10" rims on the tow wagon mainly to get a nice fat footprint on the sand. Aggressive muds would just dig the vx to a salt water grave in soft sand when pulling the boat out.

One tread pattern will never suit all driving conditions.

[Heath]

I guess in a gigantic sand bowl AT's are probably good enough. Still think a set of Muds will do me, but good point with extreme tyres being ... marginal on some surfaces.

I run 33x12.5.15 BGF ATs on 15x10" rims on the tow wagon mainly to get a nice fat footprint on the sand. Aggressive muds would just dig the vx to a salt water grave in soft sand when pulling the boat out.

One tread pattern will never suit all driving conditions.

Yep its all about compromise. What are you willing to trade for what...

[Suza]

I un AT's for all my road stuffcheaper, quiter, nicer ride all round- and then throw my muds on for when I am going out to play, with my big trolley jack and the rattle gun it only takes 10mins

[Heath]

I un AT's for all my road stuffcheaper, quiter, nicer ride all round- and then throw my muds on for when I am going out to play, with my big trolley jack and the rattle gun it only takes 10mins

I totally get that and had the same idea when I got my first wagon, but hated changing the tyres around and in the end didnt. Sold my AT's and spent the $$$ on some other toy for the wagon. Gained a new toy and space in the garage too.