SUMMARY
As this is all getting a bit complicated, and at the risk of boring everyone rigid, I thought I would do an interim stock-take of ’where I am now’. Of course, my thoughts may or may not reflect your own views.
Some general (and fairly obvious) points:
• This discussion about All Terrain tyres is going to remain ‘a moving target’ a) because manufacturers are constantly introducing new products onto the global and UK markets, and b) because Forum members are potentially always updating the Forum with their own experiences.
• For all sorts of reasons ‘your experience’ is probably not going to be ‘my experience’ – although that doesn’t mean it’s not helpful.
• Personal priorities differ.
On the last of these points – my personal priorities for new Jimny tyres are first that they should perform as well as any AT can on wet tarmac, and secondly that they are at least ‘moderately’ resistant to chipping and punctures off-road. From a tyre construction point of view these priorities are in conflict. Such is Life.
I came to the Forum having already done a little reading about the on-road performance of AT tyres, and had come to the preliminary conclusion that Yokohama Geolandar G015s and Cooper AT3 Sports were two of the strongest contenders in the sizes most suitable for the Gen 4 Jimny (see my first post on this Topic). I haven’t completely changed this view – but I have modified it in the light of members’ comments.
What has been particularly useful is members’ experience ‘off-road’. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
To summarise:
1. I believe the general (but not necessarily universal) consensus is that there are two ‘Goldilocks’ sizes of tyre for the Gen 4 Jimny: 195/80 R15 and 215/75 R15.
2. If good road manners, including wet tarmac performance, are a priority then the Yokohama Geolandar G015 and, I still believe, the Cooper AT3 Sport, are in the frame for ‘best compromise AT tyre’ for the Jimny @ the 195/80 size. There may well be others but I haven’t found them on the UK market.
3. At the 215/75 size there is a rather wider range of contenders – but the good road manners for the G015 and the Cooper AT3 Sport still hold true.
4. For me, the issues then become strength and off-road ability. We have addressed the first - to some extent at least, but not the second (subject to comment No 7 below – which came up as I was reading different reviews).
5. The strongest option is undoubtedly a tyre with ‘Light Truck’ (LT) construction (thank you for that suggestion saxj). The only relevant LT I have found on the UK market is the Yokohama Geolandar G015 LT 215/75 R15 100/97S currently on offer at
www.giga-tyres.co.uk
and being sold by My Tyres and Tyres-guru amongst others. (Thanks for finding that Gadget.)
6. An ‘honourable alternative’ to this Light Truck tyre, from the point of view of strength at any rate, is the BF Goodrich KO2 – which has had a reputation for strength for some time (as well as, maybe, a reputation for some less attractive traits as well).
7. It appears the General Grabber AT3 is one of the more well-developed AT tyres on the market at the moment – and it is available in both Jimny ‘Goldilocks’ sizes. The priority for the Grabber appears to be off-road grip but, despite a modern compound and good sipes, its tread block design makes it harder for it to clear water on tarmac. (Please disagree with me here if you think I am wrong.)
8. On the new/relatively-new front both the Toyo AT+ (mentioned by Andy), and the Michelin Ltx Force (mentioned by cyberdriver from Australia), remain a bit of an unknown. Tom on this Forum, #welshjimny, has the Toyo AT+ so he may be able to update us in due course. The Ltx Force isn’t on the UK market in the relevant sizes as yet – and neither are the Firestone Destinations as used/ recommended by saxj.
So, what am I personally intending to do?
Well, I am still in two minds as to whether to go for ‘standard size’ 195/80, or upsize to 215/75. I know it doesn’t help others – but actually I don’t have to make a final decision until I receive word that ‘my Jimny’ has landed in the UK. This will probably be some months.
Lambert’s comment about unsprung mass, and Gadget’s remark that his 215/75 Geolandars have “blunted performance” to some extent, incline me towards the 195/80s.
On the other hand, if I were finally to go for 215/75s then, for me personally, I would want to maximise the off-road benefit of the larger tyres. saxj’s comments about LT tyres really being the ones to have for off-road, added to the fact that the only UK LT option comes with the Geolandars’ tarmac-friendly longitudinal rain channels, are both very persuasive. My guess is that Light Truck tyres, of any brand, will inevitably be heavier, have a tendency to vibrate more, be harder to balance, and the stiffer sidewalls will make the ride harsher and create more ‘bounce’ (like a pickup with an empty load bed). It is also possible that the steering and handling may be more of a handful. These are things to be investigated further.
I would, therefore, be very, very interested in any member’s on-road experience of LT rated 215/75 R15 tyres. I guess such experience, if any, is more likely to come from either South Africa or Australia where there may be more of a market for LT tyres in all sizes, but the general conditions will also be drier. So, any comments on wet road experiences on LTs might be difficult but would also be extremely helpful for the UK.
With all of these provisos I am probably going to end up with Geolandars, in one form or another.
Now, I reckon I’ve well and truly put ‘the noose round my neck’ – anyone want to give it a good yank…..?
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