As such, getting one particular type of AT tyre and using it in a different environment could have adverse affects. What helps in sand works against you on rock. My argument has been that where I take my road tyres, which excludes sand and snow/ice, it does work. When people ask here and elsewhere about what AT tyre to get, i don’t see questions been asked about usage. Just replies about how people love or hate the tyres they have and have had, with little to no reference to usage.
Many people, myself included, will recommend particular brands for particular usage. The WA guys with their soft sand recommend road tyres or supple ATs like Geolanders or Toyo.
My typical response (which my phone's predictive text knows off by heart!) is:
"Geolander G012 or G015 for mostly onroad or beach driving.
BFG KO2s for rocky or muddy tracks or touring the outback."
Do you guys know who this is? Connie Sue Beadell is the daughter of the famous Len Beadell, the guy whose team built some of the most famous tracks in Australia...Gunbarrel Hwy, Gary Hwy, Anne Beadell Hwy, etc. He was a true legend of the outback!!
His daughter & her husband Mick now run tag along tours on these tracks & more, plus "off track" tours where they literally bush bash cross country.
Essentially what they are saying is that in terms of puncture resistance, there is nothing between road tyres and a/t tyres. I agree.
This is what they say:
"
H/T - Highway Terrain = 90% On-road/ 10% Off-road
These tyres look similar to a normal car tyre, for high speed and comfort.
· A/T - All Terrain = 60% On-road/ 40% Off-road
General-purpose 4wd tyre, the best compromise for On-Road noise and comfort & Off-Road traction and durability. The majority of 4wd tyres are A/Ts.
· M/T - Mud Terrain = 85% Off-road/ 15% On-road
Specific tyres for maximum traction in rough, wet, steep & rocky conditions, they have aggressive tread patterns. M/T tyres are designed for mostly Off-Road use.
The commonly available Steel Belted Radial tyres easily handle the vast majority of 4wd work; regardless of brand or width they will do the job for you. Normal Off-road work is quite within the capability of these tyres, whether you are rattling along the "Gunbarrel Highway" on those mongrel corrugations, creeping down a track in the Victorian High Country or sand driving on Fraser Island, Steel Belted Radial tyres are just the things."
They also say that the most important feature for a tyre in the outback is puncture resistance. I agree.
They say the best tyres for offroad are all terrains, but not for off-track:
"
None of these tyres have sidewalls strong enough to resist serious damage while travelling Off-track. Due to the construction of Radial tyres the sidewalls are extremely vulnerable to punctures and tearing from stakes. If you intend to do any sort of
Off-track work, there are better tyres on the market than Steel Belted Radials."
They are talking about
Off-track not offroad here, very different:
There is onroad (roads, streets, highways freeways, etc)
Offroad (gravel roads are classified as offroad, plus 4wd tracks beaches, sand dunes, etc)
Off-track (no road, no track, no nothing, just scrub). Lots of sharp jagged fallen branches poking up at all angles ready to stake the sidewall. THIS is what they are talking about, not offroad. It is extreme & tests every aspect of the vehicle & tyres like you can't imagine.
