AT TYRES

Team J.a.G · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:08 am

As most of you know I have been running Mickey Thompson ATZ 245x75x16.

After travelling through S.A.'s Googes Track, Gawler Ranges, Wilpina Pound, Arkaroola & The Strez to Innaminka I noticed that the ATZ's were suffering some damage by way of "chipping" over the tread. Given that the roads out there are covered in sharp rocks (particularly the Gawler), I concede to the enviroment and elements that they were driven through.

The last couple of days (Approx. 5,000km's later) I'm experiencing wierd thumping noises that at first I could not trace. Today it was confirm that varying degrees of delamination of the tyres (in particular F/L/H) were the source of the thumping sounds and body vibrations.

So after a total of 48,000km's the MT ATZ's are history and need replacing with what I estimate should have been another 20-30K of tread still availble. Pretty much due to approx 8,000km in the S.A. dirt (rock) tracks :roll:

Still the Fabulous landscape was worth the it.

cmohr · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:33 am

Greg, Is this all the tyres or just one????, If so they have a 80,000km warrenty, and we should look into it..

cmohr

Team J.a.G · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:59 am

All tyres. L/H/F is the worst and needs replacement immediately. Broken steel belts showing rust

damo4runner · **Joined:** Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:07 am **Posts:** 100

yeah their is a warranty but it is only valid if you were taking the tires into a Mickey Thompson dealer and having the 5000 or 10000klm service/inspection I believe there was a booklet that would be stamped as well but I could be wrong..

cmohr · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:10 pm

I have the recipt for them from Hammonds, didn't get a book or anything, I'll check it out.

loric · **Joined:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:17 pm **Posts:** 44

Mate, what pressures were you running? Did the tyres overheat?

I drove the same area last Sept on Cooper STs 245/75-16LT and didn't have any issues.
No chipping, nor funny wear issues. (and the Coopers were 'renowned' for chipping easily.)

Before that trip I purchased a Tyre Pressure/Temp Monitoring System (Tyredog), and fitted a cabin air compressor.

It was pretty interesting watching the 'pressure - temp - speed - terrain relationship.'
There were a few instances where I dropped the pressures A LOT! as the tracks were very rocky,
and this resulted in the tyre temps climbing rapidly - and a significant increase in pressure too.
When I added more air, the temps were a lot lower. The difference needed only to be 5 psi to have a noticable effect.

The cost of the tpms was only around $400, which felt steep at first, but when i considered that each tyre is about $275+...

Long story short - i vote for a tmps. It gives great peace of mind knowing that whatever tyre you're running, you know exactly what pressure and temps you have.

Team J.a.G · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:02 pm

Can't tell you if they over heated or not. Nothing to gauge them with other than visually or touch, which did not seem to be out of the usual.

Ran the pressures at 20psi through Googes track (150km sand and gravel) then 38psi from Tarcoolum to Cedna (400km dirt road with corrigations) - No Chips

Into the Gawler Ranges @38psi (dirt road with loose rocks). Then refuelling at Wilpina Pound that the first chips were noticed to all tyres

Arkaroola to Innaminka 22psi (dirt road with loose rocks). Return to the Gold Coast chipping did not seem to be any worse than first noticed at Wilpina. Then last week I started to notice the body vibrations when slowing and or braking when down around the 1000-700rpms. Last friday thumping sound (like a flat tyre) started to accur at those rpms. Now you can see the Chipping has developed further and in parts exposed the steel belting showing rust stains (mainly on the F/L/H tyre) .

loric · **Joined:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:17 pm **Posts:** 44

22psi is pretty low on the strez. How fast were you driving? When i was there, i ran 30psi and travelled at 80-100kph. If i went any lower, the tyres would overheat. Temps were about 50C at 30psi and would climb to 70C+ when under 25psi.

I couldn't tell the diff in the temps by just touching the tyres (and i'm sure that the carcass temp is way higher than the internal air temp too.)

Conversely, 38psi in the Gawler is a tad high and prob explains the chipping.

Interestingly, i taked to some fellas near cameron cnr who lived and worked in the pilbara. They thought i was being too fussy with my pressures. They ran 50+psi 24/7 with B'stone 694s. Said they did the same for their work vehicles and have never had any probs. And they also hated Coopers coz they couldn't treat em this way!
What i'm saying is that diff brands have diff requirements so if ya happy with the MTZs stick with em i reckon. You now know how hard you can push em before they fail.

Team J.a.G · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:52 pm

My speeds over the whole trip were low. With exception of Googes track, Wilpina Pound and surrounding Gorges I was towing Milly.

Gawler - 20-40kph
Googes - 10-30kph
Strez - 40-80kph
Black Top -80-90kph

Team J.a.G · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:47 am

So..............Today I had a new ATZ fitted to the F/L/H and the my existing new ATZ spare to F/R/H. Ride a little btter but still getting some body vibration at lower RPM's . I guess the rear tyres are the remaining cause :?:

The MT ATZ's have travelled approx. 48,000kms. Excluding the "chipping" the tread remaining would be pushing to get another 20,000km. A bit short of the 80,000km :!:

In any event the disxcussions I had with the local manager at Bridgestone tyres suggested that with most off road tyre warranties they honour claims PROVIDED that they are NOT used OFF ROAD. :roll:

I have been given the MT Customer Service contact number so I can make further inquiries.............watch this space

cmohr · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:34 pm

This is a Delamination so that means manufacture fault... Not connected with distance traveled or offroad...
Still looking for purchase.

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