comedy tyres.

[lambert]

in this months tor there is a feature on extreme tyres, boggers, trekkers that sort of thing. it set my mind wondering just how many 4x4ists use such tyres and even normal mt's as a crutch for  lack of driving ability? now i know most of my use is green lanes not swamps and i know that extreme tyres are very specific in their design use but i have been able to follow folk with much more aggressive tyres than my xpc's with little or no drama, and in the event of such bottomless conditions as would need lumpy tyres aren't those the very conditions where a winch is the only serious way of making progress anyway? i'm not on about competition driving as that is different but more general use. now it could very easily be that i have missed the point compleatly.  i do get taller tyres and and even thicker or thinner tyres but the need for extreme tread baffles me.

[Ridgeback]

I am running Goodyear MT's and agree that most of the time I can drive the same places that some of my friends can drive with extreme tyres.
I am no expert on tyres but I think It really does depend on what you want to do with your 4x4 and also the amount of time you spend on the road vs off road.

I have been following a disco (I have a 90) thats on the same size extreme tyres and he never had to stop. I ended up winching myself forward for most of the distance.

I have been to play and play days when the mud is so bad that I could hardly move. Again friends running extreme tyres kept moving and made it through.
With regards to your comment on lack of driving ability, driving on extreme tyres requires much more driving ability to stay on the road, then when offroad your also at far higher risk of snapping half shafts and other transmission components if you don't go easy with your right foot.

I have gone for MT tyres and a winch because I find the MT's much better on the road and rocky stuff. I have a winch so I can get trough more extreme mud however this takes much longer then simply driving through if I had more extreme tyres.

[boss]

when it comes to tyres it totally depends on the application like said onroad/offroad weather the terrain in your area is sandy, muddy, rocky ect
my dad doesnt need jungle trekkers BUT they stomp all over BFG MT tyres when it comes to offroad stuff. but on road there not so nice.
and as for driving skill it could be argued that agressive tyres get you further and into more technical situations than your regular colway or bfg.
you have to remember that for some people this is there sole hobby and they like to go to pay and play days and push there vehicle (and themselves)to the limit
if the point your trying to make is do people really need such aggressive tyres.....probibly not but do people need 4x4s in the same respect? alot of the green lanes i have driven with the club i could have got down in my old 306

my 2p worth

[Saffy]

My experience is that an aggressive tyre often leave less sign (careful use of wording) to an unsurfaced track as it more likely to maintain traction throughout a manouvour whereas non aggressive tyre in a similar situation looses traction more easily, spins/slips on the surface causing surface displacement.
Say crawling up wet grassy incline of a rarely traveled greenlane, the aggressive tyre might not even leave a track other then light depressions in the grass surface whereas road biased tyre leaves a streak of 11's because the tyres have previously clogged (without self cleaning ability), vehicle is unable to maintain the traction, the wheels spin as per normal 4x4 action, the driver unable to complete the slope at all without increased speed, more spin, less control...

[Disco Matt]

I do think some people over-do it where tyres are concerned. For the lanes near me the most aggressive tyre you need is a normal M/T (Insa Turbo Dakar in my case). I've not got stuck since fitting them, the only thing that can stop me now is running out of ground clearance. They are however not as good for rocky bits as my old BFG A/Ts were.

I do seriously believe that everyone should start 4x4ing in a standard truck on A/Ts, as this will teach you to be a better driver. As Lambert says, anyone can drive a truck with axle diff locks, a big lift and super swamp monster tyres. The mark of skill is when you can take a standard or lightly modded truck through the same terrain without breaking anything or getting stuck.

It comes down to what you use it for. My Dakars wouldn't be much good for really gloopy mud on a pay and play (I'd probably get through it, but I couldn't tow anyone out of it) but you don't need Special Tracks for driving the Wayfarer. As my truck is mostly used for laning I'm not going to fit 35in tyres, as I don't need them. I do intend to go up to 235/85 R16s as a little bit more clearance would be helpful sometimes.