[Endeavour333]

Originally Posted by abheekg

Any idea what year were these tyres manufactured and what tyres are these. Google search is not giving me much info. I have picked these up for my upcoming monsoon explorations and as a standby set for my vehicles.

Dr. A Ghosh

Manufacture dates are found in markings like "DOT 5011" the first 2 digits of the number iste the week of the year and the last 2 digits are the year of manufacture. So this example tyres was manufactured in the 50th week of 2011. Find a similar DOT marking and you can tell when it was manufactured.

[jeepbug]

Originally Posted by roy_libran

^^^ I was targetting the 7.5x16 size only, as I said earlier. This Gurkha has earlier run on JK LT 4x4 in a 7.5x16 size, and it was just perfect.

The reason I brought up Speedways on this thread, is to understand what is the experience with these tyres w.r.t Braking On Road, Rubber Hardening, Rubber Cracking, Wear Off (Abration) Rates etc.

After all Tread Pattern isn't everything now. So, while we have talked about the NDMS-like tyre above, there are still these two:

1. How are the PK-303 Off the road?
2. Can the Gurkha handle R-1? Is it any good? I can consider moving to Alloys if it brings down the overall weight.


By the way, I am currently running on JK Elanzos (Highway Tyres - 6000 kms and around 10 OTR's). I have blown (and replaced) one of them due to a Sharp Rock penetrating the Sidewall. But, apart from that, they have performed decently, when brought down to about 20 psi.

Hi , i am using the r1 8.25 r 16 on ex army rims pcd 139 on my petrol cj3b and believe me it effortlessly climbs all heights and mountain sides which other diesels do with lot of howling and spinning.Rubber compound is not very hard , but is prone to cuts from rocks.you can get 750.16 r1 type for 4500 a piece and in my opinion you can take 2 for the front and use the same ones you have now on the rears with diffs.

[bigman]

Originally Posted by abheekg

What are the rivets for ?


Dr. A Ghosh

They look similar to what you get with winter cycling tyres.

[davids4x4mm550]

Originally Posted by jeepster

PK-303 is rib type tyre. (similar to stock gypsy tyre)

R1 is R1 so check if your axles can take the additional load.


Military is NDMS pattern but very narrow design.

Attachment 909133

BTW some tyre retailers are not happy with speedways after sales service.

so think twice before buying.

rgds,
Nikhil

Hi Nikhil,

How much are the gripking plus for? Will they fit on our 550 army rims?

[jeepster]

Originally Posted by davids4x4mm550

Hi Nikhil,

How much are the gripking plus for? Will they fit on our 550 army rims?

yes,

7.50x16 will fit army rim.

but you will have to buy tyre + tube combo.

rgds,
Nikhil

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-te...ml#post1493134

[roy_libran]

Originally Posted by davids4x4mm550

How much are the gripking plus for?

Gripking R-1 7.5x16 is for Rs. 3900/- if you order from company directly.

Nikhil - Thanks for posting pictures. Just love the way these tyres look, and the stance of your Jeep with these shoes is just brilliant.

[roy_libran]

Mods - Please delete Back to Back Post.

[davids4x4mm550]

Originally Posted by jeepster

yes,

7.50x16 will fit army rim.

but you will have to buy tyre + tube combo.

rgds,
Nikhil

Originally Posted by roy_libran

Gripking R-1 7.5x16 is for Rs. 3900/- if you order from company directly.

Nikhil - Thanks for posting pictures. Just love the way these tyres look, and the stance of your Jeep with these shoes is just brilliant.

Cool Thanks Nikhil/Roy will look at picking them up. Any idea if they have a dealer in MH or somewhere in Bombay/pune which will be easy to go pick it up. Also what Ply Options would be the best 4/6 or 8

[jeepster]

Originally Posted by roy_libran

Thanks for posting pictures. Just love the way these tyres look, and the stance of your Jeep with these shoes is just brilliant.

this is not my jeep.

i just posted pics for reference.

the link to the post is given in my post.

rgds,
Nikhil

[roy_libran]

Originally Posted by davids4x4mm550

Cool Thanks Nikhil/Roy will look at picking them up. Any idea if they have a dealer in MH or somewhere in Bombay/pune which will be easy to go pick it up. Also what Ply Options would be the best 4/6 or 8

IMHO lighter the better, so 4 ply should be fine. Higher ply is for load bearing applications.

[davids4x4mm550]

Originally Posted by vishwaschettri

A few months earlier i met a common friend who works in R&D department of a tire manufacturing company.

But since this guy got them specially made for me I couldn't refuse and coughed up the money.

- these are 8 ply agricultural tires meant to take a lot of side wall abuse.
cheers
vishwas

Hi Vishwas are these the same Tyres form Speedking?
How much did you end up paying for these?
Are they a perfect fit on the army rims and same size/hight as the sand grips 235 - 85 - r16?

Will th 4 ply ones be good?

Thanks n sorry for so many q's

[vishwaschettri]

Hi David,

I think I paid around 18K-20K for the tires. This was almost 3-4 yrs back. IIRC I mentioned it in one of my posts on this thread. I don't recall the brand-name but they have their factory down the road from my place. My friend is no longer working there, he has switched trade. They fit perfectly on the army rim. In fact they are the only OE tires for 550 beyond sandgrip & bullet that I have managed to trace. 7.50 - 16. I would recommend 8 ply only as these are soft compound agriculture tires and you need 8ply to take trail abuse. Though with 8ply the tires do become heavy and rob some of the top whack.

Thanks for reviving this trail. I will take the opportunity to post a long term ownership update.

I have driven these tires for almost 15k kms by now and I think they have 10k more left in them. In this time apart from regular OTR's and city runabout, I have taken my jeep to 2 long trips, one a 800km trip through rajasthan and other a 2500km trip through spiti valley. On both occasions I did some serious voluntary and involuntary offroading. It came out trumps on all occasions.

ON the whole totally satisfied with the performance. And now since I have a Gypsy also, I can easily manage one set of MT and one road tires and swap them whenever I want.

cheers
vishwas

Originally Posted by davids4x4mm550

Hi Vishwas are these the same Tyres form Speedking?
How much did you end up paying for these?
Are they a perfect fit on the army rims and same size/hight as the sand grips 235 - 85 - r16?

Will th 4 ply ones be good?

Thanks n sorry for so many q's

[davids4x4mm550]

Originally Posted by vishwaschettri

Hi David,


Thanks for reviving this trail. I will take the opportunity to post a long term ownership update.

ON the whole totally satisfied with the performance. And now since I have a Gypsy also, I can easily manage one set of MT and one road tires and swap them whenever I want.

cheers
vishwas

Thanks for the review,
Since my jeep is hardly used on road i think i might go for these.
what about -ve offset rims on these will they cause any problems?

PS. Put up some update pics of your jeep with them on. love the look

[headers]

Negative offset rims are not recommended of you wanna do hard core offroad..

If you are a wannabe, then it's ok..

The negative offset rims affect the wheel bearings as well as suspension geometry..IMO..

[davids4x4mm550]

Originally Posted by headers

Negative offset rims are not recommended of you wanna do hard core offroad..

If you are a wannabe, then it's ok..

The negative offset rims affect the wheel bearings as well as suspension geometry..IMO..

hahahaha a wannabe with tractor tires on.... i dont think so .....

I was always of the opinion that a wider track works better off road.