[Sheel]

It had rained this Saturday. Parked the white VLX and couldn't resist taking it out.

Have finalized on Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA as replacement tires.

[Sheel]

I never actually got down to click odo pics, but when an opportunity presented myself, I didn't say no to it.

[Sheel]

Finally!

I upgraded my Scorpio's rubber from HT tires to AT tires. I was pretty confused between Pirelli Scorpion ATR's, Maxxis bravo AT 771 and Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA [all terrain/silent armor], the latter being the final choice.

Paid 41,000 for tires plus Rs. 500 for fitting, WA/WB.

Initial impressions are all positive. Braking distance stays the same, ride has improved, so has stance and it appears that height is up too. At places where I couldn't climb w/o taking 4H help is done in 2H which is great.

Sequence of pics [first pic] show the tires [before/after] and a place which i climbed which was impossible in 2H mode in those tires [the last pic]

[karan561]

Well done Sheel

With the A/T tyres going in the Scorpio now looks sumptuous, Enjoy !

[4x4addict]

Originally Posted by Sheel

and Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA [all terrain/silent armor], the latter being the final choice.

Exellent tyre. Earlier was available only in 15 inch, but now coming in 17 also, I guess.

[Sheel]

I have done some 400 odd kilometers since the tire change and as usual, less than 200 kilometers were done in the most smooth tarmac around, 100 kilometers over curvy state highways and the rest on broken roads plus mud/unpaved roads, with drops on each side while over taking or giving way to oncoming vehicles. This is actually my typical commuting pattern.

This is my thinking after using the Bridgestone D684 HT's in 235/65 R17 which came as OE fitment.

I believe those Duelers were designed for monocoque SUV's, period.

After initial 10,000 kilometers, the magic of my 4X4 appeared lost. Ride was crashy and after further 10,000 kms, the Scorpio became skittish. Now, for a ladder on frame based SUV, in 30,000 or 35,000 kms, the tire is used by 50% only if driven normally, but I was surprised to find the 2WD VLX to have better ride at road iregularities. Ride in my 4WD was still better in smooth roads [no bounch/pitch movement, associated with Scorpios] and handling of course continued to be brilliant, but braking and ride over bad roads suffered a lot as did traction if the tires sniffed mud some distance away.

While overtaking a tractor with one wheel off the ground [on a narrow road] the RR wheel broke traction and that was it.

With these new tires, the ride Ais infinite terms better as is braking to a good extent. You don't feel the bumps/pot-holes much now. The only negative is splashing of elements all around because of grooves present in the outer edge.

One more thing, this GoodYear Wrangler AT/SA has different pattern at the center, it has a line/rib all across. The other size [15" & 16"] have D689 pattern.

All in all, I am super happy with this change. It has transformed the way the SUV rides, enough for even regular passengers to comment upon the ride. And the presence has improved as well. The best money spent on the Scorpio till date.

[Sheel]

Did another 600 kilometers and that too in a day and that too at places where 100 kilometers took 3 hours.

The best thing about my home location is, 200 kilometers up North, you will have sub 10 degree of temperature and 200 kilometers South, it was hell, 42 degree. I couldn't even pee. [Route was Purnia - Bhagalpur - Amarpur - Katoria - Deoghar - Basukinath - Deoghar - Handiha - Bhagalpur - Purnia]

We took the old route on our way back and after initial hiccups & apprehensions, we were in a surprise. The first few kilometers were badly potholed plus construction on in full swing, so it was either driving over stone chips or from one diversion to another. Bhagalpur's one of the bridges was being dismantled [the bypass one] and we had to go completely off the road, go over railway tracks & come out. I would have to use 4H, but thanks to these grippy GoodYears, save for railway track excursion, the tires negated 4H despite the entire lower surface of wheel [the rubber part & few mm's of rim] being in mud. Seeing us, quite a few cars tried to take the diversion but none could clear it, save for a taxi Sumo which used bricks to go over the railway track.

Need to get a wash as the mud in those parts is very sticky and thick, so thick that huts don't require thatch/bricks for walls.

The car didn't skip a beat despite those temperatures and kept the passengers cool w/o shutting off the car much, we just couldn't get out of the car, it was burning outside.

[Sheel]

It is pouring for the past 6/7 days and I am yet to engage 4H at places where I would need them, in fact, at places [in soft mud & not slush] the wheels do spin but I didn't realize till I saw it in my ORVM [the trail behind], so yes, the AT's really work and I am super happy.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by Sheel

I never actually got down to click odo pics, but when an opportunity presented myself, I didn't say no to it.

41,450 kms.
I am having an average running of ~150 kilometers per day with 200 to 400 kilometers running on some days. No complaints. Just that, will have to get it serviced shortly.

The tires are brilliant almost everywhere, save for when pushing on ultra smooth surface which is understandable.
Shall post an update post service, but would get all fluids and filters replaced.

The world famous Dalkola jam made its presence yesterday, thanks to 4X4 hardware and grippy AT tires, I managed to cross the hurdle and reach home on time. Last heard, private vehicles took 4 hours to clear the jam. The only other SUV which managed to cross it was the new Toyota SUV.

[Sheel]

Service done as was WA.

Expense was some Rs. 7000 odd. Changed filters as well as oil, brake oil etc. Coolant was found to be ok. Will have to check upon timing belt replacement next.

[asit.kulkarni93]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Service done as was WA.

Expense was some Rs. 7000 odd. Changed filters as well as oil, brake oil etc. Coolant was found to be ok. Will have to check upon timing belt replacement next.

Isn't it too soon for the timing belt replacement? How is the suspension holding up?

Asit

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by asit.kulkarni93

Isn't it too soon for the timing belt replacement? How is the suspension holding up?

That is why I said, that I will have to refer the manual for it. The M2Di [S2] variant has a belt change at 50,000 kms, though unlikely that the M-Hawk will have a replacement at 50,000, but the VLX had a replacement at 60,000 kms, so will have to check.

Suspension you say...? as it was on day 1.

[Kestrel5915]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Suspension you say...? as it was on day 1.

And to what do you attribute it?
Build quality, your driving or the service?

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Will have to check upon timing belt replacement next.

There is no timing belt there. The mHawk 2.2L engine uses a timing chain, which is good for the life of the engine.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by Kestrel5915

And to what do you attribute it?
Build quality, your driving or the service?

Can't comment, as service center is yet to be involved in any matter regarding suspension, save for torquing it.
My driving style and the roads are...well, pretty varied. I don't baby it and roads aren't very good, plus my work involves its fair share of bad roads.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

There is no timing belt there. The mHawk 2.2L engine uses a timing chain, which is good for the life of the engine.

I stand corrected, thanks for it both do the same work i assume. What is the timing chain replacement period?