Tata Safari : Tyre & wheel upgrade thread

tsk1979 · 23rd March 2009, 11:39

Since I was unable to find a good used piece for a lower price, I am thinking of buying a new tire.
The cheapest I am getting is the JK Elanzo for 3800rs.
I am wondering how good is this tire. Is it very puncture resistant.

I was looking for a user tire because at 40K kms I intend to get all A/T tires.
I was wondering if I get 1 A/T tire now and put it on the spare wheel.
Will one tire of different brand and tread pattern make much difference if used for short intervals?

I intend to get stock size 235/70R16.

Can you suggest the toughest A/T tire in the market? However if Elanzo is good enough, I will buy that.

iraghava · 23rd March 2009, 11:56

Elanzo should last, these tyres are designed for that but no clue about the puncture resistance.

And two different patterns for short durations is not an issue, just be careful under hard braking.

himanshugoswami · 23rd March 2009, 12:03

TSK- i've heard good initial reports about the new MRF wanderers. My neighbour has a tyre shop here in Hyd and he recently put wanderers in his restored 1963 willys jeep

tsk1979 · 23rd March 2009, 14:53

Are most tyre markets closed in Delhi on monday? Most tyre dealers are not picking up the phone.
I am thinking of going to either BK Tyres or Universal Tyre house.

suman · 23rd March 2009, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Are most tyre markets closed in Delhi on monday? Most tyre dealers are not picking up the phone.
I am thinking of going to either BK Tyres or Universal Tyre house.

Lajpat Nagar is closed on Mondays.........

tsk1979 · 23rd March 2009, 15:25

I have decided to check out JK, MRF and Apollo at Universal Tyre House East of Kailash. Will be visiting this evening.

iraghava · 23rd March 2009, 23:42

Universal?? I wouldn't really recommend him. And try & not get the 'sister' company of Bridgestone tyres from him.

tsk1979 · 24th March 2009, 08:21

Well I already bought JK Elanza from him. Put it as spare wheel, and hopefully will not need to use it.
His shop seemed pretty well equiped and he had a lot of tires in stock, any particular reason for not recommending him?
On a sidenote, he tried very very hard to sell me silverstone tires

suman · 24th March 2009, 10:30

The stock tyres on my Safari 4x4 have covered almost 55k kms - a couple of them are good for at least another 5k kms or more. However, I'm now re-thinking my original decision of retaining them for another couple of months - being the tubed variety, I do not have complete peace of mind while traversing broken terrain. Two of the four are also quite worn at the edges (thanks to an alignment fiasco at 30k kms).

We have a trip coming up next weekend which may also involve negotiating dry river beds & doing a couple of river crossings. All in all, I'm wondering - "why stretch it?" So, have decided to go in for new AT shoes this weekend.

I've decided NOT TO upsize so will be going in for 235x70x16s. Choices are the Yokohama Geolanders, the Michelin LTX 2s & the BFGs. Please let the suggestions pour in along with why you are recommending them. MRF Wanderer looks good but there is zilch user feedback & the tyre is too new in the market for my comfort.

Thanks in advance for your help guys.

MODS: I know there is a Safari tyres thread but I didn't want this getting lost in there since I want opinions on these three specific tyres only. Hence the new thread.

hrag · 24th March 2009, 10:49

Well, I can vouch for the Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S, at least on the road and in mild slush / mud / sand. The next OTR coming up will put them to the offroad test.
Note: I've done ~1000 km on the new tyres, have no idea how long they will last etc.

Check out the penultimate picture in this post and you can see the MRF Wanderer on an MM
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-of...ml#post1215026

ashthedivx · 24th March 2009, 10:53

So finally BULL getting new shoes

OT: Why not up-sizing ? As per my limited knowledge a 1+ up-sizing might not cause problem. Though more then 1+ might stress suspension.

suman · 24th March 2009, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrag

Well, I can vouch for the Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S,

Thanks Hrishi & sorry about the spelling

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashthedivx

So finally BULL getting new shoes

OT: Why not up-sizing ? As per my limited knowledge a 1+ up-sizing might not cause problem. Though more then 1+ might stress suspension.

The Beast, not the Bull

.

Well, the recommended Rim size for 255s is 7J whereas mine is 6.5J so don't want to take a chance. Have been happy with the stock size so far.

tsk1979 · 24th March 2009, 11:03

suman, I suggest you also look at the Indian Brands like MRF Wanderer A/T, the Apollo Hawkz etc.,
From what I could gather from my visits to various tire shops, the BFG are the cheapest A/T tires.
I don't know whether they are officially imported into India

suman · 24th March 2009, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

From what I could gather from my visits to various tire shops, the BFG are the cheapest A/T tires.
I don't know whether they are officially imported into India

I know the BFGs are cheapest but price is not the criteria. Also, as I mentioned, this is an infrequent purchase & I'm wary about getting Wanderer etc with absolutely no user feedback in the market.

I don't think the Apollo one you've mentioned is an A/T tyre?

EDIT: By merging this with the Tata Safari tyres thread, I will not get the specific replies & assistance that I was looking for. Can you please retain the separate thread? Thanks

Nikhilb2008 · 24th March 2009, 12:04

BFG is imported officially! They are marketed by Michelin.

I would suggest the Geolandars. No hassle whatsoever. Dont worry too much and just get these tyres. Tons of people have used them here on TBHP and no issues whatsoever with mild offroading.

23rd March 2009, 11:39	#196
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,813 Times View My Garage	Since I was unable to find a good used piece for a lower price, I am thinking of buying a new tire. The cheapest I am getting is the JK Elanzo for 3800rs. I am wondering how good is this tire. Is it very puncture resistant. I was looking for a user tire because at 40K kms I intend to get all A/T tires. I was wondering if I get 1 A/T tire now and put it on the spare wheel. Will one tire of different brand and tread pattern make much difference if used for short intervals? I intend to get stock size 235/70R16. Can you suggest the toughest A/T tire in the market? However if Elanzo is good enough, I will buy that.
	(1) Thanks

23rd March 2009, 11:56	#197
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	Elanzo should last, these tyres are designed for that but no clue about the puncture resistance. And two different patterns for short durations is not an issue, just be careful under hard braking.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 12:03	#198
himanshugoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!!! Posts: 2,303 Thanked: 2,619 Times	TSK- i've heard good initial reports about the new MRF wanderers. My neighbour has a tyre shop here in Hyd and he recently put wanderers in his restored 1963 willys jeep
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 14:53	#199
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,813 Times View My Garage	Are most tyre markets closed in Delhi on monday? Most tyre dealers are not picking up the phone. I am thinking of going to either BK Tyres or Universal Tyre house.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 15:25	#201
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,813 Times View My Garage	I have decided to check out JK, MRF and Apollo at Universal Tyre House East of Kailash. Will be visiting this evening.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 23:42	#202
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	Universal?? I wouldn't really recommend him. And try & not get the 'sister' company of Bridgestone tyres from him.
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 08:21	#203
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,813 Times View My Garage	Well I already bought JK Elanza from him. Put it as spare wheel, and hopefully will not need to use it. His shop seemed pretty well equiped and he had a lot of tires in stock, any particular reason for not recommending him? On a sidenote, he tried very very hard to sell me silverstone tires
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 10:30	#204
suman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kolkata Posts: 4,589 Thanked: 279 Times View My Garage	AT tyres for Safari - Yokohama, Michelin or BF Goodrich? The stock tyres on my Safari 4x4 have covered almost 55k kms - a couple of them are good for at least another 5k kms or more. However, I'm now re-thinking my original decision of retaining them for another couple of months - being the tubed variety, I do not have complete peace of mind while traversing broken terrain. Two of the four are also quite worn at the edges (thanks to an alignment fiasco at 30k kms). We have a trip coming up next weekend which may also involve negotiating dry river beds & doing a couple of river crossings. All in all, I'm wondering - "why stretch it?" So, have decided to go in for new AT shoes this weekend. I've decided NOT TO upsize so will be going in for 235x70x16s. Choices are the Yokohama Geolanders, the Michelin LTX 2s & the BFGs. Please let the suggestions pour in along with why you are recommending them. MRF Wanderer looks good but there is zilch user feedback & the tyre is too new in the market for my comfort. Thanks in advance for your help guys. MODS: I know there is a Safari tyres thread but I didn't want this getting lost in there since I want opinions on these three specific tyres only. Hence the new thread.
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 10:49	#205
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 31 Times	Well, I can vouch for the Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S, at least on the road and in mild slush / mud / sand. The next OTR coming up will put them to the offroad test. Note: I've done ~1000 km on the new tyres, have no idea how long they will last etc. Check out the penultimate picture in this post and you can see the MRF Wanderer on an MM http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-of...ml#post1215026
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 10:53	#206
ashthedivx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,356 Thanked: 24 Times	So finally BULL getting new shoes OT: Why not up-sizing ? As per my limited knowledge a 1+ up-sizing might not cause problem. Though more then 1+ might stress suspension.
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 11:03	#208
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,813 Times View My Garage	suman, I suggest you also look at the Indian Brands like MRF Wanderer A/T, the Apollo Hawkz etc., From what I could gather from my visits to various tire shops, the BFG are the cheapest A/T tires. I don't know whether they are officially imported into India
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 12:04	#210
Nikhilb2008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,196 Thanked: 10,136 Times	BFG is imported officially! They are marketed by Michelin. I would suggest the Geolandars. No hassle whatsoever. Dont worry too much and just get these tyres. Tons of people have used them here on TBHP and no issues whatsoever with mild offroading.
	() Thanks