Grandtreks for Outback touring?

[foxpro Member Find all posts View Profile Close foxpro]

They will be fine. Many truckies I know store new tyres under the house for several months prior to using them.

I will keep mine under the house as well and might put them back on once the BFGs, which came on today, are done. First impressions: They are a little noisier, steering needs a bit more force, ride height feels somewhat lower(?), the gas pedal needs more push and surely they will use more diesel. But they do inspire some solidity.

[Kapitan Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kapitan]

Grandtreks

I had Grandtreks for over 2 years on my previous 150 series Prado GXL and off road performed well enough. No complaints but having more aggressive tread (and height) would have been nice on few occasions so with new Prado VX decided for a change.

On the new Prado fitted Pirelli Scorpion ATR tyres in 265/70R17 size and happy with the choice. Off road Scorpions performs better than Grandtreks and also do well in the city.

As you are not planning to go totally bush touring on dirt tracks I believe Grandtreks should do well - just adjust your tyre pressures.

[Kapitan Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kapitan]

What do you guys think of the Falken Wildpeak ATs?? Has anyone used them? I got a mate who swears by them but i wanted to get a few more reviews.. i wouldnt say they are a cheap tyre seeing as ive got quotes for $250 plus at various shops.. im in the market for a new set now.. i had Maxxis Bravo AT700 and they are noisy they slide on dirt and mud theyve got no guts goin up a hill to be frank they were the biggest waste of $900 i ever had! PERIOD!!!

I would go with better brand. Example - for $260 each I had Pirelli Scorpion ATR tyres in 265/70R17LT size fitted with balancing etc. Just shop around.

[gavinvbrf9 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close gavinvbrf9]

Pirelli Scorpion AT

Excellent tyres, slightly firmer than Dunlop Grandtreks , but quiet and grippy in the wet. Recommend - Jax Quik Fit have them for normally $270. Good value for quality tyre.

[Sydneydude Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sydneydude]

Well, had no trouble with the Grandtreks for 50k, including various gravel roads and heavier stuff.
Now I'm on Coopers STmax, and I worry less. The sides of the grand treks are very soft, not so good. The grand trek rubber is ok but e.g. Cooper AT3 which I had for a while is much better round corners and in the wet.

[Prone Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prone]

I have had 3 sets of Grandtreks, 2 sets on 90 series for 170000K and one set on the 150 now at 65000K. Used them on most of tracks mentioned by OP as well as Gunbarrel, Gibb River road and Kimberley environs, Tanami, Nth East hills of Victoria and others. The last 4 years towing a small camper trailer. The occasional puncture mainly (only?) when tyre pretty worn. Also strangely most punctures were in built up areas due to nails and screws only a couple in the outback. Maybe would have had fewer with different tyres but who knows? I have a theory that maybe it is the softness that allows them to survive, certainly non of the chipping that is often seen on the popular LT types.

As others have mentioned tyre pressure needs to be adjusted to suit prevailing conditions. Deep mud? Forget it! Most other dry surfaces seem fine.

I had tools to repair and patch if needed and did practice on mine and other peoples flats. Not sure about the current 150 with its alloy wheels.

Coming up for new tyres now and not sure which way I will go, despite my good run with the Grandtreks I may go for LT's.

Cheers
Prone

[foxpro Member Find all posts View Profile Close foxpro]

I have had 3 sets of Grandtreks, 2 sets on 90 series for 170000K and one set on the 150 now at 65000K.

You really had an amazing run with the Grandtreks. Maybe I was just too quick to replace them. After a few days on the BFGs I like their firmer sidewall stability in corners. More like driving on tracks with no rolling sideways. But that is a personal preference. I will finish the Grandtreks after the BFGs had their run.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

If you take it easy, they'll be ok off road. If you want worry free piece of mind, get an LT tyre.

[sweetpea Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sweetpea]

If you take it easy, they'll be ok off road. If you want worry free piece of mind, get an LT tyre.

As AJ120 said above, I have driven the Oodnadatta track several times and the road to Dalhousie and Mt Dare on Grantreks.

I travel fairly lightly and with appropriate tyre pressures and modest speeds and have had no tyre issues.

I know there is some luck involved.

I too have stopped to check on many well accessorised and very heavily loaded vehicles with the "preferred" AT tyres which were either flat on the bottom or had large sections of wall or tread missing.

As Dirty Harry once said, "A man has to know his limitations". I think some of my 'luck' is because I drive within both my and my vehicles limitations.

S

BTW I replaced my original Grandtreks at about 50 K. They were still in good condition for city driving but it seemed prudent to put new ones on before that horribly corrugated bit of road from Oodnadatta to Dalhousie to Mt Dare to Fink. A really crap bit of road.

[foxpro Member Find all posts View Profile Close foxpro]

I travel fairly lightly and with appropriate tyre pressures and modest speeds and have had no tyre issues.

So is max 80km/h at 26 PSI the agreed sweet medium?
Traveling light sounds good but how to achieve that? With a GX kerb weight of 2210kg plus 150l fuel, 100l water, 200kg passengers(3) body mass, roof tent, second battery, fridge, spares and stuff it is a scramble to stay below 3t GVM. But not towing helps, I guess.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

So is max 80km/h at 26 PSI the agreed sweet medium?
................................But not towing helps, I guess.

A good rule of thumb for speed is 3 times PSI, so 26psi @ 80km/hr is pretty much on the money. Don't be afraid to lower pressures and speed form those numbers if things get really rough and corrugated. Also if you set tyres to 26psi when they re cold and worse if ambient temp is cold then you could easily see your pressures getting well into the 30's as the day and the tyres warm up, don't be afraid to let more air out as temperatures change.

I ran my Grandtreks at 22psi cold which was roughly 26psi warm.

Personally I think 80km/hr should be the max speed on any unsealed road you are not intimate with, a beautiful smooth unsealed road can have a lovely washout straight across it with almost no warning and the faster you are going the harder you will hit it.

Not sure how not towing helps keep the weight down in your Prado, one of the reasons I am a big fan of trailers is the ability to keep weight off the vehicle. Mine runs a tow ball weight around 70-80kg, but we store most of our camping gear, clothes, food, drinks, water, spares etc in the trailer, keeping the Prado much lighter than it otherwise might be.

Cheers Andrew

[foxpro Member Find all posts View Profile Close foxpro]

Not sure how not towing helps keep the weight down in your Prado

I was more thinking of tyre wear having to tow a trailer. Personally I don't want a trailer as I'm not confident enough to steer them through difficult sections that might come up. Plus there are additional costs for purchase, maintenance and fuel. Maybe later.

[Drosey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drosey]

Hi All,
Are you referring to both Grandtrek AT20 & AT22 in this thread?
I am currently running the AT22 on my 120 and think they are a decent tyre.

Dave

[foxpro Member Find all posts View Profile Close foxpro]

Hi All,
Are you referring to both Grandtrek AT20 & AT22 in this thread?
Dave

Sure. The initial question was if the original Toyota supplied Grandtreks are up to the task for Outback touring. Which they seem to be judging from the feedback above.