Holed sidewall - D697 LTs

[Joe Lighty Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe Lighty]

Recently went for a drive up a remote trail in south-west WA, near Margaret River in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. There were a few rocks to negotiate, but nothing too over the top - or so I thought... I think what happened was, I slid slightly off the side of a "sandstoney" type rock, it broke and the resulting sharp rock fragment went straight through the sidewall like it was butter...

"Hiss" said the tire.
"I think you've punctured the tire." said my better half.
"I think a rock has punctured our tire." says I.
"Can you change it? How long will that take?" says my better half.



Anyway, got the thing changed - learnt a few lessons, namely, if you've had your vehicle raised, then the standard jack will probably need some extra lift - I used a nice flat rock that I bedded into the dirt first. I crawled gingerly up the rest of the track, frightened that any other scary rocks would jump out and sink their teeth into my vulnerable tires! The family thought it was a fun exercise - I'm glad it all worked...



So, buying a hydraulic bottle jack and carrying a wooden base plate from now on. A tad disappointed that the damage apparently happened so easily on tire that I otherwise would be full of praise for - but, it was a very sharp rock!

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

I would go down to your local metal shop and get a 2 or 3mm square plate instead of a wooden one, more sturdy, reliable and will not split at an unexpected time

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Sorry to have to add what i see, That seems to happen a bit with those tyres.
Not the best for rough stuff.
Sorry.

[Joe Lighty Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe Lighty]

Well, I believe in calling a spade, a spade! Thing is, I hadn't read any bad reviews, mostly very good, and unfortunately I've kitted out the Prado AND the camper trailer with these things - an expensive changeover!

[a1mbm Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close a1mbm]

Just noticed do your "S" rated tyres meet the manufactures specs. on the tyre placard?

[Joe Lighty Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe Lighty]

Should be ok? Not often I get above 180 km/h in it...

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

I would go down to your local metal shop and get a 2 or 3mm square plate instead of a wooden one, more sturdy, reliable and will not split at an unexpected time

Bought a piece of 7-ply, cut out 2 pieces of 30 x 30cm and screwed them together. Now have a piece of 14-ply jacking plate, has not let me down in over 20 years. Used if for the car jack and hi-lift jack.

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

Recently went for a drive up a remote trail in south-west WA, near Margaret River in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. There were a few rocks to negotiate, but nothing too over the top - or so I thought... I think what happened was, I slid slightly off the side of a "sandstoney" type rock, it broke and the resulting sharp rock fragment went straight through the sidewall like it was butter...

!

That is a bummer.

Just returned from a couple of months around the Perth area, and the south-west corner. I noticed that a lot of the rocks over there are very hard (granite or similar) as opposed to some of the softer 'sandstoney' rocks over this way.

My 697 LT's were new for the trip, towed the van without any problems, handled the dirt roads fairly well, took it a bit slower on the stoney sections.

[Joe Lighty Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe Lighty]

Yes, other than this issue (which, as I said, is a bit disappointing!), I'm very happy with them! Excellent on the road and the sand.
I'm interested in your application of the hi-lift jack. I picked one up a while ago second hand, but haven't yet mounted it up and travelled with it, for the following reasons:
- weight - bloody heavy bit of kit, not sure I want it either mounted on the roof or the one the spare and thus hanging on the door.
- usage - not recommended for changing tires, very few places on my rig to lift anything, and, why would I?
What have you used yours for, and where do you stow it?
Look, when I say I'm disappointed with getting a hole in my sidewall, it is the first time this has happened to me and the rock was VERY sharp - might have happened to the toughest BFG/Cooper/etc...
Cheers!

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

At least you could see your hole. When I killed my sidewall (also a 697) it was the tiniest of pin holes from the smallest of something in the Vic High Country. (so small in fact, I inflated my tyre when I hit bitumen and it was still all good 100km later when I got home (except for the subtle hiss I could hear). I was annoyed as the tyres were only 20k kms old. Other than that 1 incident, I am happy with my 697s though I will be getting something a little more aggressive for my next set.

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

I would go down to your local metal shop and get a 2 or 3mm square plate instead of a wooden one, more sturdy, reliable and will not split at an unexpected time

A 2-3mm plate will be next to useless, 5mm minimum if you go steel.

Personally I have 2 pieces of 12mm ply around 300 x 300 and glued together with liquid nails with the main grain in opposite directions, very strong and light.

A sidewall split like that could happen to any brand of tyre, I would put it down to bad luck and move on.

Cheers Andrew

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Agree with AJ on both, must be something great about the name Andrew!

Cheers,
Andy

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

must be something great about the name Andrew!

Cheers,
Andy

Strong and Manly name apparantly http://nameberry.com/babyname/Andrew

Cheers Andrew

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

I can't help but wade one here...

I've had poor run with my 697s, one staked sidewall, and one lost tread block. Given their marketing is about strength of the sidewall and toughness of the tyre, I'd say Poor performance. While there are lots of good reviews, they are from people that have bought them and driven on asphalt for 10,000 km. once you clock up the outback kms theses Bridgestone 697 are found wanting.

It'll be back to BFGs for me.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

I can't help but wade one here...

I've had poor run with my 697s, one staked sidewall, and one lost tread block. Given their marketing is about strength of the sidewall and toughness of the tyre, I'd say Poor performance. While there are lots of good reviews, they are from people that have bought them and driven on asphalt for 10,000 km. once you clock up the outback kms theses Bridgestone 697 are found wanting.

It'll be back to BFGs for me.

Once again sharing real life experiences,

As you know Heath, I do a bit of off road, rough trips/track days & high country runs consistently give these tyres (697) a run for their money.
Sure, I think they (697) are a great on road & perhaps an ok Touring tyre, but they are always notably higher in the sidewall stake failure rate.
Yes some say luck, there is luck, like you can be lucky & not stake one, but it's a less used tyre in harder offroad stuff, but often the failure tyre.

I'm consistently amazed at the life, capability, & non failure of bfg a/t. No extra meat on sidewall, I have looked at them in places/sharp rocks & sticks into them, where I thought I was gone, for sure! But got away unscathed, I have seen so many others succeed also.
Great tyres those bfg!
Nice share Heath.