[UBZ]

hey all
I'm currently in dilemma about what new rubber to fit on my LJ80
I'm going for a stock sized 205/80/R16 mud terrain on the factory Rim.

tyres will be mainly used on clay/rock/gravel and a bit of tarseal. Mud/sand only if I really really have to.The truck is being setup up as an exploring rig.

I've pretty much narrowed my choose to between the Federal Couragia and the Maxxis Trepador.
Both availible in the size I want and only have 2-3ply side walls , so should bag well with the light truck.
Both tyres get mixed reviews from offtoaders online and I'm interrested in people's experiences , especially on light vechiles.

A mate has 31" couragia's on his Sierra and they go great in our conditions here . But the trapdoor is very attractive and I have used and liked Maxxis MT's in the past.

Chris.

[steak_knife]

I'd go trep's........ love mine, but in sand I think they would just dig in....

[boostedbrick]

I have Couragia 235/75-15s on my sierra, on a 15x7 rim. I run 22psi on road and even at that pressure they bag out, drop them to 14 and there bloody nice. I haven't gone lower due to rim width...

There quite, and a reasonably soft compound. Grip well on dry/wet rock, dirt and slippery clay. I've only done minimal mud but they seemed capable.. Maybe not the best tyre for sand, but never tried em...

[alien]

trep has a better pattern IMO - directional is going to help in clay, as will its bigger side biters, plus from what i've read online the trep is softer compound which should mean its better on rocks. I've not had any experience with them though.

To throw another tyre in the mix however - check out kumho KL71. I'm very impressed with mine, i think theyre better than my BFG KM2s. KL71 are available in a 225/75r16 - so a 29.28" tyre vs the 28.9 you were going for... pretty close.

[christover1]

I love my Couragias on and off road,
lasted 2 years on my Sierra and another 2 on my Vitara.
Very quiet and good handling on road, for a mudder.
I think they would wear fast on heavy rigs.

Never seen or driven on the treps

[3cyl]

I doubt they'll fit any good on a 4.5" tube type rim, only 600/16 sit right on those.

[UBZ]

3cyl wrote:

I doubt they'll fit any good on a 4.5" tube type rim, only 600/16 sit right on those.

This is exactly what another LJ enthusiast said to me earlier today.
and on close inspection the 205/80/R16 just doesnt sit quite right on the factory rim I've got mocked up.

so the decision has been made to stick with 6.00x16's on the factory rims for that classic look when desired. And get some 15" stock Seirra rims or 16" steel vitara rims to fit some slightly larger than stock MT's for general off road use.

I diddn't realize the trepadors were directional! This rules them out for me as I regularly rotate my tyres to get better wear out of them. And do not really see the point in having to carry 2 spare tyres.

[sideways]

UBZNZ wrote:

3cyl wrote:

I doubt they'll fit any good on a 4.5" tube type rim, only 600/16 sit right on those.

This is exactly what another LJ enthusiast said to me earlier today.
and on close inspection the 205/80/R16 just doesnt sit quite right on the factory rim I've got mocked up.

so the decision has been made to stick with 6.00x16's on the factory rims for that classic look when desired. And get some 15" stock Seirra rims or 16" steel vitara rims to fit some slightly larger than stock MT's for general off road use.

I diddn't realize the trepadors were directional! This rules them out for me as I regularly rotate my tyres to get better wear out of them. And do not really see the point in having to carry 2 spare tyres.

Carry a Federal or BFG ect as a spare.

[303zuke]

3cyl wrote:

I doubt they'll fit any good on a 4.5" tube type rim, only 600/16 sit right on those.

I'd disagree. I've run 205R16 Dunlop Road Grippers on 4.5" LJ rims and they're quite a comfortable fit. The "R" means 78 profile, so 205/80/16 will be virtually the same. Yes, they are a little wider, but the sidewalls look fine. While I'm a big fan of Bartreads, particularly on an LJ, running radial tyres (especially on wet roads) is a huge improvement in ride and safety. The 205R16s are the same dia as the 6.00-16s and have a wider road contact patch, but will clear chassis components and do not require flares. The Dunlops are a good highway tyre with maybe 30% off-road use. For something more agressive, I'd be searching NZ for a set of Firestone SATs, or try some Maxxis Creepy Crawlies in 7.00-16, which will also fit a stock LJ rim, but are a taller height and might rub.

(Apologies for the condition of the tread on the 205R16 pictured! The tread is fairly worn down and is probably only just roadworthy.)