What type of tire damage have you experienced on Baja dirtroads?
For every ten trips to Baja, how many times did you have to change whhels/tire(s)?
[Edited on 8-24-2006 by edm1]David K - 8-23-2006 at 08:32 PM
With well worn BFG Rugged Trail TAs, several flats in one long trip (15 days in Baja 2001/2002)...
With good tread BFG Rugged Trail T/A, put a rock through the tread near El Huerfanito. Bought a used tire at Rancho Grande (Gonzaga) to get me back
with a spare.... Corky rode right past me as the kids and I were changing the tire... We met later that day at Alfonsina's (Nov. 2003).
With a new Futura Dakota, driving at warp speed, fully inflated, I put a rock through the center of the tread north of Coco's Corner (Las Arrastras
area). The guys at Laguna Chapala tried to patch it from the inside with a boot, but the hole was pretty big... so that tire became an iffy spare for
the remainder of that trip to L.A. Bay. Pep Boys replaced the tire when I got home.
Otherwise, no other problems with the Futuras on my last truck, the BFGs on my new truck (except they wore out at 25,000 miles), and the new Cooper
Discoverer STTs I have been using for 11,000 miles so far... here is one:Diver - 8-23-2006 at 08:42 PM
One sidewall tear from hitting a jagged rock on a narrow trail where I couldn't avoid it. That's it in over 20,000 Baja miles !
All of those miles, I have either been carrying or towing a camper.
I have always driven a 4WD pick-up (FORD) with 8 or 10 ply tires.
I've used Michelin's, Toyo's and Wild Country's (Les Scwab).
.Axel - 8-23-2006 at 10:06 PM
I have been extremely lucky with my Yokohama Geolanders. Just mounted my 4th set. Before the geolanders I had yokohama Super Diggers, 3 sets of those.
I always carry 2 spares and have never had to use a single one. I'm sure i just jinxed myself.Bajaboy - 8-23-2006 at 10:08 PM
I don't want to jinx myself.
ZacBajaNomad - 8-23-2006 at 10:31 PM
All in Toyota 4-banger pickups ('82, '94 & '95 Tacoma)... a couple of BFG AT T/A sidewall blowouts (so no more BFGs for moi) & quickly blew
the snot out of the majority of stock Goodyears (load range B Wranglers) that came with the Tacoma.
I now use Bridgestone Dueler A/T tires, and the only problems have been when I didn't air down properly. I HIGHLY recommend these tires.
The Bridgestones are "warranted" for 50,000 mile treadlife.
I wouldn't judge by how many trips to Baja required a repair, but for every ? miles traveled off-highway (I've only had one tire go down on-road). It
also kind of depends on where you're at too. Conditions can vary so much depending on where you are, and what types of roads/trails you'll follow.
--
Doug
[Edited on 8-24-2006 by BajaNomad]AmoPescar - 8-23-2006 at 10:43 PM
On the first trip down to Baja in my 2001 Ford F250, I had a large side wall puncture in my R/F 33" BFG AT tire. This occured while David K, his son
Chris and I were on our way to see Tinaja de Yubay. I was able to plug it and get it to hold air.
Since then, I have had NO further problems with my BFGs. They have been aired down and up many times and have been in many situations that
certainly could have damaged them.
------I had litterally dozens of flats. I always carried 3 spares, and several times I had to use them all. But this was in the days when all my tires
were "junk".
In the last 10 years I have been running on BFG AT's, load range D, and have had zero problems--------going thru my second set now, and got 42K out of
my original set--------(Ford F-250 extended cab with small camper)
I do mostly off roading, and beach running.David K - 8-23-2006 at 11:46 PM
Barry, The Squarecircle is itching to get down to Los Corrales (south of Los Barriles & Punta San Francisquito) again... and I have never been...
Maybe this winter? I enjoyed your stories of this region as well. Will you be game for such a trip?
Wow, David---------
Barry A. - 8-23-2006 at 11:56 PM
---------that sounds good to me---------all it takes is someone being interested in going there, and suddenly my attitude about "never going to Baja
again" seems to change.
Los Corrales is a challenge that I probably cannot pass up since I failed to make it all the way last time.
Thanks for offering the challenge.
We will stay in touch.David K - 8-23-2006 at 11:58 PM
That'a boy Barry! Viva Baja!!bajarich - 8-24-2006 at 07:46 AM
'Put a rock through the tread of one of my BFG A/t's on the main Highway just south of El Rosario. Thats the only problem I've had with them in Baja.
I have also put rocks through them in Southern Utah. Discount Tire has always been good about replacing them.
Baja Rich------
Barry A. - 8-24-2006 at 09:09 AM
Is it possible that you may be carrying too much pressure in your BFG's on the highway? What you describe here is pretty rare, I believe.
I run my BFG's with a max. pressure of 50 lbs. on the pavement, despite that they claim 65 lbs being the max..
Just a thought.Neal Johns - 8-24-2006 at 09:45 AM
edm1, As BajaNomad says, it depends what kind of dirt road you drive on. Some sandy two track roads will let a tire last forever, while the worst
roads with sharp, jagged rocks will play havoc with tires. If you travel alone, it does not hurt to carry two spares, but I just carry lots of "string
type" plugs and boot type inside patches. Best to practice getting access to the inside of a tire at home before learning how on a Baja back road.
Slower speeds and less pressure (compared to pavement) are a big help on bad roads.DanO - 8-24-2006 at 11:29 AM
Over the past 16 years I've had four or five flats off-highway. With one exception, they were when I was running the crappy stock tires that came
with the vehicles I was driving (General, Goodyear, etc.). On each vehicle, I replaced them with BFG-ATs. I got one off-highway flat on those tires
-- a rock shaped like a spearhead that was wedged in between two big ones tore a two inch gash in between the treads. My fault -- pressure was too
high and I was driving too fast. Not even the mechanics at the San Pedro de Martir observatorio could fix that one.DianaT - 8-24-2006 at 11:45 AM
Going too fast near Coco's Corner and one of those nasty volcanic rocks jumped up and took a bite out of the sidewall of one of the original tires on
our Tundra.
But as luck would have it, we had just picked up a hitchhiker a lot younger than we are so had help changing the tire.
Bought a cheap used spare at Gonzaga and made it to San Felipe---much slower
Replaced with better tires BFG A/T
Diane
Numerous problems
Hook - 8-24-2006 at 12:16 PM
with trailer tires, mostly cheapos like Kuhmos and Continentals and mostly before Hwy 1 improved so much about 7-8 years ago. Never a problem with the
Desert Duelers or Michelins I've run on the tow rigs, but very little offroad use. One tow to Gonzaga in the early 90s, numerous trips out to Chivato
since the early 80s, a couple trips to Bahia Animas, 3-4 trips to Laguna Hanson in the 80s and one observatory run is about the extent of my
non-paved driving. I guess the boats keep me rather pavement bound.
I have got to post a shot of the Michelin LTX-MS 10 ply tires I have on the Ford 4x4 F-350 that has carried my Lance around for probably 70% of their
life. They have 41k on them so far and look to still have around 5-7K left on them. Generally running them between 70-80psi unless on dirt and then I
drop to about 40psi, unless it's deep sand. Most of this was around Anza Borrego or the Lower Colo. River area. Only two tire rotations the whole
time.Bedman - 8-25-2006 at 12:36 AM
Off Road flats....ZIP. I just drive too much like an old man and always air down. I've had a few that were slow leaks, one was a cracked valve stem,
one was a cholla needle.
On pavement I've had many blowouts. In the 70's and 80's....well even in the 90's. Highway's always had potholes. At speed they can play havoc with
you. The motorhome's have had more flats than anyother vehicle. I guess it's the massive weight they carry. Two front blowouts 25 miles North of LA
Bay turn off, 3 rear blowouts on duallies, 2 near the Gonzaga turnoff and one just North of San Quintin. The last two sets of Moho Tires are Michellin
ribbed, 10 ply.Ken Cooke - 8-29-2006 at 08:28 PM
Two BFG flats on the Pole Line Road recently - 12/05 and 4/06. The first due to sharp rocks on an aired down 32" AT. The second due to a sharp stick
(can't avoid these sometimes) on an aired down 35" MT.
The driver's side front didn't survive an hour after this photo was taken:
Body damage and in less than 2 hrs., he had a passenger-rear tire get a stick through the sidewall. It was patched and he drove on it all the way
home to Phoenix, AZ and then to work the next day - and then to the tire shop after work! You can say it helps to have US Marines on a 4WD trip IMO.
Taco de Baja - 8-30-2006 at 11:30 AM
I usually have great luck with BFG All Terrains. Maybe one flat be set of tires (55,000-60,000 miles)
However, here is my recent flat on 8/27/2006 at 110 degrees on the way out from my recent coastal trip. I must have hit a very pointy rock in the
center of the tread. It was too big to put a plug in so we had to put the spare on. These were new tires with only slightly over 1,000 miles on
them. I hate Baja flats as much nicely packed stuff needs to be unpacked to get access to the patch kit, the tools, the jack.....
Taco de Baja - 8-30-2006 at 11:38 AM
And of course never take tires installed at the factory to Baja.
My General tires got a flat on my Tacoma's 2nd trip to Baja in late 1996. BFGs went on as soon as I got home.
And then there was my sister's Armada last year with 3 flats on factory tires. This was the worst.
Cypress - 8-30-2006 at 01:16 PM
Tire problems? Flats? Call Les Schwab! They sell um, fix um, and do it all. Why beat your gums about tires. Talk to the Pro's.Ken Cooke - 8-30-2006 at 08:58 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Tire problems? Flats? Call Les Schwab! They sell um, fix um, and do it all. Why beat your gums about tires. Talk to the Pro's.
Les' closest dealer is in Santa Rosa, CA. Around these parts in So.Cal, there's America's Tire.Ken Cooke - 8-30-2006 at 09:39 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Taco de Baja
And of course never take tires installed at the factory to Baja.
My General tires got a flat on my Tacoma's 2nd trip to Baja in late 1996. BFGs went on as soon as I got home.
And then there was my sister's Armada last year with 3 flats on factory tires. This was the worst.
Taco,
That was probably your sister's last trip to Baja.
For Christmas, I'd like a set of BFG Krawler Mud KX's....okay??? Taco de Baja - 8-31-2006 at 08:01 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Taco,
That was probably your sister's last trip to Baja.
For Christmas, I'd like a set of BFG Krawler Mud KX's....okay???
Actually, she was on my most recent trip .
With some 285-65-R18 BGF AT Kos she got as soon as she returned last year...each one must have cost a very pretty peso
Taco----
Barry A. - 8-31-2006 at 09:18 AM
----I just bought two of those exact tires, same size, at Costco-----2 costs me $412 mounted and balanced. OUCH!!!Axel - 8-31-2006 at 09:57 AM
Good prices at http://www.discounttiredirect.com free shipping and if you buy wheels and tire mount and balance is free. Just had 4 yokohama geolander atll's
315/75/16 (35") $640 to my door. Oh ya no tax either.
You can say it helps to have US Marines on a 4WD trip IMO.
.