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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
Member Is Offline
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I agree with the criticisms re: loss of traction on the BFGs when tread gets low, but that rarely is a consideration for me.
We do so much off-highway travel (Last year alone we made 15 round trips over the San Felipe-Punta Bufeo route. That's 1650 miles of
thaaat road, and doesn't count the dirt miles during our summer trips.) Our tires spend so much time at lower pressures trhat we purchase
new ones long before the tread is low enough to be a problem. The sidewalls (even the 3-ply) take such a beating that I simply don't take chances.
It's one of those travel costs that is minimal in the whole scheme of things.
Mike, we've used the Michelin LTX ATs, and they're fine. I believe that they are quieter on pavement at speed and they lasted well. I chose the BFGs
because of the more agressive tread pattern and the 3-ply sidewalls.
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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Mike... just look at that tire!
This is what I will buy when my factory set of tires wears out... well, even BEFORE they wear out. Bob H
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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If you buy 10 ply tires, they will have little sidewall flex and ride hard of washboard even when aired down. This can cause things to fall off like
bumpers and stuff.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
Member Is Offline
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Neal...
Don't sweat the small stuff. Once we were traversing the peninsula on Hwy 3 (Ensenada - San Felipe) before they paved it and we lost an entire roof
rack.
What's a bumper all about???
Good to hear you're getting some well-deserved competition (off the Baja Cactus thread). Wish we could have been there.
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Thanks everyone, Herb....
I didn't know that putting the rig in 4W would help with the control on the rock roads, (I hate that 'hydroplaning feeling) I wondered about airing
down, but was afraid that would make the tires more venerable to the rocks. I would really appreciate everyone's advice on this. And what tire
pressure would be recommended for say, the road from Bahia to Camp Gecko.
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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Hey Herb
Does that Bridgstone look like this? I cannot find any Bridgestone A/T Revo tires on the internet.
Bob H
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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I've run BFG TA KOs, Rememington Wide Brute and Cooper with good luck. The one thing is don't wait for the tread to get low. The sharp rocks in Baja
are not kind to any tire, especially those going bald. Personally I would recommend going to the next size larger in tires and run less air pressure.
The larger footprint makes a big difference. That is provided you have the wheel well clearance for them.
I run LT285/75R16 on my 91 chevy and the 04 GMC Z71. The chevy I had to cut in three places about 8 inches long the top outer edge of the fender well
and fold it up. The GMC was OK in stock condition. With the LT265 tires I ran 45-50 psi up front airing down as necessary off road. The rear depended
on the load and varied from 30 unloaded to 45 loaded. With the LT285 I run 40 front and rear loaded (30 rear unloaded). I have noticed much better
traction in sand without letting air out. Last June I did have to air down to 30 psi in the soft sand at San Rafael.
Just a side note on airing down in sand. During the San Felipe 250 race last year I was helping Mike Doherty class 8. He broke one of his rear axles
about 90 miles into the race. After he got stuck a couple of time we aired all four tires down to about 8 psi and one was 4psi (we got carried away).
He raced another 100 miles in deep sand areas before getting stuck and timing out at the end of Matomi wash, he stopped because of a stuck car in
front of him and couldn't get going again. Anyway looking at the BFG 37x12.50 race tires, they looked like no air had been let out. But the traction
in sand was amazing. He just had trouble turning the truck with one wheel drive.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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Debra, go down to 20 -25 PSI for that washboard. With 25, you need not air down on pavement until you can do it easly.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
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Thanks Neal.....
I don't seem to get most of the guys to understand that I'm really wanting to learn about this.., I'm by myself mostly, so I NEED TO LEARN, Thanks!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64850
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Debra, putting your rig into 4WD on gravel, washboard, or wet paved roads makes a word of difference!!! If you have push button, shift on the fly,
auto locking hubs, 4WD, then it is a sinch and you will feel like you are in control of the road instead of the road controlling you.
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
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Thanks David.....I do have "shift on the fly" I just need some expert guidence on how to use it.....I'm learning.....
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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You Guy's are WAY off Base!
Debra doesn't need to air down in the dirt and she CERTAINLY doesn't need 4WD on wet pavement. I can see, though, that she might need 4WD in deep
sand.
There is a very good reason for this: Deb's driving is unique!
Her TOP speed south of the border on dry asphalt is 40 (usually that's MPH but occasionally it's KPH).
As for dirt driving, unless the road is pure crap and upjutting jagged stone, its crushed-rock gravel washboard. I know from personal experience that
she is a VERY conservative driver and will HAVE NO PROBLEMS on washboard.
Most of us drive fast enough that our fully-inflated tires actually launch, if only for a millisecond, when reaching the top of each washboard ripple.
When this occurs we let a little air out, pop-a-top, fart and roar off down the road. With Deb, on the other hand, her tires gently caress each tiny
washboard whoop-de-do and lovingly drop into the downslope on the next dirt wavelet. The rattling vibrations that most of us enjoy while driving the
Bahia-to-Gecko 4 nasty dirt miles at 40-60 MPH Debra will never notice; she?ll never experience a skip on her portable and operating CD player,
sitting unsecured on the front seat of her (AS YET UN-NAMED) new truck traveling that same road at 100 meters/minute.
Not to worry, friends!!!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64850
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Ohhh jeeez Mike, I am laughing so hard tears are in my eyes! Maybe because you both are my dear friends and I know you are really exaggerating,
(aren't you?).
It is true that Debra was driving fast enough that a loose battery terminal actually detached... after 20 miles that is...
Really, in her 4Runner I know she is driving much faster than the T Bird. In fact she freaked me out driving through the lagoon water at Las
Animas!
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
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"Mom, why are your crying?"
"I'm not crying Brendan, I laughing!" Mike is being a S$%T to Mom", "Oh, Tell Mike I said "Hi"......
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
Member Is Offline
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Of Course I'm Kidding...
I'm just getting back at Deb's comments about the various cascases of my vehicles being scattered around Baja.
I'll have you know I am a high maintenance dude. I take good care of everything. Here's a current example: just tonight Mary Ann and I were having a
discussion and I found a small error that had nothing to do with the main point of discussion. But I knew it would drive her nuts if I kept hitting
on that inconsequential point so I did it. On the 4th time, MA ran screaming from the living room and locked herself in the closet for the rest of
the night (so far at least)! Now, tell me I'm not a high maintenance guy! I take the very best care of everything.
But if Deb's battery strap came loose I will propose to you that her driving was so tedious that one of the cinchdown wing-nuts fell asleep and lost
track!!
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
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Mike, you know that I hate you don't you?
And...BTW: I'll have you know! (I'll admit here, it scared the crap out of me!) My (unnamed as yet 4Runner) was running so dang good that I found
myself doing 80mph (not Kph!) down Mex 1.....yikes!, of course I was in a hurry, I had Clam Chowder to make and I WAS 5 DAYS LATE!....I have to tell
you , that thing corners so well (doesn't feel top heavy like the Trooper...and doesn't feel low heavy like the T-Bird) I tend (I know you don't
believe this Mike) to drive way toooo fast,.....I keep reminding myself of that Mexican family (2yr. old standing in the car!) that I
"dusted".....WITH SERIOUS ROCKS! Yikes!....as you once said, "I drive knowing that there is nothing around the next curve, Debra drives knowing that
something might be around the curve".......And I keep getting in the car with you, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? LOL!
[Edited on 8-24-2004 by Debra]
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Concur with Herb on the BFG AT TA's......
......tendency towards flats. My buddies who would travel the backroads of Baja and the highways of Borrego noticed this, too. One guys got three
flats in the space of two month. TWO were on the same road trip to Borrego. BFG refused to declare them as defective in manufacturing even though they
had split between the treads with no visible external cause. I never got flats on my Desert Duelers.
Trying the Frenchy LTX-MS right now. Xlnt durability so far but the 10 plys are stiff. That's the price you pay for the weight I must carry.
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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As far as the flats go
I have made about 8 trips throughout the entire peninsula on the worst of roads including many that weren't roads at all.
This is all in a 2 wd van that was generally loaded down a LOT. The only flat I ever had was because I didn't air down and cut it with a rock. My
fault for sure.
Also, I have been fishtailing severely at night coming north after dropping the rear end off a ledge. I give a lot of thanks to my tires for
surviving that one!
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 4999
Registered: 8-1-2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: INTP-A
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jrbaja
The only flat I ever had was because I didn't air down and cut it with a rock. My fault for sure. |
That's the
only way I've gotten flats with the Desert Duelers... my fault as well. When aired down properly, they've been the best I've used. Never a problem.
I've blown out the sidewall more than once when using BFG All-Terrain TAs though, as well as the stock Goodyears that came with my
Tacoma (load range B Wranglers.... ick).
--
Doug
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 4999
Registered: 8-1-2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: INTP-A
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob H
Does that Bridgstone look like this? I cannot find any Bridgestone A/T Revo tires on the internet.
Bob H |
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.js...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone...
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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