New Tyres - Hankook RF10s

[Numb Thumbs]

Well, I bit the bullet and had five Hankook Dynapro ATM RF10s in 265/60R18 fitted. Total cost, including a wheel alignment, $1150. I have a second spare - from my old Laredo, fitted with a Bridgestone 697.

I have not driven far, but I have done some city, some freeway and even towed our Crossover XL - around 1500 kg at the time for a while. My initial impressions are:

• They actually seem quieter than the original Michelin Latitudes in the same size which had done 35,000 kms. I reckon I can hear subtle engine noises I could not hear before, especially cruising on the freeway.
  
• They are very smooth - about the same as the Michelins.
  
• Fuel consumption seems the same or even better. Driving one hour on mainly freeway to get the camper, then one hour back towing it on the freeway at 100 km/h and the computer says 9.0 l/100km. Excellent!

Now off for Easter, back home for a few days, then off to the Flinders and up to Oodnadatta and home to Melbourne, all towing. I'll see how they go after that.

Cheers
Numb Thumbs

[antonsd]

Sounds like a great choice. Thanks for the updates numbs. Any chance of a pic or two of the new shoes. ?

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[Numb Thumbs]

Cheers
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[08crd]

It will be great to hear your comments, sounds like a good test for them.

[antonsd]

Originally Posted by Numb Thumbs

Cheers

Numb Thumbs

They are beauts! I'm planning on getting some ATs too! Sorry quite new to choosing tyres so this might be a stupid question but does this in anyway affect the ride height?

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[Numb Thumbs]

There are no stupid questions, but you might get silly answers...

These are identical in size - 265/60R18, my Limited having the air suspension and off road packs - to the original tyres so they have made no change in ride height.

A web page like this helps:

https://tiresize.com/comparison/

This one shows the difference graphically, which makes it easy to understand:

http://www.etyrestore.com.au/tyre_calculator.php

The Hankooks are on the lighter end of the AT tyres available. When I am being realistic, I spend the bulk of my driving on the bitumen.

This upcoming Oodnadatta Track trip for example is around 700 kms on the dirt, 2900 kms on the bitumen, getting there and back. That is less than 20% of the kms on dirt. And most of my driving is around Melbourne...

The lighter tyres mean lower unsprung weight - a good thing for handling. They are also very quiet and very comfortable, making for much more relaxing driving on the bitumen.

They are, however, much stronger than the original Michelins, so, properly aired down, they should be fine for the driving I will do.

Buying tyres is a difficult process as it can be hard to try to predict your future needs. You also tend to get conflicting information from tyre retailers, which certainly does not help.

Good luck with your choice. I will report back in late May as to how they went.

Cheers
Numb Thumbs

[antonsd]

Wow! You're a wealth of knowledge. Thank you very much sharing. Will let you know what I go with.

I'm starting to change my stock Laredo slowly but surely I live around Perth and if I'm being honest I mostly drive on bitumen too and have taken the jeep only ever to the beach a few times

Looking to do a bit more offroading to get to all the good camping spots which sometimes requires some better tyres than the Achilles Dessert hawks I have on now.

And along with that looking to maybe get a lift kit. Main problem being my single garage is a bit low. might just go with a levelling kit instead to get a bit of a better approch angle.

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