 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Suitable tyres for Africa overlanding |
 
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720   
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A bit of advice/opinion from experienced overlanders please. My BFG KO2 ATs are now on 30k miles. I'm taking the 110 to West Africa for a year or so, first five months on Morocco's Atlantic coast before heading further south. Won't be doing any serious off roading in Morocco, apart from occasional drive to remote surf spots. Hence wondering if I should get a new set of 4 KO2s or not - I don't have past experience with them, i.e. how well they last. I'm actually not doing any mods to the 110 apart from changing the Sawtooths to Dotz Dakar steels, hence if I get a resolute advice to go for a new set of rubber I can spend some buck on a set. For now my thinking is to just run with my 30k ones and change them later in the year once I head further south - but then everything I read on here wrt overlanding is tyres tyres tyres, hence doubts about my reasoning. Thanks! MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold |
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28th Dec 2017 9:29pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410
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Sounds like a lot of fun.
Steel wheels are very sensible. 
As for tyre longevity, I would in your position sell your set of wheels and tyres and use that to fund your new set. With 30k miles on them your BFG ATs could have around 20k more miles to go so are an attractive buy on eBay. Regardless, the important thing is not tyre choice but size, keep to the common sizes just in case you need to source locally. |
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28th Dec 2017 9:47pm |
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| Birdy Member Since: 07 Oct 2011 Location: Côte d'Azur Posts: 866  
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“… the important thing is not tyre choice but size”
And quantity? Some years ago I took my kids on Tanzanian “safari” (Masai Mara, Ngorongoro, recovered from the nights/early mornings by chilling out at the end in Mombasa), picked up a guide and transport from Nairobi and crossed the border, a 4WD Toyota of course. On the roofrack we carried four spare wheels and tyres, we had punctures in all of them and to make sure we had a spare we had to stop at a roadside workshop to have one of them repaired. Peter |
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29th Dec 2017 10:46am |
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| Devon-Rover Member Since: 22 Jan 2015 Location: South Devon Posts: 917 
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Given the timeline for your travels then a new set of tyres at the start won't be a bad thing to begin with.
For the typical trips of a month or two then I'd go with the usual advice of at least 75% usable tread depth, so it's your call of fitting them here or trying to find a good price from a tyre shop further south. Common sizes are available but I cannot comment on price and individual locations. I would though ask why the Dotz Dakar wheel? It's no secret that my future plans include 'overland' style travel and so having 'Wolfs' is part of the plan. as they are a strong wheel rim. Not interrogating just curious. |
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29th Dec 2017 11:10am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8581
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Age of tyres is as important as depth of tread. Old tyres are more prone to punctures as the rubber has aged/deteriorated.
For long trips distance/time better to have new or reasonably young tyres. Get a decent compressor, tyre levers and tyre repair kit and learn how to use them. A spare tyre weighs a lot less then a tyre/wheel combination. Also take a couple of inner tubes even if running tubeless tyres as they take up a lot less room then a tyre. Brendan |
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29th Dec 2017 11:26am |
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| Hendrix Member Since: 04 Oct 2016 Location: North Notts Posts: 103  
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Given the amount of time you are going to be away and that you are going the western route I would go for a new set. The tyres do tend to get more punctures when they are getting older and have less tread. Tread helps keep your tyre above puncture material like thorns. It reduces one risk factor. Inner tube good idea and of course a tubeless tyre repair kit, quick and easy to use.
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29th Dec 2017 4:10pm |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720
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Thank you for the comments and advice all, appreciated.
By the numbers 4:1 it seems sensible to go for a set of new rubber. Also means I can go for 235/16s rather than stick to 265/16s I have atm, which I'm guessing is what you folks refer to as a more common size. I've had mines for only year and a half and I guess predominantly road use makes them look like new hence I had doubts if I'm not overthinking it with a set of new ones at 30k miles. Will also get few bits and pieces that Brendan and Hendrix suggested, cheers. Devon-Rover - how's your Aintree beauty keeping up? As to your question, I considered Wolfs and Dotz Dakars, liking the looks of the latter more. I appreciate Wolfs' qualities but thought Dakars being Swiss made and TUV approved should be a decent steel wheel too. Plus I'll stick to roads wherever possible, am travelling light as I'll be on my own, have no roofracks/tents/spares/jerrycans, etc even all the seats are coming out, just few surfboards and clothes. So I reckon I should be able to get away without Wolfs. If not, I'll learn the hard way  MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold |
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29th Dec 2017 5:48pm |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7906 
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Can't help with your question, unfortunately, but your travel plans sound awesome! Please do keep us updated if you can. Safe travels!
On the tyre matter, I'd guess Morrocco would have a decent supply of BFG KO2's in numerous sizes but worth checking with anyone with local knowledge? James MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641 MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557 Instagram @suffolk_rovers |
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29th Dec 2017 8:11pm |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720
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Thank you James, I surely will post a pic and an update now and then.
First few months I'll be along the central and south coast and pretty much within 2-3 hours drive of Marrakesh all the time, so indeed should be easy to find replacements if needed. In fact, I already found two decent looking tyre shops plus an LR service centre. MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold |
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3rd Jan 2018 2:56pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10765
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Sounds like a good trip Jaro and hope you have an awesome time
pity we couldn't have hooked up sometime before you go  1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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3rd Jan 2018 8:38pm |
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| Pilgrimmick Member Since: 16 Nov 2015 Location: Highlands Posts: 582
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Not very pretty, but almost indestructible, Michelin XZY 80" 1948
Lightweight V8 Bowler Tomcat 130 Station wagon 90 300tdi (Santana PS10 pick up) Range Rover L322 (Ful fat) |
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3rd Jan 2018 9:31pm |
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| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3373
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I did the Cape Town to UK trip on a set of Michelin 7.50 XZLs.
Only had a 3 punctures in 20,000+miles Gravel roads eat the tread on the more aggressive tyres however. Saying that, I've got friends how drove London to Cape Town in a London Cab with standard road tyres on it   Last edited by camelman on 3rd Jan 2018 9:59pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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3rd Jan 2018 9:37pm |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720
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No worries Clayton, will be flying back on a regular basis so I'm sure we catch up at some point. MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold |
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3rd Jan 2018 9:58pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10765
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^^^ no worries
1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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3rd Jan 2018 11:05pm |
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