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Home > Wheels & Tyres > BFG ATs - no good in the wet - any suggestions?

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BigMike

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

so based on this, why do SO many people bang on about how amazing BFG ATs are? am baffled. All round performance includes braking in the wet, and since we get so much wet in the UK, why the huge fan following?

No offroad pattern wil give the same degree of stopping as a road tyre, there is just less rubber on the road so its always going to be a compromise. I find GG AT2s to be perfectly fine in the wet, as I did BFGs, but a landrover is a heavy vehicle, if you slam on the brakes its never going to stop on a sixpence, no matter what rubber you have.

15th Nov 2010 6:31pm

bob neville

Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

I've not had any problems with BFG AT's in the wet or on greasy roads and I have been out in some of the worst rain we have had recently, on all types of road including a section of motorway that was doing a very good impersonation of a lake.

Maybe my experiences in a 1984 911 many years ago has finally sunk in, adjust your driving style in wet weather or your next jouney will be in a wooden box to the undertakers. Pre 1990 911 C2's and more so Turbos will switch ends in the blink of an eye on a roundabout at anything more than 30 mph given half a chance. Even our 2005 Boxster can be be worse than our Defender in the wet.

I have to admit that I found the standard General Grabbers worse than the BFG's in the wet, maybe a false sense of security when runing the GG's ??

Or maybe I am just getting old and ......

Bob

15th Nov 2010 7:11pm

BigMike

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

I agree Bob. I drove a 993 for 4 years and in the wet, nothing short of terrifying. A landrover holds the road like the red bull rb6 by comparison

15th Nov 2010 7:15pm

bob neville

Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

BigMike wrote:
I agree Bob. I drove a 993 for 4 years and in the wet, nothing short of terrifying. A landrover holds the road like the red bull rb6 by comparison

Mike

The other half blames her grey hairs on some of the interesting exploits we had driving a C2 in the rain

Bob

Last edited by bob neville on 15th Nov 2010 7:37pm. Edited 2 times in total

15th Nov 2010 7:19pm

BigRuss

Member Since: 15 May 2010
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 2785

2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black

Is this not purely something to do with peoples driving styles!

I know exactly when the wheels are gonna slide. Just as I boot it round a roundabout thinking I'm in a F1 car

Russell
2011MY 110 XS USW Black

15th Nov 2010 7:31pm

heapster

Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 29

ken wrote:
Why change from BFG's AT's

They just seemed more slippy in the last few weeks with more frosts and greasy roads, but that may be just because I'm comparing with the Disco 3 which has just had Wintrac Extremes fitted (from Goodyear HPs which were

). Given that there's plenty of life still in them I may just run them through the winter and see how we get on with them, plus I occasionally need to go through fairly sticky clay and don't want to end up looking a tit by getting stuck.

15th Nov 2010 7:40pm

bob neville

Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

heapster wrote:
ken wrote:
Why change from BFG's AT's

They just seemed more slippy in the last few weeks with more frosts and greasy roads, but that may be just because I'm comparing with the Disco 3 which has just had Wintrac Extremes fitted (from Goodyear HPs which were ). Given that there's plenty of life still in them I may just run them through the winter and see how we get on with them, plus I occasionally need to go through fairly sticky clay and don't want to end up looking a tit by getting stuck.

Mike

What pressures are you running the tyres at and what type of 110 have you got ?

Bob

15th Nov 2010 7:54pm

BigMike

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

its not me who has the problem bob

15th Nov 2010 8:12pm

heapster

Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 29

It's a standard County XS 2004 station wagon and it has ABS. It just feels alot less sure-footed than it did in the summer but that may be just the contrast with the Disco plus just the price you pay for running BFGs which are otherwise a great tyre. From the feedback above it looks like that's pretty normal and I'll see what it's like in the snow (if we have any) before I finally make my mind up about changing.

cheers

15th Nov 2010 8:14pm

bob neville

Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

BigMike wrote:
its not me who has the problem bob

Mike

I told you I was getting old

I am sure Heapster is Mike as well - now where did I put my glasses

Bob

15th Nov 2010 8:35pm

bob neville

Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

Mike (aka Heapster)

I run 30psi on the front and 42 psi on the rear of my 2009 110 Double Cab.

These pressures seem to work for my driving style and the loads I carry.

Bob

15th Nov 2010 8:38pm

BigMike

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

I run maxxis bighorns and run 30 front, 35 rear, dropping 5 psi all round when offroad.

15th Nov 2010 8:43pm

bm52

Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Havana

in my 90 300tdi i only slid once on ice with BFG ATs.

so far in the Puma they have been fine as well, i think they ride and behave better than the TRs BM52

15th Nov 2010 10:57pm

AndrewS

Member Since: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3708

2013 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 SW Rimini Red

Never had any issues with BFG AT's MT's KM's or Cooper Stt's, just asked the the 4 people that work for me and they also have had no issues.

Ha famous last words

130's have feeling's as well you know

16th Nov 2010 7:55am

K9F

Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

RED-DOT wrote:
I agree. A big heavy vehicle without ABS and big powerful brakes are a recipe for disaster but i was amazed just how quick they let go in the wet.

Me too! I had a Discovery V8 with more LPG gas tanks than a sub aqua club underneath. I attributed the poor wet characteristics of BFG ATs down to the extra weight but when driving a mates TDI his handled the same. I did run mine at over 30 psi as well which is I believe too much???? 30 is best I am led to believe??? The longevity of BFG ATs though is second to none, did hear of someone getting over 100k out of a set! If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!

16th Nov 2010 1:32pm

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