My tyres are coming towards the end of their life.

Currently have Goodyear Wrangler HP, got on with them just great.

After asking for advice on tyres at LRE Eastnor yesterday (I was out in a range rover, stunning) i'm more confused than ever, the instructor gave me so much info. He didn't like goodyear, preferred michelin, but his defender has only MTR tyres, his sport has road only tyres then he went on about winter tyres etc.

I do mainly drive on tarmac but do occasionally go off road, also being in Wales drive through lots of water / rain and snow come winter time, also do go on LRE self drive days etc. I want a tyre that is good in all conditions, don't particularly want 2,3 sets of wheels for different occasions and something that will last well and not effect mpg much.

Should I stick with a tyre that is 80/20 (any recommendations) or would a 50/50 tyre like the general grabber AT be better? would the AT affect MPG much?

I have general grabber AT'S on my motor, very good tyre and alot cheaper too. Also very good off road and in wet road conditions. Also look good too

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They do look good don't they

I've heard and read how good the grabbers are off road

how do you find them on road? noisy? affect mpg in anyway? good grip in corners?

I find them very good, a little bit noiser but I don't really notice as just turn the stereo up! They are a harder tyre so should last longer. Mpg wise don't really notice, as I don't look at the mpg. They are very good when you hit standing water, and seem to be good cornering in the wet, I through mine into a roundabout lat week in the wet and it did not flinch, I found with the goodyears the TC would light up doing the same.

Have not had them in proper mud, but on a slightly wet/muddy fields performed well witout using the TR

Its always gonna be a trade off between grip and road noise. For the best results you realy need two sets of wheels "one for on and one for off roading". Ive found my best trade off to be Goodyear Wrangler HP. good grip on tarmack with fairly good sound,not too noisey.
Fairly good in the snow and sandy beaches ect. Ive not been stuck yet "fingers crossed" .
They do seem to last longer than other makes and reviews I have read.
Bottom line is
1, what do you want to get out of your tires
2, how much are you willing to pay
3, how long do you expect them to last
the awnsers you give yourself will determine what you spend and buy, every body is different

Just to hi-jack the topic a little - can I add the question:

Do you change 2 or all 4?

How much tread difference between front and rear is advisable? 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

4 is better, but if finances dictate, 2 at a time.

I swap them front to back so that they all wear about the same time. You don't want near slicks on one end and new tyres on the other, by swapping half way through their life this also keeps tread levels very similar.

Mini-eggs...have the Goodyear's done anything that you didn't like, not performed well enough, let you down in any way? If not then replace with the same, you know what you're getting then

Besides aren't the Wrangler's M+S (mud and snow) anyway? Also, whp cares what the instructor thought? It's your care and you might hate the ones he preferred.

Ask at your local Kwik Fit or National or similar if you're still confused and would like a proper explanation of what each tyre's traits are.  Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Agreed with landy19840, I too put 4 new General Grabber A/T's on about a month ago and strongly reccomend them, i had Continental 4x4 contacts on and the road noise is slightly louder but no where near what i expected. MPG hasn't really changed and handling is fine.

So ive gained off road, snow and standing water capability without any compromise and they were even cheaper than the Conti's!

1. I think the manual says replace both on an axle and always have newest on the rear.
2. I thought ATR tyres generaly had significantly worse performance on tarmac, esp in wet and at speeds than OEM M&S, never mind noise.
Hence whilst General Grabbers might look good and help out off road and in snow as vast majority of my miles are suburban and motorway I will stick to OEM Upgraded to an ex demo, 7 mth old, Rimini Red/Ebony Napoli Auto HSE on 28th Jan 2011, added roof rails, mudflaps and side strips.
Gone - A great 57 Plate, Auto SE, Bought Feb 2009, Roof Rails and Mudflaps added on purchase. Blue colour, anything but drug dealer black.....

I put General Grabber UHPs on mine after much debating.
They are quieter on road than the Goodyear Wranglers I had on previously and grip is better too . Last week I did a motorway trip in some of the heaviest rain I have seen for a while, and they were superb. They didn't tug at the wheel in some pretty deep standing water in the wagon tracks of lane 1 either.

I haven't taken the car off road and don't really intend to (a shame, I know), so don't really need A/Ts. As long as I take it easy in winter they should get me through any snow that comes our way, as they are M&S rated (side tread design) and should get me along gentle green lanes ok too.

They also have a great looking tread pattern.

 Poke it, Poke it, make it do it again!!

Gone - 2008 Freel2 HSE Santorini Black
Hello - 2010 RRS TDV6 3.0 HSE Santorini Black

Good years are very expensive compared to other brands, also very soft. Mine lasted 12000 for all 4!

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They look like my Wrangler Disco tyres - 255/55/18.

I changed to Michelin Tour HP when the OE Goodyear Wranglers wore out; results so far, much quieter, seem smoother on highway, certainly as good off road. My tyre dealer told me they would last longer -backs up my experience of Michelin - but they are more expensive. The reduced noise is worth it in my opinion.

Quote:

Mine lasted 12000 for all 4!

Our Wranglers have done 18000 and still have 5mm on the front and 6 on the back...towing, off road etc.

The reason that you're supposed to put new on the back is because of some nutcase in Brussels sitting behind a desk reading a book...the theory being that a front end slide (understeer - caused by the front tyres having less grip than the rears) is easier to control than a rear slide (oversteer - vice versa). However if someone is driving a Freelander in a way to get the front or rear loose then I think they need to be booked on a driver improvement course  Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County