General Grabber Red Letter Tires

[kennith]

I'm not entirely sure whether or not anyone has mounted a set of these on a Discovery before, so I thought I'd make a little thread about it, and include some of my observations eventually.

Here they are, ready to be mounted:

That's generally where I've kept the second set of tires. I've been out of tires for a while, so it's been empty. Since the Goodyears finally showed me that they can be valuable in certain situations, they'll find their home here for winter use and those times where I expect annoying amounts of mud.

This next shot illustrates something about the tires that isn't normally depicted effectively. These grooves run fucking deep as all hell, size for size. They never seem to show up in pictures well, but they'll swallow a quarter clean over Washington's eyebrow in 265/75R16:

I don't have mounted shots yet, because I accidentally left the lug nuts on top of the balancing machine. Also, the center caps won't arrive until tomorrow.

Incidentally, they balanced out very well, which is surprising, since they are fucking heavy as all hell. Wrapping them around steel wheels probably wasn't too bright, as it only adds to the problem.

I've only got four, because I only had four of these wheels. If they work well in the terrain to which I mean to subject them, I'll pick up the spares.

So, when it's all done, and I run the markings off the tread after a few miles, I'll break out a camera and produce some mounted shots. One question remains, however...

Which side did I mount outward: Red letters, or black?

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[ERover82]

Black

Looking forward to the report..

 

[ERover82]

What did you deem wrong with the Cooper STTs again?

 

[rovercanus]

What did you deem wrong with the Cooper STTs again?

They weren't Kennith enough.

 

[fishEH]

Black

Looking forward to the report..

What did you deem wrong with the Cooper STTs again?

Bastard! I thought someone hacked my account, LOL. How's your Land Rover DeLorean coming along?

 

[kennith]

What did you deem wrong with the Cooper STTs again?

On paper, they look fine. In person, however, I wasn't really seeing evidence that they had given their stated carcass design the rubber where it was needed.

Above the the bead and just below the shoulder, the meat just isn't there. Considering the cross section, the bead filler should be much higher to prevent too much radial flexing at speed on rough surfaces, if they mean to use that compound. It really seemed as if there was something wrong, and that they might be prone to separation.

Then, I started poking about on the internet. I found many, many complaints from Australian customers claiming just such an event after use on gravel roads. The pictures occasionally posted indicated failures at both points.

It's interesting to note that the identical carcass on certain Mickey Thompson tires doesn't create as many complaints (possibly because there just aren't as many on the road), but the complaints are there.

It's probably not going to be as big of an issue here in America, but I rather like the conditions to which these tires are subjected in Australia; the very conditions which seem to break the tires.

I really don't see why people can't build a tire the way it ought to be built. With all the engineers, computers, and materials scientists that are supposed to be behind these products, the simple issues I spot here and there should never exist.

I shouldn't be able to find fault in the structure of a tire with an e-mail, a very rough diagram, a few pokes and prods, and a bit of thought. Now, I'm no idiot, but a far more trained eye should be required to take the things apart.

I just get the feeling they aren't trying very hard. I'm all for new ideas, but when it comes to tires, it's certainly better to recycle a few old ones to make sure the new ones stay where you put them.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[ERover82]

That's too bad. Also thought they look good on paper.

My problem with the Grabbers is they don't come in 235/85 and lack siping.

 

[Vic00Dis]

On my Black Disco Red would look Great..

 

[ERover82]

Bastard! I thought someone hacked my account, LOL. How's your Land Rover DeLorean coming along?

Not bad

 

[pinkytoe69]

Thats pretty sweet

 

[kennith]

That's too bad. Also thought they look good on paper.

My problem with the Grabbers is they don't come in 235/85 and lack siping.

The Grabber would probably be one of the better tires for aftermarket siping, but too many other options exist for snowy and icy climates to bother going through the trouble.

As for the Coopers, some love them.

I personally see a problem, though, and they've failed to address it. There was a recall some years ago for one issue that resulted in similar separations, but that only alleviated a production error. The design itself remained unchanged.

There's no sense taking chances with large tires; where failure on a public roadway is more likely to result in catastrophe than failures involving stock size tires.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[nickb857]

I like the look of the grabbers and have been planning on getting them for a while now.

Thanks for the write up so far. Keep us posted

 

[cupgt]

I'm no tire expert and my disco might see the road once a week if it's lucky but my 315 STTs balanced out with just a few ounces and have performed well. I also can't complain since I got them on an even trade for 285 retreads

 

[kennith]

I'm no tire expert and my disco might see the road once a week if it's lucky but my 315 STTs balanced out with just a few ounces and have performed well. I also can't complain since I got them on an even trade for 285 retreads

Could you complain if you'd paid full retail?:rofl:

Fuck retreads. I've always hated them, but I just had my paws on a set of those retreads everyone seems to like. I've never seen so much weight on a wheel in my life.

If the weights weren't ditched at the powder shop, I'll go peel them off and drop them on a scale.

I shit you not, they were stacked up in a pile that would make an ancient dude proud. Knock them over, and you'd have people claiming aliens built the damned things.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[mgreenspan]

Could you complain if you'd paid full retail?:rofl:

Fuck retreads. I've always hated them, but I just had my paws on a set of those retreads everyone seems to like. I've never seen so much weight on a wheel in my life.

If the weights weren't ditched at the powder shop, I'll go peel them off and drop them on a scale.

I shit you not, they were stacked up in a pile that would make an ancient dude proud. Knock them over, and you'd have people claiming aliens built the damned things.

Cheers,

Kennith

That's weird. I have only ever used dyna beads with treadwright tires. Their Bead to bead retreads are really nice. I've got a set on my Dodge 2500 and have put over 10k on them so far this year. They aren't wearing weird, are quiet on the road, balanced nicely with dyna beads, no issues with temps on road trips or while towing. I don't think I'll use weights on a vehicle ever again except for a car.

Post a picture of the new tires on your truck. No more excuses.

 

[MM3846]

Post a picture of the new tires on your truck. No more excuses.

for real. until then, i'll keep clogging up your thread with praise of cooper tires. i love my AT3s, the CS4s on my fiance's econobox, and the MTZs i use to run my my heep.

 

[fjcardenas]

Those Guard Dogs were only quiet when parked. Kennith, please get those weights back to me ASAP. I plan on using them to build a fallout shelter.

 

[kennith]

That's weird. I have only ever used dyna beads with treadwright tires. Their Bead to bead retreads are really nice. I've got a set on my Dodge 2500 and have put over 10k on them so far this year. They aren't wearing weird, are quiet on the road, balanced nicely with dyna beads, no issues with temps on road trips or while towing. I don't think I'll use weights on a vehicle ever again except for a car.

Post a picture of the new tires on your truck. No more excuses.

I would, but I can't just yet. The nuts included with RN wheels aren't shaped to hold center caps in place. I figured that one out a little too late.

I didn't even check, because it didn't occur to me that someone would drive a damned Land Rover around; especially off road, without center caps fitted.

I'm not bolting them on the vehicle without center caps. That would spoil the whole reveal. The caps arrived yesterday, too. What a shame.

One phone call to Lucky 8, however, has ensured that twenty factory nuts are on their way.

Maybe I'll drop the taller springs in this weekend just for fun.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[kennith]

Those Guard Dogs were only quiet when parked. Kennith, please get those weights back to me ASAP. I plan on using them to build a fallout shelter.

It's too late. Giorgio Tsoukalos ran off with them.:rofl:

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[Vic00Dis]

Read the Reviews on several Tire sites. 90% of the people liked them . so when I get another $200 I will buy them with confidence.. Good on Ice Snow , Mud and quiet and smooth on the highway. PLUs 60,000 miles service