Forum:
I have a bog standard F75 Fourtrak TDL which is fitted with a variety of tyres in a variety of sizes. Today I tried it out on a muddy slope and it failed! So, what do you experts recommend for off road use on standard rims?
To help you formulate a sensible reply, I am looking for economy here. Also, the truck gets used for driving into woodland whilst empty and comes out laden with firewood. A trailer is not a realistic option, as the track into the woodland has a very tight 90 degree turn, which is difficult to negotiate. Adding a trailer would make it impossible 
1st DON'T drive it in 4x4 if
1st DON'T drive it in 4x4 if the front and rear tyres are not the same size, unless your in really slimy goo, and desperat, as you will put un-due strain on just about everything especially the drive chain. As for cheep standard size tyres for logging, probably 225 or 235/15 trakers would be about best (arount £50 a tyre). This is a fairly agresive tyre, sertainly designed for off road use mainly. The AT type tyre are better on the road, but from your description of use probably not up to the job you want. Personally I would spend some money (about £100- £120 a tyre) for BF Goodrich MT's. Twice as expensive as the traker, but likely to last you more than 3 times as long. Of course if you are dtiving over a lot of rutted flinty ground, then potentially ripping the side wall out of a 'cheap' remold is going to be the prefurible opption. Basicly it comes down to, just what are you going to be doing. Is it going to have to work for a living, off road most of the time? Or is this just a once every couple of weeks, on an otherwise road going car job? How likely is it that these tyres are going to get slashed to bits when doing there job (ground conditions)?
Hope some of that will help your choice.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
My new Kumho M/T’s are
My new Kumho M/T’s are serving me very well, with a aggressive tread they should cope quite well for you in the woods, and are very good on the road, a lot better than I had thought, and give a nice little hum above about 40mph, so get some M/T's and have some fun!
Have you looked in the ‘wheels & Tyres’ section for previous posts?
Muddy tyres
Thanks to all who have replied on this thread. I have discovered more about 4x4 MT and AT tyres than I ever knew existed on this forum and http://www.difflock.com
With ref to the use of the truck; it will be used for occasional driving to work (9 miles each way) and logging or light green laning on my days off. I have absolutely no desire to get stuck anywhere, as most of my journeys will be alone or with my dogs, so grippy tyres are essential. The tyre plate on my F75 gives pressures for 255/70R15 tyres, but this size seems to be generally unavailable in MT pattern. I think I may go for a set of Greenway Chacos 205/75/15 from http://www.sowdentyres.co.uk/greenway-tyres.html
BFG Mud Terrains
Hi, I run 31"10.50 R15 BF Goodrich mud terrains (the truck is raised, if it was standard this size tyre would rub). They were expensive about £120 each but are the best tyre I have used, I did have a set of remoulds on the truck before but they were so out of balance it was nearly un-drivable, it would shake and pull from side to side under braking. With the bfg's fitted to the same rims I have no balance weights fitted and they dont shake or pull! They dont seem to be to noisey, the straight through exhaust makes more noise! I dont know what the bfg all terrains are like if you do more miles on the road?
BFG MT
Hello, Ive got a F78 with a 2" sus lift. Can i fit 31/10.50/15 on my standard steel rims?
tyres
i have a F80 and have fitted a set of Colway MT 225/75/15 and they are great, a little noisy on the road but fantastic in the goo .I got mine for £160 for 4 fitted and balanced.
If you are going out into
If you are going out into the gloop (especially on your own), may I also strongly sugest you get a high lift (or farm) jack. This will cost you about £50, and can get you out of all sorts of trouble. Secondly either an electric winch on the car (expensive option), or as a less costly, more labour intensive, but just as good option, a hand / terfour winch and a decent length of chain / cable with eyes in each end (not rope as it streches, though you should have a tow rope for those times when Mr. farmer has to get his tractor to help you out). Between a winch and a high lift you can get yourself out of prity much anything (including a roll).
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
31x10.5 R15 are pretty much
31x10.5 R15 are pretty much identical size to the standard 255's but are easier to get hold of, I've a set of at's in that size on my F78 and they are fine. For your use get a set of Colway mud terrains. Pretty much a re-mould version of the BFG's but only £45 a tyre or so. They will get you pretty much anywhere you should be going. My colways have done 20K so far and hardly look worn