BFG ATs Incredilble Mileage

[snowcruiser]

So while getting the 80 inspected this week for the State requirements I realized that my BFG AT KOs (285/75 R16) have 105,000 miles on them and at least 1/4 inch of tread remaining. I rotated these things every 6000 miles for the first 50K and then gave up on the rotation altogether. The sidewalls are showing some cracking but overall I am shocked at the mileage on these things. I've had 5 sets of these things on full-size chevy trucks and a 4runner over the years and they all lasted around 60K. While the BFGs may not be the best off-road tire I can't imagine another tire lasting this long.....

 

[wct49]

That is exceptional mileage. Way to go.

 

[Michael Hanson]

What do you keep the air pressure at? mIKE

 

[snowcruiser]

35-40 psi

 

[Box Rocket]

I've had a similar experience. I just replaced mine and not because the tread was gone. The sidewall split on one and was losing air. I didn't feel like it was right to just replace one so I planned on using the remaining 3 that I took off on my offroad trailer. The insides of the carcasses were very cracked on all 3 so I wasn't comfortable using them at all. They still had at least 30% tread left and I clocked 75K miles on them.

It was a bummer to have them go like that with a decent amount of tread left on them but I can't complain with them lasting that long.

I ran them fairly consistently at 25-30psi and was not great about rotating them. They are a very slight compromise for me off-road but still work well enough for the wheeling I do that I bought another set of them.

This was the last trip with them and you can see there is still decent tread left even after 75K miles.

 

[Photo_Cruiser]

Me Thinks it's because that rubber is rock frickin hard....man, mine had 50k on them, were 7 years old, and were like ski's in any type of snow, slush, ice

yeah they last a while though.....

 

[Box Rocket]

Me Thinks it's because that rubber is rock frickin hard....man, mine had 50k on them, were 7 years old, and were like ski's in any type of snow, slush, ice

yeah they last a while though.....

Hmm. Mine started to get hard at the end. But had good traction for a long long time. Any tire is going to get hard like that. The problem is most other tires just don't last as long as these so you don't notice them getting hard because they've already worn out.

 

[Elijah]

Hmm. Mine started to get hard at the end. But had good traction for a long long time. Any tire is going to get hard like that. The problem is most other tires just don't last as long as these so you don't notice them getting hard because they've already worn out.

x2. Ours, on the hundred series, are 3 years old now but have been exceptional in the snow and ice.

 

[thisilldefend]

I loved those tires. I had them on my 89 V6 4runner. I dipped them in the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific ocean. They were great until I rolled the rig 5 times on Lookout pass (Idaho/montana border... black ice) I only ended up with roadrash from the sunroof on my right shoulder.That litlle rollbar and my seatbelt saved my life. When I went to the towing yard 3 days later I really wanted my tires back but the rig was a total loss. I might put those on my 4x4 minivan I havent checked the sizes yet. If they fit I will get them. Great all around tires

 

[UCBerzerkeley]

I love your ride box rocket, especially that modified ARB bumper

 

[thisilldefend]

Hey Box Rocket,
I checked out your rig. Really nice. I really love your surplus military container. I found the same one in Iraq and aquired it and sent it home in the mail I put some light stuff in it so it would be cheaper to mail. All my recovery gearwill be in it . I can easily remove it while in town. I also like the Hella Blackmagics. I have 6 of them waiting to get mounted.

 

[NLXTACY]

I have 85k on my current ones now and I also have about 1/4" of thread left. And I can still see the sipes!

Although they suck major ass in snow and mud.

 

[thisilldefend]

I have 85k on my current ones now and I also have about 1/4" of thread left. And I can still see the sipes!

Although they suck major ass in snow and mud.

Is it me or do certian tires get as hard as a rock in the cold? Only a few people here can talk about the cold. You guys from Califorinia and Arizona stay out of this, unless you are a rubber scientist. ( cold is at least 30 below without the windchill, where oil and anti freeze is frozen solid) I once posted a link on what is the best tire in the cold. I tried to explain that the rubber on Doc Martins shoes have really good traction till it gets cold. (minus 10 and colder ,up to 40 below) Why do some rubbers perform better when things get below 10 or 20 degrees below zero, while others get rock hard and turn into slicks. (like ice blocks) ????? And what is the best rubber when things are below zero? I have seen guys with generic tires in the winter that stiil have pliability and traction. High dollar ones are worthless.what gives??? With global warming it will all get better LOL

 

[CJF]

Best quote I ever heard about BFG AT's:


They suck. For a loooong time.

 

[spdwaver]

My AT's also cracked along the sides and in most places between the tread; I thought this was only my experience. I also had to get rid of mine with a lot if tread left.

 

[Lka1988]

Mine are 3 years old with plenty of tread and a fair share of rock rash.

 

[darwink1]

the best tire for snow has a soft compound and a s*** load of siping. using this type of tire year round will result in premature wear so its wise to have summer/winter tires.

everyone i know who has run bfg at's in real winter conditions agrees that they are not ideal. i have never owned the at's but my bfg mt's are brutal on ice. my winters are dunlop grandtreks they have performed flawlessly.

im going to try the goodyear duratracks this winter.

D

 

[thisilldefend]

I am thinking I might get some studded cheapies with tons of siping or walnut shells for the winter. I am going to look for rims while on my visits to the salvage yard. There must have been a bunch of 80's sold in the seattle area. I saw 8 today and some lx450's. I am only here for about 3 more months so I better make the most of it. I would love an extra set of factory alloys.

 

[MoCoNative]

I have to say I was very dissapointed in the life of my BFG's. I don't have an 80 but have run a set on my 40 and 60. The first set I put on, was on my 40 in 2000, I personally thought they were a big improvement over the Eldorado ZR4's my dad always ran and we put on it originally. I put them on after teraing a sidewall rim to tread on the Eldorado's on a peice of limestone. I wanted better sidewall strength. They have performed very well for me in mild mud conditions, snow ice, etc... But after all these years and 35,000 miles, and not many rotations, the rears are slightly more worn than the fronts, but they are done for, I won't run them in the snow at their current state, as they have too little tread left.

Not long after buying BFG's for my 40, I bought a 60, and had to put new tires on it, at the time I liked the BFG's, so I put a set on the 60 too. I got about 40,000 out of them, and they too were about worn out.

What prompted the replacement of the tires on my 60 were bulges in the center of the tread on the rear tires. When I bought the rig, I replaced the tires for this same reason, a bad bulge in the rear tire, that started to leak. The BFG's did the same thing as the tread got nearly worn. they probably had another 5-10K miles left in them, but I got very afraid of a blowout with that kind of bruise in the center of the treads. The tires on my 40 are exibiting the same failure now.

I don't rack crawl, or wheel very hard. I have abused them a few times, but 90% percent of my driving was daily style driving to work. Only difference is I have 5 miles of gravel road one way to work. This tends to eat up tires pretty bad, perhaps it causes the bruises too. Always ran at 40-50 PSI for optimal mileage. Never had any bad crowning wear, even at the high pressure.

These bruises make me question another set on the 40, as I am shopping for tires for it right now. Put some cheap Sport King Radials AT's on the 60, actually been impressed with them. Did very well in a very bad winter for me year before last.

Anyone else see this kind of bruising, I thought maybe the weight of the 60 was the problem, but it is bone stock, no mods, not like a modded 80, how are you guys doing it? Less gravel roads, less pressure, what. Seemed like anything below 40psi makes the sidewalls real bulgey and handling squirmy.

 

[mainemike]

I was very happy with BFGs on my other trucks - I haven't tried them on on the Cruiser; I run Nitto TGs. But the 31 x 10.5 BFG ATs were very good in snow and ice on my other 4x4s, I'm always surprised when people say they suck in snow? When I was living in Colorado they worked great in heavy snow, and I chose that tire for a winter trip to the end of the road in Chisasibi, Quebec.

I think they lose the snow ability after about 20,000 miles, I've always wondered if the outer compound is softer, and once you get towards 50% wear they seem to be harder, and resist wear from that point on. It is one of the longest wearing tires I've had, but I tend to replace my tires early - once they get below 50% original tread they are compromised in all but dry street conditions. What's been nice about the BFGs is they have a decent resale market evan with low tread.