Hi all,
Only had my Perentie a few weeks and love it.
I'm about to head from Launceston to Hobart to a well respected Landy mechanic to get it's first big check-over and service.
I've already changed the oil and filter as I was unhappy with the colour/viscosity and didn't know how long it had been in the engine - I bought the car local from someone who had in turn bought in Qld at the auctions and driven it down to Tas.
On first inspection, the car came up very well with only minor things to be done (went to a local mechanic for a paid pre-sale check), but the other day I noticed on closer inspection that the tyres (which are Michelin), have some long and probably deep cracks at the base of the lugs as well as more cracks small and more, spread around nearly every tyres carcass (not the sidewall).
As said, on first inspection I was impressed because the tyres appeared to be in used condition but with plenty of rubber left, but now I'm really concerned for several reasons... ingress of water into the carcass/belts, etc, deterioration and unknown damage within the tyre from this and also the possibility of mechanical weakness with some/all these cracks/splits, leading to possible catastrophic consequences at highway speeds!
So, I unfortunately believe I'm up for new tyres, but I'll take advice here and although a friend of mine (and ex industrial chemist with specialist knowledge in rubber compounds and who loves Michelin) swears by a Michelin tyre, my concern about buying the same tyre again, would be that under tough terrain use the rubber splits and cracks at the base!
The tyres are stamped 2011 manufacture, so they are only getting slightly old now and I didn't think this would/should be a normal scenario for an expensive, good tyre?
So, unless I can be convinced otherwise, I need some help to be sure of getting the correct tyre for this car and although I've looked at quite a few forums, I'm still a little bit confused.
The present tyres are Michelin 4x4 - O/R 7.50 R16 C XZL Radial X.
They rode well and I thought that if they were good enough for the Army I would get again, but on seeing those cracks I need some help and advice here.
I don't want nor can afford to go to a tyre dealer and get the wrong advice on this car, so would appreciate some advice please.
I live in Tas and I need to be sure that the car will stick and stop reasonably well in winter on our greasy roads, but can be taken bush with confidence, so a tough tyre that sticks reasonably well in the wet on bitumen is wanted and also, not a compound that is so hard it slides through the lights in the rain (happened to me some years ago and wasn't fun).
I gather the rims are an odd width on these cars and I'm confused as to whether the rims are, or need to be tube or tubeles, so I'm not sure on how this fairs for me buying a good, but not too expensive tyre.
Your thoughts?
Many thanks, Alvin
