Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
I had this similar discussion a couple of years ago..
In the end I decided to go for the 17 inch Cooper STs for off-road use. The idea being to keep the 19inch P-Zero's for road use and use the ST's off-road. After fitting the ST's I found they where only a little noisier than the P-Zeros. The STs have been on ever since. I do about 45,000 miles per year and a set of STs last about 40,000 miles. the last set I replaced at 40,000 miles and they still have 5mm tread left.
I then bought a set of STTs for off-road. They are a little noisier, but nothing the radio cant drown out, and road handling is fine. we went down to Croisiere in jan this year and as BCB, Bodsy and WillMyth will confirm we werent hanging around and tryes performed execellent on and off road.
I do tend to use the STs off-road most of the time as they are good on and off-road. I just use the STTs now for "special occasions" or off-road when the tread on the STs starts to get down to the 5-7 mm mark.
If you are just looking for a tyre purely for Off-road use then i would recemmond the STT. I havnt used MTRs although I have thought about fitting them on my 19inch wheels. However, they are quite a bit more expensive than the STTs so ive not bothered.
hope that helps.Duncan
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The poll is indicating STT's just nudging ahead of "Other". Anyone know who stocks "Other" so I can see if they're cheaper!
Seriously, thanks for all your input and suggestions. I am definitely only using them for off road and if it turns nasty over winter (some chance! ) and will stick with P Scorpion's for road work.
Like the look of the Bighorn though so it's a close decision. not made yet MY2016 SDV6 Graphite in Fuji White....... as I like to see the mud and scratches 🤪
First feedback on Maxxis Bighorn for anyone that's interested.
I had them fitted last Saturday and since I don't have time before next Sunday's Tong D3 Day to swap wheels I put them on the car.
First of all, well well impressed with the looks
I haven't been off road yet but have done some town work and a trip to Birmingham airport - total 200 miles. It was dry going down on Monday and wet coming back today. So what's my verdict on their road manners?
Noise? Not too bad. Not as bad as I expected as I'd set myself a very low expectation as they're an off road tyre. The best description I can give is that it sounds like a high speed train. It's somewhere between a whine and a hum and it's not a constant hum but an oscillating one. Pitch increases with speed. Very, very low-speed traffic crawling is actually more annoying as they rumble on some surfaces. Overall:
Grip? Now this is where I have been seriously surprised. Understand the baseline first. I usually drive on Pirelli Scorpion and love 'em. The D3 handles almost sports car like through the combi of P Zeros, 4X4 and DSC. I came from an Audi Quattro S4 to the D3 and, whilst the S4 was unbelievably quick, the D3 doesn't compare too badly for a 2.7 ton off roader and certainly surprises a few unsuspecting boy racers. So, context set........ what about the Maxxis? Well impressed! 8) Grip is very good wet or dry although, let's be open and honest, I'm driving more to what I feel are the capabilities of the tyres. I've dropped the motorway cruise to 70-75mph instead of my normal 80-85. I'm leaving a bit more room between me and the one in front for extra safety. However, in town, no difference. There is one strange thing though - it feels like the car is wandering when it's not and I know this because I've taken my hands off the steering wheel to see what it does and it keeps going straight. I suspect this is because it's dropping from one tread block to another across all 4 tyres but out of sequence so what I'm feeling is a rhythmic undulation and not an actual wander. Stopping power/grip also seems good. I've had a couple of quick pull ups on the motorway in the wet and ABS didn't kick in. Grip overall?
Fuel? Again, surprised. Overall I'm getting more mpg, approx. 1mpg more than before. I suspect this is a combination of a smoother driving style (more mpg), lower speeds (more mpg) and off road chunky tyres (less mpg). Fuel overall?
So, in summary, I'm very pleased with the results so far
As mentioned before I've bought these just for off road playing but will have to do some road work because I'm a lazy git who doesn't want to change wheels myself every time I go off road so I've struck a deal with my local tyre dealer who, in exchange for the unused Wrangler tyres on the 17" wheels, is now storing whichever wheels I'm not using in his unit and will swap them over free of charge whenever I want. Unfortunately this does mean I will have to do some road miles between visits to get wheels swapped. I am therefore well pleased with the Maxxis road manners and thanks for the recommendation as they were £40 each corner cheaper than STTs
I'm off road next Sunday so will continue this review with the muddy performance next week.
Cheers
DaveMY2016 SDV6 Graphite in Fuji White....... as I like to see the mud and scratches 🤪
5th Nov 2008 5:39 pm
frenchy
Member Since: 05 Dec 2007
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 1038
Top report
I am in the market for off road wheels - think I've just sourced the metal bits (17inch hurricanes off ebay tonight - £90 for four) now for the rubbery bits that go around them!!
5th Nov 2008 5:55 pm
CY
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4506
Excellent write-up
Hope they prove fun at Tong (weather suggests you might need them!).2007 Porsche Boxster (987) 2.7
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5th Nov 2008 6:00 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15264
Yep, good write up Dave.
But wouldn't read too much into the fuel consumption.
Chances are the circumference will be different to that of the P Zero's.
That initself will alter the MPG reading.
See ya at Tong!
...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
Maybe this time it'll be a little less spin and a bit more composure
Mind you, at least I made it in 2, not sure how many it took the RRS but I think I counted 7 or 8 However, credit where it's due.... I don't think many others achieved it no matter the tyre type MY2016 SDV6 Graphite in Fuji White....... as I like to see the mud and scratches 🤪
5th Nov 2008 6:33 pm
Wex
Member Since: 16 Apr 2007
Location: Knackeragua
Posts: 5173
Glad you like them
Wait till you try them in the mud.Whoevers behind you better not mind their screen getting splattered
Your the first on here from the UK to try them , correct me if not
I don't know whether I'm first in UK or not but I'm a happy customer so far. Thanks for the advice
As for splattered windscreens............... only if they follow like MY2016 SDV6 Graphite in Fuji White....... as I like to see the mud and scratches 🤪
6th Nov 2008 4:01 pm
CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
Stick some pics up when you get chance, interested to see what these are like
Will do, hopefully if this rain keeps up they'll be some good pics from Sunday Lake might be a no go though MY2016 SDV6 Graphite in Fuji White....... as I like to see the mud and scratches 🤪
Hi again - here's the off road review of the Maxxis.
Grip: Overall very good Didn't get stuck once and did several of the black routes at Tong so they got a good workout 8) It was very wet and slippy so I was well pleased with them. I do, however, have a couple of comments :
1. One posting suggested that they could even pull you out of ruts I had doubts since it's almost a golden rule that once you're in a rut, you're in it Experience showed yesterday that this golden rule still applied for all but the shallowest of ruts. Nonetheless, the ability of the tyres to grip the side of the ruts and so avoid some sideways slippage was commendable
2. This is really hard to believe but I thought the Pirelli Scorpions were better through the lake than the Bighorns! I can think of several reasons. The Bighorns sounded like they were churning up the bottom of the lake more than the Scorpions and so maybe dug in where the Scorps drove over. However, all 4 wheels were spinning (to the point we went extended in the middle of the lake) so here's a wild proposition: the Maxxis are much bigger tyres and so could have been floating slightly (this happened to several people when D3.co.uk did Yarwell earlier this year) and therefore not gripping the base of the lake as well as they would on "dry land" giving the feeling of churning up the floor but losing drive. Finally, the lake could have been deeper and so it was just plain harder work to get through this time but I did the lake last Xmas when it was deep and I still think the Scorpions were better.
All that aside though I'm well pleased with them
That just about sums it up as off road noise and fuel use are not an issue. Of course if they are then get out and walk
Overall I'm well pleased with the choice of Maxxis Bighorn both on and off road despite the jibes I've had from the family that they sound like a bronzed porn star
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) and will stick with P Scorpion's for road work.
as they were £40 each corner cheaper than STTs 
Lake might be a no go though 
I had doubts since it's almost a golden rule that once you're in a rut, you're in it 
Experience showed yesterday that this golden rule still applied for all but the shallowest of ruts. Nonetheless, the ability of the tyres to grip the side of the ruts and so avoid some sideways slippage was commendable 
