BFG's vs D697 - who's the rip-off?

[markymark]

Upfront I'll admit to being a BFG A/T fan with our Prado on it's second set and my Triton running some for the first time. The Prado will need some new shoes soon so along with the BFG quote I also rang the local Bridgestone bloke for a quote on the D697LT, having heard and read about the great wrap these tyres get from owners (including the old D694).

I'm wondering how the BFG's can be $60 more per tyre? Do we have any BFG reps on here? They're about to lose a loyal customer with their rip-off pricing 

Anybody else noticed this kind of price gap?

Mark.

[MrCruza]

Get a quote for Maxxis Bravo AT 700 (or 771 from Bob Jane). Will leave both the others for dead..

[dazzler]

We have maxxis on our rangers at work.  Lots of balance issues with them for some strange reason.  Maybe a bad batch perhaps.  I suppose you only get what you pay for. Update: (this last bit sounds a bit rude.  What I mean is that they are a cheaper tyre so maybe they can be hit and miss)

[BigJules]

Market forces, supply and demand will set the price. I am an unabashed fan of BFG too, and believe they're the best around. What sort of price are you talking? Maybe the BFGs aren't expensive, but the Bridgestone guy is prepared to buy your business?

[GeoffA]

Not sure what you're complaining about...

I got 140,000km out of 4-285/75x16 BFG A/T's.......still had 5mm of tread on 'em when I took 'em off..........

[LB]

We have got over a 100km out of our BFG 285/75 R16 A/T so far as well. Never had a issue so will stick with them regardless of price.

Shop around for a better deal.

LB

[krisandkev]

I tried a set of Maxxis Bravo's on my cruiser and although the price was right and the grip was good, I was disappointed with the wear.  I only got around the 42,000 out of them. Plus on the Gibb when the road was in very good condition I got 2 busted tyres.  Have now got the Bridgestone 694's on and they are performing very well.
When I priced them the old Bob Jane came in way lower then anyone else.
Kevin

[markymark]

Both tyres are on 'special', 265/70 16 size. $280 for Bridgestones and $340 for BFG (which I am told are over $400 RRP). As others have mentioned with mileage, we've had a great run out of the BFG too but I've heard the same with the D694/697s so they are worth looking at. I'll post on here how the D697s are holding up in comparison.

In regards to the Maxxis, both Dad and one of my brothers have bought a set but I haven't heard enough about them to put down my $$$ - maybe next time.

Cheers all,

Mark.

[kickenback]

I've got the 694LT's on my prado and they've only done 50k and i'm needing new ones, not happy, hardly been off road with it, and even then it's only up the beach..

[achjimmy]

Both tyres are on 'special', 265/70 16 size. $280 for Bridgestones and $340 for BFG (which I am told are over $400 RRP). As others have mentioned with mileage, we've had a great run out of the BFG too but I've heard the same with the D694/697s so they are worth looking at. I'll post on here how the D697s are holding up in comparison.

In regards to the Maxxis, both Dad and one of my brothers have bought a set but I haven't heard enough about them to put down my $$$ - maybe next time.

Cheers all,

Mark.

Mark I would keep trying other dealers. $340 is way to dear for 16's. I think I paid $350 for 17's and could have gone with "grey imports" for $320

[markymark]

I found this thread from the end of last year with some good feedback on the D694/697:
http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=18214.0

Kickenback, your 50000km seems a bit short, I wonder if your pressures were up a bit high? Dad once had some Cooper ATRs, didn't check the pressures  after a service on the road (travelling around Oz towing a van) and had to get them replaced before the next service and before the 50k mark. The tyre guy asked him why the pressures were so high and it's what the last fella blew them up to. He should have checked them himself regardless. He thought they had worn out just from towing.

I have limited options in regards to dealers, there's only a handful in town Jim and last time I got some for the triton the local BFG guy was basically the same $$$ as the bigger towns.

[Matto]

Both tyres are on 'special', 265/70 16 size. $280 for Bridgestones and $340 for BFG (which I am told are over $400 RRP).

I think that's the size that lilstookie just picked up for their Jackaroo here in Cairns. From memory their best price was $325/tyre, which I thought was pretty fair. So you might be able to do a bit better than the $340. Cairns prices are always inflated due to the location, sounds like you may be in the same boat though.

I've had Maxxis Bravo AT's on the Pathy before, and they were a good tyre. No punctures, great on sand, etc. But I didn't get very long out of them at all. They scrubbed out on the inside (on all 4), but even still the rest of the tread didn't have much depth left. I'm sure an alignment would have helped, but I doubt I would have got more than an additional 5000kms anyway. I like them, but I'm happy to pay the extra for the BFG's to get the longer wear.

Good luck!
Matto

[MADCOW]

Mate have a look at General Grabbers, Same tyre pattern and will stand to the same punishment! Saying that I have had a crap run out of the last 2 sets of BFG's and chucked on a set of cooper S/ T Maxx's, Definitely a better tyre but at a much dearer price.

[Kris]

I usually run the BFGs.  Bought some 694s, as we couldn't get the right size BFG at the time, as they were on backorder for ages.  They're doing well on all surfaces except mud.  For me in the winter, a simple drive down the paddock ends up in wheelies and one very dirty car.  Will be returning to the BFGs next set.  For you, it probably depends on how often you encounter mud!

[dazzler]

Keep in mind that there is no secret formula to making tyres last longer (provided the quality is the same).

You can have softer compounds with lots of grip and normal wear or harder compounds and less grip but longer wear.  BFG's tend to be harder compound and last a lot of miles.  They are also lethal on wet tarmac from my experience