Update on the Black Diamond ATV tires...
Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:45 pm
As is seen in my signature, I'm running these tires continuously on both street and dirt.
We had a Unimog and other euro vehicle treffen in Calico, California this last weekend and I brought the Haflinger.
Over a period of three days, I ran approximately 20 miles on tarmac, and a bit over 30 miles on dirt, ranging from smooth gravel roads, to deep sand washes, to rocky washes. Also included were hard rock ledges and drop offs, steep hill climbs starting in very loose gravels and ending in hard rock ledges, downhills that were off camber, and on and on.
I'm happy to say that the tires did spectacularly well, with the only issue being the expected rougher ride due to the lugs. On road for extended periods at about 35 mph, off road from crawl gear speeds to third gear.
Inflation was 20 psi, load was a full fuel tank, full gas can and spare, another thirty pounds of tools, fluids, emergency spares, plus driver/passenger and a cooler of drinks plus a full pelican case carrying a drone and ancillary equipment.
Most of the obstacles were done in 4x4, rear locker engaged. Many of them could have been done fairly easily with no rear locker, but it was much easier on the truck with it engaged. On the steep hills with top ledges I'd engage the front locker also.
Excellent traction, minimal side bead roll, no punctures in rough and sharp stone areas, only other issue is the re-gearing due to tire height. Going uphill on tarmac often required shifting down to 3rd gear, but that's a very reasonable compromise to get the other benefits.
Big thumbs up from me!
We had a Unimog and other euro vehicle treffen in Calico, California this last weekend and I brought the Haflinger.
Over a period of three days, I ran approximately 20 miles on tarmac, and a bit over 30 miles on dirt, ranging from smooth gravel roads, to deep sand washes, to rocky washes. Also included were hard rock ledges and drop offs, steep hill climbs starting in very loose gravels and ending in hard rock ledges, downhills that were off camber, and on and on.
I'm happy to say that the tires did spectacularly well, with the only issue being the expected rougher ride due to the lugs. On road for extended periods at about 35 mph, off road from crawl gear speeds to third gear.
Inflation was 20 psi, load was a full fuel tank, full gas can and spare, another thirty pounds of tools, fluids, emergency spares, plus driver/passenger and a cooler of drinks plus a full pelican case carrying a drone and ancillary equipment.
Most of the obstacles were done in 4x4, rear locker engaged. Many of them could have been done fairly easily with no rear locker, but it was much easier on the truck with it engaged. On the steep hills with top ledges I'd engage the front locker also.
Excellent traction, minimal side bead roll, no punctures in rough and sharp stone areas, only other issue is the re-gearing due to tire height. Going uphill on tarmac often required shifting down to 3rd gear, but that's a very reasonable compromise to get the other benefits.
Big thumbs up from me!