The skinny on 4x4 tyres

As we approach autumn, and the coming season, it is a good time to think about the tyres fitted to our faithful off-roaders, urges Ed Coles

- DANIEL GLOUD

You hear lots of things said on the back of Gun buses. Many of them are total nonsense, but one oft-repeated remark is that a 4x4 is only as good as its tyres. Unusually, it is largely true. We’ve arrived at that wonderful time of year when the combines are rolling and we are starting to think about our kit for the season ahead. Guns, untouched since January, are being dusted off and thousands of men are discovering that their breeks no longer fit.

What about tyres, however? When did you last think about them? Every year I come across someone driving a lovely truck that would be very capable — if only it had the correct boots.

Most trucks and SUVs are fitted with standard road or ‘summer’ tyres, which are fine if you’re predominantly motorway driving but how far off-piste will you get? Despite subscribing to the idea that a truck is only as good as its boots, there are a few exceptions. There is a tendency to think big, heavy, 4x4s are capable but wherever you find a Hilux or G-Class stuck in the mud, you’ll often find a little 4x4 with skinny wheels driving out of the quagmire like it’s an A road.

Big beasts

Many of you will remember that Land Rovers of old were always fitted with skinny wheels and tyres, which weren’t overly nobbly like you see today. The fact is, lighter vehicles and those with good weight distribution — where the weight sits squarely over all the wheels — can get away with less ‘rugged’ tyres than the big beasts of the off-road vehicle world. Meanwhile, you often see pick-ups with slabs of concrete in the back.