| 4x4 All Terrain Tire SHOOTOUT |
Steep Climb, loose dirt & sharp rock
Stoddard Valley climb 2 Page 3
Stoddard Valley climb 2 Page 3
This clip compares all three left rear tires from a vehicle-mounted cam. Watch the differences in the
amounts of wheelspin and dust for clues about traction capability and the amount of steering lock used for
a tip about responsiveness to steering. More steering means less responsiveness at the tire contact patch.
amounts of wheelspin and dust for clues about traction capability and the amount of steering lock used for
a tip about responsiveness to steering. More steering means less responsiveness at the tire contact patch.
Difficulty of Testing on Climbs and Descents
Testing in real world conditions has its pluses and minuses. I greatly prefer real world because that is were
we all go four wheeling. Conditions are not controlled. But the downside is that conditions are not controlled.
Every time you drive a section of trail, it changes, usually very slightly, but it’s enough to alter the outcome of
the next test. On long, steep climbs and descents, it is virtually impossible to follow the exact same line and
maintain the exact same speed for each test run. And this is the reason that we had the SBNFA observe our
tests. On several occasions, we re-ran a test run because of a noticeable difference is line and the possible
disparity in the results. But to our test driver’s credit, he maintained great consistency throughout, with a time
variance between all three tires of about a second per minute on steep climbs, at least where a tire
completed a run without getting stuck.
About Stoddard Valley
Stoddard Vally Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Area is located a few miles south of Barstow, CA, just off of
Interstate 15. This high desert area is home to several off road races and offers a wide variety of terrain,
from sandy, flat roads with moguls, to rock crawling sections and steep climbs and descents. It is also
notorious for its sharp, nasty rocks, which induce many punctures. At one four wheeling event held each
year, over fifty punctures (out of about 250 rigs) is common. The fact we had no tire failures at Stoddard
Valley after several days of scouting and testing speaks highly of the tire construction and quality in our all
terrain tire test.
This Climb
Our climb 1 at Stoddard Valley was at the northern end of the OHV area near the Barstow Outlet Center.
The hills here are steep, covered with loose dirt and strewn with very sharp rocks of varying sizes. Both
challenging and rewarding, and all three of our test tires completed the climb without incident, though with
varying degrees of traction and control.
Effects on Trails
One of the important, and often overlooked elements of tire traction is the effect on a trail and the
environment. Less traction results in more wheelspin. Wheelspin deteriorates a trail quickly, often creating
moguls and ruts, making the trail more difficult for the next vehicle. The driver is also a factor here, especially
concerning control usage. A light throttle foot is good. Wheelspin also creates dust and moves rocks, each
causing potential negative effects on the environment. More traction reduces wheelspin and reduces
negative impact. More traction helps you Tread Lightly!
Testing in real world conditions has its pluses and minuses. I greatly prefer real world because that is were
we all go four wheeling. Conditions are not controlled. But the downside is that conditions are not controlled.
Every time you drive a section of trail, it changes, usually very slightly, but it’s enough to alter the outcome of
the next test. On long, steep climbs and descents, it is virtually impossible to follow the exact same line and
maintain the exact same speed for each test run. And this is the reason that we had the SBNFA observe our
tests. On several occasions, we re-ran a test run because of a noticeable difference is line and the possible
disparity in the results. But to our test driver’s credit, he maintained great consistency throughout, with a time
variance between all three tires of about a second per minute on steep climbs, at least where a tire
completed a run without getting stuck.
About Stoddard Valley
Stoddard Vally Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Area is located a few miles south of Barstow, CA, just off of
Interstate 15. This high desert area is home to several off road races and offers a wide variety of terrain,
from sandy, flat roads with moguls, to rock crawling sections and steep climbs and descents. It is also
notorious for its sharp, nasty rocks, which induce many punctures. At one four wheeling event held each
year, over fifty punctures (out of about 250 rigs) is common. The fact we had no tire failures at Stoddard
Valley after several days of scouting and testing speaks highly of the tire construction and quality in our all
terrain tire test.
This Climb
Our climb 1 at Stoddard Valley was at the northern end of the OHV area near the Barstow Outlet Center.
The hills here are steep, covered with loose dirt and strewn with very sharp rocks of varying sizes. Both
challenging and rewarding, and all three of our test tires completed the climb without incident, though with
varying degrees of traction and control.
Effects on Trails
One of the important, and often overlooked elements of tire traction is the effect on a trail and the
environment. Less traction results in more wheelspin. Wheelspin deteriorates a trail quickly, often creating
moguls and ruts, making the trail more difficult for the next vehicle. The driver is also a factor here, especially
concerning control usage. A light throttle foot is good. Wheelspin also creates dust and moves rocks, each
causing potential negative effects on the environment. More traction reduces wheelspin and reduces
negative impact. More traction helps you Tread Lightly!
TEST DRIVER EVALUATIONS
Hill Descent - steep, loose dirt, sharp rock HANKOOK BFG TOYO
Stoddard Valley Mar 11
Traction Overall 7 5.5 5
Wheelspin / Wheel Lockup 6.5 5 5
Directional Stability 6.5 5 5
Steering Feel 6.5 5 5
Tire Compliance with Surface 7 5 4.5
Steering Input Responsiveness 6.5 5 5
Test importance 10 of 10 Average 6.67 5.25 4.92
TEST DRIVER COMMENTS:
Hankook: Very good traction, Some lockup. Smooth ride
BFG: Fairly good traction, some lockup. Smooth ride.
Toyo: Fairly poor traction, Excessive lockup. Very bouncy ride.
Hill Descent - steep, loose dirt, sharp rock HANKOOK BFG TOYO
Stoddard Valley Mar 11
Traction Overall 7 5.5 5
Wheelspin / Wheel Lockup 6.5 5 5
Directional Stability 6.5 5 5
Steering Feel 6.5 5 5
Tire Compliance with Surface 7 5 4.5
Steering Input Responsiveness 6.5 5 5
Test importance 10 of 10 Average 6.67 5.25 4.92
TEST DRIVER COMMENTS:
Hankook: Very good traction, Some lockup. Smooth ride
BFG: Fairly good traction, some lockup. Smooth ride.
Toyo: Fairly poor traction, Excessive lockup. Very bouncy ride.
To view the tests on the Stoddard Climb 2 of an individual
tire, click on the image of that tire below.
tire, click on the image of that tire below.
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Copyright 2009 Don Alexander
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