Does anyone know if the ALRC are going to ban diamonds from next year? The AWDC are!

I was thinking of getting a couple of new ones and I am not sure what to do now.

Cheers Jim

I don't know the answer, Jim, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do.

Aggressive tyres are bad news as far as the Forestry Commission and other land-owners are concerned - the British Cross-Country Championship, which is like a Comp. Safari over six rounds, now only allows four makes of Control tyre, and they are all ATs.

Mind you, they still go like stink!

JohnB

The MSA Cross Country Committee looked at drawing up rules for tyres a year or two ago, and found that the block spacing and depth of tread were only one factor in the amount of damage done to ground surfaces during speed events. On the basis of evidence they gathered at the time, it wasn't possible to say if any one 'mud terrain' tyre was worse than another.

A much more significant element in ground damage in comps is those vehicles running with diff-locks or limited slip diffs, as the corners cut up far more than events running with open diffs (as per ALRC requirements)

Once tyre pressues, vehicle weights, power-to-weight (ie wheel spin), course type, ground type and driver mentality were factored in, the only conclusion reached was that the more agressive the tyre the worse the ground damage.

So, are diamonds worse at cutting up particular surface types than, say, BFG Mud Terrains, or the huge tyres with massive shoulder lugs that are common in the winch fraternity?

If an event organiser bans just one make of tyre they are leaving themselves wide open to action through the courts for anti-competitive behaviour from the manufacturers and retailers. They would have to be remarkably sure of themselves to take such action.

If, as with the British Off Road Championship, a control tyre is specified in the SR's, that is within the rules. I think it is unlikely the ALRC is likey to get to a position of specifying a control tyre as there would be a backlash from every other tyre manufacturer / supplier in the country.


Karl.

(All of that is, of course, my opinion and not a formal club response!)

As an ex-Diamond Back user, I'd just like to say that I haven't busted a diff or shaft (touch wood) since changing to Colway MT's.
The grip they provide is truly phenomenal but at a price.
However I can still get Shed around the courses at Newbourne just the same and have gained height too as the 235/85 is just so much taller than the 205 Broncos.
We tend to find that the more extreme the tyre the more damage is done.
People don't seem to realise that once the motor stops moving forward then it starts digging downwards.
As I always say, Grizzlys and other 'extreme tyres' are not a substitute for competent driving skills.
I would think it better all round if the powers that be were to specify one tyre - say BFG AT or Colway AT for example. Less cutting up the surface, and after all, it's all about 'momentum' in ccvt isn't it?

Are Colways still available? Last I heard Colway had ceased trading over a dispute with their landlords. BICBW.

Didn't a Polish company buy them up?

And no, Mr Sheen, didn't make a pledge (before you say it).

All the tyre sites I look at still seem to be advertising them.

I was at a discussion yesterday when the issue of diamonds was raised again, and then extended to other agressive mud terrain tyres, and then to all mud terrain tyres.

There is a possibility that diamonds and 'others of their ilk' could be prohibited for some events where ground damage is an issue. The examples given were damage to forestry commission 'roads' and open farm land where the amount of soil/surface movement can be extreme.

For sites where ground damage isn't an issue, such as an old quarry, extreme tyres may still be usable. (but on hard surfaces, an AT may be better anyway).

The discussion seemed to suggest that the comp motors (and at some sites possibly trials motors too) would have to use AT pattern tyres.

The immediate issue would appear to be how to categorise tyres as agressive or not, and yet still be fair to competitors and manufacturers, whilst also recognising that some competitors tyres last many years. The most likely situation is that an approved tyre list will be developed and find it's way into the Blue Book, and then event SR's will state whether or not an approved tyre from list ... is required.

Comp safari drivers could well be in the position of having to stock a set of MTs and ATs for different events.

In the short term, I don't think much will change. In the medium term I think there will be a creeping increase in events stipulating a control tyre or restricting the use of 'agressive tyres'. Long term? Who knows? I am beginning to think we will have to use tyres selected from an approved list as other forms of motorsport do.

As before, these are my view's, not the club's.

Karl.

But will Bridgestone make us hard and soft compounds with a fancy white line round them?