destorman wrote:Update time - 7000km on the D697 ... here's the history:
destorman wrote:Just had new tyres fitted on our 2010 MN GLX Triton (fitted to some ML 16" Alloys I picked up today) ... new pic's added to "our shed" ... BTW it's a stock GLX, (i.e. it had stock steel rims and still has stock suspension). It's had Maxxis 771's (225/75) for the past two years.
So, the new tyres are:
What Size? 245/70/16
Brand? Bridgestone D697
Style? (L/T,A/T, Claws, M/T) A/T
Handle on Road? (Grip/noise)
Very nice. Straight up it felt easier in the steering, like it was 'lighter', with less effort to turn the steering wheel (and for reference the old 771's were at 40 psi). Felt much "softer" and "smoother" than when the Maxxis 771's went on new (and they felt good coming off the stock H/T's which were 2years old and had 48,000kms wear) ... driving on various roads (smooth bitumen, concrete, rough old bitumen roads, etc) the difference is quite noticeable to the 771's (which admittedly were two years old and had 60,000km wear), but from best of memory, I don't remember them feeling this smooth when they were new ...
Road noise? ... Road Noise? ... Road Noise? (apologies to Ferris Bueller) ... what road noise! Again, the two year old 771's to these was noticeably quieter. These are nice. Slight hum on the concrete which the 771's never did, but it is very very slight, and I'm probably only picking it because there is nothing else to hear and maybe looking for a fault.
Overall the ride feels 'softer' and 'smoother', with possibly a tad bit of 'roll' when cornering at speed or swerving back and forth, but at no stage was it anywhere near a concern of confidence, they just gripped ... which brings me to the next bit.
Grip, oh gosh, they grip ... went around one of those full circle type on ramps onto the highway, which is usually a 60kmh corner at best, well I went past that and then some and felt very well "stuck" to the road. Totally dry road.
No wet weather today, so can't comment.
The only overriding comment is that it does feel a little 'sluggish' off the mark, which I'm guessing is the slightly bigger diameter that has to turn to get going, plus the extra tread that I'm not use to feeling.
Handle off road? (Grip/Noise)
So today I did a bit of gravel driving, and they felt great. In one spot, which has loose gravel around a corner that goes up a slight hill, that was always a spot to give it some right foot, let the tail drift a bit for some fun, well, I did not get that today, like nothing, nudda, zip, zero zilch ... and I did give it some boot, since I had already felt that sluggishness. (BTW, it's a corner where the speed and gear, 2nd gear, is just below the turbo kick) ... as I got toward the exit of the corner the turbo kicked, wheels slipped, but only just, like only just broke traction.
Tried sand too ... one spot, again I know where the 771's would sink and shudder to get through (at full road pressure), the 697's seemed to sink about 1/3 and crawled through with no shudder. The top sand was softish, and under was a bit harder from the recent rain, but, it was only two days ago I went on the same track with the 771's and it sank and shuddered, with the sand today the same as then ... keen to try in some super soft sand.
No mud, not in my usually driving.
Price per tyre?
$229 fitted and balance including free rotation, balance and pressure check every 10,000kms for first 50,000kms
Wear & Tear?
New, none.
Any other comments
Overall, very very happy, and glad we went the 697's rather than the Falken Wildpeaks. Price was good for the Wildpeaks, but with limited and sketchy reports on them, and from what I've read, not many people putting them on again, where as the 697's have a larger fan base and people who have had them and put them on again.
As noted above, 7000km on the D697's now, with a variety of driving.
On road, general every day driving from the around town stuff through to highway ... absolutely awesome. Quiet. Great handling, and great grip. Had to pull up quick, ABS kicked in and pulled the seat belts hard. No slip. Good grip. Stoked!
Note: If memory serves correct, when that happened once before we had the Maxxis on the rims and they slipped a did not seem to pull up anywhere near as quick. That would have been early in their wear too, around when we had about 60 or 70,000 kms on the Ute.
Offroad:
On gravel roads ... again great. Usually gradded and non gradded rural type gravel rounds at speeds between 40 and 80 kmh ... like all tyres, when in the really loose pebbly stuff the builds off the driving lines it slips, but, I do not recall any tyre ever holding and handling it as well as these. Big call? Or bad memory, Don't know, but am again stoked.
Sand ... from hard compact to light fluffy soft stuff. Gets through the soft stuff well. Even when I'm lazy and leave them at 40psi ... does tend to 'shudder' and bounce up and down in the back end in soft stuff ... soft of like a dig and bounce, to make it's way through (when at 40psi and in 2wd only) ... slip over to low 4wd and it crawls through no worries even at 40psi!
Absolutely no worries on the soft stuff at lower pressure (18psi) on the soft stuff, and even again when hitting the hard sand. Sidewall feel solid enough so no weird 'roll' or spoungy feeling. Has not been heavily loaded though, only light load of surfboards and surf / beach gear, etc.
All in all, would happily recommend the D697's and will be fitting them again.
