I've spent days searching the 'net and ringing tyre retailers. As it stands, the only tyre on the market that I can legally fit to an ML Triton with the OEM 17" rims are the crap, and frankly dangerous, Dueler HT's that come fitted from the factory. The problem is that there are few tyres in the standard 245/65R17 fitment available, and those that are available don't have a load rating that meets the minimum 111 rating required (other than the aforementioned OEM duelers). I can't fit wider tyres (legally) due to the increase in diameter that takes the increase over the 15mm that the RTA allow.
So...the options I'm left with are to keep the sh!t OEM Duelers and pray that it doesn't rain for the next 40,000kms, OR fit tyres that are either illegal in load rating or diameter and hope I don't have an insurance claim or get a defect notice (or both), OR change rims to 16" so I have more choice of rubber (at greater expense to me).
I'm pissed off that Mitsubishi choose to fit a tyre of an unusual size to a vehicle that most owners are likely to want to change. The thing that shits me more is that the official Triton brochure states that "The tyres fitted to your Triton are designed primarily for use on sealed roads. If your Triton is to be driven mainly on unsealed roads, please consult your Mitsubishi dealer for advice on appropriate tyre selection." What I'd like to know is, what other tyre are they going to fcuking recommend???
Rant over. I thought I'd feel better after typing this, but I'm still cranky