Deeno wrote:Ehat is the cheapest and Best performing tyre on the market for the triton and with my ironman 2" what am I best to fit (size-brand-cheapest)
Deeno, as CD says your criteria are mutually exclusive. If you want good performance and long life then you just have to pay more up front. However, by paying more at purchase time you will actually save yourself money in the long run.
Let me give you an example or two. I've had 4WDs for the last 18 years and I've tried a variety of tyres. Factory issue, of course, and I've never managed more than about 50,000km out of these (Yokohama, Pirelli, Bridgestone). Most times, when they've worn out, I've replaced with Coopers and once with BFG. The BFGs ((road tyres, not AT's) were crap. Terrible grip and wore out very quickly. The Coopers, however, lasted in every single case, more than 120,000km and in each case there was more than 5mm tread left when I sold the vehicles. That's not just once. Three times! I do look after my tyres. Watch pressures, keep up with wheel alignments and rotate regularly.
So, let's have a look at this from a value point of view. Let's say that a cheap tyre will cost you $220 each while a tyre like the Cooper will be $350. Big difference, $650, in purchase price. But, the cheap ones will probably last you 50,000km. $1100/50,000=$0.022 per kilometre. The better quality tyres though, for me, worked out at $1750/120,000=$0.0146 per kilometre. That's
34% cheaper than the "cheap" tyres.
In addition, I had good wet and dry grip and very few punctures. For the factory tyres and others I've tried because someone I thought knew what they were talking about told me "try these great tyres" I had wear problems, balance problems, numerous punctures and diabolical wet grip in two cases.
If you're serious about safety and long term value then I'd strongly recommend that you stay right away from the bottom end of the market. They're cheap for a reason and Coopers are more expensive for a reason. You won't get an 80,000km warranty with the $220 specials. In fact you might not get any warranty at all.
So good tyres that are good value? Cooper A/T3, 90,000km warranty in 265 width. Cooper S/T MAXX, 80,000km warranty. Bridgestone D694 or D697. All in LT construction. There's lots of others and this post will likely bring a flurry of conflicting experiences but, a warranty is a warranty and you don't have to do much to keep in valid.