18" NS OE Tyres - Any Horror stories?

[2800ITDNM]

I know we have done to death the pros/cons of the 18" VRX/Exceed Tyres, but heres my question. Has anyone got any horror stories (or positive) on OE 18" tyres yet? Going up the Flinders Ranges over the Easter break ( an 'R' with Bridgestone 840 17"s and a VRX with Bridgestone 840 18"s )and am wondering how the 18"s will cope. Not my car, so changing to 17"s or A/T isnt an option.
BTW, the 17" Bridgestones 840s on the 'R' have coped extremely well, suprised me that they show no signs of chipping etc. Your experiences appreciated, and brand would be handy too, as some Exceeds are wearing Yoko's also.

[2800ITDNM]

Since I didnt get any comments, thought I would let you know mine now I am home. Vehicle is VRX with Bridgestone 18" OE Rubber. Did 1300kms over Easter, 300kms of them off the bitumen, including 6 hours of low range 1st to do less than 30kms over ridges, through creek beds etc. Pressures were set at 26PSI at the end of the bitumen, and they coped pretty well. Look like new and got within 50kms of home when fellow traveller alerted me to a low pressure on the RH Rear. Pumped it up and continued home. Proffesional repair for a small rock shard through the tread, so I suppose I was pretty lucky. Dont really know if the rock damage was done up in the Flinders, or just an unlucky flat when we pulled up a lunchtime on the gravel carpark.
BTW, a mate travelling with me also experienced a flat travelling the same tracks while up in the Flinders Ranges on his almost new M/T tyres, so at least I wasnt the only one to have trouble.
There were also at least 3 other vehicles sighted over the weekend with flat tyres, so it is common up there.
Generally pretty happy with the outcome.

[athino]

Hi,

I also went on a trip over the Easter weekend to the Abercrombie National Park, includin an off road trailer at about one tonne. Some steep uphills/downhills that need to be taken on first and a non-event of a creek crossing. No problem with the tyres.

[Rusty]

We also still have our original HT tyres on. Have done a few day trips with the Club, which I organise as Midweek Meanders, where we stick to mainly good dirt/stone tracks and no probs to date. Did the Mississippi Track in Feb and it was dry so no issues.
Easter was at Wyperfeld Nat Park where we did many ks on sand and, as you would expect, the HT tyres worked fine.
Having said all that I am holding the breath a bit each time we go off road. My ideal is to get 17 inch steel rims to put a set of Coopers ST's on and use as interchangeable as required. But as we all know the 17 inch rim option is hard to find. Spoke to the local 4WD shop on Friday and there is a manufacturer working on it but they have nothing at this stage, have to manufacture then test so if successful will be some months away.
As last resort before we head of in October I will fit Cooper ST's to the 18 inch rim. They now have a 65 profile that we reckon will fit OK. About 40 mm larger diameter but in measuring everything up it seems they will be OK.

[2800ITDNM]

Thanks for your thoughts. Looks like they are capable of a bit of offroading which is good. Looking at the wear on mine 1mm worn on the back row at 5000kms, I wont have to worry about them for too long anyway.