I’ve been reviewing cars for the past two decades. My reviewing style is a mix of lazy disinterest in the specification list and obsessive-compulsive fascination with the driving experience. How a car drives is everything to me, which by default means that I have an unhealthy interest in suspension and tyres.
At Loaded 4X4, we specialise in suspension kits for Mitsubishi and Isuzu 4WDs. Designing these systems involves relentless real-world testing. Right now, I’m 25,000km into dialling in a suspension tune for the MV Triton.
Tyres are often overlooked when it comes to handling and comfort. But swapping brands regularly in testing, I’ve learned there’s a massive difference between them. I still remember switching from a well-known A/T tyre to Toyo’s Open Country A/T II on my MR Triton. The steering sharpened, the noise dropped, and the ride improved — immediately and noticeably.
Back in the day, like many 4WDers, I went through the ‘truck tyre’ phase. You know the one - big, chunky US muddies that look like they could climb Everest. Problem is, they often ride like bricks and howl like a banshee on bitumen. One set on my Defender barely bagged at low pressures and were so loud I couldn’t hear the transfer case.
That brings me to my 1994 Land Rover Defender - soft coils, Koni Raid shocks, tuned for comfort. But to get it working well both on- and off-road, I needed the right tyres. I wanted to stick with a muddy but leave the noise and harshness behind. That’s when I landed on the Toyo Open Country M/T.
I fitted a set of 235/85R16 Light-Truck rated tyres (“LT”) with a 120P load rating running them at around 32-34psi. They’ve since clocked 20,000kms and remain the best-riding set of tyres I’ve had on the Landy. Despite their aggressive look, they’re impressively quiet - a rare quality in a true mud terrain.
The Open Country M/T is built for serious off-roaders, and was developed from Toyo’s off-road race program, which is immediately evident in its ultra heavy-duty 3-ply carcass and high-ply turn-up construction. This design maximises puncture-resistance, especially when you’re aired down and working hard in rocky terrain.
Off-road, they’re outstanding. The high-void ratio tread pattern clears mud with ease, maintaining grip. The chunky side-biters not only add traction in ruts but protect the tyre’s shoulder area. And for those of us who still spend time on-road, the off-set shoulder blocks reduce tread harmonics, keeping road noise relatively in check.
They also balance up better than any muddies I’ve used, thanks to Toyo’s Japanese-made ATOM production process. The result? Class-leading uniformity that means less weight required to balance and a smoother, more predictable ride.
These tyres have taken my Defender across the Victorian High Country, the beaches of Coffin Bay, and deep into the Flinders Ranges, including Bendleby Station. Aired down to 18psi, the sidewalls bag nicely, delivering excellent comfort and grip over rough tracks.
On-road, they let the transfer case shine, and that’s exactly what you want from a classic Defender. They’ve proven durable, comfortable, and surprisingly refined for a tyre in this category.
The Toyo Open Country M/T comes in a wide range of sizes (15 to 20 inches) to suit everything from daily-driven dual cabs to the weekend warriors. It’s one of the very few mud terrains that can deliver off-road muscle and on-road civility, without much compromise.
Discovery Sessions may change how you think about the rubber beneath your rig.
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About Steane
Steane founded The Motor Report – an online new car news and reviews website – in 2007 and developed it into the second-largest new car editorial website in Australia, one that at its peak, attracted more than 40,000 Australian visitors per day.
The Motor Report experience taught Steane about the automotive media world – the good, the bad and of course the ugly. It also put him behind the wheel of most of the new cars on the market and several high-priced exotics, all of which convinced him that 4WDs are – without doubt – the best way to have fun on four wheels.
Steane has published thousands of vehicle-related articles, including numerous new car reviews.
In 2016 he founded Loaded 4X4.
Steane’s big project in 2021 was the establishment of the Loaded4X4 Store where you can buy a range of gear used by and even designed by us, gear that will enhance your 4X4 and make it easier and safer for you to head off on that next big adventure.
