Spent the day on the Wiltshire Downs yesterday, one of a group organised by 4x4Adventuretours.co.uk (to which I have no connection).

Standard car with winter tyres.

I was supposed to be out again on the second day today but all the traction-control action wore my brake-pads to the limits.

If you have fifteen minutes of your life to waste...



Darn good fun.

I can see why it's a bit scratched - that gorse and holly and other stuff all looked very thick!

And why did you attack that poor tree? Minding its own business and you just drove straight at it!

I was thinking whilst watching that, that actually you're in a 12 year old RRS which is probably worth no more than the Defenders out there. People think "oh, a bit silly taking a shiny out on a track" but the reality is that old RRSs aren't any more valuable than the rest of the vehicles used. So why not just get on and use it? It's not like you're out in a £20-30k example.

I'd be tempted to fit a set of ATs if you're going to do more of those trips. It might just help to reduce the amount of wheel spin and thus damage to tracks.

Looked like a lot of fun.  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Ooh - they're doing a mid-Wales in March, not too far from me, could be tempted

RRSTDV8 wrote:

I can see why it's a bit scratched - that gorse and holly and other stuff all looked very thick!

And why did you attack that poor tree? Minding its own business and you just drove straight at it!

I was thinking whilst watching that, that actually you're in a 12 year old RRS which is probably worth no more than the Defenders out there. People think "oh, a bit silly taking a shiny out on a track" but the reality is that old RRSs aren't any more valuable than the rest of the vehicles used. So why not just get on and use it? It's not like you're out in a £20-30k example.

I'd be tempted to fit a set of ATs if you're going to do more of those trips. It might just help to reduce the amount of wheel spin and thus damage to tracks.

Looked like a lot of fun.

Pufftmw wrote:

Ooh - they're doing a mid-Wales in March, not too far from me, could be tempted

Do it - great fun and fantastic scenery. I did lose the aluminium bits from the sidesteps though

This was a bit tricky:






(My son's the one swearing! No gyro-stabilised video this time)

Add a slow puncture to the list of injuries.

Make that three tyres with gouged sidewalls...

...and a spare that needs replacing, as that was damaged (never used, never checked).

As days out go, it would have been cheaper to fly on Concorde to have drinks with Richard Harris, Oliver Reed and George Best.

Sadly that's kind of expected when using road tyres off road, especially on stuff that has lots of fallen branches or is rocky. The tyres just aren't built for that sort of use.

My Grabber AT3s did ok in Les Comes on stony/rocky routes although they did get a few minor scuffs on them. One bit of the rim protector was nearly sliced off by a rock too. Luckily it didn't get down to the cords.

A decent set of ATs or even something more extreme tyres wouldn't be a bad idea if you're going to do this sort of route regularly.

Does your RRS have the larger brakes fitted? If not, could you get a set of 18in (or even 17in?) rims on it? If so, you could get a set of BFG KO2 or similar. Much more hard wearing with a more aggressive tread to boot. More grip means less wheel spin, means less chance of sidewall damage.

Having seen your Wales video, I'm slightly tempted by the March trip they're doing. My ATs are getting on a bit now so if they got a bit beaten up, they're almost ready for changing anyway. That's "man logic" for you!  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

RRSTDV8 wrote:

Having seen your Wales video, I'm slightly tempted by the March trip they're doing. My ATs are getting on a bit now so if they got a bit beaten up, they're almost ready for changing anyway.

Ouch.... servere bramble rash...

I think i may get some cheap wrap and fit to the wings and doors before doing that route

Luckily, I can swap over to my summer tyres for now - so expect snow!

This weekend might involve removal of the plastic undertrays to poke out all the mud with a stick.

Pufftmw wrote:

RRSTDV8 wrote:

Having seen your Wales video, I'm slightly tempted by the March trip they're doing. My ATs are getting on a bit now so if they got a bit beaten up, they're almost ready for changing anyway.

I'm definitely going to do at least one of those days, both depending on whether the other half is coming or not

I've just asked to book, so definitely going

Unfortunately I've got people in my holiday let currently otherwise you could have stayed there for free.

I've just put in a booking...

That would have been great, thank you. Never mind - lots of options!