Puncture susceptibility

Nothing different about the Jimny or the stock tyres, it's just the fickle finger of fate have a go at you, or just bad luck....

That said, only ever had two punctures in my driving life so far. Back in the 80's on my student financed MK1 Escort on its remoulds (remember them!)
Roll forward many years and a few weeks ago on my new AT tyres fitted to the Jimny.

Maybe the Jimny is the problem

wrote:

Thanks again to all
Apparently the punctures are through the tread, not sidewall. The forest roads around here are not really gravel but what is called Type 1 surfaced crushed stone. Type 1 is quite small and should not be a threat to almost any tyre but what happens is that stone is put on over some stretches which is the next coarser grade, can be as much as fist size and with sharp edges. Timber trucks usually beat this down fairly quickly but some stays sharp and I think it is this stuff that is puncturing the standard Jimny tyres. Still remains a mystery why the Jimny suffers while the Golf/Picanto have never had a puncture. Anyhow thanks for all suggestions, we will try AT tyres when changing next. Any idea of the cost of these?
 

The tyres on my Jimny seem to act like magnets for small stones, I am always noticing them stuck between the treads, most are only a few millimeters and get stuck in the small slits in the tread blocks, but the odd one is a bit bigger (5-6mm) and gets stuck between the tread blocks.  A small screwdriver or even a small key will bring them out.

Perhaps you get a sharp stone stuck and then when out on the tarmac, the pressure just pushes it in to the tyre.  My guess would be a stone about 6 - 8mm or so diameter, but perhaps longish, stuck between the tread blocks, the road then pushes it in to the tyre and the result is a puncture.  The puncture would happen with the car away from home.

As for AT, lots of the Bridgestone do the Dueler in AT, I have these on the front and now have Yokohama Geolandars on the rear, both are around £80 fitted, if you shop about.  I am not sure how much stronger an AT tyre will be between the treads, it's probably not something that is quoted, but it worth a try.
 

wrote:

Thanks for all your helpful replies. My wife has been driving it (hence the economy!) but I understand it was sharp stones piercing the sidewalls. I think the rims and valves are OK. What I did notice was the tyre fitters had inflated the repaired tyre well above the recommended pressure last time it was in there. I do find it odd however that I can drive up and down that forest road in an old Golf and Kia Picanto with ordinary road tyres and never get a puncture yet the Jimny attracts them like a magnet. No sexist comments now....!

As far as I am aware, you can't safely repair the sidewall of a tyre. 

As mentioned, over inflation will make the tyre much more prone to sidewall damage.