The guys at Cooper Tires have told us that interest in the new Discoverer S/T Maxx tyre range has been great – and that was before they even had any in stock. Our experience of the Discoverer range has been very positive, so we are not really surprised. Let’s face it, they look great don’t they! Probably not the most objective reason for purchasing tyres, but let’s be honest, it helps parting with your money if they actually look the business! The more objective reason for choosing these tyres are the strong sidewalls and durability, the Discoverer S/T MAXX also has a great ability to discharge stones – a must for a proper off-road tyre. There is a good range available from LT235/85 R16 120Q up to LT275/70 R18 125Q.
Go to www.tyrespec.co.uk for more details or just call the guys on 01908 311515 and say that 4×4 Magazine sent you because you need a set of these tyres for your truck!
Blood Red Off-Road now have new Rocksliders for the Mk6 Toyota Hilux. These are fully welded steel construction and they bolt to existing chassis points and therefore require no drilling. Blood Red supply these powder-coated in satin black. They are also available for Mitsubishi L200 (2001-06), and the Daihatsu Fourtrak and Sportrak. Also new this month are UK made extended shackles; 10mm thick laser cut, powder-coated steel plates with CNC zinc plated EN8 pins. Manufactured to suit a range of vehicles including Daihatsu Fourtrak and Sportrak and most Japanese based pick-up trucks including Mitsubishi L200, Nissan D21/22, Toyota Hilux Mk 1-5, Isuzu Rodeo, and Ford Ranger. Now drilled and fitted with grease nipples to keep your bushes moving freely.
A new range of high-performance race quality hoses for 200 and 300 TDi Land Rovers have been announced by Siliconhose. The company claims that these hoses outperform the original equipment in terms of heat and pressure. Constructed from hand-formed four and five ply construction, these hoses are claimed to be a ‘fit and forget’ accessory and after 35 years in the business it is fair to say that they have a good competition history and that’s where reputations are made – and lost!
Will the latest economic downturn lead to an increase of motorist DIY? That’s certainly the views of the guys at STP. Those with long memories will remember STP, a massive American company that has been around for over 50 years now. How many remember STP-sponsored American race cars? Perhaps less known to UK enthusiasts, the company has a well-established range of additives and engine treatment products and believes that these will become more important to vehicle owners as they worry about meeting the increasing costs of garage servicing. STP suggests that the addition of its Fuel Injector Cleaner or Diesel Injector Cleaner to a tankful of fuel every 3000 miles removes some of the naturally occurring deposits, delivers better engine efficiency and better fuel economy. A 250ml bottle, for petrol or diesel engines will set you back £5.49. Over 3000 miles, even a small improvement in economy should make that a worthwhile investment.
High powered pressure washers are all very well, but at times it comes down to elbow grease polishing up your pride and joy! The Kent Chamois Company is a good place to start for all this gear, new from them is their Microfibre Wash & Dry Pack which offers a Noodle Mitt and Drying Towel in a ‘two for the price of one’ summer offer. The Kent Car Care range is available to view and purchase online at 
Claimed to be strong enough to support a four tonne vehicle, Lift Trak is an inflatable device that could get you out of a particularly difficult hole that no amount of digging can solve. As it is inflatable, varying the amount of air means it can effectively ‘mould’ itself into the shape of the obstacle you are trying to overcome. Good if it means that you have to dig less, and don’t have to mess up the land around – use this and Tread Lightly. As the name suggests, it can also be used as a lift, again useful in certain boggy ground where you cannot get any solid foundation. When not in use it rolls up into a small duffel bag and can be stowed away in quite a small space.
It doesn’t look like much. No scratch that, that’s too complimentary, it’s actually tacky, looks cheap and spends all its life hidden up in the loft. It’s actually the first time it has seen the light of day for years. I even had to clean it, and it’s also annoyingly difficult to photograph, but I wouldn’t swap it. Oh, and I am also very proud that I have got it.
Although the UK’s our roads are amongst the safest in the world, an average six or seven people still die in road accidents each day in the UK, and road accidents are a leading cause of death amongst teenagers and young people. 
A new column this month, as Editor at Large Hils Everitt gets to grip with those people who moan about the state of our greenlanes, but aren’t prepared to actually help making them better
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