Review of
the Green Diamond Icelander MT
 The Green Diamond Icelander MT is not your average mud terrain tire.
Several features that make up this unique tire set it apart from the
rest of the MT tires. Manufactured in the U.S.A. by Green Diamond
Tires, the Green Diamond Icelander uses technology invented in the harsh
conditions of Iceland to enhance an otherwise great performing offroad
tire. The most notable feature of this tire is a mixture of hard silicium
carbide granules found in the tire tread. The silicium
carbide granules are found from just a millimeter below the initial new
surface veneer to the last bit of tread on the tire carcass. What
does the hard silicium carbide granules do for traction? Quite a
bit according to users of the tires. Most prominent, the carbide
granules work like silent studs on all surfaces and terrains, increasing
traction on otherwise slick surfaces such as ice, wet roads and rocks.
For this reason tires with this technology are popular in the frigid
winter conditions of Iceland. In the states, Green Diamond Tire
produces remanufactured tire with this technology in many models to
choose from in several popular sizes. The Green Diamond Icelander
MT is a Mud Terrain tire with an aggressive directional tread pattern
designed to propel the vehicle through the deep mud, over rough and
rocky terrain. With 8 or 10 protective plys (model dependant), the
Icelander performs very well in Mud with excellent self cleaning ability
using multiple channels to move the mud away from the tire to find
traction. Although it's best traction will be found in it's
forward direction, the tire also does well in the reverse direction of
it's direction tread design. Found down the center of the
Icelanders tread design is a large stepped and staggered center void
that helps to channel mud, water of whatever out through to it's voids
running laterally towards the sides of the tire. The staggered
pattern outer lugs prove quite effective in scooping and moving mud,
earth and snow,
which equals forward momentum.
The Icelander MT also provides excellent traction on rocks. When
aired down for offroad, the Icelander wraps well around rocks as the
hard silicium carbide granules found in the tire tread provide tiny
sharp edges of grip in the rock surface. This feature is
especially noticeable on wet rocks or where ice and snow may be present
and affect offroad traction.
 Most
notable is the Icelander MT's performance on forested terrain trails
where it excels in the variety of terrain obstacles found in these areas
such as the their rocky terrain, mud, clay dirt, water crossings and
under brush and moss of the forest trails.
In sand the Icelander provides decent floatation. When wheel spin
is applied, the tread design will tend to dig as it is designed for
excellent forward traction and self cleaning.
On the street the Icelander MT performs well and produces minimal road
noise, even at highway speeds. Traction on the paved surface
improves as the hard silicium carbide granules found in the tire tread
become exposed and compliment the tire tread compound. As the
tread compound wears, the hard silicium carbide granules are constantly
renewed for the life of the tire.
| Green Diamond Tires are available through distributors across the U.S.
and from green Diamond Tire themselves. Sizes are limited but the
most popular sizes for general applications are available. For
more information contact Green Diamond Tire or visit their website.
Real World 4 wheeling with Green Diamond Tire's
Icelander MT
Mud Terrain
Tire ...
Our Review of this MT
Tire |
 |
|
More information about the Green Diamond Tires
BENEFITS OF GREEN DIAMOND TIRES
- Bites into ice better
than a studded snow tire
- Superior wet road traction
- Environmentally friendly
- Always ready for ever-changing road conditions.
- 45,000 suggested year round mileage.
The comfort and convenience of a Green Diamond All-Season tire provides
the ultimate safety on any road conditions. The ONLY true
ALL-Season tire.
A tire with ice traction as good as a studded tire, but you can leave it
on year-round
Manufacturers Description of the Green Diamond
Icelander MT and the process that makes up a Green Diamond Tire
Product development
 Green
Diamond Tires are an Icelandic invention. The patent for the production
method is held by New Industries Ltd, of ReykjavÃk, Iceland.
In 1995 New Industries Ltd developed a highly sophisticated technique
for mixing hard silicium carbide granules into the material compound of
a tire tread. The now internationally patented production process is now
at mass production levels for the Northern European market.
The patented technique is licensed for use by several progressive
producers of tires in the manufacture of the Green Diamond Tire.
The high standards of performance of Green Diamond Tires are based on
the thousands of small sharp-edged granules making firm contact with the
icy road surfaces, giving them superior traction without the hammering
and damaging effect of studded tires.
Green Diamond Tires eliminate the two serious drawbacks of studded
tires, road wear and noise emission. This is achieved while maintaining
control effectiveness in slippery conditions and prolonging the wear of
the tire.
The success of Green Diamond Tires is confirmed in Iceland by a rapid
increase in market share, reaching 10% for winter tires in competition
with studded tires and other brands of winter tires.
In Sweden the production has increased from 3,000 tires in 1998-99 to
15,000 in 1999-2000 and is expected to exceed 70,000 in the 2006-2007
winter season.
What is a Green Diamond Tire?
In manufacturing a Green Diamond Tire, the granules are distributed
evenly throughout the rubber. This infusion of the granules throughout
the tire’s wear surface ensures that as the tire wears down and granules
are worn away, new ones are uncovered. Green Diamond Tires are
particularly suitable for use with vehicles equipped with anti-lock
braking systems (ABS), with superior, scientifically-proven performance
against any other tires with in the most difficult of slippery
conditions, around 0°C.
Green Diamond Tires are environmentally responsible. Using only premium
quality casings, each 'donor' casing is exhaustingly examined using
sophisticated test and inspection instruments and equipment.
 Use of Green Diamond Tires
Green Diamond Tires are produced in both winter patterns and all-season
patterns (light truck only). For use in areas with heavy snow, the
winter patterns are more suitable and for regions with less snow but
more ice on the roads, all-season tread patterns are generally better
suited.
Green Diamond Tires must be 'run-in' by driving 1,500 to 2,000 miles on
clear, dry roads. It is during this driving period that the silicium
carbide granules will begin to emerge. To protect the manufacturing
equipment, Green Diamond Tires have a thin veneer of ungranulated tread
rubber molded over the granules, which wears off in use.
As the Green Diamond Tire wears, some of the visible granules fall out
of the tire and new granules appear.
This feature is a main benefit and attribute of Green Diamond Tires
since the granules enhance the pattern as the performance of the pattern
itself decreases with wear.
This applies particularly to studded tires; tests show that after 10,000
km on the road a studded tire has lost 85% of it's added properties.
Each Green Diamond Tire represents gallons of petroleum saved... and one
less tire clogging a landfill.
 A RECYCLED PRODUCT
Green Diamond Tires are good for the environment. Through a process
called "Remolding" a tire is reused in the production of a Green Diamond
tire.
Most of the natural resources are consumed in producing the body of the
tire (steel belts, fabrics and bead bundles). Remolding technology
reuses this expensive part of the tire and remanufactures it using 21st
Century technology.
Casing Selection
Only premium quality tires can be used to make Green Diamond Tires. A
thorough physical and electronic inspection ensures the integrity of the
casing. Less than 5% of tires are suitable to be remanufactured into a
Green Diamond Tire!
Computerized Balancing
Every tire is pre-balanced before being remolded. The data provided by
the balancer is used in the remolding process to produce a tire that is
in optimal balance.
Rubber Application
Using computerized digital photography, rubber is reapplied to the
casing exactly as it was in the original tire.
Molding
The same presses that
were used to create the tire originally are used to produce tires that
have the same appearance and quality of the original tire.
Wear-in Period
The carbide bits must be covered over by a thin layer
of rubber to prevent the molds from being scratched.
It takes as much as 2000 miles to optimally expose
all the granules. During the first 2000 miles you still have as good of
traction as any other tire could provide.
|
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