Benediktas Vanagas and Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics, in partnership with journalist Renaldas Gabartas and filmmaker Aidas Bubinas, are sending over 30 used rally raid tires to Ukrainian troops as part of their newest batch of donations.

Gabartas and Bubinas procured a Renault Trafic to transport the tires. They and Vanagas found the van could fit 16 tires, meaning it needs to make two trips between Vilnius and Donbas to accommodate the full set.

Like other cars in the Ultimate class, Vanagas’ Toyota Hilux uses the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KDR3 37×12.50R17 tire. In layman’s terms, it is a radial tire that’s 37 inches tall by 12.5 inches wide and fits a 17″ diameter rim. BFGoodrich has been the Dakar Rally’s official tire supplier since 1993.

Rally raid tires are heavier but obviously much stronger than those on typical off-road vehicles, owing to the conditions they face and at higher speeds. Although the BFGs lose their optimal grip for racing after roughly 400 kilometers, they can still be used afterward for other purposes—in this case, on the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s 4×4s and trucks.

Vanagas explained in March that AFU soldiers prefer rally tires because of their durability, such as the reinforced sidewalls making them able to withstand concrete and metal blocks and ledges.

Lithuania is one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies, even before the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. TGR Baltics, whose leader serves in the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces, has donated a broad range of equipment to the Ukrainian cause such as vehicles and money for relief efforts. Vanagas and his team sent 40 tires to the AFU in March.

His fellow Lithuanian rally raiders have also contributed. Rokas Baciuška, who races a Hilux as well, appeared on the Komandiruotė campfire talk show in July with an auction wherein funds went to Blue / Yellow, a Lithuanian NGO that donates supplies to Ukrainian forces. The winner of the auction received a ride-along experience with Baciuška.

While a journalist by trade, Gabartas has also competed in circuit, autocross, and stage rallies. The latter includes doing the Press Rally, an amateur rally through Kaunas for media members. Bubinas is a cinematographer and motorcycle enthusiast who’s done plenty of missions to Ukraine.

Vanagas retired from this year’s Dakar Rally, the 13th of his career. He’s been competing in the FIA European Baja Cup, where he currently sits second in the overall standings with a win among points-earning drivers at the Italian Baja.

Featured image credit: Benediktas Vanagas