Does tyre size really matter?

Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 16:27
ThreadID: 13621 Views:2153 Replies:12 FollowUps:14
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Hi all,
Being a realtively new comer to the whole 4x4 thing, I have been doing some research and have found all the reasons why people go to bigger tyres. I understand the ground clearence and many other issues that come with it.

my concern is that, my 95 rv6 4runner comes with 31x10.5 R 15 as standard. I will mostly be doing touring and perhaps going off to a few specific 4x4 tracks in Vic Mountains.

To me it would seem that to fit 33's would be great and would look very cool. I have been told that a 2.5in lift will get them under but will not clear them from the body. So a body lift is needed. With all the sidebars and towbar on my truck I dont really want a body lift.

So my question is, wouldn't it be better to keep the standard size of 31's but just with a more aggressive pattern like a ProComp Xterain compared with the same sorta price as going to a 33 BFG or something similar......?

ANy ideas on this would be great as I plan on a doing a lot of offroading but are not too sure that I will need bigger rubber. ANother reason for this suggestion is that I've seen a mate go places in his suzuki with 31's that others cant with 33's so interested to hear your thoughts.

Cheers.
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Reply By: Lone Wolf - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:06

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:06
Mate, with the handle " Longy", I would have thought you'd be the last guy to ask aboiut size......
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Victoria) - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 12:13

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 12:13
Don't get so excited Baz!
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Reply By: Pelesino - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:26

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:26
Tyres will certainly help you. Don't waste your money on expensive tyres as the 4Runner won't help you. Different pattern is your best option.
Cheers.
AnswerID: 62441

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:37

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:37
What's that spose to mean? You sayng the 4runner is not a good 4by? Either you haven't driven one or don't know how to drive a 4by...
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Follow Up By: Longy - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:48

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:48
Hrm interesting comment......

From all the reports and information that I collected for my price range and being my first 4x4 I was told by many that a 4runner was an exceptional car both on road and offroad.

This was not just a viewpoint from people who have bought them, but a view held b many clubs and forums in Vic and around Aus.

Funny how the HiLux which will hardly ever gets ragged on is Aussie's favourite 4x4 and yet it shares very similar components to the 4runner.

Spose if I had to choose between a 4runner and an old Patrol or landcrusier I'd easily got for the same 4runner as it's a lot cheaper to run and being a P plater cheaper for insurance even when modified.

Just my opinion and the one that is right for me.

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Follow Up By: Lone Wolf - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:51

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:51
Wish I had a 4 Runner........... I've got a HRV Honda...........sigh.

Don't worry about the banter, it's all good fun!
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:53

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:53
Don't worry Longy, the 4runner will go whereever you want it too, and most of the time with ease. My surf (just a diesel version of the 4runner and a grey import) shows the big boys what it's all about! LOL
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Follow Up By: Baz (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 22:11

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 22:11
Size only matters when your in the bush !! hehehe.

Baz.

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Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Victoria) - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 23:10

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 23:10
Hey Wolfie, I thought you were happy with your choice of vehicle. It doesn't do what you want anymore?
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Follow Up By: Lone Wolf - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 23:21

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 23:21
Hows that Queen song...........

"I'm in love with my car......"

I use the Delica if I'm going somewhere a little dificult.

Always had a soft spot for Toyota's though.
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Victoria) - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 10:19

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 10:19
The machine of a dream
Such a clean machine
With the pistons a-pumpin'
And the hubcaps all gleam

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Follow Up By: Pelesino - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 10:47

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 10:47
Apologies to all 4 Runner lovers, though you were talking about RAV4.
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Follow Up By: Lone Wolf - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 11:57

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 11:57
I think I have to change & shower....... lol
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Reply By: Member -Bob & Lex (Sydney) - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:33

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 17:33
For what you say you want to do standard is fine, just get good at's & enjoy the bush.
AnswerID: 62446

Reply By: Longy - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 18:09

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 18:09
hahaha

Thanks for the back up guys. Seems that I was correct in choosin the 4runner. LOL,

Jeff on your Surf, what tyres are you running? Also what suspension set up are you currently on... Any information on this would help me out.


Cheers mate. Keep the info comin to help out all 4x4 owners!
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Reply By: Rosco - Bris. - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 21:45

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 21:45
"To me it would seem that to fit 33's would be great and would look very cool."

Got it in one cobber ... mostly hands in pants reasons.

Unfortunately you will find the suspension of your vehicle will be the limiting factor.

Don't go down that track without seriously good reason.
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Reply By: Member - Roachie- Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 22:14

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 22:14
Longy,
Mate, you've got a very capable vehicle there already (and that's saying something coming from a died in the wool Patrol owner!!!).
Like a couple of others have said, you don't need the hassle of 33's; really.
Get a good set of 31's (I use Cooper S/T, but BFG A/Ts or Goodyear MT/R would also be very good or better). You won't have to modify your suspension, body lift, speedo settings, final drive gearing etc etc.
I recently went through the same thought patterns and would have loved to get 285's instead of the 265's I was (& still am) running.
Just my opinion.
Roachie
AnswerID: 62524

Reply By: Eric Experience. - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 22:42

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004 at 22:42
Longy.
You will find out that most big tyres are for looks only, the traction of a tyre is determined by the compound used and not the size. Most profesional drivers use the tyre size suplied by the vehicle manufacturer because they know that the manufactures spend a lot of time and money selecting the right size for the vehicle. The forerunner is a good vehicle and will get you most places, cheap reliable transport, but be aware that like the hilux and the prado they can roll over if driven to fast. Eric.
AnswerID: 62535

Reply By: NathanK - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 10:05

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 10:05
my brother has a Hilux with 31x10.5 R15 standard size tyres, and have never ever had troubles off-road. it's always gone the same places my Discovery has got (albeit a tad slower). he fitted Cooper STT (basically a M/T tyre) and it was a great boost in off-road traction, although the on-road noise is a killer.
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Reply By: stevesub - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 10:50

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 10:50
From my years of offraoding, I have found that driver skill matters more than tyres. Standard 31 inch tyres are OK unless you get huge ruts. We have friends in NZ who are 4wd trainers and they go places in their Discoverys with standard size tyres (Cooper muddies) and get through where vehicles with 35inch tyres get stuck. - Just skill on their part.

If you have not done so, it is better to spend your money on a 4wd training course and learn how to drive on what you have got. Also join a club if you can, they do great stuff and provide training.

We run standard 750-16 (31") Desert Duellers on our Troopy and have no problems incl doing club stuff. On our Landrover we have standard road tyres and it is amazing where you can go on them - much to others amazement.

Stevesub
AnswerID: 62594

Reply By: Greg Harewood - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 11:25

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 11:25
Longy
Im not sure about tyres sizes but from what Ive seen, painting your rims black is a cheap way to improve the 4x4 capability of your vehicle:)
Cheers
Greg
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Reply By: Member - Bob - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 11:38

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 11:38
I don't think anyone has mentioned that if you fit a 33 where a 31 is specified you may well be going unroadworthy, and will attract the attention of the revenue collectors before the crash, and the insurers afterwards.
AnswerID: 62605

Reply By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 12:23

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 12:23
The 4 runners were very underspeced in trye size, they have these bleep y little things on them std to save money and make the vehicle cheaper, just like they pulled out all the cool stuff that the surfs have to make them more "cost effective" for the australian market. The Surf's came with much bigger tyres std and have no modifications to suspension in order for them to fit. Not only that but with the amount of clearance I've got with my tryes I could easily go bigger without moding the suspension, I've seen a lot of 4 runners and surfs running Prado 16" rims instead of 15's without any major dramas. (that would of course need an engineers cert). I am stuck with my 10R 15 Desert Dulers as I have less than 1mm clearence on my garage as is, I had to remove the metal tabs on the roller door so I could fit as it is!
The Bridgstones have been unreal, they were on the surf 6 months ago when I bought it and have been some pretty harsh places and done about 20k in that time. Been faultless and have some unreal traction. They have been at 10psi fully loaded on sand to 42psi on rocks and have just been brilliant.
I don't care what anyone says though, wider tryes make a big difference in sand, I do more sand driving than anything else being in WA and of course you need your pressures right, but the wider the tyre the less you sink. It's basic science guys, remeber surface areas!!??
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Follow Up By: Greg Harewood - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 14:39

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 14:39
Jeff - I think this has been discussed many times before but...its actually the front to back contact area of the tyre that is most important in sand not the width. ..so larger diamater tyres are better on sand not wider ones. This is why even "fat" tyres must have pressure reduced on sand same as "skinny" ones. If there is any advantage gained by having fatter tyres (if any) it is small compared to advantage gained by reducing your pressures (whatever tyre size) thereby increasing front back contact area. Why? - basic science - drive is front to back - not sideways, combined friction of more sand in drive direction prevents tyre spinning.
Having said all that, fatter tyres do have their advantages - but driving on sand isnt one of them.
Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 15:14

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 15:14
"I don't care what anyone says though" LOL
All I know it from my experience of changing to bigger tyres and the huge difference it made on the beach.
As I mentioned before, lowing tyre pressure is a must regardless of tyres, however if you tyre is wider it is going to sink less. Greg, if you don't think it makes a difference, that's cool. But IMHO it's better, but it's only MHO.
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Follow Up By: Greg Harewood - Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 16:13

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 at 16:13
Jeff - no worries - obviously the change has made a difference - my guess it wasn’t due to the extra width but some other characteristic of the tyre - diameter maybe slightly bigger, maybe the tyre flattens out more back to front when pressure reduced than the old ones....whatever the case, any advantage (either real or imaginary) should not be attributed to the increase in tyre width...its a fallacy that has been perpetuated for a long time because it seems logical. Cheers
Greg
PS I supppose I dont care what anyone says either - but Im happy to listen and chat..maybe Im wrong?
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

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