17" rims on new Prado

Mate has a new 2003, and put 16 inch rims on it off an 80 Series GXL.. they fit.

No more problems.

I would do as Truckster's mate has done. Then you know at least that someone is going to be around with a spare tyre if you're strandedChip

Stuart - Odd size tyres can cause headaches if you get away from the big smoke!

I had the experience of trying to replace a damaged 35x12.50x15 BFG All Terain in Mt Isa, Alice Springs and Darwin! The size was simply not available and I would have had to wait up to a week! Lucky I had 2 spares.

I think your concerns with 17 inch rubber are justified.

Tuco in Cairns

I think it also goes to show what the car is aimed at.... smooth highway driving..

Why would they go away from 15/16 inch rims that are common as dodgey cops, and there are more tires available in them sizes than anything....?? I know the calipers are BIG on the new Prado, but Darren says looking at them there is no need for them to be this big...

Oh well.

Good luck choosing what ever you get.... Must be nice to have that much $$!!

The tyres on the Prado are some new thing from Dunlop called Grandtrek AT20. They're the least AT'ish looking AT tyre I've ever seen.

This was reported on the Prado list. The Prado GXL 16x7 steel rims are the best bet as they will fit with a couple of mm's clearance from the front calipers. I don't know of anyone who has measured the 16 inch Prado mags.

The 16x8 80 series GXL wheels are hard to get.

My local Toyota Dealer said a set of Hilux rims will fit, but I have not been able to verify this.

Check the Sunraysias first. My 16x7 Speedy desert rats may not fit as the "internal diameter" of them is less (deeper wheel well).

I don't have any dimensions for the backspacing of the new Prado.

I believe Coopers and Kelly both have a 17' AT tyre.

With the 17" wheel are the tyres still 70 profile, or are they 60 or 65 to give the same rolling diameter as the 16" wheel? If a lower profile tyre is used it isn't going to be as versatile in the rough.

You are right, and I know from first hand info, know the training manager at Toyota quite well. The latest Prado was the have the Common rail engine in it, but Japan were not happy with the sulpher content in the fuel.

The same also applies to the Pajero, who like Toyota have a better and more fuel effiecent engine.

I had quired Ray about why on the previous model, I could not have a Prado with climate air. Having asked many dealers, who apparently from the range of replies, just did not know, again I asked the question of Toyota. The answer was that if they speced the Diesel prado up to the petrol version, then it would greatly affect their petrol model sales.

In our case it did, as we primarly wanted the car as a caravan towing tug, and would never use it in total 4WD situations, then we bought the ML270, it in 40,000 kms has performed well.

Now I note that the top of the range prado, has all the features that I wanted and more, but also to be fair, it is now more than the ML by over $5000. The statement that Toyota is catering for the soft roader approach, appear to be correct.

Toyota since I bought my first 4WD, appear to want to put tyres on their 4WD's, which really are not suitable.

I also think that there is an over reaction to the sulpher in the fuel. I have just retired after nearly 20 years exposure to GM locomotive engines, and even though GM make a special engine for sulpher fuels, we never used them, and what is more never viewed any damage to the engines caused by our fuel.

I suspect in order to keep the prices down, that we get the hand me down engines, and MB and JEEP, are the only ones bringing the best in diesel engines down here.

Regards

Col Tigwell

Softroader?