More Tyre Advice Needed Please.
Submitted: Saturday, Dec 15, 2001 at 01:00
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Jeremy
I have just bought a LandCruiser 100RV for the sole purpose of towing a caravan around Australia. We will not be doing any off road work, other than dirt road (fair to good) with the van behind us. I do not see the sense in fitting 4X4 tyres for 98% road work. Is there a viable alternative road tyre out there worth considering? Any responses appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Reply By: Shawn - Sunday, Dec 16, 2001 at 01:00
Sunday, Dec 16, 2001 at 01:00
What are you asking ?? What tyres are you using ? What wheels have you got ? We are not all mind readers and need the info to help you !! Give us the detailed info to help you if its not too difficult !!
Shawn
AnswerID:
1601
Follow Up By: Jeremy - Monday, Dec 17, 2001 at 01:00
Monday, Dec 17, 2001 at 01:00
Shawn, the vehicle is fitted with standard
Dunlop LT235/85X16 all terain tyres fitted on 16X6.5in steel rims. These may be good on and off road, but I don't plan on going off road, and on road they're rough and cause the vehicle to handle like a pig. I bought the vehicle for it's towing ability on road. I want something approaching normal station wagon handling and ride. Any more idea's greatfully accepted.
FollowupID:
514
Reply By: Murray - Monday, Dec 17, 2001 at 01:00
Monday, Dec 17, 2001 at 01:00
i drive an rv 100 and it has orig
dunlop jap. tyres ,I dont think it handles like a pig.Perhaps you should
check tyre pressures or alighnment or perhaps i am easily pleased.I will be first in the que for the tyres..
AnswerID:
1613
Reply By: Joanne - Monday, Dec 17, 2001 at 01:00
Monday, Dec 17, 2001 at 01:00
We travelled the
Birdsville and
Oodnadatta tracks,ernest giles road,
rainbow valley etc all with the original grand
treks only had one
puncture that was due to excessive speed. Otherwise the tyres performed
well. We were towing a coramal off road camper.
AnswerID:
1616
Reply By: Jeremy - Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001 at 01:00
Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001 at 01:00
Thanks for all your replies, Maybe I've been vague (again). My caravan is a 26ft road yacht. Loaded it weighs near enough on 3.2tonnes. I want to drive the 'Cruiser like a car not like a truck. To stop the tyres rolling under through corners I am running 53psi cold all round (not so much a problem with the van behind) but the ride is understandably rough. A friend of
mine mentioned today that 20in. rims and low profile tyres are available in Japan that are about the same height as the standard tyres. Anyone heard of them here in Australia? Thanks again for your help.
AnswerID:
1618
Follow Up By: Will - Thursday, Dec 20, 2001 at 01:00
Thursday, Dec 20, 2001 at 01:00
Jeremy,
53PSI cold?? that is why it handles like a pig...!!!
Lower to 40 or even 38 and see the difference...Even towing.
FollowupID:
534
Follow Up By: Jeremy - Thursday, Dec 20, 2001 at 01:00
Thursday, Dec 20, 2001 at 01:00
Will, I started at 36psi and built it up slowly to where I am now. Running lower pressure allows the sidewalls to roll under during cornering and causes a lot of heat build up. At 40psi I was getting 9psi difference between hot and cold. I have read in the
forum it should be about 4psi. At current pressure I am getting between 2 and 4psi depending on ambient tempreature. My tyres have tubes fitted, would I be better off running tubeless? Any advise apreciated.
FollowupID:
535
Reply By: Mike - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
Jeremy, Maybe it's slipped under your guard, but you ARE now driving a truck. It will handle a lot worse than your BMW, so get used to it! Try road tyres instead L/Ts, and LOWER your pressures. Happy trails, Mike.
AnswerID:
1626
Follow Up By: Jeremy Richardson - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
I do realise that little fact Mike. I followed up the lead about the 20in. wheels and found out that in Japan it seems quite cool to turn these 4X4 monsters into quite sheke boulevarde cruisers, with spoilers, wings, skirts with about 75mm ground clearance under all the plastic. I am told they have race bread handling(for a truck). I am wondering if any of the bits found their way to Australia? My Japanese friend assures me this is the absolute truth (so I hope).
FollowupID:
527
Reply By: Ian - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
Why not get a set of rims & tyres similar to the GXL ie 16x8 rims & get a high quality & spec tyre such as a BF Goodrich All Terrain (my preference for dirt roads & round town) or a Cooper or Bridgestone tyre.
This is a 4WD and needs 4x4 tyres as the 20" tyres you specify will be rough as being a low profile, are highly likely to
puncture & probably would be ILLEGAL as their load rating would not be that required for the vehicle & DANGEROUS due to that 3.2 ton hanging off the back.
The 100 Series GXL etc is standard with 5 Stud 16x8 rims & you can get either Alloys or Steel rims and then put the standard size tyre (I think Cruisers have 275/70R16) or similar onto it.
These sizes are subject to state laws about tyre sizes suitable for your rig. Which state is it registered in?
Ian
AnswerID:
1628
Follow Up By: Ian - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
Further, have you considered the
suspension on the 100? Maybe it needs better quality shock absorbers such as Koni's or rear poly airs for better on road balance if the arse is low & nose high.
If looking in a tyre catalog, you will note two styles 265/75R16 is a passenger tyre derivant for 4WD and a 33x12.5R15 is a Light truck derivant for 4WD. Choose the passenger derivant for better ride & handling.
A good tyre
shop in your area could also help...where are you?
Ian
FollowupID:
528
Follow Up By: Jeremy - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 at 01:00
Thanks for your follow up Ian. You are so right. I contacted Transport Tasmania today and have been informed the mods I want would definately be illegal and further investigation found it would also void my insurance. I guess the bottom line is I'm just going to have to live with what I've got. Thank you again to all who have responded. By the way I've already fitted new standard coils and Bilstein Dampers and will take you advise about fitting one of the tyres you mentioned.
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Reply By: Ken - Thursday, Jan 03, 2002 at 01:00
Thursday, Jan 03, 2002 at 01:00
Iwould suggest that a 100 series cruiser is too light regardless of tyres fitted to tow a 3200kg van.Vehicle aggregate weight would have to be less than 3000kg.Suggest you trade it in on a Ford F250 or F350 which would have to be the best towing vehicles available in this country.
Check them out. They are better spectd, and better priced than anything Jap,trust me I just bought one and it is brilliant
AnswerID:
1677
Follow Up By: Jeremy - Sunday, Jan 06, 2002 at 01:00
Sunday, Jan 06, 2002 at 01:00
Thanks for the reply Ken. The 'Cruiser is rated to tow 3,500kg and handles the 3200kg fine. Trouble with the Fords is they don't carry 5 people nad they're made by Ford!
FollowupID:
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Reply By: BC - Thursday, Jan 03, 2002 at 01:00
Thursday, Jan 03, 2002 at 01:00
Sell the Caravan and the Landcruisier and buy a Holden Commodore - you will then be to afford to stay in Motels every night - much more comfortable and heaps cheaper in the long run if you add up all the costs (and why get a 4x4 if you have no intention of locking the center diff or using L4). You could put some big tyres on the Holden to give that "dominant" driving position if your ego flags. Cheers BC
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Ken - Thursday, Jan 03, 2002 at 01:00
Thursday, Jan 03, 2002 at 01:00
Commodore's are for when you have given up on life!
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Jeremy - Sunday, Jan 06, 2002 at 01:00
Sunday, Jan 06, 2002 at 01:00
Absolutely!
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