Wide tyres, or Skinny tyres ????
Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002 at 01:00
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Lars Peterson
I currently own a dual cab rodeo and wonder whether to keep the factory skinnys, or opt for the "fat" rubber on wider rims. Farmers (who lets face it use their 4wd's in every sort of terrain) tend to stick with the "standard" width wheels so I'm using that as kind of yardstick, I've also noticed mining companies and those desert racing 4wd's also have skinny tyre's (..not that i'm gonna be racing the rodeo)
I do all types of off-roading and have found the standard stuff get me from 'A' to 'B'.
I've also heard that on the beach, wider tyres have to "push" through a lot more sand than their skinnier counter-parts.
Looking forward to all your reply's promoting why "fat" is better, and also whether or not I've got it all wrong with the "skinny" examples given above.
Your's in Off-Roading
Lars
Reply By: P.G. (Tas) - Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002 at 01:00
Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002 at 01:00
Lars, you are absolutely correct in your assumptions. The best option, if you are serious about your 4X4 driving is to have 2 sets of wheels and tyres. Wide for mud and sand (floatation) and skinny for everything else. Cheers
AnswerID:
1867
Follow Up By: Bc - Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
Wrong - its the size of the front to back footprint that counts not the width. Reducing tyre pressures in sand/mud substantially increases the length of this contact area - width increases little in comparison and is of little consequence. Larger radius tyres have a longer contact area and so they achieve the same aim to a certain extent as letting your tyres down. Wide tyres are popular because they handle better, look better and because people THINK they are better in sand and mud (they're not)
Cheers big ears - BC
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Follow Up By: P.G. (tas) - Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
It seems I stand corrected. Question? Does it make any difference between crossply or radials in these situations?
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Col - Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002 at 01:00
Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002 at 01:00
Wide tyres are not the best for sand! Think it through. In sand you are constantly pushing a
hill in front of your tyres. Wider tyres bag out. The wider the tyre the wider the
hill that it is pushing. Skinnier tyres push a narrower sand
hill in front, and tend to lengthen the contact patch rather than make it bag out. I have actually put the higher profile tyres on my Jackaroo for that reason, and can attest that it is the way to go.
AnswerID:
1869
Reply By: luke - Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
lars
the best answer i can give is to put a set of higher profile tyres on it which would be a 235 the only problem is you will have to get the speedo realined the advantage is that you get a little better mileage and a extra 2 inches of lift for nothing and stick with the same width
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Lars Peterson - Saturday, Feb 02, 2002 at 01:00
Saturday, Feb 02, 2002 at 01:00
Thanx for your input Luke !
Regards Lars
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Lars - Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
Hey guys thanx for all your replies.... spoke to my "old man" today about the skinny verses fat tyres,... he said he had stuck with the narrow tyres on his Landcruiser cause he believed that they found traction through the mud. i.e. they cut through the slop to get to the firm base and didn't float on top spinning uselessly ! Just thought I'd share good ol' dads thoughts with you all.
Thanks again for all the replies !!!
Kindest regards Lars
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1875
Reply By: Steve - Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 at 01:00
Lars... stick to the standard skinny one and drop pressures to get more grip whenever the occasion may arise !! Drop pressures for more grip in almost every event and go and buy a Big Red Compressor to inflate your tyres at any time you need and you will never ,,,never,, fail to negotiate any reasonable section of road !!!
Sorry .. been there done that !!
Steve
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Lars Peterson - Saturday, Feb 02, 2002 at 01:00
Saturday, Feb 02, 2002 at 01:00
Thanx for the info Steve !
Regards Lars
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Reply By: Martin - Thursday, Jan 31, 2002 at 01:00
Thursday, Jan 31, 2002 at 01:00
Hey Lars. The guy off the TV series, Beyond the Bitumen has a Rodeo and a Jackaroo. He runs 235/85/16 on both of these vehicles. On one show he explained that skinnys are better than fats for the reasons already explained here. According to an article I read about the vehicles the guy says that the extra height is not a problem for the Rodeo, although he has the Turbo diesel. Not sure if the petrol would be so happy with the extra high gearing. Cheers.
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Reply By: Martin - Friday, Feb 01, 2002 at 01:00
Friday, Feb 01, 2002 at 01:00
Lars also forgot to mention! According to two local tyre dealers (I going to fit wide tyres to my rodeo) 31x 10.5x15 do not fit rodeos,, unless the
suspension is raised, but even then they still rub inside the front guards. You could use 30x9.5x15, but a good compromise is to keep the standard rims and go with 225-75-16. These are the same diameter as 30" and 205R16, but with a little extra width. Also
check out the question from
Ross a few days ago too. Cheers
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Follow Up By: Lars Peterson - Saturday, Feb 02, 2002 at 01:00
Saturday, Feb 02, 2002 at 01:00
Thanx for your reply's Martin !
I think I'm going to stick with Bridgestone d/dueler A/Ts on my standard 16" wheels.
regards Lars
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Reply By: Nigel - Sunday, Feb 03, 2002 at 01:00
Sunday, Feb 03, 2002 at 01:00
Wide tyres have a higher chance of aquaplaning on wet bitumen. One more reason to stick to skinnies.
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Reply By: johnsie - Saturday, Feb 09, 2002 at 01:00
Saturday, Feb 09, 2002 at 01:00
bc is on the money what is the most effective vehicle in sand ? dozer why?long narrow compacting tread .wide tyres and wide track vehicles eg st patrol ='s nervous driver on bush tracks for a mulga stake to side on tyre
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Reply By: johnsie - Saturday, Feb 09, 2002 at 01:00
Saturday, Feb 09, 2002 at 01:00
bc is on the money what is the most effective vehicle in sand ? dozer why?long narrow compacting tread .wide tyres and wide track vehicles eg st patrol ='s nervous driver on bush tracks for a mulga stake to side on tyre
AnswerID:
2028
Reply By: Peter Larkin - Wednesday, Feb 20, 2002 at 01:00
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2002 at 01:00
I agree with the previous answer but not the part about dozer tracks.
In fact they apply very little pressure (compression) to the ground because of their enormous surface area (relative to weight).
They would be best for most off road conditions except that so far I'm not aware of any oem manufactured 4 x 4s which have them fitted.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: bart - Saturday, Mar 02, 2002 at 01:00
Saturday, Mar 02, 2002 at 01:00
215/85 bfgoodrich trakedge been to cape, wa + simpson no problem- 235 to big for v6
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2250
Reply By: bart - Saturday, Mar 02, 2002 at 01:00
Saturday, Mar 02, 2002 at 01:00
215/85 bfgoodrich trakedge been to cape, wa + simpson no problem- 235 to big for v6
AnswerID:
2251