18" tyres

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 09:39
ThreadID: 75051 Views:3600 Replies:10 FollowUps:4
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A friend is about to buy his first 4wd, mainly for caravan retirement travel, but a little soft 4wding.
He has been drawn to a near new Pajero, which i have no problem with other than it has 18" tyres.
Are these easy to come by and how much more expensive are they?
It seems that the current trend to go to bigger and bigger sizes is getting out of hand.

Cheers Pesty
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:20

Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:20
Hi Steve
Ask yourself one question ? Go out to Bridgestone or Pete's Tyres and tyre and buy one, and I would say that they will have to get one in for you. I could not even get a 17" for the Prado in Laverton WA after ruining one in the Desert last year, and 18" will be even harder to get.

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 398614

Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:24

Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:24
Yep thats what i was thinking, although this vehicle is not ever going to go anywhere near where we go, but cost and availability will still be an issue in places im sure.

Pesty
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FollowupID: 667573

Reply By: Member - colin J (VIC) - Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:23

Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:23
Hi Pesty,
I have a new Pajero and i like a lot of others, who want to do a bit of offroading, purchased the car with 17" rims and higher profile tyres. The 18" tyres that come with the car are great for shopping but not for offroad purposes in my opinion.
Check out the Pajero forum on the web.
Regards fromk Big Col.
AnswerID: 398615

Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:39

Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:39
Pesty

I did the same as Col 3 years ago, "traded down" to 17inch with my new vehicle. However, with the new Prado also now running 18 inch, I am sure they will be increasing in availability and priced more favourably.

IF he is really in doubt, take a spare tyre (not wheel) when he does go somewhere more remote.

AnswerID: 398616

Reply By: Outbacktourer - Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 11:14

Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 11:14
18's are becoming more popular, Disco 3 boys apparently have had good luck with Pirrelli Scorpion ATR's in that size. You will still pay about $100 more than 17's but that will come as volume increases. Better get used to it the Disco 4 has just gone 19's.

OBT
AnswerID: 398621

Reply By: Ozhumvee - Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 18:28

Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 18:28
I'd be going for the smaller rim size if possible, the smaller the height of the sidewall the less bagging and flotation you get when dropping pressures for soft terrain. With the small tyre wall it also takes a far smaller pothole to trash a tyre and/or the rim on the bitumen let alone on the dirt.
AnswerID: 398714

Reply By: Member - Cantiva Clay (NSW) - Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 19:45

Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 19:45
I've got the 18's and wish i downgraded to 17's. Not only are 18's hard to come by for a lot of the profiles only HT's are available ...at a price (big price); AT's...good luck, 18's out west...not a chance. Sorry to seem negative but its true. Another point of interest, letting your tyres down a bit not only aids traction but can significantly improves ride comfort (of the seal) and reduces the stress on suspension, you cant safely do this with low profile tyres as you are basically risking your rims. Like others here, it amazes me how the latest 4wd's (Prado Discovery) are coming out with supa low profile tyres, few good rocks and that's it........they should offer a realistic alternative you know?
AnswerID: 398728

Reply By: Member - Garry G (WA) - Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 20:34

Sunday, Jan 10, 2010 at 20:34
Not a common size for a 4x4. As others have said you will find it very difficult to find a replacement out of the main cities. If you do you will pay a Kings ransom
AnswerID: 398736

Reply By: Blaze (Berri) - Monday, Jan 11, 2010 at 00:57

Monday, Jan 11, 2010 at 00:57
Tell him to buy it mate,

Advertise the 18"rims and tyres. some Toorak Tractor driver will love them, then get a set of steels or mags from a wrecker etc off a 16"Paj and buy some really good tyres. Had a mate do similar and after buying rims from a wrecker and brand new 16'inch tyres he then sold his 18's with rubber on for a total change over of $120.00 The 18's had about 20K on them so he started with brand new tyres for the 120 smackers....



AnswerID: 398757

Reply By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Monday, Jan 11, 2010 at 14:15

Monday, Jan 11, 2010 at 14:15
Hi Pesty,

I have an NS Pajero, which came with 18" rims. The 18" tyres are very expensive ($500+ each when I last checked), and as others have mentioned only come in a limited range of tread patterns. After a lot of research, I discovered that due to the Pajero rim's offset of +46, there were no non-genuine 17" rims that would be legal in some states (this may have changed recently or might in the future). I forked out for some Mitsubishi steel 17" rims (with the +46 offset), and now run on 17" tyres. These tyres are about $200 cheaper per tyre than the 18". 16" wheels will not fit on the 4 door Pajero models.

As someone else has mentioned, with other car manufacturers bringing out 4WD's with 18" wheels, a wider variety of 18" tyres may become available in the future.

Cheers
Leanne
AnswerID: 398815

Reply By: Member - Paul Mac (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 at 20:10

Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 at 20:10
Gday Pesty,

I have a Pajero NS with the 18" tyres. The tyres on the car were Bridgestone Duellers H/T (D840's).

I changed them over to Yokohama Geolander (Geo 12's) A/T tyres in the same size and they cost $400 per tyre fitted,balanced and a wheel aligned in late September 2009 from Bob Jane.

I am very pleased with the tyre as there is negligible road noise and they handle on and off road really well for an all terrain tyre. The other thing Bob Jane gave me was a complete tyre guarantee up to 20,000km so if I have any problems with them they will change them over no questions asked.

I was informed that the 18" tyres at the moment are usually around the $400 mark however, the American tyres ( Coppers etc) can be a lot dearer.

I also agree that with more manufacturers putting 18" tyres on they will become easier to source and a little cheaper in due course.

Cheers.
AnswerID: 399034

Follow Up By: OREJAP - Thursday, Jan 14, 2010 at 09:31

Thursday, Jan 14, 2010 at 09:31
G'day Pesty, I don't know about your comment that the Pajero won't go to the places your vehicle will go not knowing how modified your vehicle is I can only mention that the Pajero will go places that the average off the showroom floor Nissan & Toyota will go. anyway back to tyres. You cannot fit 16" Pajero wheels to a NT Pajero. I know I have one. What Paul Mac is saying is right on the money. I did the same deal with Bob Jane Hopper's crossing, Vic. The Geo 12 AT-s is the go but I would also consider the Scorpion. Most tyre dealers I have spoken to including Cooper sales staff were not in favour of the Cooper 18" tyre apparently there is some "glitch" with them I am told
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FollowupID: 668293

Follow Up By: HGMonaro - Thursday, Jan 14, 2010 at 10:30

Thursday, Jan 14, 2010 at 10:30
I think that comment was more about this specific owner won't take it places Pesty goes, not whether it's capable or not.
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Follow Up By: OREJAP - Thursday, Jan 14, 2010 at 10:44

Thursday, Jan 14, 2010 at 10:44
Yep, you're probably correct HG getting a bit "Crusty" in my old age.
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FollowupID: 668303

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