I want to go bigger but my rubber won't fit!!!!

Cheers Mazcan,
I'll try that. I did the typical internet search and came up with nothing.

Off the shelf accessories for my "io" have left my mates asking why I'm bothering and to cut my losses and invest in a "real" Pajero or something more main stream. My stuborn determination has convinced me to push on and prove that being different can be rewarding.....sometimes.

I'm not affraid to make things, however off the shelf is always less time consuming and I have a hell of a long list of things to do before I take the little one off road.

Cheers ...
Fab.

OK Royce.... I think. :?

Every problem is an opportunity waiting to be discovered.

Fab.

Fab

You and Royce make a good pair.

At my stage in life with my "problem" I would love for someone to find a solution. And it is not radio nor tyre related. I got "suckered in there". So as usual I am OT. Just having a cold drink after resolving a solution outside. No dilemma though. Just a can of VB. Sure feels good.

Catchya

Phil

I hear ya Phil.
My "solution" is at work today so I thought I'd make the most of it and have a shed day.

Fab.

G'Day Michael,
Worse fuel figures? Please explain. I thought larger diametre tyres (although a bit slower on take off) would allow me to travel at say 100kmph when the speedo reads say 95. Hence lower revs.

My main reason is to add one or two valuable inches of clearance under the diffs etc. that a spring height change will not achieve.

The standard tyres are only 215/65/16 are are not of duarble sidewall construction. They don't offer much of an extended foot print when pressures are lowered either without getting the rim dangerously close to the road.

The rims are alloy and my preference are steel (so if I have to use one as a ground anchor, I won't kill it off as easy), so in doing so, I was thinking of going back to a 15" rim with larger tyres. (Yes have checked calliper/disc to rim clearance)

I couldn't care about "the look". Noticed your rig has beefier tyres. What were your reasons behind the upgrade?

Availability of tyres is another one of my considerations. Some tyres are just easier to come by when out in the scrub than others. Matching my tyres size to the same as other common vehicles can be a huge advantage.

All things I'm considering.

But please.... and I'm being sincere when I ask what were your reasons behind your upgrade?

Fab.

Fair enough! As for my tyres, they are 265x75 16, I changed to have the most common size on the planet, they are a few mm over the original size fitted, about 10mm in dia bigger from memory. As for better fuel economy, i doubt it but i am happy to be wrong!! My comments were not meant to be inflammatory, as I said, just my thoughts. Michael

I agree with Micheal. Going 2" bigger will mean the gearing is too tall. You'll struggle to maintain 100Ks without using more throttle, which of course means more fuel. You may be running at lower revs but it will take more fuel to keep it there. So if your main thinking is economy, stay with normal size.

A 2" increase in diameter will mean about 1" more diff clearance. This will be virtually negated by lowering your tyre pressures when in the rough stuff. In practice you might end up with about .5 inches more clearance, which is negligible. It will climb worse and it will descend worse due to higher gearing.

And yes it won't be legal. 15mm is the largest legal increase in tyre size in QLD.

You could look at a later model Pajero (NS/NT) with a spare wheel lifter installed and get some ideas form that..

Michael,
All good mate. If I didn't want opinions, I wouldn't have posted on here. I appreciate your feedback as I do with any feedback. Cheers.

Thanks for answering my question re your tyres too. Seems we have the same train of thought regarding common tyre sizes, although a couple of 265's next to each other would be wider than my whole vehicle.

Fab.

Hello John,
All valid points.
Regarding gearing at 100kmph. I understand that loading up the engine will increase fuel consumption but at 3700rpm at 100kmph, I'm willing to make that sacrifice to lower the revs a tad.

Clearance...yep understand the "gain" is minimal.

Here in SA... the total legal increase is 22mm. Probably to allow us to go bigger and glide over the numerous pot holes (joke).

The spare wheel lifter sounds interesting. I didn't know there was such a thing.

Thanks...

Fab.

Late model Paj's have an issue with clearance since they moved the spare to the centre of the door. Some find it impossible to open the door with a trailer attached as the spare hangs too low and fouls the trailer hitch. Solution is the spare wheel lifter, raises the spare by 50mm. It's an official MM accessory.

Thanks again John. I'll follow this up for sure.

Fab.

Fab : was the 22mm a joke as well on your part to..... in SA a max of 15 mm diameter along will all other states .....
cheers nick

My bad...sorry Nick b. The 22mm is total allowable increase in rolling circumference. Not diameter.

Fab.

Either way Nick, if the cops wanted to get nasty there is plenty more they could pick on, both on my rig and many others.

My tinted windows would fail me straight up.

Funny how we are so strictly governed these days. I have a copy of the DVD made by the Leyland Brothers on their first West to East crossing of Australia by vehicle. The short wheel based vehicle they had was fitted with aircraft tyres of probably 36" in size, bald as my head and with an offset which would make it a tight fit through the Grand Canyon.

Fab.

Fab : Yes we are getting a bit pedantic with all the rules , but with reason as the police invoice book starts at about $ 200 and goes up & up .......
I spent $ 400 making my vehicle over size tyres legal for peace of mind after a chat with a cop at camping show .
cheers nick

Thanks Jim.
You've pre-empted my next question which was regarding a mount for my HF antenna.
Mate, you've killed 2 birds with one stone.

Thanks.
Fab.

I have been to that dudes place a number of times for some 'speciality items' that he has.

He just might have what you are looking for, and if not, may be able to advise you on what to do or where to go get what you need.

If all else fails, just attack the bumper bar etc with a angle grinder until the sucker fits.

Ah Dust Devil ...
Keeping the art of Bush Mechanics alive and well.

Fab.

Oooo...I like that Jim.

As suggested below, I'll ask at our local Radio shop to see who they source them through. Thanks. I'm going to print out your pic and take it with me.

Next problem...mmmmm. How do I convince the missus that the money I'm spending on my toy represents better value to her than a new pair of shoes or six?

Fab.

Thanks Graham.
I'll check with electric bug. I'm off to see them this week to get a spring base for my other antenna.

Had to giggle at the 72 question. 1972 model although I often feel 72.


Fab.

Just had another look at what electric bug did and they put some 40mm spaces under the bolts holding the spare wheel carrier to fit the aerial mount on that might give you enough clearance.
Cheers
Graham

Cheers BB,
I have a good mate who's a Boiler maker ...might see what flavour cordials he's drinking at the moment.

fab.

Doug ... nice can opener job..or way that one of the hungry NT crocs?

Fab.

Hunty,
As strange as this sounds, there's not much info on the Pajero forums for my little bus. It seems that having an "io" is like saying you have a contagious disease... people run the other way.

I have found an "io" website/forum with pages and pages of info and from there I managed to get some numbers of some local places that can modify my existing carrier by relocating the studs up a bit higher. I also found out that the biggest I can go in tyre size regardless of lift, is 29's. The tyre size is governed by the available space between hub and lower spring saddle.

Therefore, the spare carrier only needs minor mods rather than a whole cut and shut.

Thanks all who contributed to my post and call for help....this case is now closed :).

Fab.