Are 285/75-R16s far too big for my P38?

[glenhendry]

My 2000 HSE P38 currently runs the standard 18" Hurricanes. I have put good road rubber on these for safety and serenity.

I have just bought a set of four 16" wheels with worn road tyre (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160525554505&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_500wt_1156)s which I want to put some All Terrain type tyres for a easy increase in capability offroad. I am currently bidding on a set of 285/75-16 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250768516694&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT#ht_646wt_1139). The tyres calculator (http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html) shows these as 32.8". I dont think I mind a little bit of rubbing whenever I am driving off road, but are these going to be way too big for my standard suspension?

[Junosi]

Without a lift kit and some cutting - almost certainly. Even 30.5's require front mudflaps to be removed. Much more than that and you'd need trimming, lifting etc or suffer from rubbing. Keep in mind that unless you change diff ratios you effectively reduce torque the larger tyres you go - accellerate slower, towing power reduced, struggle with hills more, speedo errors and for downhill crawls your 1st gear low might not be slow enough any more.

[glenhendry]

Thanks, that's great info. I thought that since they were going to be my offroad-only tyres, that I could go a bit more crazy with them, but I dont like all the cons you mention.

I dont want to change the car body. I will look at GenIIIs and shock/hiehgt sensor changes soon, but I love the look and feel of the P38 to do much more than that.

It looks like I will just have to find a good set of R16 tyres that are "averagely" good off road and make do with moderate wheeling. IIRC correctly, the stock wheel size is 29", so as long as I get 29s or 30s, I should be ok?

I am stuck with grabbing something second hand from somewhere that is a bargain as I just spent big money on the 18" road tyres - so it might take a while to find the bargain I need.

Thanks!

[Junosi]

Have a look at Keithy's thread
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/p38a-range-rover/121517-new-muddies-my-p38.html

I'm running BFG AT 30.5's and since removing front flaps experience no rubbing at all except at access height. As Wayne said I think the best part of 16' is that they are very common

[Keithy P38]

As per Junosi's post - mine are 30.3" and scrub on the mudflaps (even when reversing out of an average driveway in normal height). Mudflaps be gone as of tomorrow! I don't suspect i'd be rubbing anywhere else once the mudflaps are off though.

Cheers
Keithy

[DT-P38]

I currently have 265-75-16 MT's on my off road rims.

I put up with minor rubbing at various points on various height settings but have been through the first set and they have not damaged anything dramatically. It depends if you want to put up with the odd bit of scraping here and there, but if you intend to do the lift kit (as I am definetly doing) then I would say this is a pretty good size to aim at.

I will not be going any smaller for off road, the extra bit of clearance the tyres give (even if it is only an inch or so) is well worth it IMHO.

[Fish78]

What would be needed to run 33's ?

[PaulP38a]

What would be needed to run 33's ?

I think we should have a sticky post for this question ;)

On a standard P38:
30" is max OD tyre without scrubbing on all but access mode.
31" is max with some scrubbing... remove the mud flaps.
33" requires chopping the front guards (if you are game). Not much you can do about the rears, they will scrub on access highway mode when articulating... or... you put in a 2" lift kit
32" is probably a good size with the 2" lift kit but I haven't tested it yet.

My 255/85R16 Bighorns still scrub at the front on access mode when turning/reversing, but the rear is good.

If you go any wider than 265, I reckon the rears will scrub when articulating.

Remember, bigger tyres WILL screw up your speedo and final drive ratios (you will roll down hills faster in Low 1) unless you also change the diff gears. I run 4.1 gears in mine which are a pretty good match to the 33"s to bring it to near-stock ratios.

Cheers, Paul.

[parasnoop67]

I'm running 245/75/16 goodyear MTR's for off road with no mods and no rubbing.Tight turns at hwy height did give the occasional touch on the mudflaps but a bit of work on the brackets fixed that.
These tyres are excellent off road in mud and loose rocks.:)