SAND tyres for 110 Defender tdi 300

[jys]

My Defender 110 TDI 300 needs tyres for desert travelling with strong sidewalls, probably size 235/85 R16.

I am considering the TOYO M55 all terrain tyre.
Are the M55 good for crossing dunes.
Has anybody used the Toyo M55?
Does anyone have alternative suggestions?

[steane]

M55s are good, my Father used them to cross the Simpson without any issues. I did the same trip on half worn MTZs without issue either.

MTZs have a strong sidewall. I ran 12psi across the Simpson, never got stuck, never had to charge anything in hi-range (which seems to be the MO for many people) and did it all easy with no tyre issues.

Pressures are more important than tread type in sand.

[Slunnie]

I find that a smooth pattern has less drive but less digging also and an open pattern has more drive but digs more if you let it spin. As said, pressure has the greatest effect.

[Landybitz]

Michelin XS is the benchmark sand tyre.

XS has subtle tread with shouldered blocks to compress sand in inverted cups.

Ie, enhancing flotation and traction rather than cutting through it.

Circumferentially grooved tyres may look good but ineffective in sand.

Pros, excels in all types of sand, Robust for all desert conditions

Cons, Poor grip on wet tarmac ( drive slower its a landy not a rocket ship )
Noisy on road, takes ultra low pressures but sidewall bulge, more
vulnerable to damage.

Superseded by the BFG AT.

[ozscott]

I have used many tyres on sand. The best I have found are the Maxxis Bravo 751 for all round sand work. General Grabbers At climb out of ruts better. Pirelli scorpions are very good also. Personally I like taller light truck tyres...have to air down more but ultra tough and can take more heat.

Cheers

[wayne]

The M55 are a brilliant tyre. you should get close to 100 000 km out of them.
I have done the Simpson and do lots of beach driving Fraser, Moreton Island and Straddies etc. This is one of the best all round tyres.
I am on my second set and will not use any other tyres.

[goingbush]

I concur with Wayne, Toyo M55 are the best touring tyre Ive used, and will be the only 235/85R16 I'd be buying again.

I just wish they came in 37x12.5R17

[jys]

Are the M55 2 or 3 ply in the sidewall?
Do they air down well for sand use?

[Bushie]

All my desert travelling in recent years has been on BFG MTs (235/85-16).
Don't recall being stuck anywhere (of any significance) pressures down to around 18psiand a slow and steady approach.
So far puncture free.


Martyn

[ozscott]

Are the M55 being discontinued?

Looks like there are plenty of tyre choices. I prefer LT in sand...heavier but much stronger. Especially towing campers and vans through deep sand. LT's require more air out but still deflate down well and longitudinal footprint is the go, so less sidewall bulge is better.

Cheers

Cheers

[J RAD]

I have heard great things about the Pirelli Scorpion ATR in terms of punctures. GGs are also great in sand, though their side walls do let them down.

FYI if you are doing a lot of sand driving, skinny tyres are far better than wider. Once you air down, the wide tyres ballon width ways and will result in you pushing a bow wave of sand. Skinny tyres balloon length ways giving more traction and minimal resistance to the sand. But you already knew this right?:p

Good luck mate.

[Slunnie]

A wider tyre gives more floatation so a much lower bow wave in front of the tyre because the tyre sinks less in the sand. It also gives a greater footprint for increased traction. When airing down, both wide and narrow tyre contact patches grow in length only, neither grow in width. Dedicated sand tyres are either big balloon tyres or (with much less relevance) wide paddle tyres.

[J RAD]

I can't say I agree with you, though I guess it might come down to person preferace and experience.

[seano87]

I have heard great things about the Pirelli Scorpion ATR in terms of punctures. GGs are also great in sand, though their side walls do let them down.

FYI if you are doing a lot of sand driving, skinny tyres are far better than wider. Once you air down, the wide tyres ballon width ways and will result in you pushing a bow wave of sand. Skinny tyres balloon length ways giving more traction and minimal resistance to the sand. But you already knew this right?:p

Good luck mate.

I'd far rather try ride a bike with fat tyres through sand than a road bike.

Sand buggies have fat tyres.

Real world suggests the opposite to what you're saying.

[noyakfat]

Hmm I remember watching a doco that showed big toyotas in (can't remember which) either Greenland or Iceland, driving around natural open space on 44 inch tyres that were deflated to 4 psi.

They did this to protect a lot of the vulnerable vegetation which takes a long time to regenerate in those conditions. They claimed the resultant surface area of the contact patch exerted less impact on the ground than a person walking. I have no data to back or dispute that claim, but the concept seems logical.

Personally, over the years I've driven over sand with both fat tyres and skinny. In my opinion it really doesn't matter which you use, as long as you experiment and decide on a suitable pressure that performs well for your vehicle, with your loaded cargo, with your tyres, in the particular sand that you are driving.

Get into it. Learning is half the fun.

Cheers,
Nige

[jys]

I am now thinking the TOYO Open Country M/T may possibly be a good tyre for the deserts. The tyre is claimed to have tough side walls.
Now will the 235/86 R16 be better than the 265/75 R16 when climbing sand dunes in the Defender tdi 300? My past experience has been with Cooper
STT in 265/75 R16 and they seemed to work, but wonder if the 235/85 size
would be better.

[DazzaTD5]

Toyo tyres have always been a pretty good tyre.

The BF Goodrich AT are a tough tyres but for heavy sand work need to be as low as 10/12 psi just to get some sidewall flex, even running at such low pressures, going onto mixed rock surfaces I've had no fear of sidewall damage.

Regardless of your pick in tyre brand, I reckon a 235/85 R16 seem to be a really good choice on a Defender. Keep in mind when aired down a taller tyre increased surface area is more front to back (so a smaller width is pushing forward).

My dad's TD5 Defender is running the 265/75 R16 (Bridgestone Dueler AT 694), but these cant legally be fitted to the Land Rover 16 x 6.5 steel rims. I'm running them on 16 x 7 (but this is an issue with rubbing on the rear coil tower on flex). I do admit though these are great tyres for a 130 Defender pushing 3.2ton, heaps of ground clearance and air down are great in the sand.

Regards
Daz