Thread: 18" Tyres on Sand

Originally Posted by d2dave

Because as Pedro said, you are making the footprint longer, not wider.

This may or may not be perfectly true,,
but it does show why,,

Well after a little research, it seems that the Bridgestone Dueler 265/60R18LT D697 's are the answer to this particular problem and should perform fine on the existing D2a wheels. Some of the D4 people have used them with great success too. They are approx $350 each without having spoken to anyone.

Just my two cents. I would go Maxxis, General Grabber AT2 or Duratracs in that size. They all perform impeccably in sand and on road. And in the case of the first two are much cheaper and are excellent quality tyres.

Cheers

Originally Posted by ozscott

Just my two cents. I would go Maxxis, General Grabber AT2 or Duratracs in that size. They all perform impeccably in sand and on road. And in the case of the first two are much cheaper and are excellent quality tyres.

Cheers

Maxxis AT980 are on par for D697 pricing.

GG AT2 are too weak in sidewalls and I've seen too many fail to even consider them.

Duratracs are a robust tyre about mid way between the GG and the D697/AT980.

Tombie I was thinking in terms of 16s...yep I suppose 18s will be dearer. I only get Lt in Max is and GG and I know from my experience with several sets of both on 2 vehicles and mates with the same tyres that they are tough in the wall and tread- in a range of towing (the Vag and also vans etc) and offloading in rugged country . Can't comment on Pr versions of those I recommended.

Cheers

I run the Duratraks and love them.

A 16" Duratrac is a thug of beauty.
I had all our mine LVs switched to them excluding the survey vehicles which run MTRs

Originally Posted by Islandnomad

I've had D2's with 16's before they are great. I think I have the Hurricane 18" wheels which are really nice looking they would have the same bead wouldn't they? All of the D3 and D4's have 18" or 19" wheels how do they go offroad I wonder, they don't maybe?

Originally Posted by Islandnomad

Haha just a throw away line about what do they do, as they all seem to come with 18" 19" and 20" wheels and low side wall road tyres as standard which aren't that capable offroad? They all have the same problem, seems they go the 30.5"-31.6" route too!

Originally Posted by Islandnomad

Just wondering what the D3/4/RRS people do to make their vehicles more offroad friendly, than persisting with road tyres? Capable machines but need decent rubber offroad (probably the most important thing).

In the back of my mind my 2004 HSE does have ACE, apparently 18" wheels are a lot better for ACE than 16"??? Read that somewhere?

Ah huh...

Well, THIS D4 owner is very happy with his standard 19" rims, fitted with Goodyear Duratrac's.

Yes, it does go off road. Yes, it is very good off road. Yes, I also have a D2 (my second one, in fact, and the original is still in the family)

Oh, and my D4 cruised like the lounge on wheels that it is, all the way to Melrose, towing the camper, and then won Best of Breed, right before we picked up the trophy for winning the D4 section in the Trials Course.



Personal opinion - tyre selection is important for the terrain you intend on driving in. However, no amount of mechanical, electrical, computers or rubber, will make up for a poor driving style, or choosing the wrong line.

These cars, D1, D2, D3 or D4, in their standard, off the show room floor state, will go the vast majority of places that people want them to. The driver is more likely to back off, before the car does.