Thread: The track ruts are getting too deep so 33" and flared guards to suit

You blokes will have to put a two coat seal on your tracks at that rate. You're wearing them out.
Don.

I read often that 2" and 33's is fine. I'll say now that they rubbed everywhere for me and my opinion is that it doesn't work. It rubs. We later did some more testing and even statically they rubbed, let alone boucing around on the tracks. If you can get 33's to fit with no rubbing, then I will go so far as to say that your suspension isn't working well at all.

I had similar situation on a track near the glasshouse mountains where I was locked into the wheel ruts which deepened as the track worsened until I was on the diffs and couldn't go back or forward .

Luckily I had aired down to 18 so inflated the tyres up to near 50 if I recall and took my hands off the wheel and reversed out until I could drive out of the ruts.

Unfortunately this is happening too often , we know who to blame, no need to name , you see them every weekend.

Stick to your rims and tyres you have , choose a "chicken track"(I do all the time)and don't become one of "THEM"

Exactly. You’ll spend big on 33s. And then someone with 37s will tear it up more.
You’ll go 35s and still be just on par with them.

Law of diminishing returns.

I agree with the opinions expressed about tracks being torn up. I remember when the old Firestone SAT in 7.50x16 was considered a big tyre when my first landy was shod with 6.50x16's. I've also taught my son to respect the track for future use as I was taught, and we always air down to minimise damage. I read on a web site once that because the landy has a smaller diff size than say the Nissan or Toyota, it comparatively speaking means the other makes need to be shod with the next tyre size up to get the diff clearance so the landy on 32"s and the other make on 33's.

So my thinking is that the difference between a 265/75R16 at 803mm dia. and a 255/85R16 at 841mm dia. might just make allow us to go further. The thing for me is that a lot of these tracks access old gold mining sites which I love to explore and old age has caught up and overtaking my knees so tramping is getting a bit harder!

I'll have to do a bit more thinking about this. Cheers for all the input.

There are a few issues trying to keep up with the 34 plus brigade. A big one is that the vehicle becomes a dog on the road. Apart from gearing issues it is a lot of unsprung weight and braking and handling are all effected. I am not a fan. For me and the places I go I am not going over 32 (although each vehicle is different). Cheers

Originally Posted by ozscott

There are a few issues trying to keep up with the 34 plus brigade. A big one is that the vehicle becomes a dog on the road. Apart from gearing issues it is a lot of unsprung weight and braking and handling are all effected. I am not a fan. For me and the places I go I am not going over 32 (although each vehicle is different). Cheers

My experiences about being a dog on the road I think will has more to do with the type of tyre used rather than the size. Depending on how it is set up, the braking and handling can still be surprisingly really good, especially with ACE and a good set of brake pads. I'm pretty sure the industry found in testing that 2" lifts almost always handled better than standard 4WDs too (apart from the Hilux I think). I don't think there is a threshold where one size is good and the next size is bad. That said, we will always tinker and push the boundaries.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

My experiences about being a dog on the road I think will has more to do with the type of tyre used rather than the size. Depending on how it is set up, the braking and handling can still be surprisingly really good, especially with ACE and a good set of brake pads. I'm pretty sure the industry found in testing that 2" lifts almost always handled better than standard 4WDs too (apart from the Hilux I think). I don't think there is a threshold where one size is good and the next size is bad. That said, we will always tinker and push the boundaries.

I take your point with the ACE Simon. Mine has a 2 inch lift and 31s, Bilsteins and a nicely mated set of Dobinson springs etc but (without ACE) as well set us as my suspension is and as good as the pads and rotors are, it doesn't brake or handle quite as sharply as when stock (much heavier LT 31s versus XPC 29.5 from memory) and sitting lower. I am used to it but every inch taller in lift over 2 and every inch bigger in tyres detracts (from a non ACE vehicle at least). I have driven even tallers Discos and some heavily modded 4wds and I have never been impressed when having to swerve or corner hard. I recognise that each to their own but for me I have a limit for the vehicles I have owned. I don't mind people chewing up tracks in parts running 34 plus tyres as there are always good tracks available that don't appeal to such drivers (normally) and also chicken tracks around such things. Cheers