Thread: Skinny Tyres Vs Fat Tyres

So can I fit 235 85 r16 to my standard D1, or are they too tall for the bodywork?

If too tall what do I need to do to get them to fit?

I do not realy want to do a lift yet as the suspention is still good and has not started to sag.

Originally Posted by black betty

So can I fit 235 85 r16 to my standard D1, or are they too tall for the bodywork?

If too tall what do I need to do to get them to fit?

I do not realy want to do a lift yet as the suspention is still good and has not started to sag.

You will have to camel cut rear wheel arch and trim front bumper end caps if you have standard front bumper on. A a 2 inch lift is also advisable. With standard car anything bigger than 235/70r16 will probably rub somewhere. For some reason all involved with this thread seemed to have been using it for their own purposes not answering the question for your vehicle.All though some of this has been good reading. Their is a site somewhere that tells you what you need to do to fit various sizes to d1. Just my 2 cents worth.

Originally Posted by dhard

You will have to camel cut rear wheel arch and trim front bumper end caps if you have standard front bumper on. A a 2 inch lift is also advisable. With standard car anything bigger than 235/70r16 will probably rub somewhere. For some reason all involved with this thread seemed to have been using it for their own purposes not answering the question for your vehicle.All though some of this has been good reading. Their is a site somewhere that tells you what you need to do to fit various sizes to d1. Just my 2 cents worth.

Here is that site:

DISCOWEB

Originally Posted by black betty

So can I fit 235 85 r16 to my standard D1, or are they too tall for the bodywork?

If too tall what do I need to do to get them to fit?

I do not realy want to do a lift yet as the suspention is still good and has not started to sag.

ok so how long will these new tyres last? the reason i ask is because if you spend the dollars on tyres that fit now, you then do the suspension and will be able to, and will want to fit bigger tyres..........

springs arnt that much, and you get to change your rates to suit your exact needs.

i would be inclinded to go new springs that will allow 235/85 16s to fit....

i think a D1 on this set up would still be very drivable on road, and will make a difference offroad

cheers, serg

I'll have a go.How tall are tractor tyres in relation to the width?,what about tank tracks?.Both are designed for traction and both are tall and skinny.The length of the tread is what gives 35'' tyres traction over 31''.You have to remember too that the compound has more to do with traction than the tread style,10 years driving around in mines has shown me that. Pat

Originally Posted by PAT303

I'll have a go.How tall are tractor tyres in relation to the width?,what about tank tracks?.Both are designed for traction and both are tall and skinny.The length of the tread is what gives 35'' tyres traction over 31''.You have to remember too that the compound has more to do with traction than the tread style,10 years driving around in mines has shown me that. Pat

Need to compare apples with apples here.

Both tractor tyres and tank tracks work by having blades that dig into the ground, to alter the plane in which the force is applied. Tanks can climb extremely steep slopes thanks to this effect. e.g. for a 45 degree slope, perfect friction is required in order to climb it. Yet some tanks can climb up to 60 deg. slopes, if the ground conditions are right.

Tanks also have tracks which are wider than most tyres

I agree - compound is important, but you are trying to compare tyres with steel tank tracks??? and rock hard tractor tyres??? Most mine tyres are extremely hard too.

EDIT - It would be fair to compare tank/tractor tyres to something like this:

And surprise surprise, they only come in wide sizes.

I can't think of any (serious) competition 4x4s in any field that run skinny tyres (apart from some that run tractor tyres)??? Can anyone? I am excluding things like RTV trials in the US and other similar events where people complete in standard/near standard 4x4s - talking about competitions here. Also exclusing AWDs - like rally cars, but even they run wide tyres on road stages, intermediate widths on gravel, and only run really skinny tyres on ice (with studs).

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I can't think of any (serious) competition 4x4s in any field that run skinny tyres (apart from some that run tractor tyres)??? Can anyone? I am excluding things like RTV trials in the US and other similar events where people complete in standard/near standard 4x4s - talking about competitions here. Also exclusing AWDs - like rally cars, but even they run wide tyres on road stages, intermediate widths on gravel, and only run really skinny tyres on ice (with studs).

true, but i do wonder if its because the development of the tyre has just gone that way.... they developed what became popular, and wide tyres have only become more and more popular since the 80's ..........wider tyres have all the R&D

not many skinnies have had new development in tread pattern and rubber compound....

i guess my agrument is just because its popular doesnt make it better.... history has proven that. and as humans we are to easliy duped into things and also let emotion weigh in on descion making........ ego plays a big part in this.

Serg

Originally Posted by uninformed

true, but i do wonder if its because the development of the tyre has just gone that way.... they developed what became popular, and wide tyres have only become more and more popular since the 80's ..........wider tyres have all the R&D

not many skinnies have had new development in tread pattern and rubber compound....

i guess my agrument is just because its popular doesnt make it better.... history has proven that. and as humans we are to easliy duped into things and also let emotion weigh in on descion making........ ego plays a big part in this.

Serg

True, but if it gave a real competitive advantage to run skinnys then I'm sure someone would try them.
e.g. - steer tyres on 2wd offroad buggys are VERY skinny - it obviously gives them lighter weight and more precise cornering.
As I said above - ice tyres in the WRC are skinny - 145s!!! Since the car is actually riding on the studs, the total contact patch is the size of a postage stamp!!!

And what about events like the Dakar? The 4x4s run pretty wide tyres, and the trucks run SERIOUSLY wide tyres (see pic below) - but in the heavy truck field, you can't argue that serious R&D hasn't gone into skinny tyres.