Thread: Sand driving in a D3, what am I doing wrong?

Originally Posted by rmp

However, worn tyres in general are not a good idea on or especially offroad be it dirt, rocks or mud.

I agree and will avoid the serious stuff until I replace the tyres...... Just want to make sure I get my (legal) money's worth out of the current tyres..... That said working on a construction site, early replacement might well be on the cards, the tyres are taking a beating!

Discosaffa,
You're right what a thread, I didn't expect this at all, great information. From my perspective I had BFG muddies on my old Classic Rangie, power and momentum, the old 3.5 was a bit lacking in the power region but I managed, used to run around the 15 psi mark without a problem, these were only a 245 profile tyre as well, my D3 is 265. the more agressive the pattern the more power you require, that's my opinion anyway, the agressive tread digs in and moves the sand away quicker so you have to recognise your "stop I'm getting into trouble point" a lot quicker. I took my Range Rover P38 on the same trip last year, I was on pretty normal h'way tyres 265 16's and went fine. cable throttle and a fair amount of grunt (4.6 petrol), lowered the tyres to about 15 psi easy, this was floatation. H'way tyres are supposed to be better, I never had any problems with my BFG AT's on my old Patrol, one thing with the BFG muddies they do dig in a lot quicker than at's or normal H'way tyres. Hope this helps.

So my highway slicks should do the trick then........

I have done my fair share of offroading, but most of it inland in Southern Africa, so no sand work. To be honest I am a little intimidated by it, especially in this technical marvel we all choose to drive……. That said after reading this I am about ready to give it a go…….. Just popped out and have stocked up with a compressor, and tyre deflator……. Just need the snatch strap and we are good to go

Originally Posted by DiscoSaffa

Just need the snatch strap and we are good to go

And perhaps, as RMP suggested earlier in this thoroughly excellent thread, a set of Maxtrax. I know they're kinda clunky to carry about and a bit exxy to buy, but I'm going nowhere without mine anymore.

Just spent a week up and down Rainbow beach, double island point and inland sand tracks in my D3 with 18's Grabbers on and tyres at 20psi, sand program on and DSC off, never looked like getting stuck even once was a dream. Do have to religiously remember to turn DSC off every time you turn off the car though as that will bog you real fast.

I always carry two snatch straps with me on the beach and have my recovery point covers off, but so far in all three of my discos I have only ever used them to recover others even with my D2 ES on 19's.

Originally Posted by Jesse B

And perhaps, as RMP suggested earlier in this thoroughly excellent thread, a set of Maxtrax. I know they're kinda clunky to carry about and a bit exxy to buy, but I'm going nowhere without mine anymore.

Just visited their website...... gotta get me a set of those!!

Originally Posted by DiscoSaffa

Just visited their website...... gotta get me a set of those!!

I also bought the carry bag, though it was over-priced (well, I thought so at least!) - not so much for after use in sand, but more for after extracting self from the serious black mud we can get down here. Figured they'd pick up plenty of gloop, and didn't feel like just chucking 'em in the back.

Originally Posted by Nomad9

Discosaffa,
You're right what a thread, I didn't expect this at all, great information. From my perspective I had BFG muddies on my old Classic Rangie, power and momentum, the old 3.5 was a bit lacking in the power region but I managed, used to run around the 15 psi mark without a problem, these were only a 245 profile tyre as well, my D3 is 265. the more agressive the pattern the more power you require, that's my opinion anyway, the agressive tread digs in and moves the sand away quicker so you have to recognise your "stop I'm getting into trouble point" a lot quicker. I took my Range Rover P38 on the same trip last year, I was on pretty normal h'way tyres 265 16's and went fine. cable throttle and a fair amount of grunt (4.6 petrol), lowered the tyres to about 15 psi easy, this was floatation. H'way tyres are supposed to be better, I never had any problems with my BFG AT's on my old Patrol, one thing with the BFG muddies they do dig in a lot quicker than at's or normal H'way tyres. Hope this helps.

The profile of the tyre is the second number in the spec, eg 245/70/16, where the profile is the % of the width, in that case 245. Higher-profile tyres work best on sand, eg those with profiles of 65 and above. Low-profile tyres like a 275/40/20 really struggle.