Thread: Big Tyres: Pros and cons

..there you have it Paul200, fat tyres are for those who want to get through tracks that those with fat tyres have pointlessly wrecked before them. Awesome.

Unfortunately, it seems the "tread lightly" and "4wd is there to get me out of trouble, not into it" mentality is disappearing. In its place is 4WD Action magazine and it's various spin-offs. They like to say they are of the former statements but I don't you can even get a look the mag unless you have at least 150kw, a 4" lift and 33's (and the mandatory sand-trax bolted to the roof rack )
"With the power of a modified twin-turbo v8 and 35" mud terrains, rooster tails are a common sight " has become a fairly common sentence in the mag.
Cars are cheap now, especially on the second-hand market we are spoiled for choice. Power outputs of modern turbo diesels have doubled from the old oilers. Large tyres are cheap and there is a huge choice. Lift kits to fit those tyres are common and relatively cheap. And let's be honest, large tyred and lifted 4x4's look tough. For some that is enough convincing and the credit card won't get a break until that 4WD Action look is achieved. Whether that look makes the car worse to deal with on a day to day basis is not a factor for some people. 30 years ago you could drive your average 2wd family sedan out onto the beach with no worries, nowadays, as has been mentioned, unless you have massive tyres you are at the mercy of previous and following 4wd' s piloted by the non-caring individuals. Not all people are like that and I like to think the majority of Landy owners lean into the "looks come secondary to function" group. Anyway, that's enough of my rant for a Sunday and I think I've gotten carried away from your original question.
Others have stated the pro's and con's of going to larger tyres. Slightly larger will only need slight mods and compromise, going a lot bigger will require a lot of mods and compromise.
Cheers.

so, going by this thread, how could i improve upon my tyres

285/60 R18 on a d2

Originally Posted by MrLandy

..there you have it Paul200, fat tyres are for those who want to get through tracks that those with fat tyres have pointlessly wrecked before them. Awesome.

Presumably you are referencing PhilipA's comments.

Notice he starts off pretty spot on with:
"So you're on this track and see a nice mud puddle up ahead, so you gun through it. Feel top of the world"

Then... the guy with bigger wheels comes along and then you need bigger tyres.. etc.

I think this bears a strikingly likeness to reality... regardless the size and type of rubber its the nut that holds the steering wheel thats at fault.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

On rocky roads, tall tyres with flat sidewalls = more clearance and less chance of puncture; In mud the same and they cut through instead of sliding on top.

Without damaging the trail of course.

I reckon the ideal is a set of narrowed Mini-Moke rims and the gnarliest studded and ribbed rubbers available to fit (in strawberry flavour), bolted to Gerlinger straddle carrier (google it!) chain drive drop-boxes, of, say 10' drop... That'd look sick mate when cruising Woolworths, and almost fit under the Maccas drivethrough roof. Could paint the drop boxes ARB ****** red and put stickers on them for added bro-points and courage.

Either that or a tall narrow tyre, ideally 100% profile, that when on reduced pressure forms a long caterpillar-like track pattern.

Yesterday my 255/85/16 (33" dia) shod County sat on her diffs a few times on rocks that those running 35s scraped but didn't pause on. If I was driving my smaller dia tyred Perentie i'd have been winching off several obstacles. As it was I needed to be dragged through one section. Whether on rocks, clay or puddles, not once did the 'skinny' tyres lack traction when clearance wasn't a problem. 9.00x16s are in my dreams...

Oh, and for those who think suspension lifts are redundant, I hit a trailing arm bracket on one rock shelf and another bloke hit a sill tank, both could have been avoided with Nissan style 6" suspension lifts. Never going to happen on my Land Rovers though!

What you have described is how things have changed from having a 4wd for necessity to it being a sport. If you are quite happy to have something that tows well and can get you to your favorite fishing spot then there's little need for massive tyres and associated lifts. If however you want to play in the rocks and mud as a sport, then be prepared to spend a lot on your fourby to keep up with those that can afford to go bigger. Or become expert at recovery.

Originally Posted by Rick122

What you have described is how things have changed from having a 4wd for necessity to it being a sport. If you are quite happy to have something that tows well and can get you to your favorite fishing spot then there's little need for massive tyres and associated lifts. If however you want to play in the rocks and mud as a sport, then be prepared to spend a lot on your fourby to keep up with those that can afford to go bigger. Or become expert at recovery.

And that's the way it's always been.