last minute TIRE ADVICE (for AR chambers)

[cyronman]

I figured all you veterans were begging for someone to ask about tire sizes, again, so...

I'll let the cat out of the bag; 2 weeks ago I received my AR teflon chambers
that had been on national backorder. I know gasmask is notorious for bringing these to light and it's a good thing him & ph2gr4 both have Ebonys, because I would have had to be a little more original ;)
But when I wanted new rims on the Ironman, I knew they were eXactly what I wanted when I saw them.
Anyways,
I've been narrowing down the tire choices and I was just looking for some fast, experienced YES or NO's on whether some sizes will be okay or not, with or without trimming.
I don't have or plan on a lift (at least not before buying tires), but I don't mind trimming (at least not TOO drastic).
From past searches I've pretty much figured out that ~265/70/16 will be the beefiest size allowed with minimal trimming, right? :confused:

All opinions/personal choices welcome also.

I'm looking @: (all 16")

Terra Grapplers (http://www.nittotire.com/#index%2Etire%2Eterragrappler%2Eoverview) or Dura Grapplers (http://www.nittotire.com/#index%2Etire%2Eduragrappler%2Eoverview) - 265/75

Hankook Dynapros (http://www.hankooktireusa.com/product/tire_detail.asp?pid=1069) - 265/70, 265/75, 285/75

Kumho Ventures (http://www.kumhousa.com/tires/light-truck/all-terrain.do) - from 255/70 to 275/70

Yokohamas (http://www.yokohamatire.com/searchresults.asp?id=lt)

and I've heard good reviews of Bridgestone Revos (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Dueler+A%2FT+Revo)


Thanks in advance

[Ldub]

Unless you're looking for a strictly high mileage (long tread life) tire, I'd be hesitant to get the dura grapplers.

I've had both REVO's & Terra Grapplers & liked them both. I think the REVO's have an advantage in the snow, & the Terra Grapplers were quieter on the highway. Of the two, my preference is slightly in favor of the Nittos.

[Triathlete]

Have you looked at the NEW BFG Mud Terrains? They have a new trad pattern similar to the Krawlers!

[CrnCnn]

MMMMM BFG mud terrains... thats what I am getting when I am ready.

[Triathlete]

MMMMM BFG mud terrains... thats what I am getting when I am ready.

Yea, the new version is sweet. I was trying to find a pic of them that I saw online but could not locate it. There was a thread with pic on Pirate 4x but I can not find it.

[Ldub]

Yea, the new version is sweet. I was trying to find a pic of them that I saw online but could not locate it. There was a thread with pic on Pirate 4x but I can not find it.

Is this the one???

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/BFGMT.jpg

[CrnCnn]

Is this the one???

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/BFGMT.jpg
schwing

[Triathlete]

Nope...that is the old ones. New ones...

http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com/images/sema2004/sema30.jpg

[cyronman]

Those are nice.
But I think a little too off-roadish for what I need.

[CrnCnn]

Beefy, they arent gonna dicontinue the old ones are they?

[Triathlete]

I believe (but could be wrong) these will phase out the old ones as the sizes become available.

[don moore]

les scwab has the wildcat ..its good for all around.....
http://www.lesschwab.com/tires/light_truck/wildcat_as.asp
and they have some more agressive tead designs also..

FYI

[ZEUS]

Beefy, they arent gonna dicontinue the old ones are they?I don't think so... read on and see what you think:
BFG_MT_T/A_KM_"DT" (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Mud-Terrain+T%2FA+KM+DT)

One size fits all!

[Triathlete]

Zues, they have started to produce other sizes just recently. I can't find the post but they talked about it on the Pirate forums. Sounds like as a new size is put into production they are becoming the NEW mud terrains. I'll try again to find that post.

[ZEUS]

I don't think they would replace old reliable with something they introduce in a 22" rim size.... that just doesn't seem right. I could see BFG keeping the classic MT in traditional sizes while offering the new hip hop MT in non-traditional sizes though. BFG has been getting killed by not offering more truck tires in the new trendy sizes that other companies have available! But I don't keep up with this stuff as much as I used to either... so I could be wrong.

[Triathlete]

Here (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=603617&highlight=new+mud+terrain) is the post on the Pirate forum.

[nfpgasmask]

Wow, those new BFGs are beefy. It will be a tough decision for me. My A/Ts are wearing really nicely, so it will be a while for me, but I am definitely down with some M/Ts next time around...

Bart

[cyronman]

I'm actually having a hard time NOT picking out some M/T's just for the look of it!
Especially those Geolandars.

I looked at some Yoko A/T II's yesterday and I think it's down to them, Terra's, or Revo's.


Is ply the only difference in P rated as opposed to LT?

I noticed that a set of Revo's that were 265/70/16 were P rated, yet a set in /75/ were LT. The guy explained that they were 6 layers as opposed to 3(?), and they had stronger sidewalls.

Is it a no-brainer to go with the LT's?
I'm not considering the P rated, just curious...

[Ldub]

Is it a no-brainer to go with the LT's?
I'm not considering the P rated, just curious...

Yeah, no brainer indeed...I wouldn't recommend putting "Passenger" rated tires on a "Light Truck" that weighs in around 4000 lbs. ;)

Well, there might be a couple people on my long list I would recommend it to...but that's another subject.

[bigkoala1]

i have the bridgestone dueller m/t's been pretty happy, no complaints. oh and there not very loud when your on the road.

[cyronman]

I've had both REVO's & Terra Grapplers & liked them both. I think the REVO's have an advantage in the snow, & the Terra Grapplers were quieter on the highway. Of the two, my preference is slightly in favor of the Nittos.

Ldub-
any preference on flat out nice weather, dry asphalt/highway?

It looks like it's coming down to these 2...

thanx

[Ldub]

Ldub-
any preference on flat out nice weather, dry asphalt/highway?

It looks like it's coming down to these 2...

thanx

Nitto

[cyronman]

well then

[cyronman]

So I just got back from the tire shop, had them test fit a 265/75/16 on the VX, and the 0 offset of the Chambers makes it a CLOSE call on the rear of the front wheelwell. It looked minimal to me, but the techs advised against it.
The look was eXactly what I want, and dang I got tingles seeing the Chamber on there for the first time.

So now, do I just pout and find something that fits ( a /70/ or a 245 even) even though the selection dwindles.
Or just how well does the hammer trick work?
Or will trimming work, it's just a bunch of plastic right?

I'm getting my search on as we speak...

[Triathlete]

You can only trim so much plastic on the rear...then its time for the BFH :smack:
If you remove the cladding you can easily see the metal behind the cladding, Knock it back a bit then reattach the cladding, trim as needed and *presto*!

[nfpgasmask]

The teflon Chambers are REALLY nice man. They clean up so easily and always look new. I am running 245s and I only trimmed a smidge off the corner in the front cladding. 265s might put you over.

But damn, the Teflon Chambers were made for the VX. Simply put, I think they are the finest looking rim ever available.

Bart



So I just got back from the tire shop, had them test fit a 265/75/16 on the VX, and the 0 offset of the Chambers makes it a CLOSE call on the rear of the front wheelwell. It looked minimal to me, but the techs advised against it.
The look was eXactly what I want, and dang I got tingles seeing the Chamber on there for the first time.

So now, do I just pout and find something that fits ( a /70/ or a 245 even) even though the selection dwindles.
Or just how well does the hammer trick work?
Or will trimming work, it's just a bunch of plastic right?

I'm getting my search on as we speak...

[CrnCnn]

Has any one ever put them on an astral yet? I would really like to get them someday and interested to see what they look like.

[cyronman]

I think they look good on any color, except maybe the Green;
not enough contrast.

But you have to de-badge.

[ZEUS]

You can only trim so much plastic on the rear...then its time for the BFH :smack:
If you remove the cladding you can easily see the metal behind the cladding, Knock it back a bit then reattach the cladding, trim as needed and *presto*!

I just removed my wheel well liner the night before last to get a better look at what needs to be removed, or folded over. It was so very easy to remove the liner. The cladding doesn't need to be removed at all - but I am not sure if that is what you meant or not, Billy...?

I am sure you could fit that rim and tire combo, cyronman. I have 275/65-18's (32"x11") waiting to be fitted to my VX. My rims are 18x8.5 with 0 offset, for your info. I am going to make them clear with the 2.5" lift I have so I don't have to lift it anymore than that. I will take pics of what I am doing tonight or tomorrow.

[cyronman]

I just removed my wheel well liner the night before last to get a better look at what needs to be removed, or folded over. It was so very easy to remove the liner. The cladding doesn't need to be removed at all - but I am not sure if that is what you meant or not, Billy...?

I am sure you could fit that rim and tire combo, cyronman. I have 265/75-18's (32"x11") waiting to be fitted to my VX. My rims are 18x8.5 with 0 offset, for your info. I am going to make them clear with the 2.5" lift I have so I don't have to lift it anymore than that. I will take pics of what I am doing tonight or tomorrow.


Zeus,
I'd appreciate it.
I'm going to go crawl under it right now and get a look at it myself. I've been glued to tirerack and google since I got home.

man, the tread barely rubbed that back corner, although it wasn't a brand new tire, so factory tread would be even a smidge higher. But what the techs were talling me is that even with getting it to clear, it still has the probability of hitting that corner with the tire moving up & down (driving on uneven surfaces).
It's not that much different from stock though...

There's that word again....................."lift" :_thinking

[ZEUS]

Don't think lift yet! You could crank on the tosion bars a bit to remove the rake a little which gives a little more aggressive offroad stance, IMO. If you want those tires, I say go for it. I looked at my VX again before coming back to work tonight (60 to 65 hour work week). It looks to me like you could gain 2.5" clearance by trimming and hammering - you wouldn't need near that much room for those 30" tires! I took a couple pics already but will have to post them later...

[Triathlete]

I will be doing a LOT of trimming to the front of my cladding when I do my SAS since I want to move the front axle forward to fit 35's with as little lift as possible to keep a low center of gravity. Might have to do a little BFH work to the rear of the front cladding also...so it will be good to see your pics Zeus. :thumbup:

[ZEUS]

I added some pics to my gallery that might give you some ideas. Check it out if you want - more to come as I progress. Cy, keep in mind, my cladding has been trimmed for over a year. I trimmed the liner as well, but the pics show it removed. This trim job is all I needed to fit 31.6" tires on 8.5" rims w/0 offset and a torsion crank up to 1". Like I said though, you should be golden with 30's and a 0 offset - I cranked my t-bars, but you should not have to if you remove enough plastic and a bit of metal... I seriously doubt you would need to do any hammering. FYI, I used a sawzall with a long blade (small teeth) and made one single straight cut per side.

[cyronman]

I added some pics to my gallery that might give you some ideas. Check it out if you want - more to come as I progress.

Like I said though, you should be golden with 30's and a 0 offset - I cranked my t-bars, but you should not have to if you remove enough plastic and a bit of metal

Thanks for the pics. I got a good idea yesterday when I crawled underneath to look at what needs to disappear.
I don't think I'll need to crank either.

I know I'm being really stubborn about sticking with this size but I just know it should work. I'm DETERMINED!
It just seems like options are really limited for thinner tires, although it seems the "right" thing to do.
I see a lot of 245/70's but most are P and not LT.
How can an SUV tire be P rated, are they for much lighter/smaller SUV's?

Clock is ticking...I'd like to have these on in time for my road trip next Friday.

[Ldub]

Get the load rating from the sidewall, if it's anything over 1000 lbs. you should be OK.

I've always been prone to error on the side of strength/safety at the cost of extra weight & $. :rolleyes:

[VCrossfan]

Has any one ever put them on an astral yet? I would really like to get them someday and interested to see what they look like.


CrnCnn..You might checkout the Incubus 511's, they really go good with the silver and cladding, the best of both worlds. I've had nothing but complements where ever I go on them.. And at $100 a wheel at my door even a better reason...

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/thumbs/100_1865.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/100_1865.JPG)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/thumbs/100_2033.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/100_2033.JPG)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/2/thumbs/100_2410.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/2/100_2410.JPG)

[cyronman]

So,
it looks like I'm going with these Yokohamas. (http://www.yokohamatire.com/pdf/geoATS.pdf)
p 265/70/16
They'll be in tomorrow, and it'll run less than $550 to drive away from the shop, with a used tire for the 5th wheel.

I really wanted to try the Nittos or even the Geolandar MTs, but I've been slammed at work all week and didn't want to start hacking and slicing underneath there if I couldn't get it right in time. Although I'm sure it wouldn't take that much.
Maybe next time, eh Zeus?

Thankx for all the advice and input, I will put up pics this weekend.

Cy

[ZEUS]

So much for being determined, eh! All kidding aside, it's your choice. I bet you will envision the Nittos everytime you walk out of the grocery store and see your VX from a distance though! Then you'll think to yourself... maybe if I sell these tires with the amount of tread they have now I can get the Nittos. :p Teehee... the seed has been planted - go bigger!

[cyronman]

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?p=109063#post109063