What tyres do you use offroad?

[Addy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Addy]

Did some research looks like coopers make them.
I had never heard of them

[Fazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fazza]

Addy,
In reply to you question re transmission damage if you use a odd size tyre as a spare.
Yes you could suffer damage, if your vehicle is equippted with a limited slip rear differential & a center limited slip differential or (transfer) they will be working over-time particularly on bitumen or hard surfaces.
There is a small warning in the Owner Manual page 240?

Fazza

D4D Prado Auto, also with Dunlop Grantrak AT20's at least they are made in Japan, so far no complaints, we will see what happens

[DaveNQ1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DaveNQ1]

Addy

Here is the web site. I use the Trailcutter Radial A/T. I get a bit of road noise but the tyres are a fairly aggressive looking tread for an all terrain.
I have seen another set with 46000ks on them and they looked to have worn really good. I am not knocking the Bridgestones or Coopers in the same size, but the trailcutters crap all over them offroad, especially in greasy conditions. However the downside is probably more noise and not as nice to drive on road. They cost me $235 per tyre. The Coopers were $335 per tyre and the Bridgestone were $300. The Bridgestone is not LT construction.
The Jetzon tyre range is becoming very popular up here in Cairns and I have not heard of anyone (yet ) who has said they would not get them again.

Cheers
Dave.

http://www.jetzontire.com/catalogs/

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

Gents
9000 kilometres ago i replaced my original rubber with Trailcutters in 265/70/R17 LT.
I immediately noticed a difference in the performance of the car. The car gearing was significantly affected and it was especially noticeable on the highway at 80-100 km/hour. I could not use cruise control in the same places i used to as the vehicle would drop down a gear and the vehicle just seemed sluggish all round.

I am wondering why has no one else complained of this before - I notice that quite a few forum members have 70 series tyres. Are they all diesel?

This has me truly perplexed. :shock:

In any event, my friendly leasing company has decreed that: thou shalt only use standard sized tyres on thy rig.

Putting aside less common tyres such as Geolandars, Scorpions or Opats, I guess that leaves D694 and Cooper ATR as the effective tyres I can choose from....

He also said that it will not be long and the 65 series will be available in LT construction in a number of brands as the market for this size is now rapidly increasing.

Anyone know if any 17inch 65 series LT tyres have landed yet, in 265 width?

[matty Member Find all posts View Profile Close matty]

Tyre choice

Peter,
I too have just bought a 07 GX D4D, straight away i changed the grantreks to Goodyear Wrangler MTR's in 265x70x17, paid $330 ea. but got $125 ea for my grandtreks. I did the gibb about 2years ago now in a hilux running MTR's in 32x11.5x15rims and only had one puncture a few K's west from El Questro from a piece of rock shaped like a spear head that was repaired at a tyre shop later. I would definatley run a LT tyre because of the extra ply's and tougher sidewall construction. The tyres are a bit noisier on the road but with the windows up i don't really notice anyway as i would rather the added traction from these tyres. one thing though is a more aggresive tread pattern will pick up stones/rocks in between the tread blocks so on gravel/dirt roads you will get rocks thrown from your tyres under you car, but hey whats a 4wd for :wink: .

I ran approx 35psi in my tyres as the road is rough but quick if you get my meaning, to less air and your tyres will cop a beating as heat builds up inside them( you can't see this damage happening either till boom). Also your shocks will get hot to i woud recoment upgrading to OME, XGS or similar.

My biggest annoyance was tour operators as parts of the road over hills/ranges are bitumen single lane and i found myself catching up to there tour buses, they won't pull over and let you pass rude ass's and i had to overtake a few on the fly, bit scary but there are really wide parts on the road. They will pull out of side roads in front of you too, they working on "might is right principle" i think. Also keep your eyes peeled for road trains (3 trailers) as they run cattle out of there somewhere, i would advise get right of the road for them, you can get them on UHF too if you need to overtake, there really good.

Anyway enough talking enjoy your trip, and have a laugh at the tourists who try this in vans, or ill equiped 4wd's.

[DaveNQ1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DaveNQ1]

Grandeman,
I have recently gone back to the original size and the car is much nicer to drive. However, i was led up the garden path by the dealer because the original size were not LT construction as he first said. He told me to try them to see if they made a difference to the car, which they did. I also doubt that they are making 65 series tyres in LT construction as i was also told.
From what i can make out, it was only the earlier models with the 4 speed auto which suffered from this problem. Apparantly the 5 speed is more comfortable with the increase in size.
A friend of mine has an 03 model and had his tyres changed to the larger size when the car was new. He said he had experienced no problems with the tyre size, but he has only recently driven mine with the original size tyres and the difference to him is now obvious. The car is now much more responsive at highway speeds.

Cheers
Dave

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

Thanks for the info Dave.

Toyota have made it perfectly clear that they will use the "not conform to spec" argument to get out of any warranty repairs, if they get the slightest sniff that you have used anything other than the specified tyre size.

In std sizing, D694 (Ozzie made ones not the Japanese ones) seem to be priced at around late $200's fitted. Coopers ATR are about the same.

For me, it's a toss up between them, I reckon.

BTW, thanks for making it harder for me to make a decision, Wengnuts.

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Has anyone got a D4D Auto with 265x70x17 ? If so how do you find the effect on the grearing / shift points? I'm thinking of changing tyre size but with the standard tyres at 60kmh it feels like it's just about ready to change down.

leachy

[ando Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ando]

i use 285 70 17. Great tyre. Help the Prado sit that little bit higher. Quiet compared to some other MTs. Need 2" lift otherwise tyres will rub. I havent had them rub since the lift.

[Fazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fazza]

Ando,
That's big, I don't think that would help ando's gearing / shift points & it would make a speedo error of a bit over 7%. (Don,t you have radar speed detection in WA).

Insurance companies would take a dim view & I don,t think Toyota would be to pleased, particularly re any transmission claims.

But for the bush with a lift kit would certainly give you clearance.

Fazza :shock: 07 D4D Auto

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Oh, it gives him clearance alright - and it's one sweet looking ride. 8)

Ando made the mud and rocks at Mundaring look so easy last weekend.

This pic

... has got my young bloke in the background asking why I bought the short Prado - why didn't I get the real 4WD one like Ando ???

Cheers
Chippy

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

...why I bought the short Prado...

So what did you tell him, why did you buy the short Prado, Chippy?

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

' cause I'm a short arse - and need a ladder to climb into Ando's rig :lol:

Cheers G-Man (smartarse :lol: )
Chippy

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

That's Ando's 2" lift - King Springs and Blisteins PLUS the bit extra you get from the tyres.

BTW - I've seen a similar Prado in some of those recent glasshouse mountains pics. Nice !

Cheers
Chippy

[ando Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ando]

Hey all,

In regards to the bigger tyres, I do need to drive under what the speedo reads but used to it now. Our insurance company does cover the vehicle as stands so no prob there either.
Other states might be tighter with whats allowed in regards to mods . Dont think WA are too strict about the mods. Ive seen wranglers, patrols and landcruisers driving around with 3, 4, 5" lifts for years with no yellows.
I guess it just comes down to personal choice in regards to any mods done.
Peace out
Ando