17 v 18inch

[bilo33prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bilo33prado]

Is it true the GXL has 17inch tyres and the VX has 18inch tyres? If so how much are a set of BF's for the VX?

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

Re: 17 v 18inch

BFG Mud terrains come in 18 inch but rim needs to be a minimum of 8.5inches wide to fit.
VX comes with 7.5inch wide rims so a no go.

All-terrains dont come in 18 inch yet

Can get Mickey T's 275/70R18LT (33/11.50R18LT) that fit. They may rub being 275s.

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

Re: 17 v 18inch

Assuming Toyota haven't something completely stupid like putting bigger brakes on the Vx/Kakadu , you would be better off getting some aftermarket 17" wheels and ditching the 18s.

Leachy

[two+four Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close two+four]

Re: 17 v 18inch

The thing I found most interesting with the tyre sizes was not the 17" verses 18" between the GXL, VX and Kakadu but rather the difference between the GX and the GXL.

The GX has a narrower 245 width tyre on a 17 inch rim but it is a 70 Profile verses the 65 of the GXL.

Neil

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

Re: 17 v 18inch

The GX only has 17" x 6.5" rims which are just as useless as the 18" rims. The only models that have rims that will provide a reasonable selection of off road tyres are the GXL an SX with 17" x 7.5" rims.
If I was looking at buying anything other than a GXL o SX 150 I'd be factoring in an extra $3000 for aftermarket rims and some decent tyres.

Leachy

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

Re: 17 v 18inch

Bridgestone will have 18" D694 by middle of 2010 and Goodyear are importing MTR with Kevlar as we speak along with the other two AT tyres they sell. Apart from that you already have Coopers and Mickey Thompsons in 18"

I see nothing wrong with the GX rims and tyre size range for 6.5" rims. Anyone contemplating donwsizing will need to check with their motor registration organisation and insurer before making the decision. Tyre placard options only is the go without engineering certification

Regards

RobA

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

Re: 17 v 18inch

What are the pros and cons of 17 versus 18 inch in terms of performance :?: I am a total newbie just having bought a new VX with 18 inch tyres.

Geoff

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

Re: 17 v 18inch

Geoff,

there is no great performance advantage/disadvantage of 17" vs 18" especially when your talking about a 4WD, I doubt most people will (or should) push a Prado hard enough on the road to notice the difference between a 265/60/18 and a 265/65/17. Off road the 265/65/70 will provide a slightly larger footprint but the difference is negligible.

The issue is availability of quality LT rated off road tyres that will fit the rims and meet the over/undersize restrictions imposed by state authorities. The vast majority of Prado owners will never need or want to fit LT A/T or M/T tyres but for those that do the options in 18" are currently much more limited to those in 17".

Leachy

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

Re: 17 v 18inch

What are the pros and cons of 17 versus 18 inch in terms of performance :?: I am a total newbie just having bought a new VX with 18 inch tyres.

Geoff

Very generally, off road you are looking for the tyre to flex and mould to rocks and obstacles to give you traction, sometimes you might be intruding on the sidewall area of the tyre, an 18" means you have 13mm less rubber to play with before you strike a rim which could be expensive in the damage to a rim, loss of a tyre through staking/striking/pinching it or debeading it and running it flat

Personally, I would be much happier to see them head back to 16;s, but thats not going to happen sadly

[D4Dazz Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4Dazz]

Re: 17 v 18inch

For mine the GX is the perfect rim 17x6.5. Cooper have STT and ST's in 245/70R 17's. Nice little swap that wont upset lease companies and roads authorities.