sand being the question . . .

[gonzo]

i know this is a tire question, but it really relates more to off-road.

i finally get to ditch the dunlops but am torn between which tires to get. the majority of my off-roading is on the beach (outer banks, NC) so i am looking for something that does well in the sand. i make it up to the mountains 2-3 times per year, typically traversing through moderate forest trails. unfortunately, i rarely see snow so that is not a real consideration.

i am debating between two different set ups:

275/65/17 yokohama geolanders
265/70/17 bfg at ko

the geolanders will give me a wider tire, with not much gain in clearance, the bfg's add clearance, but not width. unfortunately they do not make bfg's in the 275/65/17 size. i do like aggresive looking tires, but practicallity & functionality will always take precedence.

i am putting a 1" leveling kit on before the tires go on, so i should get a little more room.

any thoughts / ideas / alternatives / experience would be much appreciated.

 

[Colemanfu]

Low psi & wider is better in sand but your can air down to get that wide patch as well if you want to go with the taller tire BFG then run it at 15 psi). You also know not to kill the momentum. Get a good on board air system so you don't have to worry about refilling when you hit road home. Hate to not air down just cause you can't air up. Good luck and let us know what you get.

 

[Thai]

i know this is a tire question, but it really relates more to off-road.

i finally get to ditch the dunlops but am torn between which tires to get. the majority of my off-roading is on the beach (outer banks, NC) so i am looking for something that does well in the sand. i make it up to the mountains 2-3 times per year, typically traversing through moderate forest trails. unfortunately, i rarely see snow so that is not a real consideration.

i am debating between two different set ups:

275/65/17 yokohama geolanders
265/70/17 bfg at ko

the geolanders will give me a wider tire, with not much gain in clearance, the bfg's add clearance, but not width. unfortunately they do not make bfg's in the 275/65/17 size. i do like aggresive looking tires, but practicallity & functionality will always take precedence.

i am putting a 1" leveling kit on before the tires go on, so i should get a little more room.

any thoughts / ideas / alternatives / experience would be much appreciated.

Won't the 275 Yokos rub on steering extremes??

I would go with BFG AT KO because clearance is always nice to have when you're off-road. Yoko tends to wear quicker from what i hear...i think that RonMaiden had them in the past.

 

[fourwd1]

You're taking a nice, new(ish) truck out in the salt and sand?

You must not like it very much.

 

[gonzo]

You're taking a nice, new(ish) truck out in the salt and sand?

You must not like it very much.

what is the point of having a capable suv if you aren't going to use it? groceries? plus, sand & salt aren't too bad as long as you clean up afterwards.

why is it that deflated tires do so much better in the sand, is it because of surface area, because the tires conform to the sand, a combination of the two, something else?

 

[Thai]

why is it that deflated tires do so much better in the sand, is it because of surface area

Exactly.

 

[jwyshrek]

what is the point of having a capable suv if you aren't going to use it? groceries? plus, sand & salt aren't too bad as long as you clean up afterwards.

yeah, why not...I took mine to Death Valley (even some of the offroad trails) 5 months after I got mine....I even still have some of the sand and dirt from Death Valley trapped in the bottom of the rear doors. Those of you who have gotten your 4runner really dirty know what I'm talking about...

 

[tomhaney1]

i know this is a tire question, but it really relates more to off-road.

i finally get to ditch the dunlops but am torn between which tires to get. the majority of my off-roading is on the beach (outer banks, NC) so i am looking for something that does well in the sand. i make it up to the mountains 2-3 times per year, typically traversing through moderate forest trails. unfortunately, i rarely see snow so that is not a real consideration.

i am debating between two different set ups:

275/65/17 yokohama geolanders
265/70/17 bfg at ko

the geolanders will give me a wider tire, with not much gain in clearance, the bfg's add clearance, but not width. unfortunately they do not make bfg's in the 275/65/17 size. i do like aggresive looking tires, but practicallity & functionality will always take precedence.

i am putting a 1" leveling kit on before the tires go on, so i should get a little more room.

any thoughts / ideas / alternatives / experience would be much appreciated.

Get a set of Baja T/A and drop them to like 20 psi. You could probably drive right on the water with that!

 

[trd_4runnin]

Have you considered the Nitto Desert Dune Grappler?? They are designed for sand and Four Wheeler magazine did a review on them and claim they have very good street manners as well.

I dont really know much about these tires. I just know that Nitto makes a good tire and Four Wheeler seemed pretty impressed with them. Not sure on price or anything though, but it may be worth looking into. And it doesn't hurt that they look badass!!!

Here is a link with some reviews:
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/AT-MT-Tires/Nitto_Dune_Grappler.htm

 

[fourwd1]

what is the point of having a capable suv if you aren't going to use it? groceries? plus, sand & salt aren't too bad as long as you clean up afterwards.

Wrong, it's impossible to remove all the salt and sand.
It gets into the frame, brakes, bearings, etc. It will take years off of the life of a vehicle. Been there, done that.

why is it that deflated tires do so much better in the sand, is it because of surface area, because the tires conform to the sand, a combination of the two, something else?

Yes.
You want to float on top, not dig in. A very mild tread pattern flotation tire works best.

 

[4RunnerV8]

Although I'm new to the board, and certainly don't have the credentials that fourwd1 has (nice rig!) I have to differ on the subject of sand & salt. I grew up in NC, been going to the Outer Banks for 30 years, and my family has a home in Beaufort NC. I actually got married on Ocracoke in September of last year... With my 97 V6 4WD 4Runner, I spent many a weekend on Ocracoke or Hatteras, with an occasional trip up to Corolla - from 98-05, probably 4 weekends a year surf fishing, driving the 4runner on the beach every day. Never a rust problem with the body, undercarriage, bearings, etc. That 4runner lasted until 2005 in near showroom condition, with 209,000 miles - I was religious about maintaining fluids and thoroughly washing the chassis & body after every trip. The only reason I no longer have it is that I was hit by an uninsured, unlicensed driver and the insurance co totaled the truck. I've been out 4 times in my 4WD 04 SE V8 (bought used in 06) - and each time, spent at least 1.5 hours under the truck, flushing with water.

So, IF you are anal about a thorough flushing of every undercarraige component, and don't drive through the salt water, I believe that it's perfectly OK to take a "newish" SUV out on the beach.

 

[jwyshrek]

In any case...you bought it...use it...enjoy it...take care of it...

 

[gonzo]

does anyone like revos anymore?

 

[Thai]

does anyone like revos anymore?

REVOs are very good tires. When REVOs came out, it was pack with tons of technology and sophisticated chemistry. However, there are newer tires out there now that does the same thing as REVOs...and may be better such as Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor or Michelin LTX A/T-2.

 

[fourwd1]

... IF you are anal about a thorough flushing of every undercarraige component, and don't drive through the salt water, I believe that it's perfectly OK to take a "newish" SUV out on the beach.

I used to spend almost every weekend on Assateague Island.
Was pretty thorough on cleaning after every trip.
Yet I know the sand and salt still accelerated the rusting out of my Jeep and my Toyota p/u.

But everyone can do with their vehicle as they see fit.

 

[4RunnerV8]

Assateague is a beautiful place - some of the best oysters I ever had about 20 years ago. And every weekend probably would beat the hell out of a truck in the salt and sand. Occasional, probably a little less damaging. The entire Eastern Shore MD/VA is a great part of the world.

 

[Muffin-Man]

does anyone like revos anymore?

Revos scare me, people here use the P rated ones on their 4runners, which is basically a passenger car tire. Now you can tell me all you want about how the weight rating is OK and whatnot. Simple fact is its a bad idea to trust your life on a passenger car tire mounted on an SUV. Get bfg AT C rated and you will love em.

 

[gonzo]

C rated

what is that?

how many different bfg t/a ko types are there?

 

[tomhaney1]

what is that?

how many different bfg t/a ko types are there?

There is one "type", just different load ratings. One thing not to forget is that the higher the load rating usually = heavier tire, which is not good if you want to play in the sand...

 

[Muffin-Man]

There is one "type", just different load ratings. One thing not to forget is that the higher the load rating usually = heavier tire, which is not good if you want to play in the sand...

Airing down if your in sand is fine, but yes E rated tires are for 3/4 ton or 1 ton trucks and SUVs D rated is half ton trucks and SUVs and C rated is for midsides trucks and SUVs, so the higher the load rating the more the tire will weigh. However the downside to BFGoodrich is its owned by Michelin, which is a French company :bash: