Rims and Tyre Choice for a Newby (Stock Vitara)

[eXc]

Hey Guys,

Just got my first 4x4. 94 Vitara JLX LWB. The tyres are pretty much bald. Hoping you guys could give me some advice - What would be my best options given the following;

- It will be used for fun on beach or bush once a month at most, nothing too crazy, just some fun (although no harm in trying the crazy stuff!)

- It is a daily driver (about 80kms per day, half of which is freeway)

- I have no intension of any major lift (I am still trying to understand the Nissan 180sx option, as I have some 180sx shocks at home, still trying to work out how to lif the front -spacers?) although maybe it's too high and will run into CV issues?

- I don't want it to feel like it's going to tip all the time, my girlfriend will freak, and one of the reason I got the 4x4 is so we can go wheeling together, so she needs to feel (reasonably) safe

Given what I have to work with. Should I just get some 235/75 on the stock rims? Should I get some sunnies or something first? I don't want to 'waste' $800 on tyres to find in 6 months I should have got sunnies and wider/larger/whatever.

Thanks for the help guys. I spent almost 2 hours looking for answers through search, but they all seem to be relating to lifted vitaras, not standard.

Cheers
Chris

[Dee 4x4]

As for the type of tire, you'll be wanting an all terrain. They're good for road and good for offroad and sand as well. As for which type, I know in the larger sizes the BFG A/T's are a damn good one but I don't know if they come small enough for your needs.

As for sizes, on my mates LWB V6 Vitara 30's can just fit with a 2" suspension lift, but it's a little too tight. With no lift, I'd be looking at something aroung a 27/28". Not sure what that is in xxx/xx format but there are converters out there.

[Goatse.AJ]

2" suspension lift on 15 x 7 Sunnies should do the trick nicely.

BFG Muddies are a good allrounder. They perform better on the bitumen on a Vit than just about any A/T or H/T tyre and you should get 80 - 100,000k out of them provided you don't thrash 'em too hard and rotate reasonably regularly.

235/75 shouldn't rub with 2 inch lift.

[Eddy]

I have 235/75 Scorpion ST/Rs on stock rims, and standard suspension. They are really good for road use, and pretty good in sand as well.

I had to trim about 10mm off the back of the lower edge of the bumper, and massage the inside edges of the rear arches.

They are actually too wide for the stock rims, but I've had'em on for over a year now with no probs. They were originally fitted on Sunnies but I only had 4 rims, and bought 5 tyres. They also had too much offset, and it just got too hard to find the right ones to replace ... so I just put them on the stockies.

I found too that they rob some power ... noticeably slower from the lights, accelerating and overtaking etc.

If I had the time over I would go with 225s rather than 235s, as they are closer in diameter to the originals.

[eXc]

I dont have the money for the lift right now, so they need to fit on a standard setup.

I actually have 1 scorpian 215/75 which I think is a little wide for the rims, so I imagine a 235 woud be.

Any other ideas for sizes on stock rims with stock height? I don't want them to run off the rim when I let them down at the beach.


Cheers
Chris

[Eddy]

215/75 will be fine on the standard rim.

I've run my 235s at 10 psi (standard rims) with no probs at all.

[MUD-PIGSIERRA]

- It is a daily driver (about 80kms per day, half of which is freeway)
Chris

Damn I would be lucky too do that much in a week including all of my daily activities after work and Uni

Half your life spent driving...?

[Gwagensteve]

Pfft - 80kms a day!
135km a day commute for me. That's why I commute a Cooper S and the suzuki (and Gwagen) stay in the shed... Horses for courses!

The depreciation is a killer though - anyone want to buy a 2.5 year old cooper s with 102K on it?

Steve.

[eXc]

I used to do 150kms a day for work, plus 80kms extra a day for personal reasons....that was in my skyline ($80/400kms)...well over hlaf my pay went to fuel...got a new job though, now only 42 kms each way to work..woo hoo!

[Guy]

was driving my Zook 160k's a day to/from work
235's will fit fine one stock rims, i am running half stuffed 235 Kumho MT's on my current zook, also had em on my old Zuk for about 45000Kms without issue, no weird wear patterns etc handle fine

Its a nice tyre size on a Zuk not to big so as to spa huge amounts of power, not to small to be pointless as far as an upgrade goes.

[eXc]

ok...it looks like the current ones are worn on the inside pretty bad...do vitaras have camber adjustment standard on them? or will I need some bushes or arms? (assuming its not just a toe issue)

[cj]

No camber adjustment as standard but you can fit camber bolts from
Pedders, etc to sort it. The other thing that could cause that sort of wear is a worn draglink.

[eXc]

can i fit 235/75/15 on stock suspension? Or will I need coil spacers? What size? Without risking the CVs etc like everyone talks about?

[LTDHO]

First thing I did to mine was 15x7 sunny with 30x9 tyres.

No rub and great for on and off road. They are all terrains.

I later put 30mm in the body to help with clearance.

[eXc]

cool. that's good to know!

Thanks