Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I have an unmodified 1993 Vitara.
It spends most of its time in the bush: Some bitumen to and from the bush but more than half its time on fire trails and corrugated dirt tracks.
I am looking at new tyres because the existing tyres (215 75 15) are just about shot.
The local tyre places give me contradictory advice. So much so that I doubt that they know what they are talking about.
The local service station bloke, who has an off-road truck, suggested Toyo Open Country AT 235x75x15. I thought I'd Google that to see what those tyres looked like. More confusion. There are tyres that answer that description with about eight different tread patterns.
Please help. What should I be looking for? Is there a specification that includes the trea pattern?

tt92 wrote:I have an unmodified 1993 Vitara.
It spends most of its time in the bush: Some bitumen to and from the bush but more than half its time on fire trails and corrugated dirt tracks.
I am looking at new tyres because the existing tyres (215 75 15) are just about shot.
The local tyre places give me contradictory advice. So much so that I doubt that they know what they are talking about.
The local service station bloke, who has an off-road truck, suggested Toyo Open Country AT 235x75x15. I thought I'd Google that to see what those tyres looked like. More confusion. There are tyres that answer that description with about eight different tread patterns.
Please help. What should I be looking for? Is there a specification that includes the trea pattern?

I cant answer which ones but can vouch the toyo open countries are a great all rounder for bush/sand tracks. i had these in 225/75 on my old zook for a couple of years and were strong and great for me.

I emailed Toyo yesterday and today I got a really useful reply.
There is not much advantage in getting wider tyres for my little Zook for the terrain I inhabit. Indeed, anything wider than 215 are outside the guidelines for most states because their increased diameter makes speedometer readings inaccurate.

width of the tyre has nothing to do with the diameter. It does however have something to do with track width which does have legal limits

grimbo wrote:width of the tyre has nothing to do with the diameter. It does however have something to do with track width which does have legal limits

Width of tyre has nothing to do with track width. Track width is altered by offset.

as long as they dont stick out of your guards cops wont even check the size.

slap some mudstar 31x10.5 on your stock rims. they fit nicely cause they are undersize.(u may need a bit of a lift or chop guards) 2 inch should do it.

I have learned a little about tyres and it wasn't easy. Dogged Googling has uncovered for me the secret of the numbers on the side of the tyre, and it is evident that both the local tyre fitters didn't know it. One said it was too difficult to explain and the other just waffled. One of them offered me some Coopers for $160 each. Surely they cost more than that. Perhaps he adds postage and handling or something to bulk up the price. He was so ignorant I couldn't wait to get away. He explained that the 75 in the description meant 75% off-road, 25% on-road.
For what it is worth, I have ordered Toyo Open Country 215x75x15 AT.
The 215 is 10mm wider than the original 205 but the same as the tyres I am replacing. The 75, I gather, represents the measurement of the tyre from rim to circumference, and is expressed as a percentage. So as the width increases from 205, 215, 235, the thickness of the tyre from rim to circumference increases proportionally, and in consequence the overall diameter of the tyre increases somewhat as well.
Dammit, these clowns are in the business of selling tyres. They can look me in the eye and recommend something about which they are ignorant with a straight face.
I ordered the Toyos because two of the blokes at the local service station drive serious working vehicles using these tyres.

danssurf82 wrote:
slap some mudstar 31x10.5 on your stock rims. they fit nicely cause they are undersize.(u may need a bit of a lift or chop guards) 2 inch should do it.

you can fit 31's on a 5.5 rim?? do they scrub at lock?

10.5's aren't happy on 5.5" rims at all. I don't think it's wise.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:10.5's aren't happy on 5.5" rims at all. I don't think it's wise.

Steve.

do you reckon 30's on a 6' rim would be ok?

Not the height of the tyre thats the problem...
It's the width...
From memory you should only go 3" wider for the tyre...
so 5.5" + 3" = 8.5" wide tyre...
much more than that and I think they have trouble seating the bead?

lots of tyre info here, all be it more extreme patterns, theres good info there:
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/su ... hp#1632588

A 235/75 is technically to big for a 5.5 inch rim (standard zuk issue) but they do fit quite well.
I would be inclinded to go for something slightly more agressive than the open countries, as you rarely wish for a less agressive tread pattern.

I would also limit it to a 235 for ease of fitment, and not straying to far outside the factory gearing .. a large factor in enjoying your bush bashing...

With a rear locker and decent rubber you will go many many places with an outward looking pretty well standard vehicle that would not turn a head for all the wrong reasons.

Got my Toyo tyres this afternoon.
They are pumped up to 35 pounds and feel solid on the bitumen and rattly on the corrugations, but don't feel as if they are about to skid sideways in a series of little hops as the old tyres did when over-inflated. Tomorrow into the bush with a pressure of about 23, which is what Toyo recommend and which is what seemed to suit the old tyres in the bush. What advice and hints from those of you who are experienced in these conditions?

i dont know why idiots reply with sticking 31 tyres on a vit .

youve made a nice choice witht he 215's. if u have a gps and can track speed u will see that it is now exact and that with 205's the speedo was a bit under.

215/225 are a nice fit for a stock vit and 235 is the largest id go with a 2" lift. 31's u start to need 2" body and sus lift and may need to trim the guards.

23 is ok pressure, u can go down to 15 if u like but not required unless u get a bit harder into it. 12-15 psi is what i use on sand. for everyday road use i have stock 205's and i find it likes it best at 32psi and needs a pump when it gets down 26 psi. yours will be stighly different. thats a rough guide but do what u think feels right.

The story so far:
I am delighted with the new Toyos. At 23 pounds they feel secure at 80 to 90 on the bitumen and at 60 on the corrugations.
Most gratifying is the grip they give in the scrub. The little Zook is a remarkable vehicle. It revels in terrain that I never thought I would attempt to negotiate.