Outer Limits 4x4 Board

picking up an 83 hj47 in a couple of weeks down south to drive back. will prob need new tyres - currently 7.5x16.

bus certainly not a comp truck, more bush vhicle, lots of sand driving here.

question. will 31s affect the touring economy? or not enough to notice, do 235/85 16s work better overall (longer tread length in sand & give better highway economy)?

Lastly. Is there a common diff mod to suit the 4spd on the highway?

replies appreciated
griff

Hi Griff,

31" tyres are smaller diameter than 7.50's by about a cm or so, the difference on the highway will be barely noticable. the handling will improve and that's about it.

you can change the gears in the diffs to 3.7:1 ratios (currently 4.1:1) but they aren't cheap. if you want to get the highway revs down the easiest way to do it is with larger diameter tyres. There are a couple of 33x9.5" all terrain type tyres available which would suit your needs. surprisingly, narrower tyres work better in sand than wide, especially when you have a lack of power (as is the case with the venerable 2H)

cheers

Brian

griff wrote:picking up an 83 hj47 in a couple of weeks down south to drive back. will prob need new tyres - currently 7.5x16.

bus certainly not a comp truck, more bush vhicle, lots of sand driving here.

question. will 31s affect the touring economy? or not enough to notice, do 235/85 16s work better overall (longer tread length in sand & give better highway economy)?

Lastly. Is there a common diff mod to suit the 4spd on the highway?

replies appreciated
griff

31s will be fine, i run 32s on my troopy atm.

had 31s and 33s, and found 32s to be the best all round option.

Holy thread resurrection batman!

Had a search and it was either resurrect a fossil or start a new one that had been semi-covered before, bit of a catch-22...

Anyway: I have an '84 HJ47 ute currently running 235/85 16 tyres on the original 5.5inch split rims. Great car, very happy, however the 4spd gets a bit revvy at 100km'h, and I know that bigger is better for wheeling.

I like fuel economy and a legal vehicle (our cops don't seem to like wide tyres) so I want to go as tall and skinny as possible without lift. My research has narrowed it down to 8.25R16 (pretty rare) or 255/85 R16, basically skinny 33's. Another option would be 33x9.5, which would be good as 15" sunnies are cheaper than 16, but can't seem to find any 33x9.5, even though they are purported by some to exist...

I appreciate I'll need 6.5-7inch rims for these tyres, my question is will they fit under the cruiser with stock suspension?

Thanks in advance

James.

yes mate, I was running 35x12.5x16 Maxxis on 16x8 sunnies my 40 series with stock suspension.

33x9.50x15 are available in BFG AT. 33x10.5x15 are available in BFG AT & MT. I've searched a fair bit and couldn't find any other options in this size.

Cheers for the replies guys.

Can't find 33x9.5's on the BFG website though.

255/85 R16's seem common enough so I'll probably go with them.

Just checked the site, you're right no more 33x9.50x15..............

And de-luxe, I just read your build thread- nice 40 btw.

However you say in that thread your 35's rubbed.

I'd love to know if anyone has run 255/85R16's with no lift and no rubbing?

If no one knows I guess I just buy the tyres and if they rub lift it.

Any opinions on the superior 2" kit?

In general driving, my worn 35" Maxxis rubbed when you'd hit a big bump / went round a corner too fast.

Now I have 35" Simex with extended shackles, and it never hits

Just depends if your springs are stiff as a board or nice and flexy. I have about a 3" lift and my 33" Simex rub like buggery front and rear.

I think they've sagged a little, but there is plenty of space around the current 235's. Flexing it up it can hit the bumpstops left, right, front and rear- and when I ask if tyres rub, I mean under full flex- not "only sometimes" etc. I had bunky scrubbing action on big tyres on my old MQ and I'm trying to keep this rig nice, clean and neat with no bunkiness.

So if you have a 3" lift- try extending your bumpstops by 2-3", and hopefully they won't rub?