Toyo Tires on SMB (Split)

[surfgeek33]

Toyo Open Country M/T

http://marktg.toyotires.com/file/18136.pdf

I would love a set, but SMB would not put them on. Have to do this mod at a later date. The max load rating on the Toyo's is significantly higher than my existing SMB options.

They put them on this rig?

[jage]

that would be funny if the tires aren't rated for the rig and it says "Toyo Tires" on the side. You should definitly ask about this!

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by surfgeek33

They put them on this rig?

Is that the orange SMB West show van?


Herb

[Buji]

Don't know if it's worth mentioning, but that orange van has All terrains and the ones we were talking earlier about were Mud terrains,

Either way, it wouldn't be the first time SMB has said something was impossible just to turn around and do it. Maybe they wanted first hand experience with them before they put them on a customers van, who knows.

[twolost]

Here was my experience....

I specifically asked about the possibility of getting 37" tires (BFG Mud-Terrain TA/KM). My SMB sales rep took note of it and we continued to spec out the remainder of my project. At the end of my spec session... my sales rep went to the powers-that-be and got buy-off for a number of my custom options. Anything that SMB could not commit to was dropped off the list. My choice of tires was one special configuration option that got nixed right away. The reason given was that there would have to be too much fender modification to fit these oversized tires and that work was not something that SMB would do - period.

Prior to taking delivery, I asked about the possibility of getting the Mud-Terrain (TA/KM) over the All-Terrain (TA/KO) - same relative size. The answer I got back was quote:
"The tires I have you down for are the BFG TA/KO all terrains in 315/70/R17. The T/A K/M's are mud terrain tires that we do not use because of the limited availability of sizes and the high level of road noise they create".

My response was quote:
"My first choice of tire is the BF Goodrich TA/KM 35x12.50R17/D (Mud Terrain). I have tried both the All Terrain and the Mud Terrain tires on my truck and the Mud Terrain tires perform better for my specific needs (most notably in the snow). I realize that the Mud Terrains are a little louder, but their performance in new snow conditions outweighs the noise for me. Noise is less of a factor for me as well because of the overall noise of the diesel engine. I don’t know about California, but this size of Mud Terrain tire is readily available at most Costco’s up here in Washington on a walk-in basis. If Sportsmobile will not put the Mud Terrains on for another reason (load rating, overall diameter/clearance issues, heat build-up, legal issues, etc…), I will go with the BFG All Terrain’s you suggest. However, if this is the case [SMB would not change from default], I would appreciate a strong technical reason for doing so."

My sales rep was going to look into getting me the Mud-Terrains... however, this never materialized. Upon delivery, I picked up my SMB with the default sized All-Terrains.

Of note: BFG no longer offers the Mud-Terrain (TA/KA) in a size acceptable to me - this just changed since this past August. BFG now offers the Mud-Terrain (TA/KM2) as a replacement.

Here are the basics... (BFG vrs Toyo)

Default SMB - BFG All Terrain:
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/al ... ko/44.html
LT315/70R17/D, 34.5 (inches dia), 3195@50 (max load in lbs @ max psi)

BFG Mud-Terrain (TA/KM2)
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/mu ... /3930.html
35x12.50R17/D, 34.8, 3000@50
37x12.50R17/D, 36.8, 3525@50

BFG Mud-Terrain (TA/KM) - Only TA/KM option left (not recommended)
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/mu ... /1152.html
LT255/75R17/C, 32.05, 2405@50

Toyo Open Country M/T
35X12.50R17LT 125Q E/10, 34.8, 3640@65
37X13.50R17LT 131Q E/10, 37.0, 4300@65

Note the load rating of the Toyo tires compared with the BFG (especially, the 37's). As heavy as my SMB is now @ 10K+, I really wanted to bump up the load rating of my tires to something that had a little more safety margin - even if that raised the CG of the van, a little more.

Bottom line is that I ended up with the SMB default setup (for 17" rims). I will use these tires to break the van in and then set out to change them at some point in the future.

Cheers,

[Greg In Austin]

Thanks for that Twolost....

Interestingly enough I am getting similar reponses.

"37" are too large."

But I am also getting some hesitance to supply 17 inch wheels.

Our SMB is on order, but I think we have some more wheel tire discussions ahead.

[surfgeek33]

That orange van was from the OC Carshow. However, Greg did mention that the tires "rub" on a fully turned wheel.

[myriadmyriad]

Toyo A/Ts are alot different than the M/Ts. The M/Ts are more durable.. I've been remote camping with heavy vehicles(10000 to 11000 lbs) for 30 years (yikes) and I have a zen relationship with tires. I've had more sidewall cuts and tread separation with B F Goodrich..... A/Ts, M/Ts, Baja(racing) I've tried them all...Of the many brands I've tried Toyo M/Ts have been the most round, easiest to balance and the most durable..

295/70/17 on a 8 inch rim works well with a stock Sportsmobile. There's always a trade off between width and height. The bigger they are , the harder they are on all the components..

Jeff