Tire selection - Page 3

Ed in Montana · 12-05-2007, 05:52 AM

Greg, thanks for the great research! The farm and ranch tire problem comment is an eye opener.

geoffff · 12-05-2007, 09:58 AM

I just replaced my tires with a new set of four BFG AT TA KO LT285/75R-16/D1 122R, just like I had before. My old tires still had a little decent tread left at 30,000 miles, but one tire had gotten damaged by a rock puncture while driving fast on a rough road, and I decided to replace all four at once.

I ended up going with the load range D tires instead of the load range E because: I assumed the "D" tires should give me a somewhat nicer ride, my Sportsmobile is somewhat lighter than most, and the "E" tires weren't "snow rated".

I'm not sure why the load range E tires aren't snow rated, but I suspect it is because they have less tread. It says here that the E-load tires are slightly larger in diameter, with slightly less tread. The LT285/75R16/E are marked "Not Rated For Severe Snow".

Quote:

LT285/75R16/D 122R: 32.8", 17/32" tread, 634 revs/mi, 3305 lbs@65PSI
LT285/75R16/E 126Q: 33.0", 15/32" tread, 630 revs/mi, 3750 lbs@80PSI

This topic was also brought up on the Sportsmobile Yahoo group.

-- Geoff

Ed in Montana · 12-05-2007, 10:26 AM

Geof, intertesting tire info! Another reason to avoid the larger E range tires is that a Hella Tire Pressure System can't monitor pressures above 80psi.

I have had my Hella system for only a couple months, and will try to right up a review on it's performance soon.

Greg In Austin · 12-14-2007, 08:34 PM

Ed,

Because a tire is a load range E does NOT mean it will be need to be at 80psi for max load. The Cooper STTs we are looking at have a max pressure of 65psi, are load range E, and have a max load of 3860 lbs.

oclv · 01-29-2008, 09:57 PM

I am considering the Toyo Open Country A/T's in a 285 75 R 17. This would be a 34" overall height (a compromise between 33" and 35"). They have an E load rating, and according to the literature are good on and off road (not as aggressive as the M/T's of course) and it says they offer "aggressive wet and snow traction". Has anyone used them and if so, what do you think of them? We are deciding between a 3 1/2" lift and 4". Jonathan at SMB liked the idea of 4". Thanks in advance for your feedback. oclv

Greg In Austin · 01-30-2008, 06:28 AM

What is the load capacity of the Toyos? ...even load range E seems to have a wide range of actual values....

Are you looking at a lift on a 2008 van? The 2008 seems to already sit much higher than previous years, at least much higher than we expected.

oclv · 01-30-2008, 11:40 AM

The van we just bought is an RB50, 2004, currently with 2WD. The max load specs for the Toyo Open Country A/T is 3,970#'s for the LT285/75R17, and 3,750 #'s for the LT 285/70R17. The 75 series is 33.8 inch OAD while the 70 series is 32.7 inch OAD. I am leaning towards the 75 series with a 4" lift, unless I hear feedback telling me that the 70 series with a 3 1/2" lift is better. oclv

Greg In Austin · 01-30-2008, 12:12 PM

Our priority in choosing tires was carrying capacity and tire pressure. We wanted to make sure that we were not having to run at max pressure all the time because of a lower tire carrying capacity. We have heard too many stories about tire problems and blow outs. Our tire choice gave us 3860 lbs at 65psi.

We also wanted some good ground clearance. Our build is with the SMB 4WD, and we chose to go with 35 in tires. Given what looks like some added height from the new suspension components we might have been fine with 33 inch tires.

oclv · 02-01-2008, 08:07 AM

I'm editing this because I decided to stick with my original thoughts of 285/75 R 17's. oclv

deminimis · 02-27-2008, 10:37 AM

Regardles OCLV, I'll answer your question. I was running Toyo Open Country E rated tires on my Landcruiser (siped) and I'm running a new set on my Chev 1-ton crew cab (didn't sipe them). Frankly, they work great. Fairly quiet, and on the LC, they worked great in Baja. As the Sportsmobile I purchased will need a new set of shoes, I'm in tire shopping mode right now as well. I should probably stick with the Toyos as I can't see much room for improvement, if any. That said, I'm always trying to fix what ain't broke, which has me considering Nittos (great reviews) and perhaps BFGs (I run Muds on my buggy and ran a set of KOs on my former Westy). When the dust settles, I'll probably go with Toyos again due to my expience and avaliability (Les Schwab stores carry them in stock). We get lots of snow here, by the way. I believe siped tires are on there way back. I know its an old school notion (cutting lines into a perfectly good tire makes as much sense as parachuting), but proponents claim lower tire temps, resulting in longer life, and much better traction. Something to consider, perhaps. Now, if I may....

Having a '03 delieved in a couple of weeks (assuming no big disconnects). Appears to have the SMB 4x4 conversion (assuming this as the build sheet lists "4x4" but did not list "Quigley" which appears to be the case when its a Quigley conversion, but I'm pretty much guessing). Currently has 265/75 16s. Not changing wheels. In pouring over many build sheets, I noticed one build (quigley) listed a rocker mod to allow for 285/75 16s. Really? Don't you guys think 285s should fit without issue on a SMB or Quigley 4x4? I suspect I'll leave it up to the tire store to tell me, but what's your experience? Thanks for letting me play through.