'on-road' driving tips for 4x4

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:34:52 +0000, Austin Shackles wrote
(in article <[email protected]>):

>
> and, on a 90, you'll get quite a harsh ride.
>
> agree otherwise.
>
> not that I've driven a suzuki alto, but I bet the 90 will out-corner it. You
> can fling the coil-sprung LRs about quite impressively, given suitable
> tyres;

I think you're all being a little bit presumptive on the cornering thing.
Yes, it will go round corners like it's on rails, _on the right tyres_ but
the range of tyres available for this vehicle is huge and I'd encourage the
OP to get to take cornering reasonably gently until they are confident in the
ability of the tyres, both in the dry and the wet (which may be radically
different).

If you've got some nice wide road rubber or AT's all will be well. If it's
got some sexy looking knobbly things on it, corners on tarmac may be fairly
optional.

Been there, done that, and I'm sure others here have as well!

If it's anything like my 90 (which admittedly is older than the OP's) the
relationship between the location of the steering wheel and the direction of
travel at any given moment is not entirely straightforward either!

Either way, once you get used to it, you'll never go back.

Nick.

On 2006-03-20, Bob Hobden <[email protected]> wrote:

> Yes, good idea, with me it was Terminal 3 car park Heathrow!!!!

When I first got the truck I collected the exit barrier from work when
leaving, it landed neatly on my roof rack!

I've also been to a hotel near Euston station in London IIRC that had
a car park with a 5'3" headroom limit... I wouldn't even go in there
in the Audi given that I'd whack my head when getting out.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

On or around Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:51:51 +0000, Nick Williams
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:34:52 +0000, Austin Shackles wrote
>(in article <[email protected]>):
>
>>
>> and, on a 90, you'll get quite a harsh ride.
>>
>> agree otherwise.
>>
>> not that I've driven a suzuki alto, but I bet the 90 will out-corner it. You
>> can fling the coil-sprung LRs about quite impressively, given suitable
>> tyres;
>
>I think you're all being a little bit presumptive on the cornering thing.
>Yes, it will go round corners like it's on rails, _on the right tyres_

that's why I said "given suitable tyres".

mind, the series III is on avon rangemasters and that corners well too.

the 110 during my ownership had colway remoulds, pirelli scorp ATs and
nankang wild conks, all of which gave plenty of wet or dry grip.

My disco had pirelli scorp STs and avon ranger ATs, ditto. I did find the
BFG ATs a touch slippy in the wet.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn, The swallow twittering
from the strawbuilt shed, The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing
horn, No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed."
Thomas Gray, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.

Austin Shackles wrote:

> My disco had pirelli scorp STs and avon ranger ATs, ditto. I did find the
> BFG ATs a touch slippy in the wet.

That's got to be the understatement of the year. IME BFGs in the wet are
a bit like driving on ice. I'll never buy another set because of that.


--
EMB

On or around Tue, 21 Mar 2006 12:08:32 +1200, EMB <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>Austin Shackles wrote:
>
>> My disco had pirelli scorp STs and avon ranger ATs, ditto. I did find the
>> BFG ATs a touch slippy in the wet.
>
>That's got to be the understatement of the year. IME BFGs in the wet are
>a bit like driving on ice. I'll never buy another set because of that.

these weren't that bad. and they do last for ages, but personally, I'd
rather buy cheaper, softer compound that grip better

There's another aspect - if you do any serious off-roading you run the risk
of terminal damage to a sidewall and in that event I'd be extremely ****ed
off if that happened on a near-new hundred-quid-plus tyre.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Soon shall thy arm, unconquered steam! afar Drag the slow barge, or
drive the rapid car; Or on wide-waving wings expanded bear the
flying chariot through the field of air.- Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802)

On 2006-03-21, Austin Shackles <[email protected]> wrote:

> There's another aspect - if you do any serious off-roading you run the risk
> of terminal damage to a sidewall and in that event I'd be extremely ****ed
> off if that happened on a near-new hundred-quid-plus tyre.

That's why mud-pattern remoulds are my favourite. I had BFG TrakEdges
early on when the truck arrived, after just two off-road excursions
they were cut up on the sidewalls, and one blew out while I was
driving. Expensive tyres are fine if you want to look hunky but won't
off-road it, or you have deep pockets.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

Take heed of the advice about "the little stick". It controls the low/high
ratio but more importantly controls the 4 wheel drive select (difflock) on
many models, not sure about the Defender, if I'm wrong someone will quickly
put me right.

If you drive it for long on road with 4wd selected ( little stick to the
left position ) it'll fairly quickly lunch your tyres and/or gearbox. In
fact, despite living in Norfolk and doing a bit of snow/sand/mud driving,
I've rearely had to use the difflock.

TonyB

yes you can roll em but it takes more than you think. (quote).
but some peeps manage it!

http://www.paddockspares.com/sitepage/SalvageVehiclesPage.html