M

mike.hamilton@gmail.com

Guest
I have a Nissan 4x2 and I'd like to do some offroading with it. I have
winter tires right now, and I need to buy some tires for the rest of
the year. I have another set of rims, but no tires.

Is it wise to buy A/T tires for the rear, and other tires for the
front? I have been considering something along the lines of the
Geolander A/T+II.

Advice?

 
Hi

The Geo's are excellent tyres but have found there tread life very
disappointing for their price.

Have currently changed to Kumho Road Venture AT on my Subaru Forester and am
very very pleased with them, considerably cheaper than Geo's. and much
better wear rating.
See www.tirerack.com for good tyre info, consumer reviews, specs. etc.


--
Marcus

I like people, they are bio-degradable !.


 
On 23 Jan 2005 00:09:23 -0800, mike.hamilton@gmail.com wrote:

>:|I have a Nissan 4x2 and I'd like to do some offroading with it. I have
>:|winter tires right now, and I need to buy some tires for the rest of
>:|the year. I have another set of rims, but no tires.
>:|
>:|Is it wise to buy A/T tires for the rear, and other tires for the
>:|front? I have been considering something along the lines of the
>:|Geolander A/T+II.
>:|
>:|Advice?
buy some BFG All-Terrain K/O's for front and rear and you won't be
disappointed. I love mine and they have no discernable treadwear even
with 20,000mi on them.

-Bret
 
mike.hamilton@gmail.com wrote:
> I have a Nissan 4x2 and I'd like to do some offroading with it. I have
> winter tires right now, and I need to buy some tires for the rest of
> the year. I have another set of rims, but no tires.
>
> Is it wise to buy A/T tires for the rear, and other tires for the
> front? I have been considering something along the lines of the
> Geolander A/T+II.
>
> Advice?
>
I think it's best to put a good aggressive tread
on the rear to match the terrain you're on, and a
thinner lighter tire on the front with a more all
season type tread.
Heavy aggressive front tires put more strain on the
front end and steering components, so they will wear
out sooner. The aggressive tread on the front will be
helpful in high speed corners, but how often do you do
that while off roading?
Think of a dragster. Watch the cars and trucks
that race off road, and see what the 2wd class is
running.

--
..boB
1997 HD FXDWG - Turbocharged!
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1966 FFR Cobra - Ongoing project

 
Will having different tires front and rear affect the steering or ride
of the truck on the highway?

Thanks for the advice.

 
mike.hamilton@gmail.com proclaimed:

> Will having different tires front and rear affect the steering or ride
> of the truck on the highway?

The effect on the ride may be neutral, good, or bad.

The effect on emergency handling is rarely good.
 
> The effect on emergency handling is rarely good.

That's what I'm afraid of. So what is recommended? Baja (pre-runner)
tires????

 
By the way, I'll be sticking with the original (or close to original)
size - either 195/74r14 or 205/75r14.

 
Mike proclaimed:

> By the way, I'll be sticking with the original (or close to original)
> size - either 195/74r14 or 205/75r14.
>

That is gonna limit your choices a bit. You really don't need baja
tires unless you plan on spending some serious money on suspension
mods... A good set of all terrain [not all weather] tires with
steel belts, sidewall protection, etc. should be more than enough,
plus you don't lose all that much highway ride quality. e.g. the
Michelin M+S, Michelin AT [or their Sears equivalents], the Pirelli
Scorpion AT, or a Goodyear or Goodrich equivalent should do.

Head for www.tirerack.com and poke around to see what sizes and
brands are available for light to medium duty offroad work.
 
mike.hamilton@gmail.com wrote:
> Will having different tires front and rear affect the steering or ride
> of the truck on the highway?
>
> Thanks for the advice.
>
Depends on how different they are. How many people
from snow country run snows on the rear and standard
all season tires on the front? I did it for years.
Even learned to drive in a vehicle like that. Didn't
notice any problems at all. I've never owned a front
driver, and this is the first 4x4 I've owned in 25+
years of driving.
Unless you've got Mud Terrains or Thornbirds on the
rear and 78 series street radials on the front you
won't notice any real difference. Don't sweat it.

--
..boB
1997 HD FXDWG - Turbocharged!
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1966 FFR Cobra - Ongoing project

 
>By the way, I'll be sticking with the original (or close to original)
>size - either 195/74r14 or 205/75r14.

i had a 4x2 toy truck before i got my landcruiser. couple of pointa to make:
1 if you stick with a 14 inch rim your tire choices are severely limited. when
i had my toy and 14 inch stockers the only tire i could get for offroad was a
pathfinder,at least thats what the guys at discount said. i would go to a 15
inch rim

you can use whatever you usually use on the front cause going to a off road
tire on a non drive wheel does not really make much difference IMHO. worst
thing about the two wheel drives is when you dont make it all the way up a
damned hill , coming back down, the front always wants to 180 degree swing
around, this can lead to disaster. I had it happen with offrad tires and
regular radials with no niticable difference other than a lighter wallet
Hope this helps
MLM
 
Yeah, it does. I wish I could go to larger rims, but I already have
another set of empty rims (14") waiting for tires.

I've found a couple of options for A/T, though I have yet to visit a
tire shop (currently in the middle of nowhere, Alberta).

Thanks.

 
With all respect, but just because you havent noticed any problems
doesnt mean this isnt dangerous.

While it may indeed be just fine for 99% of your regular driving, the
one time you have to make a fast maneuver to regain control over your
vehicle it may not be fine. Esp. with a truck that tips easier than a
car I would refrain from such experiemtns.

Put the same type tire on all 4 wheels is still the best thing to do.
Everything else is to save money vs. have a higher risk while driving.
Matt

 

<mike.hamilton@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1106467763.919145.35360@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I have a Nissan 4x2 and I'd like to do some offroading with it. I have
> winter tires right now, and I need to buy some tires for the rest of
> the year. I have another set of rims, but no tires.
>
> Is it wise to buy A/T tires for the rear, and other tires for the
> front? I have been considering something along the lines of the
> Geolander A/T+II.
>
> Advice?
>

The most important thing to consider with off road tires is the terrain.
I've popped the sidewalls out of several factory installed AT tires in the
southwest desert where a 3+ ply sidewall is a must to counteract the
constant jarring on rough and rocky backroads and trails. The last one was
at 1,000 miles and I foolishly figured that because it was new that they
hadn't had enough punishment to fail. A 2 mile walk to get help and a wasted
day to retrieve the truck changed my tune very quickly.

I've had BF Goodrich AT K/Os on 2 vehicles and have no complaints. They are
quieter than the Geolanders that came with the truck and after 30,000 miles
they still have a lot of life in them. I have no problem cruising on the
highway at 80 mph and they handle the street very well. I bought mine 3
years ago at Discount Tire for $155.00 each including the lifetime rotation
and balance and a $20.00 (per tire) off road use warranty. I use the factory
ATs as spares and have mounted one on an extra rim so that I carry 2 spares
in the desert.

Bob Walker


 
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