[RedBasil]

Hi all. I have been loitering around this website for a few years now. I have found it to be a great source of information. So thank you to everyone that offers up their advice. This is in fact why I am writing in for the first time. For some advice.

Here's my situation:

I live in Australia on a small aboriginal community in the Northern Territory. I drive to town (about 140 miles each way) 6-8 times each year. This road is paved. The rest of my driving (in search of barra) is done on gravel/dirt/sand roads that turn to soup in the wet season or out on the surrounding cattle stations where you often create your own roads.

I own a 1991 80 Series Landcruiser with a Factory Turbo Diesel. It currnetly has 31/10.5/15 BFG AT which are nearing the end of their lives. I was going to replace them with 33/12.5/15 Mickey Thompson MTZ. Due to the original rims being 15x7, I will need to replace them as well if I increase the tyre width. After speaking to the local dealer that was going to fit them, I came away with too many options and not enough information to make a decision.

This is where I hope the good people here on IH8MUD come in.

My original thought was to get the 33/12.5/15 M.T. MTZ and fit them to a set of 15x8 steel rims. The local dealer suggested going up to a 16x8 rim because the 285/75R16 (33" equiv.) has 2 more plys. This made sense to me but the 16" rims are about $50 more per rim. Unfortunately, this is where my wife enters the picture. I had convinced her that it would be good to have a bigger and more aggressive tyre out here. But with the extra cost and the fact that we will probably only be here another 16 months, she thought it would be better just to save the money and get another set of stock size BFG AT. This makes sense too but certainly isn't much fun. I have been dying to get some bigger tyres on the vehicle ever since we got the OME suspension. The 31"s look too small.

My friend, who is a local and a bit of a Landcruiser junky, added another option when he suggested making the new tyres really big and aggressive and keeping the current tyres and rims for those trips to town. He suggested something like the Mickey Thompson Baja Radial Claw in a 35". I like the sound of that. He has 35" muddies on his 60 Series and it looks great.

So here are my options:

1) save $ and get another set of 31/10.5/15 (BORING!!!)

2) get a slightly bigger and more aggressive tyre (like the MTZ) but on a 15" rim

3) same as above but on a 16" rim (two more plys each tyre, $50 more each rim)

4) get something like a 35" Baja Claw and keep the current tyres for the trips to town

There are many other options but it starts getting too confusing if I list them all. For myself anyway. My questions would be these:

- What are the benefits of a 15" rim or a 16" rim?

- Is an 8 ply tyre that much better than a 6 ply tyre?

- If I am not going to regear, would the traction gained from a 35" tyre be cancelled out by the loss of power due to the bigger/heavier tyre?

- Those that know Mickey Thompson tyres...would the Baja Claw be a better choice than the MTZ for out here?

- Do I need to worry about stripping the studs by changing tyres 6 to 8 times in a year? (purchase a torque wrench?)

I hope I have included enough information for a few people to give me some advice/opinions. I also hope that I haven't rambled on so much that everyone stopped reading half way through my write up.

I appreciate any advice people can give me. And I expect a bit of abuse, being a "newbie" and all.

[cruiser-poor]

G'day and welcome to the forum!

Well, everything is a tradeoff, isn't it? You are sure to get a wide range of opinions here.

Here is a recent post from another mud member in Central America who drives a rig very similar to yours. I found his comments on tire sizes interesting.

Since you didn't mention having problems with getting stuck, and you did mention that your situation may change in 16 months, I think your wife is giving you the sensible (if boring) advice.

As for having two sets of wheels, I went that route. But changing all the wheels gets really old. I've actually been thinking about going the other way and trying a set of all-terrains once these tires are worn out.

[slow95z]

why not get a set of BFG mud terrains? you can get them in the same sizes as the ATs and from what i can read should be the perfect tire for you.

[FirstToy]

32" or 33" MT tire on your current rims. The MT will be good in the soup, and most of your use. 6-8 trips on pavement, def. will be secondary consideration. So go for the MT's or an aggressive AT w/ open lugs for your muddy conditions.

stay w/ current 15" rims.
=cheaper
= 7" might be skinny but w/ 33" aired down, you will have a good footprint. Skinner might even be an advantage in certain situations 'cutting thru' muck trails...

16" rims
=allows a wider tire
= looks better
=more plys = more protection from flats

you loose a lot w/ 35s and no regear so I would keep it 33 max. In the muck, you might need every bit of hp to get that heavy diesel thru! 33's look great w/ the OME lift and you don't sacrifice too much power.

I can't remember the choice tires in AUS but I think they were Pro-Comp MT, GY MTR, Toyo MT (and the BFG MT were not as good.)

[CID 96]

Here in the States we have 33/10.5/15 tires. In fact I had a set of them in the BFG M/T. Buy them and keep your original rims. IMHO.

Sid

[Cj80cruiser]

I would go with option 2. Keep your 15 inch wheels which will also keep your price per tire down. Get the 33 or 35" x 12.50's r15. I've been told these going on a 15x7 inch rim is the poor mans beadlock so it will be good to air down if needed. U might have to ask around to see who will mount your tires since its a pain in the a$$ to get those 12.50 on a 7" wide wheel which is what makes them stay on too. It's not such a great idea to drive on pavement a lot because it will wear the center of the tire faster but you won't have any trouble with the kind of roads your driving on. Or just go with a tall skinny tire, nothing wrong with that. I thought Coopers were the "it tire" in Australia especially the Cooper Discoverer S/T but the Mickey T Claws or MTZ should be fine. Many people still run 15" rims offroad. This is nothing to give a second thought about just do it you'll be fine.

[icu_runnin]

option 4 for me. Only because I have done it and loved it. My last cruiser had 315/75/16 (35" tire) BFG all terrains and I loved it. They did rub a little but my COG was low and I had the extra lift from the tires to keep the axles higher along with the body. I lost some power but nothing I couldnt handle. your turbo diesel so throw some 35"s on it and turm up the boost

[abclin]

i got my 33x12.50x15 bfg mud terrains before i got my ome 2.5" lift, cruiser worked/works fine with them and they fit my stock rims with out any problems, as would the 35x12.5x15 tire. with your turbo diesel you should have no problems getting the tires to move too

[CodyRx7]

Smaller tires are MUCH easier to change...(dies)

[ba450]

I would stick with the 15" and the 33" muds. It will keep the cost down and the wife off your back and still have that more agressive look...