best tire size for expedition build

[cruisernerd]

sorry for another newbee question.
i have ambitions of building an expedition truck, with 33-35" tires. dreaming of a road trip from canada south to who knows. but have heard that big tires are hard to get in south america. has anyone had experience with this.
i want to use larger tires but don't want leave myself in a bind when i get a flat.
i also don't want to be running 235-75-15 in the middle of bolivian rainy season.
thanks,

 

[80t0ylc]

If you change tire size, be sure to factor in cost for 5 tires. You'll need to have matching spare, especially for putting any distance on the spare. You don't specify what year rig you're running, but if your center diff has a VC ('93-'97 80 series), it's critical.

 

[sandcruiser]

if you really plan to run from Canada to points south of the Darian, I'd stick with as common a size as you can.

It is pretty easy to find 235/85r16 or 265/75r16 or 7.00r16 or 31x10.50r15

it is less easy, but still pretty doable to find 33x12.50 or 285/75r16
harder to find 255/85r16
pretty damn impossible to find 33x10.50 or 33x9.50

35's are probably available in any "major city" but nowhere else.

on an 'expedition' you might find it is better to have not-so-huge tires in order to reduce wear n tear on your brakes and steering.

If you can be happy with 265/75r16 (not too short, but not very tall), that is probably a great compromise tire. Else, 285/75r16 or 235/85r16.

 

[Mark W]

Pretty hard to even guess about tire sizing without knowing anything about the rig. Will assume it is a Cruiser... but?


And what do you expect this expedition rig to do? As an example there was the Troopie that had that ongoing series of articles in Trails a while back... travels South America and... africa too? Never really left the major roads. if you are tasking the rig with duty that a Subaru could do, then your needs are different than if you are tasking it like a Camel Challenge rig.

In general, do not get too wrapped up in cool stuff for an expedition rig. The trip should be about the trip, not about the vehicle carrying you. Stock/simple/mundane will serve you well. That definitely applies to tires too.


Mark...

 

[cruisernerd]

the rig (and i know everyone will say it is too small but..) is a bj42. i intend to travel light, obviously.
doomsday plan- i want to be able to abandon the truck, and carry all of my stuff on my back. this is reserved for worst possible senario.
only thing that won't fit in a back pack is a surf board.
i have heard horror stories of road conditions, and want to stay away from major cities.
been thinking how to make a bracket, that will allow the passenger seat to swing out of the way. this would leave me room for a bed.
also thinking about boxes on top of the rear wheel wells, for spare parts.
i am giving myself a couple of years to get ready, seems like a realistic time frame. it will take that long to get the truck ready and raise the funds.
in a perfect world... i will find some other people with a truck, who also want to go.
i am hoping to find work in venezula, or maybe brazil.
but i want the means to travel around, and stop where i feel like.

i realize there is a certain amount of romantic fantasy to this plan.
but after divorcing my wife of 9 years, and being a slave to my job for even longer, i feel the need to indulge in a personal goal.
and i am at the point, in life where i don't want fear of failure to limit what goals i set for myself.



i know that very little of this pertains to tire size, but i will need to know where i want my build to go before i start. to make effective use of my time and resources.
sorry if this is long-winded.

 

[sandcruiser]

cruisernerd,

your trip sounds entirely do-able in a short-wheelbase. Not roomy, but plenty of folks travel by backpack and do fine.

I'd seriously consider a rooftop tent instead of funky sleeping-in-the-truck setups.

Sleeping comfortably is pretty important to a road trip. Even with the best setup in the truck, it is still *hot* inside a steel box all night. Too hot. You'll have to rig up all manner of ventilation/fans/security. And you mention a surf board (very good idea) but where will the board(s) be when you are sleeping?

We did a year in an fj60 on 31x10.50 tires. The tires were never a problem. For what you describe, I'd probably go with 31s or 265/75r16 (if you have 15" rims, use the 31s, if 16" use the 265s). Either tire is easy to find throughout the Americas. I'd run a not-too-aggressive MT. We had Kumho MTs and were very satisfied. BFG is pretty easy to find in most places that I've seen.


If you can find room for two spares, that is the best option and will allow you to do a 6-tire rotation (longer tire life, easier to replace 2 at a time if you thrash sidewalls). To save on weight/space, consider carrying an inner tube and a single spare. Installing a tube is time consuming, but you will probably have plenty of time.

Most of Central America is riddled with gravel/mud back roads that aren't very good roads, but don't really require serious "off road" mods. You can get to some very remote places without using 4wd. 4wd with a rear locker will get you back out (usually). A set of 4 tire chains will help an awful lot, but are heavy and bulky to tote.

Search around the expedition section of this site, people have done what you are doing and posted information about how they did it. Learn.

 

[NorCalBorn]

Heck, I'll pound the nail in and vouch for the 31" choice. I did it with a 4Runner, so there you go.

BFG TA-KO's, plain and simple. Wide based distribution, well supported in S.A. (*which I did not know at the time), and solid performers for all but the worst of conditions..and as far as conditions that's an easy enough fix providing you time things just right and avoid hurricane season (rains/etc).

 

[1tontoy]

Absolutely well-said....

The OP should listen to this advice...

Pretty hard to even guess about tire sizing without knowing anything about the rig. Will assume it is a Cruiser... but?


And what do you expect this expedition rig to do? As an example there was the Troopie that had that ongoing series of articles in Trails a while back... travels South America and... africa too? Never really left the major roads. if you are tasking the rig with duty that a Subaru could do, then your needs are different than if you are tasking it like a Camel Challenge rig.

In general, do not get too wrapped up in cool stuff for an expedition rig. The trip should be about the trip, not about the vehicle carrying you. Stock/simple/mundane will serve you well. That definitely applies to tires too.


Mark...

 

[Expedition40]

sorry for another newbee question.
i have ambitions of building an expedition truck, with 33-35" tires. dreaming of a road trip from canada south to who knows. but have heard that big tires are hard to get in south america. has anyone had experience with this.
i want to use larger tires but don't want leave myself in a bind when i get a flat.
i also don't want to be running 235-75-15 in the middle of bolivian rainy season.
thanks,

Dont tell these guys skinny tires dont work in the rainy season..

YouTube - THE CAMEL TROPHY VIDEO!


Like previous posters said, 235/85s or 265/75, both of which are just a tad under 32", are a standard size available all over the place, easy on the drivetrain and are easy on gas.

 

[shermantank55]

Add a repair kit and compressor to the list

The other things we carry are a tire repair kit and a small compressor. The kit from ARB (speedy seal) is very complete and has prevented us having to put on a spare or pay for repair several times. Cruiser Outfitters has them for $40. We have a small compressor-the Viair 300P to allow refilling after airing down as well as repair jobs. It was $160 or so online (Amazon.com has them). Both take up little room and together weigh less than 10 pounds.

 

[cruisernerd]

so afew of you have mention going for tires for a 16" rim. are these more available than 15's?
i understand the point keeping the tire size down, to reduce wear on the drive train. i was hoping to get some rubber overdrive out of the tires but, am realizing i probably won't need it once i leave northamerica.
i was thinking to bring 6 tires, five on rims. but maybe 6 complete wheels is better.
consider the above posts i have been reconsidering the tire size issue. and the truck will be pretty much stock, minus a bit of lift and winch.
also i have manage some pretty gnarly terrain with 32's.
i really don't know what to expect, on a trip like this except that i will need to be self reliant.
the goal i hold as most important is having a low miles truck in excellent working order before i leave.
i like the roof top tent ideal, and have some thinking to do regarding this before i make a decision.
thanks for reading.

 

[targa88]

Heck, I'll pound the nail in and vouch for the 31" choice. I did it with a 4Runner, so there you go.

BFG TA-KO's, plain and simple. Wide based distribution, well supported in S.A. (*which I did not know at the time), and solid performers for all but the worst of conditions..and as far as conditions that's an easy enough fix providing you time things just right and avoid hurricane season (rains/etc).

I would echo these sentiments both in terms of tire size and brand.
265-75r16 common size & BFG AT available in most tire shops/Costco/Walmart, etc.
Availability is key - if you can not repair the tire.
Added benefit of the BFG - is stiffer sidewall - less propensity for sidewall punctures.
All around good tire for a variety of terrains and road conditions.

 

[sandcruiser]

265/75r16 is what comes stock on a LOT of SUVs in Central America. Should be easy to find them all over this hemisphere.

BFG brand may be less easy to find, but Firestone or something else can work for you if needed.

16" tires generally have a higher load rating for the same size tire than 15" tires. For your application that is probably a benefit.

BFG AT is probably good enough for an all-around tire. But I think I would lean towards an MT.

 

[ashooter]

I'm not really a bonified "expedition guy", but I do drive an average of about 8,000 miles per year on dirt/gravel out here in the Big Bend country... I've had 265/75r16, 285/75r16, and currently 255/85r16. My next set of tires will be 235/85r16, probably Michelin XPS or Toyo M55. Anywhere south of the border I would DEFINITELY go with 235/85's or 265/75's, simply for the ability to get replacements if I needed them.

In all conditions I've been in (almost everything but Moab type rocks), tall skinny tires work best, plus 235/85's are almost all load range "E" so likely to be a bit tougher than a lot of the 265's out there.

 

[e9999]

I'll second the skinny tires concept.

 

[sandcruiser]

I'd like to hear from more folks with 235/85s on an 80. That's about a 9.5" wide tire. I know that several users have not liked 33x9.50r 15 tires, I wonder if the extra inch of wheel (and thus 1/2" less sidewall) makes that much of a difference?

I hope to find a decent deal on 255/85r16 AT tires for my dry-season tires, and use my 33x12.50s just for wheeling. Maybe. Someday. Time will tell. When the money tree starts dropping fruit. Yadda Yadda Yadda

 

[ashooter]

sandcruiser,

I'd love to see a set of 235/85's on an 80. Only pics I remember seeing of that setup was from "brownbear" (I think) here.

Anyway, the only AT type 255/85's I know of are the Toyo M-55 and the Cooper S/T (at least I think that's what they call it). There are LOTS of super tough commercial grade 235/85's available in the world, but I have yet to run across a tire shop that actually stocks ANY 255/85 tire.

My reasoning for planning to switch down to 235/85 for my next set of tires is:

- easy to find 235's,
- Michelin XPS or Toyo M-55 probably the toughest non-military tires available,
- 235's a little taller and a little skinnier than 265's and, other than appearance, I really wasn't unhappy with 265's as far as performance.
- more low-end torque on the ground with 32" tires vs. 33.3" tires,
- I don't really NEED that extra 0.65" of ground clearance that the 255's give me,
- AT type tread suits my terrain better than MT tread,
- 235's will fit my 70 series wheels perfectly.

 

[Roberto]

here some pics of my BJ42 on OME 2.5" Heavys with 235/85-16's on split rims. They are Dunlop Rovers, I believe they are approx almost 32" tall, tall and skinny. you running split rims or solids? There are alot of split rims in S America from what I remember, so take some extra tubes if you r. 255/85-16's are approx 34" and a little wider but could rub in situations, but I think they r a good size as well??

R

 

[roscoFJ73]

Another vote for 235/85/16
Ive been running them on my 75 series for nearly a year and Im quite happy with them.
These are Bridgestone D694 light truck tyres and can handle 80 psi but I normally run 48 psi all round.

 

[ashooter]

One more thought: The most common reaction to using 235 or even 255 width tires on an 80 (or most any "offroad" truck) in the U.S. is, "That's way too small!"

However, to put it in perspective, there are a LOT of 3/4-ton and 1-ton pickups running around on ranches in my part of the world hauling loads of feed, horse trailers, etc. These ranchers don't give a damn about appearance - they just use what works and what is cost effective. So I figure if it works in this terrain for a big old diesel ranch truck hauling a trailer with 4 horses in it, it will work fine for my little FJ80 with 4 humans in it.