While I know you have other application, I can tell you that stock will do fine for beach - in fact, the balder the better- it's all about airing down.
Dubai desert runners use what appear almost more like aircraft tires...no knobbies.
Largest tire on stock 200 wheels
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Dubai desert runners use what appear almost more like aircraft tires...no knobbies.
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- #22
I am very partial to this tire, I have them on my Power Wagon and I had them on our F-250 diesel, both were 37's so a bit different in terms of ride and handling. It is hands down my favorite tire I have ever owned and the current front runner for the LC, but I can't deny the availability and price of the KO2's. Both would be more than enough tire for our needs, but the RT is a solid $75 more per tire.
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- #23
While I know you have other application, I can tell you that stock will do fine for beach - in fact, the balder the better
While you are both correct in regards to the stock tires and sand, there are varying forms of sand and locations. In Dubai the sand is fine and soft and contains no foreign bodies, the sand down here is on the Gulf Of Mexico and contains oyster shells, sea shells, sea glass, wood/sticks, trash, etc. and is far more hazardous to a highway tire than sand dunes could ever be. At a minimum I will run the K02's for our applications.
Ya... Not suggesting highway tires.
Just noting that in sand it can be a little counterintuitive re what is helpful. In sticky sand like at the beach, knobby tires can quickly have thread gaps filled with sand to where it’s like having no tread at all... Airing down is huge, and also helps shed sticky stuff from the voids as bottom flattens and spreads underneath.The “aircraft looking” tires I see in Dubai are super bulbous—almost like an aired down spread width by default.
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- #25
I have been running BFG AT's on the beaches here in South Texas for 20 years now on countless different vehicles and they do quite well. I agree that a MT in soft sand can be a nightmare and less than ideal in comparison.
Maybe more general idea could be...
-Spread vs. tread (ain’t that catchy?
)
-Whatever tires you’ve got...air them waaaay down is deep, soft sand. You need footprint and deforming around the sand contours more than fancy tread (unless your in crazy paddle tires or something)
If you have huge rims (like 20”+) dump them for 18 or 17” to give yourself enough sidewall for significantly better air-down assistance.
You can air down 20” but it leaves very little rubber to work with while still maintaining safe cushion between the ground rubber and the rim (especially for pinch pictures on rocks etc).
-Spread vs. tread (ain’t that catchy?
)-Whatever tires you’ve got...air them waaaay down is deep, soft sand. You need footprint and deforming around the sand contours more than fancy tread (unless your in crazy paddle tires or something)
If you have huge rims (like 20”+) dump them for 18 or 17” to give yourself enough sidewall for significantly better air-down assistance.
You can air down 20” but it leaves very little rubber to work with while still maintaining safe cushion between the ground rubber and the rim (especially for pinch pictures on rocks etc).
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- #27
Maybe more general idea could be...
-Spread vs. tread (ain’t that catchy?
-Whatever tires you’ve got...air them waaaay down. You need footprint and deforming around the sand contours more than fancy tread (unless your in crazy paddle tires or something)
If you have huge rims (like 20”) swap them for 18 or 17” to really give yourself better air-down assistance.
Yea I have stayed away from 20" wheels on any vehicle that will see actual consistent off-road use. Flotation is key in the sand, we always air down to 15-20psi.
Yokohoma Geolander G015 in stock size. I did a trip to Moab from SoCal over Christmas break combined with a decent amount of trails at MOAB.
Hit snow, ice, mud the tire was flawless and super quiet on the freeway as well. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this tire.
Hit snow, ice, mud the tire was flawless and super quiet on the freeway as well. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this tire.
Agreed - just upgraded from stock tires to these in 275/70r18 and we have them on our 100 series as well. Great tires - not much different feel/noise from stock on the road but fantastic in snow and mild trails.
Not telling anyone to upgrade to 20" wheels. And I get that this is an off-road enthusiast forum that tends toward more off-road biases...
From a reality standpoint, as one that uses the stock 20" wheels of the LX. I'll say that there's no limitations for 95% of people. Especially when paired with a larger diameter than stock size tires that lends more sidewall. At some point, too much sidewall can makes things sloppy too. I get it's a style thing as I wouldn't ever slap 20s on a LC.
My car, and just about everyones here, is utilized for mixed use. There's been some nice advantages of 20's too. Including more on road stability, better steering feel, towing sway resistance. It still works friggen great off-road with 33" tires, which is speaking partly to the merits of the 200-series platform. I have yet to experience any terrain that I'd honestly trade the 20's for smaller wheels given the balance of qualities I have now. Sand with 20s? Yeah, not worried about sand in the least when aired down as any tire should be.
From a reality standpoint, as one that uses the stock 20" wheels of the LX. I'll say that there's no limitations for 95% of people. Especially when paired with a larger diameter than stock size tires that lends more sidewall. At some point, too much sidewall can makes things sloppy too. I get it's a style thing as I wouldn't ever slap 20s on a LC.
My car, and just about everyones here, is utilized for mixed use. There's been some nice advantages of 20's too. Including more on road stability, better steering feel, towing sway resistance. It still works friggen great off-road with 33" tires, which is speaking partly to the merits of the 200-series platform. I have yet to experience any terrain that I'd honestly trade the 20's for smaller wheels given the balance of qualities I have now. Sand with 20s? Yeah, not worried about sand in the least when aired down as any tire should be.
Pics please.
My comments were directed at specific mention of sand, tread, and especially airing down. Looking for more sidewall is not a “style thing” if you actually wheel much.
Benefits of strong, usable sidewall when aired down is not a controversial idea at all.
It is a basic wheeling concept.
Even novice or occasional wheelers who air down benefit from reduced risk of pinch-cuts afforded by taller rubber. It’s a lot easier to pinch the tread against the wheel when it’s a shallower space between rock and wheel. Going from 20” to a 17” means a full 1.5” of extra leeway between ground and wheels, and more footprint at low psi.
People can always choose whether they still prefer the look and maybe a slight street benefit of taller wheels with lower profile rubber, but surely we can all agree—shorter sidewalls are NOT a benefit off-road.
Not suggesting you can’t aggressively and successfully wheel with a shorter sidewall, either.. Plenty of 20” wheel drivers are kicking booty out there including some great drivers on here. Everything is a matter of degree.
I have yet to pinch or cut to the point of failure off road despite my tires/wheels taking a severe beating while aired way down. I’ve needed the full spread and depth many times. YMMV as always, and there’s never one answer for all.
As you say, most aren’t pushing the limits. But people who do...or who are just concerned about pinch-cuts might wanna consider taller sidewall.
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Still running OE 20's (w Michelin) on my LX. At the risk of appearing totally poseur-ish, I really like the way they look (mine are the spoke - pre '13 -version). But I did notice when first highway driving after our LX470 w OE 16" LTXs that the 200 was very, for lack of a better choice of words, "darty"(interestingly, my wife found the 200 more enjoyable to drive vs the 100 - go figure).
I would prefer more side wall for sand driving (this truck sees a lot, I mean a lot, of sand) especially when the sand is really dry (no recent heavy rains) but the cost of the 285 55 is crazy - I wish a 285 60 would fit w/o mods and could just use the
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- #35
I welcome any tire that isn't $400+ haha. After paying $390-450 per tire on my HD truck these past eight or so years I am more than willing to spend $220-350 for a quality tire. Those 37's get pricey and they can become a chore to keep properly balanced. So now I'm like "bring on the 33's and 35's" haha. When we went to put 275 KO2's on the 4Runner after we bought it I was prepared for a $1500+ peppering of may backside, but much to my surprise the tires were $192ea and then they gave me trade value toward the factory Nittos. I think I got out of Discount Tire with new 275 KO2's for right around $500, I was a happy camper.
Here in New England, I prefer tires with a lot of sidewall. Our roads are in poor condition with lots of potholes. 18" wheels provide a better ride than 20" wheels and the extra sidewall protects the wheel from potholes. With 18" wheels, I really don't have to worry about potholes.
Another street example-
In my 100 series years ago, I once hit a curb-height/style center median on my driver-side wheels at 65-70mph that I didn’t see in the dark. Not a swipe...but a full impact and over!! But I was on 16’ & the rubber absorbed the curb’s full height, and the curb didn't reach wheel depth. -Saved by taller rubber...on the street, no less.
If I had been on 20’s it probably would have smashed my wheels...pinched my tires, and could have turned into really bad ending.
That was my total mistake/oversight. But it’s an example of the impact leeway you get with taller rubber.
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My wife has 40 or 45 series tires on her Mercedes. I think she’s wrecked three tires and a couple wheels in the 8 years that she’s owned it. I had my ‘03 4Runner for 13 years and my LC for 3 years, never wrecked a tire or wheel and I don’t bother to dodge potholes or raised castings.
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I assume everyone here has seen F1, GP, Nascar, and offroad comp vehicles. They all have sidewall. Big rims are the equivalent of 3" stiletto heels. They look great on some women, but I'm not going to wear them.