unlucky, or are the stock lx570 tires sidwalls really weak?

[rhllc]

So, the 2nd time I have my 2010 LX570, completely stock, off pavement, I mangage to take out a sidewall of one of the Dunlop 285/50R20's. A maybe a fist sized rock, while driving Forest Service roads at 30 MPH or so did the damage. Is this expected? Am I obligated to buy a 2nd set of rims/tires for even mild off-roading, or was I just unlucky?

Still early in the year, the snow is still melting above 5000 ft, so the roads aren't in the best shape. But it is the first sidewall I've managed to destroy in more than a couple of decades of mild to extreme off-roading. (For the record, I realize that avoiding fist sized rocks at 30 MPH is generally preferred to hitting them.)

Other than that, the LX is suprisingly competent off-road for what it is. Throw it low, lock the diff, put the suspension in high mode, drop down a pretty step and slipper stream bank to check the ford. Back up out of the stream bed to recon the crossing a bit more before commiting. Go back down again, no problems with rocky 40-50 ft long ford in 2 ft of water. Almost a foot of snow in places in the higher elevations also really wasn't an issue for the truck.

The stock jack sucks. But the onamental hub cover removal tool is the most awesome tool ever. No idea how I would have managed without it

 

[pman]

Those 20" rim/tire combo is not intended for off road use. You like most everyone else on this forum fall into the .01% of LX/LC owners that actually use their vehicles for what they were built for. If you really want to continue using it offroad, you should consider getting 17" or 18" rims and a better a tire.

You have to realize that Toyota/Lexus is putting on the 20s because thats what the vast majority of consumers want on a vehicle in that class.

 

[planetalaska]

I do mild off-roading too, but I didn't trust the stock Dunlop Grandtrek 285/60/18. Upon buying my LC, I immediately changed to BFG 285/65/18 load range E tires. The sidewalls are very tough.


► Alaska 2011 LC200 / Silver / 285-65-18 BFG All Terrain TA/KO ►

 

[rhllc]

Yeah - think I'm going to have to go with a 2nd set.

Interestingly enough, the Lexus LX-570 website has a couple pictures of a LX with the 20" Dunlops doing some rock crawling. So it isn't totally insane to have some expectation that they would survive a trip or two. The owners manual does mention that one should take it easy on the tires off-road, all sad given the LX's LC pedigree.

Part of the problem was me. My last 4 sets of off-road tires: 35x12.5 Goodyear MTRs, 36x12.5 SuperSwamper TSX/SLs, 35x12.5 BFG Baja Terrains (real ones, take-offs from a trophy truck), and BFG 265x75R16s MTs. (Obviously not on the LX570) So I'm just used to having much more rubber and running aired down.

So I'm now shopping for new wheels, tires and a real jack.

(The stock jack was unable to lift the front wheel off the ground using the recommended frame location on a reasonably level gravel road. But it was too tall to fit under the front suspension arm with the tire at zero PSI. Fortunately I found a place higher on the arm that the jack could sort of catch on and managed to get the tire high enough to change it out. But not something I'd like to deal with again in even slightly worse roadside or weather conditions.)

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Your 20-inch rim size is not the culprit. It's the tire. Changing to a good AT tire will cut the mustard. And sure...16-18" rims offer more sidewall flex while aired down for better traction. At full pressure they add almost nothing in terms of capability and protection.

 

[JBHorne]

Your 20-inch rim size is not the culprit. It's the tire. Changing to a good AT tire will cut the mustard. And sure...16-18" rims offer more sidewall flex while aired down for better traction. At full pressure they add almost nothing in terms of capability and protection.

While you are correct as far as sidewall, I'd still say that offroading with 20" rims is not recommended as damage to the rim itself is highly likely. Hell, I could bust a 20" rim on the road with all the potholes around here!

 

[SQRRRL]

I do mild off-roading too, but I didn't trust the stock Dunlop Grandtrek 285/60/18. Upon buying my LC, I immediately changed to BFG 285/65/18 load range E tires. The sidewalls are very tough.


► Alaska 2011 LC200 / Silver / 285-65-18 BFG All Terrain TA/KO ►

I just purchased a 2013 LC. I'm in the same boat as you. How do the 285/65/18 do on mountain driving? Gear ratio still OK for road trips?

 

[MScruiser]

He hasn't been on the site for over 2 months.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

This is why I went to 18"s, plus better tires. I agree that going to the BFGs will help, as the sidewall is definitely thick, but for me, I wanted more distance from the rocks to my rims, which led me the 18s. That combo has been great for me and I use my LX offroad, quite a bit.

 

[rhllc]

Wow - a 2011 thread come back to life. Annoying that the 16' LC I now have came with the same Dunlaps but in a different size. I can't get away from them. The 18's on the LC do ride better than the 20's on the LX. They do seem to cost something on the road handling wise. But that could also be the suspension differences.

I do like the D-rated BFG ATs I have on my pickup. I might consider them for the LC at some point.

 

[Chocolate]

Wow - a 2011 thread come back to life. Annoying that the 16' LC I now have came with the same Dunlaps but in a different size. I can't get away from them. The 18's on the LC do ride better than the 20's on the LX. They do seem to cost something on the road handling wise. But that could also be the suspension differences.

I do like the D-rated BFG ATs I have on my pickup. I might consider them for the LC at some point.

You will be so glad to get rid of the Dunlops. My set had only about 6,000 miles on it and the rubber compound just has very mediocre (putting it nicely) levels of grip which you can touch and feel for yourself. The Defender LTXs I replaced them are better in every way.

The 20s offer a smaller contact patch (definitely not what you want on a 6200 pound vehicle) and are just worse all around - in ride, noise, traction, tread depth, and strength/load index.

 

[SQRRRL]

My vision is 285/65/18 tires. Brand in still up in the air. OME suspension with no bumpers etc... Rims will be OEM powder coated black.

 

[Angelo1]

My vision is 285/65/18 tires. Brand in still up in the air. OME suspension with no bumpers etc... Rims will be OEM powder coated black.

I've been very impressed with my BFG KO2 on and off-road. On road at 85mph is very smooth.