Offroading tire advice

AbusedJalopy · Post by **AbusedJalopy** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:52 am

When our car is actually working, we like to take it off roading. However, with the current tires we have (cheapest line of Kumhos), it is difficult to go anywhere without them getting sliced open at the sidewalls. I want to replace them with a tire that won't slice open, but not necessarily a full blown mudder tire. I have two sets of wheels, 13" and 14", so those are both options. Also, since the car will be back down to stock ride height, what's the biggest tire size before it rubs? I have a feeling our tires were just bad because they were so cheap, but does anyone have good experience with theirs? I would love to take it back out but am worried I'll get stranded again.

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:49 pm

Where do you go for off-roading? I think there are some sand dunes off the 14 freeway in Palmdale or something.

AbusedJalopy · Post by **AbusedJalopy** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:23 pm

Barstow, mainly when I go shooting I do a little exploring. Also, places off the 395 when I head up to Mammoth, and Gorman once. It takes all the roads really well, even technical ones. It's funny seeing everyone in their huge trucks staring and laughing at it. The only problem I've had is with the tires. Slashed two sidewalls in one day, both on fireroad type trails that weren't technical at all. I just want to find a good set to replace the current ones, but I don't want to fork over alot of money for the same problem.

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:54 pm

I don't want to get off-topic, but how does the car climb up the Cajon Pass up the 15? I have an uncle how lives in Oak Hills and there is a major downhill and I want to try to climb it. Easily you'll go 60-65 MPH downhill.

takza · Post by **takza** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:52 pm

AbusedJalopy wrote: Barstow, mainly when I go shooting I do a little exploring. Also, places off the 395 when I head up to Mammoth, and Gorman once. It takes all the roads really well, even technical ones. It's funny seeing everyone in their huge trucks staring and laughing at it. The only problem I've had is with the tires. Slashed two sidewalls in one day, both on fireroad type trails that weren't technical at all. I just want to find a good set to replace the current ones, but I don't want to fork over alot of money for the same problem.

I had a small van with street tires out in the Mojave camping and the sidewalls got cut up going along some rocky trails....though 90% were sand or soil (or what passes for it).

Also have a set of Kumhos on my Tercel...great on road and off...but haven't had them in sharp rocks of any kind. The tires I have are a "soft" type that even when run at their 44 PSI max tend to bulge some.

Have a pretty good book on 4 wheeling and they show pics of the sidewalls of their mudder tires showing the damage...serious offroaders let some air out to get traction offroad and do expect sidewall problems.

Guess you'd want a thicker sidewall, which means a truck tire...hard to find even in a 14".

My guess is if the cord isn't cut.....???

Gasoline Fumes · Post by **Gasoline Fumes** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:51 pm

Get these Kumhos!

<a href='http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... ECSTA+R700' target='_blank'>http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... TA+R700</a>

takza · Post by **takza** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:54 am

These are the tires I have now....

<a href='http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... TA+HP4+716' target='_blank'>http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... HP4+716</a>

Kumho Ecsta HP4 716 195/60HR14 85H SL 360 A A @ $36 each

Great in snow and offroad in grass...OK in mud. Much, much better than old 13" tires for traction...lost 5 MPG though...35 down to 30 overall.

These are some tires I'm thinking about.....in 185/70SR14

Yokohama Aegis LS4 tirerack < LaPonte recommends Yokohamas Price: $42

....might be best all around road/offroad tire with good mileage.

Douglas Xtra-Trac Walmart $40.83 each made by Kelly-springfield...no rating

....has an offroad type tread....probably good mileage.

Dean Quasar Plus Radial Vulcan Tire $42.00 made by Cooper...no rating

.....probably has the typical hard and slick Cooper tread?

Kumho Power Star 758 tirerack $29 36 PSI tire...no rating

.....probably a "soft" tire with poor mileage?

I look for the least expensive tires that have higher ratings on tirerack...can usually find a few. Want MPG....good tire mileage...good road traction...good offroad traction....

** would like to hear of any tires that are working out pretty good and other tire suggestions... **

Retroloc1 · Post by **Retroloc1** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:52 am

The axles ratios are yet very tall.
If you fit higher tires you'll may burn the clutch in off-roading.
Prefer 84-88 axles.
To choose the type of tire, consider first the terrain in your area:
mud, sand, rocks, snow etc.
Then you'll may choose wide/thin, tall/small and high/low pressure.

AbusedJalopy · Post by **AbusedJalopy** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 11:15 pm

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the information. I'll look into these suggestions when/if the car passes smog.

As for the Cajon Pass, it pulls fine up that grade. Even with a poorly tuned carb and with the car full of nearly 800lbs of passengers and ammo/gear, it still was able to do over 60. It doesn't even seem to get close to overheating with the throttle pegged in high rpms.

Juando · Post by **Juando** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 1:54 am

if you have adobe acrobat, you can look at this
<a href='http://www.herculestire.com/merit/pdfs/MERIT-SE-T.pdf' target='_blank'>http://www.herculestire.com/merit/pdfs/ ... E-T.pdf</a>
This is the tire I have been running and it is fairly reliable (about $42 a pop)

I routinely drive up to Willamette pass here in oregon from Eugene and I can pass cars keeping my speeds around 60 to 65 as well...and that was with a tranny that was bum to start with and before my engine rebuild....I can't wait for my next trip to the mountains.

takza · Post by **takza** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:28 am

Here's the Walmart/Douglas tire.........

<a href='http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... tire_size=' target='_blank'>http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... e_size=</a>

Looks similar...but UTQG is not as good.

TheThereminator bought some of these, but hasn't said too much about what they are like.

AbusedJalopy · Post by **AbusedJalopy** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:50 am

Those Douglas Xtra-Track tires look really good for the price. In the 13" tire size, they are only $27! Do you think these have stronger sidewalls or is there a rating that tells the strength? I might end up getting those since they are as good as I'll probably get in the size range I have.

takza · Post by **takza** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 7:01 pm

All I know is that they are made by Kelly-Springfield (?)...and are a budget type tire...which means to me that they won't have as sticky a tread as the Kumhos I have...probably a 35 PSI max pressure, but a harder riding tire....tread looks decent...expect better MPG than the Kumhos....good price...etc.

As far as the sidewall cuts...only answer I have is to watch for and avoid sharp rocks.....I've usually seen this when they cut a road thru solid rock or on a scree slope...usually in high country.

Even a truck tire would probably get cut?

I lost a truck tire once because I climbed in elevation and didn't let some air out...pointed rock right thru the tread.

83toybeater · Post by **83toybeater** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:22 pm

i run SUPER RIDES A/S they were 25 bucks a peace my cost I work at a goodyear dealer. 195/75/14s have yet to have one flat tire, riped sidwall or anything. its amazing what i put it threw. ill slide sidways on rocky service roads all afternoon, and no cut sidways, just chuncks torn out of the tread. great in snow , my boss put them on the shop van . its been a great tire and at the price cant beat em they are about 35 ish a peace to a walk in.

Aussie_3ASCV · Post by **Aussie_3ASCV** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 5:33 am

dammit i had the exact same cheap tire problem. kept droppin sidewalls. had to get some goodies. btw 15's 215 65's rub pretty bad