[scott12]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to this Forum, bought our first Suzuki the other day;

a 2003 GV V6 auto.


It's bog standard at present, with Nankang 235/60/R16 Toursport 611 tyres (probably 85 % tread).

Been years since I've been 4wd-ing, last time was to Frazer in a S3 landrover.


Since the GV is pretty low in the ground clearance department, I will be giving the it a small suspension lift, probably Dobinson's 40mm judging by comments on other threads; and

some under body protection, definitely under the front and possibly under the exhaust (biggest muffler I've ever seen on a little car - worried it might become a sand plough).


What are your thoughts on how these Nankang tyres will go in the sand, D.I. , Frazer, Moreton ? (pic attached - hopefully) -

Yes, I expect I'll be letting the tyre pressure down until they bag out a little, pressure will probably depend on load and tyre construction.



Any other advice appreciated.

Regards Scott

[whincup]

i know its not a sierra, but my dads ford escape has regular HT tyres and it goes alright on the sand. if you just want it for beaches, they should be fine. only worry is that, not being as tough a build as AT or MT tyres theres a higher chance of a puncture (been there, done that )

[whincup]

and welcome to az

[scott12]

whincup wrote:

i know its not a sierra, but my dads ford escape has regular HT tyres and it goes alright on the sand. if you just want it for beaches, they should be fine. only worry is that, not being as tough a build as AT or MT tyres theres a higher chance of a puncture (been there, done that )

Thanks Whincup, are most punctures from sticks through sidewalls ?

[JrZook]

Lockie666 wrote:

No. Gvs suck in the sand...

Great tech cock-in-ass.....

Welcome to the forum Scott!!

You will most likely find that you will be better off with the less aggressive tires in the sand like the ones you have, since they wont bite and try to dig to china unlike many of the muddies.

Just let some pressure out and see how she goes.

[31zook]

Dear Lockie666, you need to think before you post.

Sincerely, Josh.

[Chop]

31zook wrote:

Dear Lockie666, you need to think before you post.

Sincerely, Josh.

You need a brain to do that

[SierraDan]

I drove on Stockton in a sierra with "racing" style tyres, towing a trailer and did fine.

You should be sweet.

[nato78]

It really doesn't matter what type of tye you have when you're driving on sand. They key to trouble free sand driving is getting your tyre pressures right. I run 10 psi in my sierra and 16 psi in my navara, and have never been stuck, rolled a bead or had a puncture

[gregdixon]

The gv will rock on the beach! Having the extra power makes them a lot better than some. Also the less aggressive tyre the better for beach work.

[Lockie666]

Independent suspension + lack of height = bottoming out on the sand. I've recovered multiple GV's from the beach. I can tell you in all honestly, they don't go that fucking great in the sand. What would I know though.

[shandy92]

Lockie666 wrote:

Independent suspension + lack of height = bottoming out on the sand. I've recovered multiple GV's from the beach. I can tell you in all honestly, they don't go that fucking great in the sand. What would I know though.

cough cough

[nato78]

Lockie666 wrote:

Independent suspension + lack of height = bottoming out on the sand. I've recovered multiple GV's from the beach. I can tell you in all honestly, they don't go that fucking great in the sand. What would I know though.

Probably has more to do with driver error and running the wrong pressures more than vehicle type. I used to drive my escort panel van on Stockton all the time, as long as I stayed on the hard stuff and lowered my pressures I never had an issue. The only time I had to be recovered was from the back of the beach when I was trying to drive off over the soft stuff, and even then i was only 50m from the gravel

[SierraDan]

Coily..

[Lockie666]

were talking about getting bogged not rolling it

[shandy92]

but rolled is worse than bogged, sorry i just thought it fitted the story.

[scott12]

Thanks for your answers.

Considering cost / benefit, am I correct in assuming that the 40mm lift and underbody front protection will be more beneficial than AT tyres in the sand ?

N.B. trying to work out a budget here folks.

[shandy92]

yeah mate, 40mm will go a fair way in helping in beach work. not to sure about the underbody protection tho, as i havnt seen the underside of a gv.

[gregdixon]

Lockie666 wrote:

Independent suspension + lack of height = bottoming out on the sand. I've recovered multiple GV's from the beach. I can tell you in all honestly, they don't go that fucking great in the sand. What would I know though.

I own two mate. I have never needed recovering on sand with either. Also comes down to the driver.

[gregdixon]

scott12 wrote:

Thanks for your answers.

Considering cost / benefit, am I correct in assuming that the 40mm lift and underbody front protection will be more beneficial than AT tyres in the sand ?

N.B. trying to work out a budget here folks.

No need to worry about the under body protection imo. The lift will help though.

[31zook]

The flatter tread means it will sit above the sand, lower tyre pressure will increase the foot print, so HTs are almost the best sand tyre. I know my wranglers/bighorns were worse off then my 205HTs on sand.

[whincup]

i'd choose HT over MT in sand any day. as for punctures, ive only ever had one in the sidewall...



and lockie, if you have nothing useful to say, piss off and ramble somewhere else. new bloke looking for help, not criticism. ive seen an '08 GV on sand, clearance obviously was an issue, but it did fine...

[atari4x4]

whincup, i'd choose a muddy over a HT any day of the week for sand work & i've done a bit of sand driving over the years, not just the flat beaches you get in QLD but also in mega dune structures created by the southern ocean.

personally with the right amount of throttle control i can get my muddies to paddle along in the sand without digging massive holes to gain enough momentum to be able to get it up on the "plane"

watch the end of this video & tell me muddies don't work in the sand, when it starts to dig i button off & roll back to compress the sand track that i've just made which then gives me a longer take off area for the next attempt. a highway terrain tyre would not give you the forward drive to be able to create a launch track instead digging in do to the lack of paddle action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCKXFC8q ... age#t=578s

why do motorbikes & dune buggies run sand paddles instead of racing slicks in the sand?

[Lockie666]

Ok I will help him. Get a 40 mm lift and the biggest tyres you can stick under your car to get it off the ground more. Regardless of what people say about muddies being shit in the sand from what I have seen they go fine as long as the tyre you have bags out when you deflate it. Run around 10 psi in your tyre when you go on the sand, also helps to have someone else with you just in-case you do get stuck. Remember recovery gear too.

[whincup]

i never said muddies dont work, my brothers patrol uses mudzillas and works fine in sand as long as he doesnt jab the throttle too hard... i only meant that id prefer HTs over MTs... but thats just personal opinion based on what i drive, not a correct answer.

and x2 on what lockie said: dont forget recovery gear. i've found a shovel is the best investment i ever made, along with a compressor.

[dominator]

^^^^100% agree with you whincup ^^^^

[joel]

a bit off topic, but are the new gvs ifs front and rear?
they seem pretty pricey as well.
are tey considered a "soft roader" or have i just not seen any done up new ones yet?


as for tyres mate.
a less aggressive tread is usually better on the sand, just need the right pressures, where your tyres will fail is the side wall construction wont hold up to to much punishment before puncturing.
FYI i have heard a less aggressive tread works better in the snow as well. ie, a tread with less self cleaning ability so the snow stays in the tread patter. this is apparently good as snow grips better to snow than rubber to snow.

[Fatzook]

I went to Fraser last week and one of the vehicles in our covoy was a brand ne TD GV. Still had the HT's on 17's. Aired down to 16psi and it went everywhere the sierras and vitaras went. Clearance was not an issue on the rutted inland tracks. Also worth noting that the standard tyre size is the same height as my 225/75 R16's, so clearance is VERY similar to a vitara on bigger tyres.

The IRS lower arms did sit a little lower than an axle tube would, but not by much.

OP. Chuck in a 40mm lift for a little more sill clearance and save some pennies for some TSOR sliders

[Fatzook]

joel wrote:

a bit off topic, but are the new gvs ifs front and rear?
they seem pretty pricey as well.
are tey considered a "soft roader" or have i just not seen any done up new ones yet?

IFS and IRS. They still have lowrange, so they aren't a soft roader.

FYI i have heard a less aggressive tread works better in the snow as well. ie, a tread with less self cleaning ability so the snow stays in the tread patter. this is apparently good as snow grips better to snow than rubber to snow.

I'd say the opposte. In really deep powder, a smooth and wide tyre would be best, but in hardpack, or slush you would want tyres with some lugs. Specially when you find the muddy crust underneath.

[atari4x4]

if AT's/HT's are so good in the sand why do dune buggies & motorbikes run sand paddles instead of a slick?